1. Interview with Matthau in Tampere Finnland - English Version

(Bloodpit)

28.08.2006 von Diana Hartmann

After having toured Finland with their successful debut album for the past year, ‘Mental Circus’ will now also hit the stores in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The release date is set for the 27th October and after that Matthau (voc), Paavo (guit), Aleksi (bass) and Alarik (drums) will briefly visit Germany and Italy for some shows. Reason enough for MHQ to check out the guys from Bloodpit a little closer.

On a sunny Monday afternoon I met Matthau at Klubi in Tampere. We found ourselves a quiet spot on the outside terrace, and whilst I was fishing out all my stuff I passed him a pen and the shortcut to fill out in the meantime. When getting to the question about his eye colour, which Matthau obviously couldn't remember at all, (yeah right) a pair of green eyes suddenly sparkled at me cheekily, asking for help determining their colour. Did the man want to kill me already before we even get started? ;-)

I think I’m gonna start with the unpopular question, because there are a few people out there who don’t know you yet. And that’s why I thought you could maybe shortly introduce Bloodpit and the music you’re doing?

Matthau: Yeah, Bloodpit. (thinks) I think we all wanna give people something. We want people to feel our music and people to have anything that whether it turns them on, or off, or anything. I’m talking about feelings, because to me music is a vehicle to emotions, whether it’s hate or love or any of those things. And what we try to do here is to create something you can actually feel, besides hearing, of course. And to define our music I’d say we’re rock-ish, pop-ish with hard heavy riffs, and some catchy melodies and good lyrics. Yeah.

‘Mental Circus’ will soon be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. What are your expectations for that?

Matthau: Right now I don’t have any expectations, because I really don’t know what to expect. I mean, we’re going there for the first time in November for a tour in Germany and I really don’t know what to expect. Let’s say, when we visited Moscow for the first time a few months ago it was the same: we didn’t know what to expect. And right before the concert began, we were sitting backstage, puzzling over things and we were kind of nervous, because we didn’t know if there would be any audience at all. And when the curtains pulled aside and we saw it, we were like: ‘Holy shit!’ There was a lot of people and everybody was singing along to the songs. So I don’t know. I know that there’s a lot of fans in Germany, at least two of them. (laughter)

I think there’s gonna be a few more

Matthau: Yeah I think they’re gonna be at our shows, those two.

Okay, I’m pretty sure there will be some more people.

Matthau: Thank you!

Despite this release now, the album is already a year old, so you’ve been working on new stuff already? I mean, obviously it’s crossing over. You couldn’t release the old album in other countries and go here for a new one here, could you?

Matthau: Oh yeah, that’s the case. When we go play abroad it’s a new thing, you know, for them. The same songs we have played here for several years, it’s a new thing, But we have already written, say 15 new songs and I think we’re gonna enter the studio in December and the album will be out in March 2007. Here in Finland, I think. And yeah, it’s strange, because we just finished touring for ‘Mental Circus’ here in Finland and now when we go, say to Germany, to Italy and to whatever country it’s gonna be the same thing. Playing the same songs all over again.

When you write the songs, how does the music develop? Is it a process in the band, like that everyone is involved, or is it more one or two people only?

Matthau: There used to be only me, myself and Paavo Pekkonen, who wrote the songs. But lately we’ve started all working on the next material and The process is, the thing happens at our rehearsal loft, where we pick up our guitars and start jamming together, throwing ideas on the floor, and then try to pick them up and glue them together. And who has the best ideas wins, basically

But the lyrics, it’s only you writing them?

Matthau: Yeah, only me.

And where do you get the inspiration from?

Matthau: Well, basically life. I don’t think I’ve ever been into writing only about one matter or one thing. For me I believe I can write almost about anything.

When was the first time you had a guitar in your hands?

Matthau: Being a child, a very young child, say two years old, or three years or so. Because my father was a musician and we always had guitars around at our home. I remember being a very small child and my father used to rehearse at home and play the guitar and I would go there (smiles) and start tuning it all over again. (laughter) And he would go: ‘Get the fuck out!’ So he always threw me out of the room, so he could rehearse.

And when did you start to learn playing properly?

Matthau: I’d say around when I was ten. I started. first I was always into being a lead singer. Only a singer, not a guitarist at all. But then I started to play because I wanted to accompany my singing. And that was because I knew a bunch of songs, from Guns ‘N’ Roses, Nirvana and bands like that, and I wanted to learn to play them because I also could sing them.

So the music is basically in your blood, in your family. But what about the others in the band? Did they grow up with musical influences as well?

Matthau: Well, Paavo did, yeah. But Alarik and Aleksi they went to a musical school, they took some education there. They can read the notes and everything. But Paavo and I, we can’t. So that’s the difference between us. I think Alarik and Aleksi are well, they went to school, so (chuckles)

Yeah, of course. Okay, describe yourself in three words!

Matthau: Very erratic. Moody. But also lovable. Yeah.

Okay, and the others? Can you describe them too?

Matthau: Let’s begin with Alarik. He’s I think Alarik is he’s a mental case. Actually he is, yeah. Cos he can turn into the weirdest thing ever in one day and the next day he can be the sweetest guy ever. Because he can he finds new stuff and he goes crazy about those things. For example, the other day he decided that he wants to be a what is it called not a vegetarian but a vegan.

Okay, so no milk, no cheese, nothing

Matthau: Yeah. And then the next day he was all about meat. Yeah, that’s Alarik! (laughs) And Aleksi is very professional. He reminds me of myself, because he has I’ve always been a man, who has clear what I want to do and I also I think about things a lot and I have a vision of where I am in five years from now. And he’s pretty much the same. And he’s such a great bass player. Paavo is an old friend of mine. I have known him since the mid-90’s. He’s very stubborn at times, but he is he doesn’t stress about things, he’s very easy-going.

Okay. Now that you’ve mentioned it we can take this question a bit earlier. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Matthau: In five years?

Yeah, since you just mentioned it.

Matthau: Oh yeah. The first thing is that we, as a band, Bloodpit, we’re gonna have total control over things, everything that we do, everything that we publish, everywhere we go and what to do. And the other thing is that I wanna be secure. I wanna have my own a bigger house, of course, and things that --- (author’s note: I’ve never known there were airplanes flying right over Klubi, but apparently there are, because that is who you can thank for the screwed recording; unfortunately at this point it’s not audible. Sorry.) But the most important thing is to be if we are still on and going, I want us to maintain our This is really difficult. I want us to maintain who we are today, because it’s really important that none of us get crazy about things to come. And the other thing is that I wanna own our merchandising, the whole thing. Because I’m gonna buy it. One day.

Okay! That’s very clear, I really like that! Because a lot of people, when you ask them, they just go like (shrugs)

Matthau: Yeah!

Did you enjoy the summer festival season in Finland?

Matthau: Yeah! It was quick! Summer (snaps fingers) just gone, just like that! (laughs) We did, say 20, or 15 to 20 summer festivals here in Finland. And it was great. There was a few incidents that are stuck in the back of my mind. I could tell a story We were playing at Välipuistorock in Lapua. I don’t know if you’ve heard about this?

I heard it, yeah.

Matthau: Yeah, there were two guys in the front row – I spotted them from the stage – who where clearly, clearly drunk. And they were giving us attitude, mid-fingers and everything, and yelling at us, and everything. And I told them to get out, but they wouldn’t. So the next thing I knew something was being thrown on stage and I think that went too far. So I put my guitar down and dived into the audience and basically punched one of them. And then there was the police and but the police convinced the guy to drop all the charges, because they understood what it was all about. Because the thing is, that when you see guys working on say on Hämeenkatu (author’s note: main street in Tampere), digging the earth, and you don’t go throwing rocks at them, cos you know how it’s gonna be. So I think that’s basically the same thing. We are there working and people should respect that!

Yeah! I mean, if they don’t like it, fair enough, but then they can just go out!

Matthau: Yeah, yeah! I mean, you can always show your middle finger, it doesn’t bother me. But when you throw things on stage, that’s when I get really angry.

Yeah, I understand that. That shows absolutely no respect. I noticed that on your website, you used to do this tour diary

Matthau: Yeah!

But you didn’t do it for the summer festivals

Matthau: Actually, I just did!

You did?

Matthau: Yeah, it’s gonna be on the website any time now, today, tomorrow. There’s gonna be a review.

Okay, that’s good, because it was really fun to read. The tour dates for Germany were just released. Are there planned any more dates in bigger cities? Because there were like a couple of places I’ve actually never even heard of

Matthau: Oh! Really? And you live there, right?

No, I don’t live in Germany, no. I live in Norway, actually

Matthau: Oh, okay. It’s absolutely possible that there’s gonna be a few more cities to the tour. I’m not sure about it, but right now those are the dates. But it’s possible, yeah.

And lots of fans are asking, is there maybe a chance that one or the other date will be together with Negative, seeing that they’re gonna be in Germany at the same time?

Matthau: A lot of people keep asking the same question, and the only thing I can say is that we are working on it right now.

Okay, they should watch out then.

Matthau: Yeah. No one really knows how it’s gonna be, but let’s hope for it.

Are there any other countries you’d particularly like to tour?

Matthau: Well, I love Italy. We’ve been there twice and

And you’re going there now

Matthau: Yeah! I would like to tour in every country that releases our album, of course. Don’t ask me what are those countries, because I can’t remember. (laughter) Yeah, definitely. And Russia of course, because it was so great when we were there.

Yeah, okay. There’s the next question, but you’ve maybe answered that already. But I’m gonna ask you anyway

Matthau: Okay, go ahead!

Is there a funny tour story to tell, like something embarrassing that happened on stage? Not just from the last gigs now, I mean generally.

Matthau: Okay. Give me a second!

Yeah, sure.

Matthau: (thinks) Well, yeah. A year ago we were playing at Provinssirock festival and at the end of the show I smashed my guitar and threw what was left of the guitar into the audience. And two girls were hit by the guitar on their heads

Ouch!

Matthau: Yeah! And they had to be taken to the first aid. I didn’t see, because I threw the guitar and walked off stage. So there was a security guy, who came over to me right after the show, told me what had happened. I was really scared, because I didn’t know how serious it was. So I actually it was me and a few friends of mine and our booking agent, we went to the first aid to see the girls, but they were already gone. So I never saw them and I never got to deliver my apologies. But I heard that those girls were thrilled to have the guitar (laughter)

So they kept it then

Matthau: Yeah!

Good. You signed an US deal earlier this year. What is the news on that one and the release? Because I think it said there that the album would be released during this year, but there wasn’t any more news after that

Matthau: I don’t think so, I don’t think so. I don’t believe in that. I think it’s gonna be released in 2007. Because there is a lot of things going on when it comes to 456 Entertainment, the record label. They have been really busy, so I think it’s gonna be scheduled for the next year.

Okay.

Matthau: And the tour of course, also.

Yeah, okay. Could you imagine doing some solo stuff today? Errrm (noticing the mistake) Sorry! (laughs) I meant, some when. Not today

Matthau: Oh, not today, not today (laughter) Weeeell yeah, today (pretends to look at a watch) Yeah! (more laughter)

Well, there’s jam session tonight at Henry’s Pub ;-)

Matthau: Yeah, actually, there was an offer a few weeks ago, to make a solo album, but I refused because I (laughs) I don’t see why It wouldn’t be wise to do that right now. Maybe a few years later. But absolutely, yeah. I’m totally into that!

And the Acoustic Sauna gig you played earlier this year

Matthau: Ah yeah, here (points at Klubi building behind us)

Yeah. Is there a chance of a ‘part two’ some when? I was in Finland for Helldone and stuff, but I didn’t know about that. I just saw some videos made by, I think, some Spanish fan club girls

Matthau: On youtube?

Yeah. They put them up there. I saw them and I was like: ‘Wow!’

Matthau: Yeah, a lot of people ask me where and when. And all I can tell you is that our booking agent is working on a brief tour at the moment. Because I’m really into that and I’d like to do that more. And I’m really enjoying being on stage all by myself, doing songs I really love, and I will definitely play more shows acoustically.

But then it also will be announced properly?

Matthau: Yeah, sure!

But that’s not gonna happen in the course of this year or something?

Matthau: Absolutely!

Yeah??

Matthau: Yeah! I would say within a month, or two.

Okay, that’s good to know!

Matthau: Yeah! And I will let you know!

That’s very good It’s the fourth time I’m in Finland since June, so basically I almost live here anyway, so I’ll be there. (laughter) The video to Bad-Ass Blues was based on this fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel

Matthau: German fairy tale, yeah.

It’s quite an exceptional idea for a music video. Who had this idea, who came up with it?

Matthau: When we did our first video for Platitude, we decided that this is the way to go. We wanna act on every single video we make, because it makes it more interesting to us and to the fans. It happened by an accident, because on Platitude there was supposed to be a female model playing Wendy, Jack Nicholson’s wife (author’s note: The Shining). But we said: ‘No, we don’t want to have any big-breasted blonde doing that. Because that would ruin the whole thing. We don’t want that. We wanna do it ourselves. Take it or leave it!’ (laughs) They didn’t like it at all. They said: ‘Okay, there is a problem!’ And we said: ‘No, no, no, let’s just do it this way. We do the acting, and you just do the filming. Go and shoot!’ (laughter) And it turned out to be one of the best ideas. And this really gave us a reason to make more of those silly kind of videos.
And when it was time to make a new video we were thinking of fairy tales and other stuff like that. And we ended up using this fairy tale particularly, because there is an evil witch, who tries to cook those kids up, but ends up in the kettle herself. It was fun to make!

So you like playing the meanie?

Matthau: Absolutely, absolutely!

Will you continue with that?

Matthau: Yeah, sure! And Alarik will also be the lady

Yeah, he’s the girl, okay

Matthau: Because he is so when you look at him in person, he appears to be 15 years old and he’s The guy doesn’t even (laughs) you know, he doesn’t have any facial hair at all (laughter) because it won’t grow. And just for the record, he’s the eldest of us four.

He is?

Matthau: Yeah!

How old is he?

Matthau: 26.

Okay, and you are?

Matthau: 24.

And the others?

Matthau: 25 and 26. I’m the youngest. But people get confused, because I always tell them that I’m 45 years old. And some of those people actually believe that!

No?! (laughs)

Matthau: Yeah! (laughs) And that’s really that makes me wonder. ‘Thank you very much!’ (laughter)

Well, I can definitely tell you, you don’t look like 45!

Matthau: Well, now, because I shaved my beard off. But with the moustache and everything I looked much older

Yeah, maybe, but still not like 45! (laughs) Okay, it seems like from the videos that you quite enjoy acting. So if you were given the chance, without reference to age or gender, to play a role, what would you love to play?

Matthau: (thinks) Ooooh! That’s a good question. (thinks more) I’d like to play the president of the United States. That would be awesome! (laughs)

Why? (laughs)

Matthau: Because he is the fucking (laughs) He’s an idiot! And I would like to take it even a step further, you know. And to be a total moron, I’d like to play him, yeah. Bush.

Okay. In this month’s Suosikki (author’s note: Finnish music/teenie mag) you did this modelling thing for these pirate-style clothes. How did that happen?

Matthau: (looks a bit puzzled at first) Oh, you’re talking about yeah, okay. Well, I was being asked, so that was it, yes. (laughs)

Did you enjoy it?

Matthau: Yeah! I loved it! I got all the clothes and I didn’t know why I was there for when I went there. (laughs) They had a few bags full of clothes and they said: ‘Go ahead, knock yourself out!’ And I was like started wearing them, and tried everything, and I had some fake guns and everything

And you got to keep all the stuff?

Matthau: Yeah!

That’s good then! On your album leaflet, there are these kind of nicknames for all of you

Matthau: Are there?

You don’t remember that? Okay, I’ve written them down It says here: Paavo – The Amazing Mr Axe

Matthau: (mumbles to himself) Holy shit! (then remembers) Oh yeah, those

Aleksi – Lord Of Disorder, Matthau – The Ringmaster and Alarik – The Incredible Stickman. Do they have kind of a deeper meaning, or? (laughs)

Matthau: I have no idea, who invented those stupid names. I don’t know, I really don’t. I saw them for the first time when I had the CD in my hands. I was like (pulls a face) ‘Yeah, right!’ (pulls more faces) I think it’s foolish (laughter) I think it’s really stupid. I don’t know, who’s behind the whole thing, I don’t know. ‘The Ringmaster’ (giggles to himself, shakes his head and punches his hand) Get the fuck out (more laughter)

As a musician, what do you think of the internet? Is it more like evil curse or a good way to promote?

Matthau: Come again?

The internet.

Matthau: Internet? I think it’s good, because I think you can blame it on the internet, the fact that we are known so well abroad, in countries we haven’t even been. So I think it’s really a good thing. And it was amazing when we went to Los Angeles to play only one show. There was a lot of people, who already knew who we were, and knew our songs, and had seen the video and everything. It was amazing to go to the other side of the planet.

Is there any artist you’d like to work with in the future? Finnish or international?

Matthau: Well, yeah. Actually, Mr Pate Mustajärvi from Popeda. (author’s note: the band his father was in) It’s a Finnish group, Popeda. The lead singer. And I made my suggestion to him and he said ‘Yes’, but we never went any further. So I don’t know. But right now he’s lying in a hospital bed, because he almost killed himself by drinking, so
Anyway, I’d like to work with – when we’re talking about international stars – I really would like to do something with Trent Reznor. (author’s note: Nine Inch Nails) Yeah, that would be amazing. One day. Or Gene Simmons. (author’s note: KISS)

So, you don’t drink any alcohol?

Matthau: No!

How do you keep that? I mean, I think it must be very difficult, when being in this business

Matthau: No, it’s not.

It’s not?

Matthau: Not anymore. At first it was a pain in the ass, when I quit, but

Like, everyone else is drinking

Matthau: Yeah. But the reason why I quit is that life is full of choices. And I don’t need to be wasted, I don’t I think it only holds me down. And I’m much more confident. More good-looking. And I mean, I smile more, I hum more, food tastes better, women look more beautiful and everything because of the sobriety, being sober. Yeah.

But the others in the band

Matthau: They do drink

Okay. In the band, what are your bad habits?

Matthau: Errrm (thinks and coughs demonstratively) Cigarettes! (laughter) Cigarettes and being a lazy son of a bitch. But then on the other hand, I’m very productive. And I do a lot of things, but I would like to be even more productive. All the time. I just can’t sit down and do nothing, that’s not for me. I always have to be up to something.

Okay. And when you’re on tour, is there anything you hate?

Matthau: (thinks) Actually, yes. Girls who try to enter my hotel room without asking me. Get the fuck out!

So that happened?

Matthau: That happened.

How do they get in there?

Matthau: By following me. No actually, there was one incident a little while ago, when we played a concert and went to a club after the show. And I was the first one to leave the club, so I went to the hotel and then I noticed there was a girl following me. And she just started asking me all kinds of crazy questions. And I was really tired, and I just wanted to go to sleep. So she wouldn’t turn or leave, she would follow me all the way up upstairs, and to the hotel door, basically. And that’s when I told her to get out, basically. I’m talking about people, who are drunk and just think they own you. And they wanna do anything to get your attention. That’s really annoying. If I’m interested in a woman or a girl, I will go for it myself. But ladies, who I’m not talking about ladies, who come and talk to me, and stuff like that. But when they’re drunk and they’re like ‘Wooooaaaaaah’ (demonstrates waving his arms around), that’s really annoying. That’s what I’m talking about.

Yeah, okay. I think that was about it, but I would say the last word is yours. Do you have a final message to the readers?

Matthau: (laughs and puts on deep voice) Kill all the white people! (laughter) No, no, no! (thinks, then laughs more) I never have anything to say, when I should say something Buy me a lot of rings! Buy me a lot of jewellery! And I’ll be happy (laughter) But don’t bring me money, because I won’t take it!

Okay! (laughter) Any particular wishes for the jewellery?

Matthau: Errrrm (thinks) Don’t bring me anything cheap! (laughter) Because I won’t use anything else than silver. All my rings are silver, except for this one, as you can see. It’s not silver, but these are silver, all of them. (shows them) Yeah, bring me rings!

Okay, we’ll write that in bold underneath (and we did;-) Thank you very much for taking the time!

Matthau: Thank you!

After almost an hour of questions, some photos and a little small talk we say goodbye. Matthau has proved to be the perfect interview partner. He speaks clearly, thinks his answers through well and makes the lasting impression of being a very charming, self-confident and articulate man – who definitely knows what he wants.

Thank you to Matti from Beemvees for arranging the interview, and a big thank you to Matthau, for meeting up outside any tour commitments and patiently answering all questions.