Interviewer : Arnd Goroll
It´s been a long time since MANOWAR played in small locations like during the "Hell On Stage"-tour, which they probably normally use as dressing rooms. After the successes with their last two albums and the brilliant live shows it was about time for us to do an interview with the guys.Scott Columbus answered our questions and surprised us with his german.
You are on the road for quite a long time with your "Hell On Stage"-tour by now.So how were things going during the tour? "Excellent", Scott answered in German. (note:the guys always say that when they really like something). "Absolutely great. Every evening the halls were sold out, a great audience and everytime a great show. By the way we record every show, because we are going to release another live album." Interesting to hear...
Tell us why you play in smaller locations this time. Usually you expect MANOWAR to play in big Arenas. "Now the idea was like this: MANOWAR play their music for the fans, and many of them don´t have the facility to go to the big Arenas.That's why we thought we should bring the music to our fans."
How was the past year for Manowar? "Do you mean the beginning of 1998?", Scott says and I made him understand that I thought of 1997. "1997 is long past,we dont care about it anymore.Now its 1998 and its a great year for Manowar.Its important to always look forward to the future and not hook up on things in the past." He is right...
How is this tour going to differ (oh, again!) from the last one, in consideration of the songs you will choose and the application flow? "There will be a lot more new songs. Songs we never played live or songs we have not played live for a long time. The last live record contained with its 22 songs a lot of material and the new one will contain songs from all studio albums we released so far. Unfortunately I can't bespeak any more details. But let me tell you this: "Blood Of My Enemies" and "Army Of Immortals" will be some of them..." Aha...
Why did you puzzle songs from all concerts on the last live record and did not choose one complete concert? "That's easy: We wanted the fans from Spain to find a song on the record that was played in their land and the fans from South America should have one that was played there and so on." So,the fans really mean a lot to the band...
Let's talk a bit about your fans. Is it possible to describe the typical MANOWAR-fan? "Wild, crazy and he believes in what he is doing."
Are there any countries you would like to do a show in, but where you have not been up to now? "MANOWAR play everywhere, where people like metal. So, there are no special countries."
Where do you think is the border between "being a fan" and fanaticism? "Oh, I think there is just a thin border between both.Thin as a hair. The transitions can be floating. What is the most positive/most negative experience you made during a tour? "Let me think... I don't remember. Basically every concert's a great experience. Like a soccer match.You go out there and the fans are in a good mood and cheer... For me every show is like the "Superbowl".
From your critics you probably get to hear that true "Power-Metal" is out, that the new trend is Alernative Sounds. What do you say to those people? Scott replies immediately: "Then they should go to Mariah Carey. No, serious, that's no problem to us. The ones who don't like us simply don't have to listen to our music."
At the moment there are many successful True-Metal-Bands (Hammerfall for example entered the charts.)
Do you think MANOWAR will have an analogical success with their new CD? "Oh, I'm a drummer and not a fortune teller. But it would sure be nice.
When people are always on tour they surely miss something by the time. How about you? "No, absolutely not. It's simply what my life is about, to be on tour and play for our fans."
What are MANOWAR going to surprise their fans with in future? "At first with the new live CD of course. Then we are going to work on a new studio album. But I can't tell when it's going to be finished now."
Arnd Goroll
