Interview with Whiplasher in Hamburg - English Version

(Deathstars)

10.12.2006 von Melanie Schupp

Right beside the Hamburger Markthalle where Cradle of Filth will be doing a show later we met Whiplasher alias Andreas of the Deathstars. In a quiet restaurant not far from all the fans whom are already in front of the venue waiting for entrance.

Your album Termination Bliss“ seems to be a concept album. Was this planned or did this develop while recording?

Whiplasher: No, it wasn’t planned at all. It’s no theme. It’s no concept behind it. The thing is that the pictures with us in uniform were basically just one of loads of pictures. We took many pictures at the studios. And then we used this. We just wore it in our first video and on stage. And there is no theme cause every song is about different topics. But of course I think what we do is we keep the songs very effective. And it’s about conflicts all the time. So the songs are about the conflicts and learn from the dark side. Glamour as the darkness because that’s the only thing that makes you grow. If there is no conflict there´s also no progress. It is a different way to look at things.

Did the success of Termination Bliss surprise you or did you already know it would be a success?

Whiplasher: No of course not. It’s an excellent album.

What was the most complicated song on the album and why?

Whiplasher: I think every one went really smooth and that made it much easier. Death stars became even much more Death stars on Termination Bliss than on Synthetic Generation because we did that kind of expression like we didn’t on the first album. Emotionally some songs are big talk for us. Because they are related to death and personal tragedies. Technically, it was no problem. And Termination Bliss this song is very important to me because it is about our families and death.

Doesn’t it fuck you up always writing and singing on your personal experiences?

Whiplasher: No cause I always do it with a twist. There is always some kind of black humour in it. It’s always ironic. So even though it can be a serious topic the lyrics are sometimes banal and simple. Like Blitzkrieg – that is just so simple and primitive but it is about serious themes.

Did you design the uniform?

Whiplasher: No I think the other guys no we don’t wear them any more. I hate those green shirts! No, we got black ones now and I do not wear the uniform it’s too warm. But it is a real uniform!

I like them men in uniform great!

Whiplasher: Yeah I like girls in uniform!

Me too. I love uniforms.

Whiplasher: I like girls without uniforms!

How long do you plan to work on the next album?

Whiplasher: We´ll record it in late Summer / Fall in New York. But it´s difficult to say cause it takes a lot of time to write music. I think next Fall.

Why did you choose New York?

Whiplasher: Because Nightmare is moving there. He´ll leave after the tour and I´m moving to London. And NY is always nice. A lot of strange things happening in that city.

Will you move to London for a short time or forever?

Whiplasher: Maybe for the Summer and then I´ll go to NY for recording the album. We´ll see.

A question you´ve often been asked in interviews : Why did it take so long to produce Termination Bliss“?

Whiplasher: We did it on and off cause Dissection was also in the studio. You know Dissection? So Nightmare produced both albums at the same time. So the recording didn´t take that long but he´s a perfectionist. Really. He never gets pleased so we sat there for fucking days for some parts

But it worked!

Whiplasher: Yeah, he´s always right. I love him.

What does it mean to you touring with Cradle of Filth?

Whiplasher: I think it´s good for the band. This Saturday I think I have never seen so many girls in a show. (laughter) No but I think it´s good for us we get more people who are more into black metal. They come and see us. We´re just a rock band not a black metal band at all. It´s a good combination a good package.

So does it live up to your expectations?

Whiplasher: Yeah, but we didn´t have any expectations. We never have.

Which other band would you like to tour with?

Whiplasher: Danzig and KISS and Mötley Crüe.

Yes Mötley Crüe are back on the road.

Whiplasher: Maybe I don´t know Backstreet Boys would be a good band to support. We´re like the Backstreet Boys from hell.

Any press is good press. Do you agree, or could you do without some things in this kind of business?

Whiplasher: Yeah I love that! You know in the metal magazines they really hate us. It´s not about the music that much but because they think we are a metal band and we are not. So they don´t understand the homo-erotic things on stage. I don´t really care much about this. In the reviews they write: Guys in jeans with naked bodies. They don´t get the point.

What was the weirdest question you´ve ever been asked in an interview?

Whiplasher: I´ve been asked pretty much. Maybe sometimes reporters ask me if I want to have sex with them. Of course I say “Yes”. I like that question.

Oh sorry it´s not on my question sheet.

Whiplasher: Oh you can put it on it. You know the answer.

How do you manage not to fall in some kind of monotony while touring?

Whiplasher: Because we have Cat in the band.

What is so special about Cat?

Whiplasher: No, no he´s an idiot. We never had that problem at all. I think it´s because we are so different personalities in the band. Still like brothers. We are very tight. It´s based on friendships it´s not about the career it´s just friends. I think that makes us stronger than other bands. We are so tight friends since childhood. So we just love to hang out with each other.

In Germany there was a book released including stories of some famous bands and their special experiences while touring. Is there a story you could write in this book?

Whiplasher: I can tell you but then I have to kill you!

Okay I´ll risk it. Tell me the story.

Whiplasher: No.

You won´t kill me anyway.

Whiplasher (with a wink): No of course not. But I don´t know there is a lot of stories. I don´t even want to tell. Cause stories we may tell can be mis-translated.

Ah okay. So let´s go on with the next question. How well are you known in Sweden? Do you have a big following there?

Whiplasher: Yes pretty much. We are a well known band. We are the only band in this genre that comes from Sweden. So of course we get a lot of exposure.

In which country was the most amazing audience?

Whiplasher: Every night they are amazed. But we always had a thing for Barcelona and Serbia because of the girls. In Serbia it´s always amazing. And it doesn´t depend on the size. We played in a small venue in a part of London. There were about 300 or 400 people – very small. It was more like a rehersal room where you can watch stand up comedy. You can just walk with them, talk with them I love those evenings. And it was great. So it´s very hard to say every night it´s different.

So what was the craziest thing a fan ever did for you?

Whiplasher: They´ve done everything. Sometimes they just want something from me and then I give them my socks. They frame it. I think that´s really strange but it happens.

What colour?

Whiplasher: Black.

So what are your plans for future?

Whiplasher: Just conquering the world, watching graveyards and have a good time. No we don´t think that much about the future. There´s no idea about the band there is no concept. Anyone thinks there is a concept or some kind of image but we are just a rockband writing about our lifes. Next thing is just doing the next album of course we´re doing a tour in Spring again. But then it´s Russia and stuff like that.

Do you like to become more famous or are you a frugal person?

Whiplasher: I am very much not the one that likes being famous that much. I like being on stage and writing the music. I really appreciate the fans and we need them. Because they are the band more than the band itself. But I´m not really much into that fame stuff that´s more Skinnys part. He likes it.

What would you sell your soul for?

Whiplasher: I don´t believe in the souls. I believe in the flesh.

So what would you sell your flesh for?

Whiplasher: Aaah I mean I´m the cheapest prostitute on the street so maybe a nickle.

Which kind of music gives you power, which one brings you down and which one makes you hot?

Whiplasher: I love the soundtrack of the movie “Top Gun” that gives me power and makes me feel better. It´s my favourite movie. I like also listening to Rookie Ericsson. What was the next?

Which kind of music makes you hot?

Whiplasher: Hot? I mean everything that KISS does has a lot of porn in it. Of course KISS but Danzig is also very cool. I don´t know for a guy like me coming from a small city near the sea I love the sound of seagulls.

That makes you hot? (laughter)

Whiplasher (laughs): Yeah. What was the third one?

What brings you down?

Whiplasher: I hate bands like “Good Charlotte”. All kind of American college punk. And U2. I really really really hate U2 – destroy em! Politicaly correct bands. Music should be about being confused and and not about charity. I mean it´s a good thing of course but I don´t like it.

In which country have you seen the most beautiful men/women? Was it Serbia?

Whiplasher: Serbia yes. Everyone looks like a fucking model. And coming from Sweden well Sweden is famous about it´s good looking girls. But Serbia is because of their features the structure of the faces. We were so amazed – every one of the band. Every time we go there we are so amazed. We have a lot of fans there. We just walk into the streets sit down in a café and just watch the people!

And they like us.

Imagine... if you could be a woman for one day. Who would you like to be and what would you do first?

Whiplasher: I think I´d like to be my girlfriend. Then I could have sex with me.

That´s a good answer!
If one of your songs would be played in a horror movie which one would it be?

Whiplasher: I like all Dario Argento stuff. Italian horror movies from the 70’s. If I could choose a song for a movie I think “Tongues” would be a good song. It´s a dream of mine maybe one day doing a video that is directed by Dario Argento. With his daughter you know it´s Asia Argento she´s astonishing. She´s always acting in his movies. She looks really really charsimatic and dark. Maybe one day

If your life would be filmed, which actor would play your role?

Whiplasher: Tom Cruise. (laughter – similar nose)
Or maybe Tom Selleck but I think Tom Cruise would be a better choice. I love Tom Cruise he´s my favourite actor.

Your lyrics are effected by your life. The last year seemed to be very hard. Does this situation stop suddenly? In which way did your music help to find out of it all?

Whiplasher: Yes each of it is effected to our lifes. You know my brother killed himself. And he had a really hard time cause there was so much death around him. He always liked music and was listening to it all nights. Of course that´s some kind of therapy. And even for me when you are really down it´s always about conflicts. When you write music on it it makes you understand a lot. I won´t say it´s like some kind of therapy that´s pretentious.It´s very complicated of course it´s about our lifes but in the end you should be able to have a distance to it. You should see the beauty in darkness. I always keep saying darkness is the sexiest prostitute in the street.

The year 2006 draws to a close. Did everything work out like planned for the Deathstars?

Whiplasher: Yeah. Well nothing is ever enough of course. Not for this band because everyone is looking for kicks all the time. No but I think it has been great. It has just been too long for us. I mean I look like a fucking donut or something. I think we´ve been on tour for about three month and we didn´t have much days off. I mean Cat, Nightmare and Skinny are still sleeping. Everyone is really really tired. So the only thing we maybe miss is some more days off.

Is there something you relate to Germany?

Whiplasher: Marzipan. First country I went outside Sweden was Germany. I actually think about that. We went to Hamburg.
I remember our old bass guitar player Beast. He´s the biggest fan of Germany. He loves it. He´s so fascinated because the streets are always clean and there are big buildings and huge factories. And he loves that. We all like that. Everything´s clean and big.

Beautiful language. I studied German for six years but the teacher was so bad. I had A+ though I didn´t talk to her. I understand pretty much of German.

So my last question is a personal question. It´s more my personal interest. How do you feel about turning 30 next year?

Whiplasher: I love it. Ever since I was 20 I was thinking 35 must be the best age.

That´s very cool. Because most of the guys I know turning 30. They have a problem with that age.

Whiplasher: I love girls in the 30’s as well. Nightmare turned 30 but Cat is just turning 19!

19?!

Whiplasher: He joined the band by the age of 17. Nightmare could be his father and IS actually. Someone has to take care of that child

Yep that´s right. So we hope they all take good care on each other. We wish them good luck for their new album that will hopefully be released as soon as possible in 2007.

Thanks a lot to Whiplasher who was very nice to us. And our specials thanks goes to Nuclear Blast for giving us the interview.