|
By
Vinnie Apicella
While bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax were hitting
hard during the early eighties' Thrash Metal movement in the states,
there was a similar disturbance taking place overseas, particularly
in Germany, where such names as Rage, Running Wild, Sodom, and Destruction
among others, were every bit their Teutonic equivalent. Fans today
might be quick to point to, however, that where some of ours have
failed to maintain their sincerity throughout the years, their many
European rivals have continued to persevere with respect to their
roots. Million sellers or not, they are afforded the luxury of longevity
in the development and continuance of this powerful Metal tradition.
To learn a band such as Grave Digger, another of Germany's finest,
were offering up interviews at the dawn of an almost unheard of second
straight U.S. release, was difficult to grasp. As many in our "profession"
know too well, to gain access to those many European legends usually
not afforded the opportunity of a U.S. record deal can be a stifling
experience. Luckily, such was not the case here. While I didn't have
the chance to actually sit and chat with vocalist/founder Chris Boltendahl,
we were still able to address many "issues" that have weighed on the
minds of many a fan still waiting for this "resurgence" to extend
past the boundaries of the North Atlantic. With the release of their
new simply titled "The Grave Digger" album, the tide could finally
be turning. While many American Power Metal bands, who owe their very
existence to bands like Grave Digger, are enjoying recent success
here in the states and worldwide, the ironic twist is they themselves
could open the door for veteran bands such as this who could originally
be pointed to as an influence some two decades earlier. Grave Digger's
new release is an acknowledged return to their "darker" roots for
this latest "phase" of the band for which we unearthed several insightful
insider perspectives on the state of Metal and Grave Digger's role
therein, past, present and their future vision for ultimately conquering
this seemingly insurmountable foe known as the United States.
Vinnie: Welcoming you to America might be a
little off the mark since Gravedigger's last "Excalibur" album was
actually released here-but it had been a number of years before then.
So maybe the new release will keep it going. Considering how long
Gravedigger's been around and the success you've had overseas, how
important is this in your career to try to impact the U.S. market?
Chris: The American market is naturally very
important for us, but real Heavy Metal is still underground over there.
We get so much response from U.S. fans that makes us believe something
is wrong. On the one hand side, when you would play a tour there,
you play in front of 50-100 fans but when you see our mail response
we believe we are "stars." it's really strange. But all American headbangers
can prove now the opposite, because Grave Digger will play their first
U.S. show ever on the 13th of July in Cleveland for the "Classic Metal
Festival Part II". Everybody who will is able should support this
festival and all other "real" Metal shows!
V: Absolutely. at least for all those who aren't already overseas
attending one of those festivals! Well one of the first things I noticed
on the new album cover, besides the usually outstanding artwork, is
the Edgar Allen Poe reference on the gravestone. Is there some loosely
related concept going on here and does calling the new album "The
Grave Digger" reveal some sense of a rebirth for the band?
C: First, our cover-artist is named Markus Mayer. With "Excalibur"(1999)
we finished with our historical themes. In the beginning, for the
new album, we wanted to call it "Tales from the Grave," but it sounded
too close to the TV series. and also Iced Earth came up with their
"Horror Show." But still we wanted to stay within the horror theme
and because I love Poe I started to read his books again. So story
by story the album was built up in my mind and the result really goes
more back to our roots which were much darker. It is, how I call it,
the 3rd period of Grave Digger.
 V:
Obviously Grave Digger is not the same band today as when an album
like "War Games," (my first Grave Digger tape back in '86!) came out,
and so maybe there was your 1st period then, but what it represents
remains unchanged to me. There's always a consistency to the sound
even if you've managed to expand your reach as a band. What does Grave
Digger mean to you and do you feel any sense of duty to uphold a Metal
tradition?
C: I am the last former band member from back then and over the years,
my characteristic voice made Grave Digger sound all its own. Itīs
the same with bands like Rage, Running Wild, Manowar, U.D.O.... To
me, the band means everything and when last year our ex-guitarist
wanted to take the name, I was fighting like a lion ("Lionheart").
It is very difficult to change a typical voice where the fans directly
know what band is playing. Also it's not very easy to change the guitarist
but we were looking really hard for a perfect solution. After all
these band member changes we want to stay like this now ītil the end.
V: So of course Grave Digger's in good company as far as German Metal
bands go with the many of whom you just mentioned, and there always
seems to be a sense of camaraderie rather than competition that exists
between the bands. What do you make of it coming from the inside-does
this help push your forward or could it hold you back?
C: Here in Germany the "real" Heavy Metal scene has a big kind of
friendship. But all of the traditional bands have their territory
and status and thatīs also very important. We are all nearly the same
age and so that helps a lot to stay cool in this melting pot especially
with so many newer bands coming out.
V: Grave Digger's line up features new guitarist Manni Schmidt now
replacing Uwe Lulis. When did this occur and why? It seems the band
has responded well with the newer line up.
C: With Uwe it was like with an old married couple. Over the years
you divide. He was not the creative part anymore I needed. I felt
this already for the last 3 years but when we started with the songwriting
for the new album I had to do the change to save the success of the
band. It was a very uncomfortable step, especially because of the
uncontrolled behavior of Uwe after the split. but no fan would have
bought another "Tunes of War" or "Excalibur" under those conditions.
There had to be a change. We didnīt get a new face but a new nose.
V: Interesting way to put it. So what made you decide to call the
album simply "The Grave Digger" after all these years? C: In the 2nd
period of Grave Digger we called our comeback album "The Reaper" so
I thought now to start the 3rd period with just "The Grave Digger."
and so it just fits.
V: What do European fans experience at a Grave Digger show that American
fans have yet to discover? I for one think it'd be cool to see live
action burials and cemetery gates leading to the stage and that type
of stuff!
C: You are close. We donīt have a horror show like Alice Cooper but
still our reaper (keyboardist H.P. Katzenburg) is a big part of the
show. and also we have a lot of pyrotechnics.
V: Of your peers and the many newcomers is there anything out that
inspires or influences Grave Digger at this point?
C: Not directly, but we listen to everything new on the market. Itīs
really a shame though that all these "New Metal" bands celebrate such
a big success by stealing from the traditional Heavy Metal and the
kids, especially in America, should show more respect to the roots
of this music.
V: Well yeah, that's a whole other issue that leaves a lot of us scratching
our heads too! So speaking of "tradition" then, which your band has
obviously had a part in, what's been the key to your longevity as
a band?
 C:
Grave Digger lives for their music, honest and proud. And when the
music is successful, all right, if not, itīs also OK. We donīt follow
any trends just because MTV creates them and tells us to follow. And
here in Europe the fans respect that and we would never disappoint
them. I personally donīt like all these stupid reunions just because
"somebody heard" Heavy Metal will be big again. BULLSHIT, stay in
your grave... Heavy Metal was always there and always will be. Just
never give up!
V: It's amazing how many bands, even the older ones, could learn from
that. Unfortunately the U.S. has been out of reach for too many good
European bands. But that's great that you'll be coming over next summer.
Now what about plans to re-release some of your earlier material that
might be difficult for people to find now. would you consider rerecording
any older tracks for a future release?
C: This is basically a good idea for the next album. we will really
think about it. On the mini E.P. "The Dark Of the Sun" we recorded
already "Heavy Metal Breakdown", "Witchhunter" and "Headbanging Men".
For now, we'll just offer real heavy greetings to all our U.S. fans
and we hope to see you in July 2002!
Discography:
"Heavy Metal Breakdown" (1984)
"Witchhunter" (1985)
"War Games" (1986)
"The Reaper" (1993)
"Symphony Of Death" (1994)
"Heart Of Darkness" (1995)
"Tunes Of War" (1996)
"Knights Of The Cross" (1998)
"Excalibur" (1999)
"The Grave Digger" (2001)
|
The
Wrath of the Reaper!
