Klaus Meine returns to the 80s -- for a while
Klaus Meine of The Scorpions called the Stuck in the 80s podcast this week for a chat and was very clear on one point: "We're not stuck in the 80s." OK, OK, Klaus. It's just that many of your American fans still are!
The Scorpions are in the middle of a short U.S. tour right now, promoting their new album "Humanity - Hour 1." The 12-track CD is a mix between a concept album and a "common theme" album, he says. Never mind the label, the point is that it rocks -- big time. If you want to give it a test-ride, tunes like "321" and "The Future Never Dies" are must-have downloads from iTunes.
During our half-hour chat, Klaus talked about the genesis of the new album, the role of super-producer Desmond Child and his thoughts on some of the band's classic tunes.
Click here for the full podcast interview with Klaus, but in the meantime, here are some highlights:
About the new album: "After 'Unbreakable,' we wanted to make an album that rocked -- with a lot of attitude. But we also wanted to make something that's not so much like a classic rock album, because we don't live in the past. We're artists and we're very much here and now. So we wanted an album that's more mature."
On producer Desmond Child: "When we met with him, he said, 'Hey guys, we gotta come up with something that could be another milestone in your long career.' .. When Desmond presented us with the idea of 'Humanity - Hour One' we thought this is great. ... You know, we didn't want to make another record with songs about boys chasing girls. I mean, come on, give me a break."
On his voice: "When you run through a major problem like we did in the 80s when we recorded 'Blackout,' I think after that after I survived two major surgeries on my vocal cords, you just take better care of your instrument. It's an ugly word in association with rock n' roll -- it's called discipline."
On Smashing Pumpkin's Billy Corgan contribution to the song 'The Cross': Actually, Billy is a huge Scorpions fans -- he grew up with our music. Since we were working in the same studio -- he was working with the Pumpkins and I was in the same place next door, we bumped into each other every day. I told Billy, 'Whenever you feel good about it, just come up and we'll record your part.' "
On playing in Cold War Russia: "It was amazing because we are Germans and we grew up in the shadow of the Berlin Wall. We grew up as a post-war generation. After all the success we enjoyed in the world, especially in the 80s in America, we wanted to go behind the Iron Curtain. We knew we had a base of fans there. ... We went there in '88 and the KGB was around us all the time. But we saw it was Scorpion-mania. Fans were coming from Siberia for 20 hours on a train to be part of a rock concert and to get a taste of the free world. A year later we went back to Russia and played the legendary Moscow Music Peace Festival and it was the moment of inspiration for a song called 'Wind of Change' that became the anthem to the coming down of the Berlin Wall."
Is the tune still emotional to play?: "It is, but it depends on where we play it. It was a hit in America too, but not so much with the hard rock audience. It's a totally different emotion when you play it in an Eastern Bloc country or in Russia. ... When I sing it, it still gives me goose bumps when people in front of me cry."
[Publicity photo from the-scorpions.com]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Love the Scorps. Here's a group that's maintained it's integrity and musicianship through the years (cough*VanHalen*cough).
Their new album really is terrific. :-)
Posted by: scottwe | September 20, 2007 at 05:44 PM
I've honestly been listening to the new album for three weeks now non-stop. I love every tune. Especially "321"
Posted by: Spears | September 20, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Sorry, I can't think of anything the Scorpions did. I still have Europe's FINAL COUNTDOWN cranking through my skull since listening to the podcast this morning. Just thought I'd share. :)
Posted by: Marissa | September 20, 2007 at 07:47 PM
OMG! It was such a great podcast! Thanks so much Steve!! You are awesome.
It kind of reminds me of an interview awhile back in Nimes,France with Til Lindemann(Lead singer for Rammstein.)Must have been the straightforward approach.
Keep doing what you're doing, you totally rock!
Thanks,
Russ
Administrator
a-ha Cold as Stone website
http://www.cdd.ee
"Part of the magic, that is a-ha."
p.s...I look forward to EVERY podcast that you guys do...This is what entertainment and the music industry is supposed to be all about.
Thanks so much! You have made me a believer that "The music" IS what it's all about.
Posted by: Russ Gudz | September 20, 2007 at 08:10 PM
You know, this podcast keeps hitting me with truly amazing songs that I've forgotten about. Winds of Change is definitely one of those songs.
Posted by: John Hays | September 20, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Hey Marissa....Rock You Like A Hurricane? And, no, that is not an offer, that is a Scorpions song! And a mighty big one, too!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | September 21, 2007 at 07:38 AM
Douglas, thank you for clearing that up right away! It's all coming back to me now. I loved the new wave sound far more than the rock/guitar/hair bands of the 80s.
Posted by: Marissa | September 21, 2007 at 08:31 AM
Wind Of Change... arghhh, living in Germany, you can't imagine what it feels like to hear that songs, almost every report on every show/documentary on German reunification, you get the whistling of Wind Of Change... so unlistenable in 2007... and I can't remember on how many tv-shows The Scorps have performed that tune...
Posted by: Dennis | September 22, 2007 at 06:15 AM
Sorry, Dennis. I believe the constant playing of "Wind of Change" was one of the little known clauses of the Versailles Treaty.
Posted by: Spears | September 22, 2007 at 09:02 AM
Great! Now I'm going to go into work whistling that little diddy. Thanks a lot guys! I doubt anyone there will get it, though. Or, perhaps, they'll consider it a prelude to a battle cry.
Posted by: Marissa | September 22, 2007 at 09:22 AM
Humanity Hour I is a great rocking album. I love to hear Billy Corgan on "The Cross". Scorpions are the best live rock band and I hope to see them on their world tour here in Germany. It´s just sad that the radio stations don´t play new songs and the promotion of this album is so bad :-(
Posted by: Claudi | November 22, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Humanity Hour I is a great rocking album. I love to hear Billy Corgan on "The Cross". Scorpions are the best live rock band and I hope to see them on their world tour here in Germany. It´s just sad that the radio stations don´t play new songs and the promotion of this album is so bad :-(
Posted by: Claudi | November 22, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Great interview guys, thank you so much. I'm really glad they are not stuck in the 80's heheeh their new album is a master piece, my 2nd favourite one, behind of Taken by Force :)
And the Klaus voice... oh man, what a voice!
Posted by: Roberta Forster | November 23, 2007 at 10:28 AM
I love Under The Same Sun, keep us together, we are brother and sister. Just stop the war keep in peace. V
Posted by: Ariston | December 21, 2007 at 10:21 PM