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D:REAM

Nicky meets D:Ream (Al Mackenzie & Peter Cunnah)



..........Formed when Al and Pete met at the Brain Club in Wardour St, D:Ream was originally conceived as a typical dance partnership between a DJ & a programmer with a female diva fronting it. But when none of the girls they auditioned could sing the verses Pete took over on vocals.

By late 1991, D:Ream had built a buzz through their PA's at clubs like Maximus' Love Ranch.

By now, with their finger tickling the pulse of early 90's clubland positivity, they turned their hand to some remix work. Notably EMF's 'They're Here' (1 Billboard dance favourite), Duran Duran's 'Drowning Man' & Baby June's 'Brassneck'.

D:Ream's debut outing in 1992 was the Sasha remix of 'U R The Best Thing'. This limited edition 12" twice made Pete Tong's essential tune of the week and soon topped the dance charts, peaking at 72 in the national chart.

That summer, their follow up E.P was eclipsed by the single release of 'Things Can Only Get Better' giving them their first top 40, entering the UK charts in January 1993 at 24. A David Morales re-mix of 'U R The Best Thing' followed making 19 in April. A remix by Leftfield took 'Unforgiven' to 29 & the D:Reamix of 'Star/I Like It' peaked at 26…………

When I have read this part of the biography on Myspace I became curious....

Here we go with

Nicky meets D:REAM

Members: Al Mackenzie & Peter Cunnah

Have fun!

Al, Peter & Nicky



Some questions about yourself, Al & Peter:

Where and when were you born? Where do you live? What is your zodiac sign?


Al Mackenzie
1968, I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. I live between Birmingham and London at the moment and am a scorpio

Peter Cunnah
1966, born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Live in London and am a virgo.


Your Websites?

You’ll find us under:
Our official page: http://www.d-ream.co.uk/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/dreamonvol2


Your favorite proverb?

Al Mackenzie
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush-so many jokes

Peter Cunnah
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.


Your favourite female singer?

Al Mackenzie
Aretha Franklin

Peter Cunnah
Kate Bush


Your favourite male singer?

Al Mackenzie
Marvin Gaye

Peter Cunnah
Morrisey


Your favourite bands?

Al Mackenzie
The Specials, The Doors, The Smiths, too many to choose

Peter Cunnah
The Smiths, Simple Minds, The Police, Doves, Prefab Sprout


Your favourite composer?

Al Mackenzie
Prince

Peter Cunnah
Paddy Mcaloon (Prefab Sprout)


What did you want to become when you were a kid?

Al Mackenzie
Football player

Peter Cunnah
Spaceman


What's your most favourite food, can you cook?

Al Mackenzie
I love cooking and am pretty good at it. Love lots of different things for different occasions.

Peter Cunnah
Curry. I am not too bad in the kitchen.


Where do you like to go on vacation?

Al Mackenzie
Been about a bit. Loved Sydney. Just got back from Guatemala and Belize which was amazing, if a little hot.

Peter Cunnah
Anywhere in the Carribbean.


What or who would you take with you on a deserted island?

Al Mackenzie
I couldn’t live without music. However I do need food and the comfort of a beautiful lady on occassions!

Peter Cunnah
I would rather be dead than live on a deserted island-especially if it was with Al.


Since what age did you have an interest in music?

Al Mackenzie
As long as I can remember

Peter Cunnah
Age 2, my dad taught me how to put my favourite Beach Boys record on the gramophone


Which instruments do you play?

Al Mackenzie
Keyboards and congas very badly

Peter Cunnah
Guitar, bass guitar and keyboards


When you compose, where do you get your inspiration?
And: Are you able to write notes?

Al Mackenzie
Inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. We don’t write notes.

Peter Cunnah
It comes when you least expect it and in the most unlikely places. It’s often born out of a feeling of happiness or outrage. I’ve learned from writing commercially that you can never force your own stuff


Do you have an own Studio?

Yes, in West London. In the complex is owned by Hugh Padgham who produced The Police, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel


You are currently working in the studio - what is the newest project?

We are working towards our new album after 15 years away from each other. We think it’s sounding bloody marvellous. Hopefully everyone will share our vision


Are you working there with other musicans?

We are indeed. We use a lot of live instruments in or music. Most have studios within our complex and are all amazing musicians such as Justin Sandercoe, who is a top guitar player and a darned decent chap to boot.

Also Mark Roberts who has drummed with DJ Shadow, Nenah Cherry and Massive Attack, has done a few bits for us. Plenty of backing singers too-Charlene Hector from Basement Jaxx, Diane Charlemagne who sang Inner City Life for Goldie and TJ Davis who sang with us previously


In Germany we have only a few Liveacts in night clubs appear.
You had some appearances in the last time. How may I fancy your shows?

We have two different live sets. One is a PA, where the two of us and a backing singer perform to playback from the computer. This tends to work in nightclubs as it is shorter, maybe 4 tracks (2 new and 2 old).

They always seem to go down well. The other live set is with the full band playing all our new stuff and a couple of old tunes. We want to do this more as it stretches us as a band and is what it is all about really.


Al, you are working as a DJ beside D:REAM – what style of music do you play in the Clubs ?
Since when are you D’jing?

I’ve been dj’ing since the mid-late eighties.

God, I am getting old! I play house music.

I like to call it proper house. Techno, deep, funky, whatever, as long as it sounds and feels good


What are your actual charts in June 2009?

1) D:ream-All Things To All Men (D:reamix/Pete Herbert mix) (User promo)
2) Alex Niggeman- Makayuni (8bit)
3) Phuture303- 7even (Proffessor traxx Acid weed Mix) (promo)
4) Veitengruber- Bon Melange(Afrilounge mix) (8bit)
5) Moodymanc- Seedz (Tsuba)


You where signed to Warner Brothers in the early 90's - How does one feel if you think back to these special times?
Which experiences have you done in the music branch and how do you handle today with it?

Being signed to a major label helps in some respects. Mainly money!

They have the ability to promote you to the max. However, doing things yourself allows you more control over how money is being spent, what you release etc. We don't really hark back to the old days as we are only thinking about what we are doing now. That is much more important to us.


You have experienced very successful times together, have separated, then met again. I would not like to ask for the reason of your separation at that time. But how did it come that you have met again and now working again as a Band?

We met one Sunday morning in a park after 14 years apart. Peter was out with his kids, Al was out with some friends still partying! Some things never change. The full story is on our myspace page for those that are interested


What are your future plans?

We are aiming to stay together as long as we are making, what we consider, to be interesting, quality music. Hopefully, we have 2 or 3 albums in us. Then again, we may want to kill each other if we spend too much time together.


Some Remixes/Previews are on Your Myspace Musicplayer, among the rest, from "Gods in the Making", a work of Alan Prosser, an artist I represents. What do you plan?

We are releasing 'All Things To All Men' in September and probably, 'Drop Beats Not Bombs' in November/December. The album 'In Memory Of...' will follow next year. We are aiming to give a fair amount of music away free on our website plus some special limited cd's/vinyl for sale only to our website members. Check www.d-ream.co.uk for details. We will also be doing a lot of live dates all year round.

Alan Prosser
www.myspace.com/alanprosser


Alan has told to me that you AL have grown up with artists very much known nowadays like Sasha. Are you still in contact?

I am with a few of them but I never really hung around with a lot of the guys on the scene. May have to get back in touch as we will need their support with the new stuff


In the last time lots of things happened in the electronical music scene, the music gets more drifty, impulsively and sounds less commercial. Although it is quite "popier" as it was in the early nineties. There are plenty producers, more and more are coming, but it's not only a matter of quantity anymore.

It seems that the scene is growing again and getting more self-confident. How do you see your place in that area in the future?


We are, definitely, sticking our necks out with this album. Not many have executed it successfully.

However faithless, CSS & Basement Jaxx, amongst others have proved that the live/dance combination is possible.

Whether the dance world is ready for intelligent songs is yet to be seen.

Too much of it is generic and vacuous and not to our taste. We’re gonna give it a go anyway and see where it takes us.



Al and Pete, thank you very much, that you took the time to give this Interview.
I know you are busy. I wish you great success and I hope that you will be successful in all your future endeavours.

Nicky Zimmer




Copyright:
(unauthorized publishing is prohibited)
Nicky Zimmer meets D:REAM
London / Frankfurt 23-06- 2009
http://www.d-ream.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/dreamonvol2
www.nickyzimmer.com

Paul Harris

Dear friends,

since this interview is supposed to appear on my website anyway, it is a pleasure to present it to you here now again.

Now it has been one year and Paul is busy as always - always on the road from gig to gig, studio to studio etc. - apparently not much has changed, apart from his current productions.

When I did this interview with him one year ago, I thought to myself: Too bad that Paul, Ben Harris & Steve Smith (Dirty Vegas) go separate ways. The better is, that they now decided to produce together once again.

Good luck with your new PRESSURE release!

With hearty pre-christmas-y wishes from Frankfurt,

Nicky



My dearest friends,

It is a great pleasure for me to present you my friend Paul Harris from England.

Maybe you ask yourselves certainly why I take these interviews, quite simply: A possibility is to found out a little bit more about a person. Because I look a lot of spaces and some questions stay sometimes open. That's why I went also with Paul Harris.

It has lasted quite a while, expressed clearly: 3 weeks and a penetrating Nicky Zimmer - Paul Harris has accepted this interview - for easy reason: My inquiry came exactly at the time as the Kylie Minogue - Album was produced.

Paul Harris is a much-employed man - he produces various artists, hangs up also worldwide as a DJ - he travels a lot and is not found at home on the week-ends. Therefore he has a big program. I admire his discipline - the same also counts to my other DJ's friends - who often still have a own record label. When Paul promised to gave me this interview I was very glad about it.

Thank you Paul! We hope to give you a small look in the insight into Pauls everyday live.

Have fun by reading it.

Paul Harris and Nicky Zimmer
November 2007


About Paul Where are you born?
Where do you live? What is your star sign?

Born in Sunny old South London , i still live here now , and im a true to form Gemini not that im into star's or
anything !!


Your Webadresses:
www.djpaulharris.com
www.myspace.com/paulharrisdj
www.myspace.com/paulharrrismusic


Your favorite Quote?

In all honestly i don't think i have one.... Is that a quote ??


Your favorite female singer?

Minnie Ripperton , Kylie (of course !) , Gwen Stefani , Diana Ross , Roisin Murphy , Madonna , far to many to name i could go on forever !


Your favorite male singer?

David Byrne , George Michael , Kanye West , John Lennon , Bryan Ferry , Thom Yorke , Beck ...again , i could go on forever..


Your favorite Bands?

Red hot chilli pepper's , Oasis , Radiohead , Rapture , Lcd , Daft Punk , u get the idea , these are impossible questions's for me to answer , i don't really have a favourite band of all time... !!


Your favorite Composer?

John Williams... Star Wars Rules !!


Which was your profession dream as a young guy?

I really can't remember , but i loved music at a young age , so i guess this was it !! At what age did you become interested in music? From as far back as i can remember , as a kid i can always remember listening to the radio ect ect ....


Do you play an instrument ? And if so, which one ?

At school i played trumpet , now i can just about play keyboards , well enough in this day and age to make music !


When you write a track, from where do you get your inspiration?

God , i have no idea !.. Alot depends on my mood , and the weather !! , sounds strange but true...


I have read that you work on (and with) following projects: Ladyhawk , Stuart Critchon , Jim 'Kish Mauve' , Blondefire , Kylie , Superbass , Matrix , Chantal & Raine , Makeba Riddick , Shep Solomen , Ben Harris , Richard 'Biff' Stanard , Quant , Hannah Robinson , Sam Obernick , Karen Poole , Negin and the very talented Ian Masterson & Terry Ronald ((((YOU CAN CORRECT THIS))))

Na, thats enough !!


How do you creat all that when you are so much on the move as DJ?

When im on plane's im always' that guy with his headphones' on making beats , so flying helps' me get idea's , that i take into the studio , Also im pretty quick at knocking out beats and idea's , not all of them are any good thou !!


Do you have an own Studio?

I share one with Jay P (Who i do Superbass with) and Seb Fontaine , im going to get myself a new one for my home soon !! Which is the most newest project or topic what you will soon release? The Kylie album X , that i have 2 co-writes on , and also a few B-Side's , "Ladyhawk" i guess will be out soon.. A few Superbass tracks and also a track i did with Dave Spoon !

http://www.myspace.com/kylieminogue
http://www.myspace.com/wearesuperbass
http://www.myspace.com/davespoon


When looking on your myspace page I saw an artist called Sarah Barton Keeley it's strange because coincidentally my friend ralf hildenbeutel works with her too. How long have you been working with her for? Did you meet her on myspace? do you plan more projects with Sarah?

We met through my manager , she's a super talent , and good fun.. We did one track together , and i hope she use's it on her album.. I think its Fab !!

http://www.myspace.com/sarahbartonkeeley


Paul, beside three Dancestar Awards, one MTV nomination you have also earn a Grammy for your work with Dirty Vegas. Great!

Dirty Vegas has provided in the USA for sensation because a track of her album delivered the music to the Mitsubishi commercial. Since than this album was immediately on place 7 in the US-Billboard Charts. What was it for a feeling to be nominated and than really get this price? How was this exactly?


Undrescribable ! , after we had one it still didn't sink it... To think on my mantlepiece at home is a Grammy !!... Wierd !


You are a lot on the move, USA – Europa – Russia – Argentina - What do you do to relax?

I don't... I think i need to soon ! , i just enjoy what i do far too much !!


What's your most favorite vacancy place?

I love the south of France , and also South America , Brasil is amazing !!


What's your most favorite food, can you cook?


Im quite a good cook , i can kinda cook most things.. But my favourite food to eat is Curry !! , and then i would say Sushi.


What was the happiest moment in your life?

Appearing on the David Letterman Show !!! , then i knew i'd done ok !!..


What or who would you take with you on a deserted island?

My Girlfriend and plenty of good wine !!


In the last time lots of things happened in the electronical music scene, the music gets more drifty, impulsively and sounds less commercial. Although it is quite "popier" as it was in the early nineties. There are plenty producers, more and more are coming, but it's not only a matter of quantity anymore.It seems that the scene is growing again and getting more self-confident. How do you see your place in that area in the future?


Yes i agree now with Logic , Ableton ect Everyone can make music , i guess i just move with the time's and seem to make what i thinks right.. But hey good music is good music !!


You play often on Charity events, among other things for Jade Jagger wich is very engaged for Sergeant Care Cancer - are you also involved in something like that?


Im always' interested in supporting charity's and if i can DJ and help out at these partys then im more than happy , Ive played at quite a few partys for Jade & Purple PR.. A Friend of mine also has a Charity called Chairty (chairtyis.com) , so if me playing records for a few hour's helps raise money for these charity's im more than happy !


Gordon Brown is recently the successor from Tony Blair. What could he make better - what one hopes in England?

Im the most un political person to ask, ot be honest i think they all seem the same in the end !!


Paul, I owe that you has taken the time for the interview. I know that you very clamped. Thank you very much. I wish you a lot of success for your future – hope that everything that you have planed will succeeds. Would you like finally something else to say?


Im currently 37,000 feet up typing this on a plane to Moscow !! , see flying does give you time to do things u never get the time to do !!.. Also , please check the B-Side to Kylie's first single its called 'Dont know what it is !!!' ;)

Dirty Vegas "Pressure"

Beatport:
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/148588/pressure

Toolroom Records:
http://www.toolroomrecords.co.uk/shop/digital/pressure

Tracks Paul Haris was involved in 2008 (Toolroom Records):

Superbass 'Solution' (Toolroom Records) January 2008
Dirty South & Paul Harris 'Better Day' (Toolroom Records) March 2008
Steve Mac & Paul Harris 'You' (Toolroom Trax) May 2005
Spoon, Harris & Obernik 'Baditude' (Toolroom Records) August 2008
Dirty Vegas 'Pressure' (Toolroom Records) Dec 2008

Copyright:
Paul Harris & Nicky Zimmer, Toolroom Records
London/Frankfurt, November 2007
(Please respect copyright!)

http://www.myspace.com/frlnicky
http://www.nickyzimmer.com


Dirty Vegas "Days go by"

Nicky meets Rudi Stakker

X-clusive Quick Interview - Nicky meets Rudi Stakker -


My dearest friends,

It is a great pleasure for me to present to you my friend Rudi Stakker from the United Kingdom.

You may ask yourself why I do these interviews. It's quite simple: It makes it possible to find out a little more about a person.

A lot of times I look at Myspace profiles and, however, some questions remain unanswered. That's why I talked to Rudi.

Thank you Rudi! We hope to give you a glimpse and some insight into Rudi's everday life.

Have fun reading it,

Rudi & Nicky


Some questions about your self, Rudi:
Where and when were you born? Where do you live?

Hello! I was born in a place called Wolverhampton in the midlands, UK. Ive lived in different places in the Uk but now Im back in Birmingham.


Your Website?
www.myspace.com/rudistakker


Your favorite proverb?

All is fair in love and war.


Your favorite female singer?

That would have to be Jewel.


Your favorite male singer?

Easy, Prince. Im a massive fan.


Your favorite bands?

Oooooh, so many, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Megadeth, Oasis, Pink Floyd, the Police, Steely Dan, the Eagles, so many!


Your favorite composer?

I think modern day composers like Eric Prydz and Spirit Catcher are genius. I think yes Eric Prydz and Bodzin are my favourite producers.


What did you want to become when you were a kid?

I always wanted to play guitar in a rock band. To be on stage in front of people, so I suppose I kind of got what I wanted in the end.

What with your shady press photo and minimal biog, You appear quite the mystery man. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and the Stakker alias?

I’m quite well known as Will Bailey for playing dirty electro and bass orientated filth. And, basically, I thought the whole Rudi Stakker thing up so that I could make some totally different sounds from normal.

I’ve been getting into the techno sound for a while and have always loved house music in general. Rudi Stakker is meant to be a fusion of techno and big room house sounds.

And what kind of fusion is that name – Rudi Stakker?

Well Rudi is actually my middle name. I made a track called ‘Stakker’ a while back as Will Bailey and that’s where that came from, just a random decision.

Do you have an own Studio?

Yeh and I practically live in it, Im in there nearly every day. I have so many ideas and I love so many styles of house music and dance music I cant help but go down to the studio.


Do you play an instrument? And if so, which one?

I played guitar as a kid for years, I have played for a while but I still love to have a go when I get chance.


When you compose, where do you get your inspiration?
And: Are you able to write notes?

I get my inspiration really from the mood I am in and also from listening to other artists. A big inspiration is also seeing what records do to the dance floor when I play.

I compose through playin keys, I never write notes. There really is no need the way I work and what I want to ahcieve.



Which is the most newest project or topic what you will soon release?

Im working on a new EP for Ricky Stone’s Flatbelly label at the moment. Ive just finished a remix for Chris Lake and a remix for Noir, both are artists which I respect a great deal.


What do you do to relax?

To relax I love watching films, new and old.

I find it’s the best way to take yourself away from everything else going on.

I used to chill out and listen to music but after the studio my ears get tired and I need to rest them.


Do you have other hobbies besides music?

I sometimes go to the gym or I cycle, Iused to do lots of photography but music has just taken over.


Where do you like to go on vacation?

I don’t seem to like holidays anymore, not sure why, I think its because I am always in different places anyway.

I like to relax at home and be with friends. Ive been so many places and seen so many things on my own when ive played abroad.


What is your favourite meal? Do you cook?

I don’t cook really no, but I love to eat, ha, who doesn’t. I love Spaghetti Bolognese.


The luckiest moment in your life?

I don’t think I have had too much luck, I've won a few t shirts in my time!


Who or what would you take on a remote/deserted island?

I'd take my ghetto blaster and some Bob Marley and King Tubby.


In the last time lots of things happened in the electronical music scene, the music gets more drifty, impulsively and sounds less commercial. Although it is quite "popier" as it was in the early nineties. There are plenty producers, more and more are coming, but it's not only a matter of quantity anymore.

It seems that the scene is growing again and getting more self-confident. How do you see your place in that area in the future?

I agree, so may producers now and djs.

I think good music will always shine through though so I hope that I am around for a while yet. I am never satisfied so that itself helps me to keep going.

My dearest Rudi, thank you very much for taking the time for this interview despite your full calendar.
I know you are working hard in the studio.

Good luck for all upcoming new projects !

Nicky


http://www.myspace.com/rudistakker
http://www.myspace.com/willbaileymusic

Frankfurt, 09-09-08
Please respect Copyright!
www.nickyzimmer.com
Rudi Stakker & Nicky Zimmer

Nicky meets Manuel Göttsching

My dearest friends,

It is a great pleasure for me to present to you my friend and artist Manuel Göttsching.

Have fun by reading our Interview.

Best regards
from Berlin & Frankfurt!

Manuel Göttsching & Nicky Zimmer


Some questions about yourself, Manuel:
Where and when were you born? Where do you live? What is your sodiac sign?

I was born on the 9th of September 1952 in Berlin, Friedenau, and I still live in Berlin, not too far from my birthplace, actually. My sodiac sign is Virgo, whatever that means to you - I don’t believe in this kind of stuff.

Your Websites?
You’ll find me under:

www.manuelgoettsching.com, www.manuel-goettsching.com
www.ashra.com, www.ashra.de,
www.ashratempel.com, www.ash-ra-tempel.com,

But they will all direct you to the same homepage, my own one.

Then there are two Myspace sites, an official and one dedicated by a fan to the old work of my band ASH RA TEMPEL.

My official page: www.myspace.com/manuelgoettsching
One fanpage: www.myspace.com/ashratempel

The person who is running the fan page does not reveal his or her identity - not even to me :-)

The page is quite O.K., in spite of some mistakes. For example: it says there, that Harald Grosskopf and Steve Baltes were already members of ASH RA TEMPEL which is wrong, of course. I already pointed this out to the site’s owner - without success. Also, Lutz Ulbrich was only a guest musician in the band...

Anyway, the site is dedicated to my early work, with band (1970-1973) and solo when I still released under the name ASH RA TEMPEL (1974-1976).

Here how it was really:
ASH RA TEMPEL’s founding members of 1970 were: Hartmut Enke, Klaus Schulze and me.

One year later, after the release of our self-titled debut album (http://www.ashra.com/disco/1711as.htm) in 1971, Schulze left the band. After three years, Hartmut quit making music for good. He simply stopped playing during a concert in Cologne and has not been on stage ever since.

Since then, ASH RA TEMPEL was only me playing solo with various guest musicians that I invited for certain events or recordings. But I kept the name ASH RA TEMPEL for my releases. For the ones that I have recorded with guest musicians, but also for my solo works such as “Inventions for Electric Guitar" (1974) and “New Age of Earth" (1976).

My name appeared on the cover of both albums: on “Inventions for Electric Guitar" I put it below the band’s name (http://www.ashra.com/disco/1751in.htm) and on “New Age of Earth" I put it above (http://www.ashra.com/disco/1761ne.htm).

I never wanted to get rid of the name ASH RA TEMPEL completely. Maybe it was melancholy (we had had some great time together), maybe also because really everything that came out of ASH RA TEMPEL (be it in the original formation, with guests or me solo) already had a cult following. Even back then ;-)

For “Blackouts” (1977) (http://www.ashra.com/disco/1771bl.htm), my third solo album, I shortened the name to ASHRA, and left mine out. I wanted to mark the beginning of a new chapter and to set the foundation for a new band with myself as the musical director. Since “Inventions for Electric Guitar" my musical style had devolped into a different direction, and the shortened name showed this, while at the same time paying tribute to my musical origins.

In the studio I was alone and did all alone, but doing my music solo on stage brought up certain difficulties: technology was not yet advanced enough that you’d be able to control everything, while playing four instruments at the same time. I didn’t want to compromise, so I needed manpower. Besides that, I also like the group experience. I didn’t want to be a pure solo player on stage then. That’s how ASHRA started :-)

Your favorite proverb?

Those who pick other people’s noses have nothing of their own.

Your favorite female singer?

Yma Sumac.

Your favorite male singer?

Elvis.

Your favorite bands?

They are all from my teenage days, from the sixties - Cream, the Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Blue Cheer, John Mayall’s Bluesbrakers, Fleetwood Mac (the early ones, with Peter Green) and of course the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Your favorite composer?

Satie, Reich.

What did you want to become when you were a kid?

I wanted to be a film director! When I was 17, I made a 30-minute feature film about a field trip. It was shot on super8.
The title is: A TEACHER’S NIGHTMARE
Back then, I didn’t want to make the music for it myself, so I chose something that fitted the film, by Pink Floyd and Steamhammer.
If I’d release it today, what my wife always tells me to do (typical thinking of a film produdcerJ) it should better be my own music. The music rights wouldn’t cost a penny :-)
Regarding this, I have a small anecdote to tell, on the way things go in life: While I was dreaming of directing films, my wife wanted to become a singer/musician. Things turned out the other way round. She became a film director and producer, I became a musician and composer. But this way we complete each other and also have an understanding of the other’s profession.

Since what age did you have an interest in music?

I always did! The radio was my constant companion, later the guitar, as I wasn’t allowed to play the piano at hame, because it was too loud...

You have studied composition and guitar. Do you also play other instruments?

In the course of my numerous recordings, I played various instruments first in the studio and later also live on stage: bass, electrical organ, piano, drums and of course all kinds of synthesizers. Later I also started to compose for piano/organ/keyboard, and for my concerts, I always use a keyboard on stage for certain parts of the music. But the guitar, in all its varieties from classical to electric to hawaiian, will stay my favorite instrument.

When you compose, where do you get your inspiration?
And: Are you able to write notes?

Of course I write notes! After all, I have a classical education that I broadened over the years so that today, I also write scores for orchestras.
In 1974 I recorded a piece on electric guitar that I first composed with notes on paper. It became very popular: ECHO WAVES from the record “Inventions for Electric Guitar".

Your appearances on stage (with band or solo) are rare and legendary.

Well, they were already legendary when Ash Ra Tempel started to give concerts1970, because we only improvised freely on stage and no one knew how long and where the journey would go ;-)
(We, that is Hartmut Enke, Klaus Schulze and me, the founding members of ASH RA TEMPEL).
This was still unusual in rock music back then. Before, such experiments were only common to Jazz, and there were few musicians in Germany who had the guts to do so.

German rock musicians preferred to go after solid anglo-american rock music, and it was through these “posers” that the term Krautrock got this negative connotation in Germany. Abroad, this term was indeed a positive one, and reffered especially to those exceptional bands and musicians who tried new forms with their music.

That’s why our first records quickly spread in the scenes of Britain, France, the USA and Japan. That’s how the legend was born and the myth remained.

I heard that you never take anything “finished”, like a CD, with you on stage. And also that every time new compositions are created live on stage. How does such a concert look like?

That varies a lot and depends on the specific set or composition I’m playing. In general, it is always important for me that my music stays “alive”, and this is conveyed much better if it sounds new to me every time, too.
That’s why many of my compositions are so open - enabling me to vary and improvise, and not just reproducing pre-made patterns. That is true not only for my concerts, but also the studio productions.

Maybe a part of E2-E4’s success is due to the fact that it was played completely “live” in one take.
If I had later on revised it, corrected, cut or added anything - it’s unique atmosphere would be lost.

Aren’t you afraid that your notebook might crash in the middle of a concert?

It would be much worse if the mixer broke down. In that case, my only option would be to give a speech.
If it’s only the notebook, then I can play a guitar solo until the computer is up and running again or it is replaced. I think you call that break-beats.

In such a case, you just have to stay calm. After all, I learned over the years to develop my music out of improvisations. In ASH RA TEMPEL’s early years, if there was an electric blackout during one of our concerts (which indeed happened a number of times), then there would be a percussion solo with everyone drumming along.

Where did you perform live in 2007 - which countries did you go to - and are there any concerts planned for this year?

I went to Korea, where I accompanied F.W. Murnau’s silent film “THE HAUNTED CASTLE” (1921) live at Asia’s biggest Film-Music Festival.

Then there was a concert to celebrate my 55th birthday in Berlin, with guests from Britain, the USA and China (see also the date 22.8.2007 on http://www.ashra.com/news.php?m=A ). In September and October I traveled with some film screenings and in private across the USA: San Antonio, Texas and then also San Francisco and Los Angeles.

This year I played during the Berlinale, to honor the last original silent film pianist of the 1920ies, who died recently at the age of 103. Me and my wife had produced a film about him, see also the flyer of this very well-recieved event: http://www.ashra.com/news.php?m=A

In August, I’m taking E2-E4 to New York City, to a spectacular open air concert at the Lincoln Center/Damrosch Park. In NY I will also perform with my friend Joe Claussell at LOVE, and also go to Philadelphia. From the US I go straight to Japan, where I am playing with my former band ASHRA at the Metemorphose Festival a kind of re-union concert after a break of 8 years. In Oktober I have a solo concert at a famous German Film Festival, then I go to Bejing and to Tallinn/Estonia. And next year I am performing at the UCLA Live (Royce Hall). LINKS & MORE you can find at www.manuel-goettsching.com

Then there’s of course the constant requests about the x-100th revival or reunion of Ash Ra Tempel, but that this does not interest me for the moment. The first ASH RA TEMPEL reunion was already in 1973, when I was still in high school! (You can hear for yourself on the album “Join Inn”: http://www.ashra.com/disco/1732jo.htm)
But maybe there’s gonna be another reunion to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ASH RA TEMPEL in the year 2010, but that would be the only occasion I could think of. Still, with all my new plans and projects that are more forward looking than dwelling on the past, we’ll see ;-)

You have your own studio. How much time do you spend there? And do you work alone?

I am in my studio whenever I want to smoke a cigarette ;-) because I can’t smoke in the other rooms anymore... my wife doesn’t allow it.

And yes, when I work, I work alone.

But to be exact, I have two studios: a small one where I work on new projects and ideas, but also CD mixes and mastering. Then another, bigger studio where I keep all my old instruments, magnetic tape recorders, mixers and other rare, historic pieces of equipment - it’s almost like a museum. I work there mainly to restore magnetic tapes, or when I look for certain original sounds.

Which new project are you working on right now?

I just prepared two important albums for a re-release, together with bonus material. I was hesitating to make these re-releases, but so many people kept asking, so that I decided to do it after all.

1. BELLE ALLIANCE, an album I made with my band ASHRA, consisting of totally different people than ASH RA TEMPEL, which is why it’s a totally different kind of music compared to the early ASH RA TEMPEL. This album I extended to a two-CD set . The result was a kind of “BELLE ALLIANCE plus”, that contains the re-mastered original and a second disc with tracks that I wasn’t able to include back then, because on an LP there was only room for 2x20min. I always regretted not being able to include these tracks. Now the CD makes it possible...

2. CORRELATIONS, also an ASHRA record, for which we had some preparing sessions in 1978 (30 years ago today!) at the famous ufaFabrik in Berlin (the same location where also the gala-event in Memoriam Willy Sommerfeld and my concert took place during the Berlin Film Festival). The first mix was made in Berlin with Udo Arndt, who had also mixed BLACKOUTS for me.

My label during that time, Virgin Records, was not convinced and said we could do better. So we went to the studio again in Frankfurt/Main, made some changes and a new mix with Mick Glossop, who had worked with Van Morrison before, among others. Then Virgin released it after all. A few years ago, I released a 3-CD set titled THE MAKING OF with the sessions we recorded at the ufaFabrik. It was sold out in no time.

Now I got the idea of including the first mix we had made, so it’s the same titles, but they sound different, more spacey, more reverb and guitars, like an electronic band that uses rock elements, while the Virgin release sounds like a rock band that uses electronic sounds. So there’s gonna be a 5-CD box, limited edition for the enthusiasts out there - first in Japan and then worldwide... ;-)

You celebrated your 55th birthday in Berlin with some very illustrious friends. I wasn’t able to come due to some health issues.
Please tell me some more about this special event.

I had invited my friend Elliott Sharp, an exceptional Jazz and Classical guitarist from NY, who also composes for big orchestras, like the one of the Hesse State Broadcast Company.

Then another gifted young colleague from China, who tours with sonic youth as a guitarist, who played with Glenn Branca, and who’s the No.1 in Chinese experimental music. Then there was of course Joe Claussell, with whom I had “collaborated” before. He made some additions to two tracks of mine that we released on the album “Joe Claussell meets Manuel Göttsching" (http://www.ashra.com/disco/4a61jo.htm) - a very nice record, indeed!

Joe already played with Miles Davis, is a producer in NY - and a DJ of worldwide fame. But there were some other good DJs, too from London, Warszaw and Berlin.

But the biggest birthday surprise for me was the fact that my friend Gen Fujita came all the way from Japan, together with his daughter and his personal assistant. He is an important Japanese businessman, has an enormous knowledge of German culture and of music from all over the world.

He has the biggest wax museum in Asia and a very well assorted record store, where you can buy all my stuff, too.

In a film that was made about myself by Kinga Kielczynska for television in 2006, there is a nice interview with him (and also Joe Claussell) about my music.

Your album E2-E4 is highly praised by many top-notch musicians.

That is true, but it also depends who you ask. The “New Music” enthusiasts in the USA, especially in California consider my album INVENTIONS FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR or also NEW AGE OF EARTH (which has nothing to do with the New Age movement, that didn’t exist at the time I made the album) more important and influential. Others say the same about BLACKOUTS. So it’s a matter of perspective.

I think it’s true that my music, in which ever genre (people label me minimalist as well as rock, trance, dance, etc.), influenced many colleagues, because I was always one step ahead ;-)

People call you the godfather of dance music - what do you think about that?

Thanks, but I believe people already danced long before I was born... so then maybe godfather of one of the latest variations of it?

My music has been put in so many categories, from krautrock, space rock, prog rock, cosmic music - for the early albums - to electronic music, minimal, ambient trance, etc. nowadays.

Someone once called it teutonic railroad rock’n roll - also not bad, since I’m such a fan of trains.

And “heavy metal krautrock band” is also not bad. That’s what Julian Cope came up with for a project consisting of himself, a drummer and me - that actually exists!

But generally, I can only smile about all this - such labels come and go, and I’m glad that I seem to be talented in so many different styles ;-).

The rock or blues component results simply through the use of electric guitar, and the electronic component through many years of working with electronic instruments and sounds for the production and staging of my works. The minimalist component is the most essential part of my compositions.

Many musicians “helped themselves” to parts of E2-E4. Some celebrities among them.
Do you want to comment on that? “Talking about my Girl” by Fatboy Slim for example sounds alot like E2-E4.

Well, then there’s also “Sueno Latino”, the most famous mutation of them all, then those by Carl Craig or Derrick May, and even a piano piece that was worked on by the reknown French pianist Maxence Cyrin, that was released on Laurent Garnier’s label.

Then the ZEITKRATZER ensemble is playing it as well (they also did Lou Reed’s “Metal Machine Music” on classic instruments.). But all this is not limited to E2-E4. The track SUNRAIN on “New Age of Earth” is just as popular, many of the remixes, samplers and variations are legal by now, but many people still try...

Concerning Fatboy Slim, in some article it was said that he fell in love with his later wife while listening to E2-E4. Maybe “Talking about my Girl" sounds very much as some kind of tribute to my piece…

You mentioned “Sueno Latino”, but for a long time it wasn’t even known that this Ibiza smash hit is based completely on one part of E2-E4...
Don’t you mind that your compositions are used and interpreted by other musicians?

On the contrary, I think it’s nice when my works have such an inspiring effect on others and are interpreted in the most different ways. “Sueno Latino” was by the way created in Bologna, in a studio in Udine, Italy in 1989. The singer was the ex-girlfriend of one of the musicians of the duo “Righeira” who had also created the ingenious hit “Vamos a la Playa”.

Much, much later, E2-E4 got to Ibiza again through various remixes by Derrick May and others.

But it’s true that the creators of “Sueno Latino” credited me as one of the composers, but didn’t mention E2-E4, which is not nice, because if you take out my sample, then the whole thing collapses. So without E2-E4, there’s no “Sueno”. ;-)

E2-E4 was by the way already a hit in the States a few years earlier, in the clubs of Detroit, Chicago, but first and foremost in New York, in the Paradise Garage - in full length by the way, played by Larry Levan without edits or variations.

I have a copy E2-E4 at home - unfortunately it is not available in Germany anymore. Wonderful soundscapes. As an electronic music enthusiast, I can only recommend it.
Where can you still buy it?

You are a bit misinformed ;-)

E2-E4 is available worldwide in any good record store and in all online stores. But maybe you are talking about the shortage during the transition of the distribution rights back to my label MG.ART.

Until I re-released it, it might be that E2-E4 was unavailable for a short time. Just as it is the case right now with the vinyl version. But we are gonna release that soon, too.

By the way, how did Ash Ra Tempel get started?
Please give us a short introduction, Manuel.

What should I explain? The name or the band history? - It was my first band, Hartmut Enke came up with the name, in the sense of ASH = just as in the English "ash", Ra = the Egypt sun god, and Tempel is German for "temple".

I was never much into spiritual things, so the name for me is simply history. For him, maybe also for Schulze, the name would have a deeper meaning.

In your past, you encountered musicians like F.J.Krüger from the band IDEAL, who unfortunately passed away recently. You helped them through your recommendations and connections to their great success during the 80ies.
When you look back musically onto the 80ies today, what comes to mind immediately?

Rodigan’s Rockers, a reggae programme on BFBS radio, various DJs, who started scratching, and all musicians who were only talking about MIDI, something that already didn’t convince me back then. Because I had already made experiments in the late 70ies with early apple and commodore computers, I preferred to wait until the computer technology would be more advanced. Still, I had to wait more than 20 years until something like Ableton live would be possible.

I have fewer memories of the 80ies since the time when I was more active in the music scene were the 70ies.
It had begun already with the Berlin music scene in 1968 in the once famous Beat studio, led by the Swiss avant-garde composer Thomas Kessler. Everyone of distinction met there and this is how later the term “Berlin School” was coined, especially in the field of electronic music.

Quite a few things connected me to EffJott Krüger, IDEAL etc. I already knew him since 1973. Back then, there was a small Jazzclub on the upper Kurfürstendamm, with an even smaller basement, where we used to make sessions together.
I enjoyed making music with him, but we also worked on our bicycles together, cooked and did many things more. He was also one of the guitarists of the fashion show Veits-Fights that took place in the courtyard of the Technical University, for which I had developed and performed the music accompaniment.

There are video and of course sound recordings from that event, like of all the fashion shows that I accompanied musically for Claudia Skoda and Joop. (Two of which are on Myspace:

http://vids.myspace.com.index.cfm?
fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=8652303

Well and now, EffJott passed away.

Your activities are not just limited to concerts only. You also made and performed musical concepts for fashion shows, as we just heard and saw.
But you also composed and arranged music for theater.
What have you worked on in the theater field?

I also make music for films now and then ;-)

For the french cult-director Philippe Garrel and his film "Le Berceau de Crystal" (1975), with Velvet Underground singer Nico and Anita Pallenberg (for which there exists the original sound track: http://www.ashra.com/disco/1931be.htm).

Then also for F.W. Murnau?s silent film "The Haunted Castle" (I now and then perform this accompainment live, just like during this year's Berlinale: http://www.ashra.com/news.php?m=A), and of course for my wife's films.

But back to the theatre.

I have created the complete soundtrack for two stage plays ("Burning Patience" by Antonio Skarmeta and "Dracula" based on Bram Stoker), I was simply interested in the theatre work.

This includes not only my music, but also all sounds, revised original music, collages of speech, simply everything that is needed in sound during the performance.

I went through radio station archives and got sounds to work with, in some cases I created them myself. I sent Holst's "Planeten" through one of the earliest samplers - no stage director had ever heard anything like it at that time. And I had the great honor to work in my studio with legendary actor and dubbing voice Arnold Marquis (the German voice of John Wayne), as the off-narrator for the Dracula play.

I always thought it was a pity that after the week- or month-long rehersals with actors, and the huge effort with stage design and coulisse, everything was over after a few performances.

But, as my friend Hartmut Enke always said: "Theatre is always live".


What do you do to relax?
I read.

Do you have other hobbies besides reading?
My electric railroad.

Where do you like to go on vacation?
Wherever it is warm.

What is your favorite meal? Do you cook?

I can, but my wife can do it much better.
We go out for good restaurants, but we also cook at home - my wife is just perfect in cooking and friends with the best cooks in town: -)

The luckiest moment in your life?

When I finished this interview. I hate writing homework ;-)))

Who or what would you take on a remote island?

My wife would refuse to come, I guess, because it would be too boring for her without Internet, so then it would only be a guitar.

In recent years, so much has changed in the electronic music scene. The music is more impulsive and not as commercial anymore. It has more of a pop sound than in the 90ies, there are many producers and new ones keep coming. The scene is steadily growing. Where do you see yourself in the future?

For sure not on a remote island with guitar. I'd prefer to travel the universe with my spaceship, land on a planet now and then, play a concert, keep composing until I'm swallowed by a black hole at some point.

(Nicky laughs out loud ;-)

Manuel, I thank you very much, that you took the time do give this Interview.
I know you are busy. I wish you great success and I hope that you will be successful in all your future endeavours.
Any final statements?

Thank you!



....... And I thank you!!!
Nicky


Copyright:
Manuel Göttsching & Nicky Zimmer, Berlin/Frankfurt,
Translated into English by Florian Baron

Apri/July 2008 (unauthorized publishing is prohibited)

http://www.myspace.com/frlnicky
http://www.nickyzimmer.com

Interviews

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