Don’ t want to talk about the reasons of your divorce from Jaded Heart, but i wonder: are you really satisfied with your actual solo career, or would you be ready and willing to join a regular band again? And which one would you eventually dream to receive such a proposal from?
Well, I am more than satisfied being solo. I actually was a “one man show” all my life, as I was sitting in the studio constantly alone. That´s my story, ha ha…. Unfortunately everybody believes, that Jaded Heart was a “bandthing”. That´s not right… But anyway…The only change is, that I only have to care for myself now. That´s great.
I mean, there´s a few bands that I´d like to join, but I better keep my mouth shot, ha ha..

You’ve got a brand new album out right now, “Conspiracy”. What’s the meaning of such a title, and what musical direction are you following on it?
The direction is basically the same like always. The material is exactly, what I would have written for the next Jaded Heart-album. The title (the song) describes the split of JH. Basically how it feels being betrayed by your friends.

Who did help you in performing your new songs, and under which label is the cd going to be released?
I have my own label now, which is the best thing, that I could have done. Most instruments I handled myself. Of course I wanted to have different musicians on the album, to add other influences to lift up my songs. So I asked all lot of guys, that I played with in the past and also some others. It was such a great experience to work with them all. But if the internet would not exist, I could not have done what I did. I´m glad, we´re all so progressive these days.
In the studio I´ve worked with my bodies like Chris Ivo, Andreas Rippelmeier, Marko Grasshoff. Thru Andreas I´ve got in touch with Guido Gallus and Olli Müller. With all the others I´ve been in touch with via emails. These were: Tommy Denander, Niklas Olsson, Anette Blyckert, Bobby Stöcker, Bobby Altvater, Rob Marcello, Robby Boebel, Jack Frost

Which songs in “Consipracy” are you more satisfied of, and consider as the best representative of the whole album?
I glad and proud with the whole album. I have too many faves to mention just a few!

How much does this condition of yours as solo artist influence your live activity? Do you just happen to work in your own RBM studios?
Yeah, that´s right. I constantly work in my studio, as I produce also a lot of bands, or just projects. I am writing permanently in different directions.

The projects you’ ve taken part to (including an experience with the greek band Redrum-mirrored name for Murder) have always seen you singing some definitely heavy songs. So this definition of “german Bon Jovi” doesn’ t annoy you?
Could it really be annoying to be compared to one of the best selling acts in the world? In my opinion, no! If he was lousy singer, I would mind, but really not in this case…

I remember some killer tunes from the Letter X cd “Born into darkness”. But considering all the projects you offered your vocals for, from Jaded Heart to Charade, from Rain to Biss and so on…, which one made you feel more comfortable, under a musical point of view?
Definitely Jaded Heart (of course, ha ha) and Rain. Surely my first solo also. I am really capable of using my voice in a lot of directions, but I only feel great with my style.
It´s very funny, that so many people adore the way of singing, that I did on the LetterX and The Sygnet-stuff, but there´s also something else to mention. I mean, the way I sing and perform fits my personal style. I´ve been touring with both, L.X. and T.S., but I always felt wrong in place. Both has to go together for me. In the studio it is all the same. I just love using my voice. In my opinion it is the strongest and most personal instrument..

As a solo artist, you released a much softer AOR-oriented stuff. Why such a choice, after being the main songwriter for the powerful tunes of Jaded Heart?
Just because of that. If I would write the same stuff solo, that I use for JH, why then solo?? It of course had to be different. And I also wanted to realease an album with my softer side. Like I´ve told you. I write constantly songs and they are all in so many different directions. It could be pop, country, rock, heavy, schlager, whatever…

Having Jaded Heart been one of the very few bands who costantly released, during the last decade, songs of pure powerful melodic rock, 100% grunge-free, I’ d say you truly deserve our regards for never following the musical trends…Any comments?
Ha ha, I like that. You know. First thing is: Write the music, that you love. 2nd: Write what you´re great in, 3rd: Never ever try to be somebody else. That´s why I never tried to be a 2nd
“Nirvana” or whatever… Stick to your guns!

Do you think that your growth has naturally softened your screaming attitude (and I mean attitude, not ability!!!) or are you still willing to perform vocals at your highest tones?
Actually I never thought about this. I sing like I sing. I never really realized, that I wanted to prove, or that I had to. But I still want to perform a song at the highest quality. No matter how low or high this will be in the end. I´ve been told by a lotta singers, that I sing very high, actually for me it doesn´t feel so. I just let myself go.

What’ s your opinion about “Helluva Time,” and the Anastacia’ s cover song in particular?
Oh oh… Let´s put it that way. I miss the class, that my songs had. It´s a one of a million –album now, but not what JH used to be… They should have used a different name and I would think different. Enuff said??

Is it true that you refused a proposal for joining Bonfire, just for a matter of loyalty towards your old bandmates?
I used to be with Bonfire for almost 2 years. That was 1993/1994. I never wanted to leave my band for another. Never. I´ve had so many offers, but there was something called loyalty in the way. Some people do not have this word in their vocabulary… ;-)
Don´t wanna bring it up again. My story a bit more detailed is written on my homepage.

I’ ve read you encountered some troubles with Axxis during a tour. What happened exactly?
Long story short. I mean, this is almost 10 years ago. For some reason, after 4 shows kicking ass, we were not wanted anymore (guess we were too good, ha ha). So after they really fucked us in any way. No soundcheck anymore, no backstage-area, lousy sound, 2 lights per side and in the end we were not even allowed to get into the hall before our gig… And some more highlights, ha ha… that´s history (thank god..). We succeeded anyway ;-)

I would love to get some genuine opinion about these german bands:
-Frontline, don´t know too much about them, but I´ll write some songs with Robby now, ha ha..What I´ve heard was good.
-Pink Cream 69, great band. Know them all also from touring together (when I was with The Sygnet) and I think, that they have a much better singer in David! Unfortunately I don´t have any records… oh, I do have one very old album with Andy singing…
-Fair Warning, also a great band. We toured together in 1993, when I was the singer of Bonfire.
-Victory, also a great band. Actually the only one of the mentioned, that I have 4 albums from. Even the ones with Charly… I know Tommy very good as we worked a couple of times together. Great guy and a great producer.

Regarding your activity as a producer, which is the cd you’ re mostly proud of, under that point of view?
Puuuhh. There´s a few. Steel Dawn “Mirror Images” in 1994, Jaded Heart –Trust, My new solo. The new Mark Sweeney –“slow food” (not released yet), Antonio Romao (not released yet-it´s popmusic).

The Charade project has always got a particular charme among the fans of melodic rock. Can you tell us more about its origins?
Well. First of all, Angel is a great musician and he brings in great ideas. Actually like nobody else. It´s easy and great working with him. There´s something special, that I can´t really describe.

How would you rate “Consipacy” in comparison to your own previous releases?
Ha ha. Don´t know, as every album has it´s own personality. But if you ask me so hard, I would say as great as JH-IV or Trust. But it is hard for me to decide. I love a little bit of everything.

We wish you all the best for this album, as well as for every future musical project you’ ll be involved in!!!
Thank you so much for the interview. Be ready for my next release on the 3rd of November. RAIN´s new album “stronger” will come out then. So, stay tuned ?
It´s only Rock´n´Roll!