Interview с Gotthard : DARKSIDE.ru

I know that beside the English version of your hit song “Lift U Up” you recorded also a Spanish version of this song, as well as for the song “Anytime Anywhere”. So whose idea was that and why did you chose this language?

Well, the idea was that those songs were the best and we decided to play something different, and we chose Spanish, because it’s very close to Italian. It would have been at least easy to pronounce more or less understandable! (laughs) “Lift U Up” was the first single, “Anytime Anywhere” was the second single. And it’s very good, because both songs were being sold in Spain and Japan. Now don’t ask me if we’re gonna sing it in Russian, cause I don’t know! (everybody laughs) It’s too difficult, maybe you’ll help us with that! (laughs)

No problem, Leo! The two clips for the song from " Lipservice" were shot in a style of “Sin City” movie. Did you like the movie so much that you decided to make the clips in such a way or were there any other reasons for this?

Well, there were many reasons for it. It’s not that we liked the movie, the movie is quite ok, well just like a movie. The idea was like we liked the ambience if the movie, we liked the colors, the vibe and that kind of thing. We thought it was nice and we decided to do a kind of dark video clip, because the meaning of the song – being on the edge – so it was a good idea, we liked it and that was the reason.

And how difficult was it to shot such a video?

Ha, it’s very simple! You are in a green box and you stay there! (everybody laughs) It’s not that you are in type of the building actually! In Thailand we were shooting a clip in a kind of building, and it was not hat easy!

You upcoming CD is called “Domino Effect”. And what does this title mean?

Well, “The Domino Effect” is also a title of the song on the upcoming record. We liked the idea of this game – the domino, when all the pieces go one after another. And this domino effect you can see in many aspects of your life. Also in music – some people like the record and they pass it over to others. So that’s the domino effect of our life. So we liked the idea and we thought it could be a good thing!

Unfortunately I didn’t have an opportunity to listen to this record so far. So could you tell us about this CD a bit more?

Well, it’s the best record we’ve ever done! (everybody laughs) A typical answer, yeah? Really it’s a great record, it is the follower of “Lipservice”, so it’s rocky and maybe a little bit more punchy. There’s also a deep lyrics in some songs. I thing one should spend some time and read the lyrics, cause I think it’s really interesting.

And do you think it’s gonna have even the greater success than “Lipservice”?

I would be a magician if I could answer you this question (laughs) It’s very diffucult to answer this – nowadays it’s rather difficult to be successful, because as you know piracy, Internet and all the things can break down a record. Nevertheless I think it could be a great record, it could be even more successful than “Lipservice”, but I repeat it’s really early to say anything, The action’s so far to the media, and people like the record. So it’s a good possibility that it can be more successful than “Lipservice”. I hope that I could answer you this a positive way some time later when we come to Russia, hopefully it will happen in a few months!

As you mentioned the piracy – how much does it influence your music?

It’s a good question, cause because of the piracy the 40 % of the sales is gone. So it affects very much. But on the other hand one can never say that we are unsuccessful, cause if you have a lot of clicks in the Internet it’s also a success! (laughs) It means that people listen to you. And I think this thing may be good in the countries where your record is not released, because people can listen to the band at any rate.

In your opinion why are there so many downloads in the Internet? Do you think that it is connected with that there are too many bands, too much music to listen to, and people just don’t know what to choose and buy, they just click and download everything they see?

Maybe it’s something of the kind. But I think that’s also about the fact that there exist countries which are not very rich, but nevertheless people want music and can download it for free. It’s the first reason. It’s like piracy – in Russia you have a lot of piracy, in Thailand also. So it is the consequence of the economy of the country, you know. And another reason for downloads I think is the young generation, especially in the European side of America, because they were not grown up with the idea of buying music, they know from the very young age that the music is for free, cause you can download it for free. So a kid that is downloading the music for free is not like the kid who is saving some money to go and buy the new record of whatever band, whatever artist. This is something that is not taught at school, but still they know that it’s for free. You see?

Yes, I think it’s a kind of tendency in young generation.

Exactly, but which is ok in one way. One guy has the link, he gives it to another, that one gives it to someone else, it’s a kind of a chain, a domino effect again you see? So it’s the way I see the problem.

When you are composing a melody and the lyrics for the music do you feel from the very beginning that this song is gonna be a hit, that you will make a single and shot a clip for it?

Well, I think not really. Off course some melodies are more melodic, there are some melodies that stick more into your mind, which is easier to remember. But it’s a songwriting process and you just try to make the songs as good as you can. Sometimes you’re lucky and sometimes you are not off course. After releasing a certain number of albums you begin thinking, “Oh! This song is gonna be a hit!” But a lot of times you have quite the opposite – the song that you’ve never thought can make a hit becomes a hit! So it’s always unpredictable.

Speaking about your older works – do you have plans to re-release them? Maybe you’ll remaster them, add some bonus-tracks?

Well, we made some “Best of” material, some best of ballads which was released some years ago. So far we have no plans to re-release other CDs, maybe we’ll release another CD, but time will tell. With all this piracy as you can imagine the situation with internet downloads may be pretty tough and maybe there will be no one in the future to but CD. (laughs)

Your latest concerts you finished with Led Zeppelin “Immigrant Song”. Do you like this band or do you think that the energy of the song is ideal for the end of the concert?

We used to finish our concerts with LZ “Rock’n’Roll” but we got sick and tired of this, so we decided to give our fans something new, and we decided to perform “Immigrant Song” instead of “Rock’n’Roll”. By the way we recorded it back in 1995 for as a bonus track for the Japanese edition. So we thought it would be a good idea to bring it live. And people liked it. A good move!

By the way do you pay much attention to classics of rock? And what do covers mean to you? Is it a tribute to the band or do you want in this way acquaint young generation with the classics of rock?

In one way yes, off course it’s a tribute to the bands to which we were listening when we were kids. Music is like a book – if you read and like it you pass it over. Possibly your mum of grandma passed over the books to you. I think that sometimes you have to take a book from somebody, cause you may not find it again. And with the covers we try to make the young generation know something else around in the path and not only the things that you find in the market at the moment. I think a tribute is a kind of respecting what we learned from.

Among the songs on your upcoming album there is a song called “The Oscar Goes To…” Why did you write this song and what is it about? Actually I think it is easy to guess what it is about, but still…

(laughs) I should say it is not about what you think! This song is not about the Oscar like a statuette, like a Hollywood thing. But this ironical story and it goes from lady. And the lyrics is like, “If all what you say is true the Oscar goes to you”. So it’s ironical story about a lady.

Are there any beside band authors on the album as it was on the “Lipservice”?

Yeah, like the previous time we worked with Andersen Victer. Especially “The Oscar Goes To…” is a collaboration.

Gotthard is doubtless a rock band number 1 in Switzerland. And I think in Europe also. Whose of your young colleagues of young bands can be compared with Gotthard? What can you say about such bands as Crystal Ball and Shakra?

Well there is a band that’s going pretty good here. But it is more of a poppish style. And if to stick to the rock style – yeah, you are right Crystal Ball and Shakra. Are the most bright representative of the rock style. So I don’t know their sale figures, but they are doing very very good in here. And if Gotthard decides one day to cease to exist one day I think these two bands can be at our place.

You’ve been to Russia several times already. Which of them did you like the most and why?

All the times we were there were different situations. The first time we were in St.-Petersburg some years ago. And it was a very special event for us, because a lot of designers and architects of St.-Petersburg come from where I was grown up. And as we played there there were lots of securities which was very impressive! (laughs) Then we played in The Kremlin and it was also very impressive. A night to remember. Then there was a beautiful night trip in a train – a kind of orient express. It was wonderful too. And the last time we were with Roman on TV.How do you call this show?

Star factory?

Oh, yeah, exactly! And all the people, journalists were very nice and polite – remember you! (laughs) I liked the country and liked the people very much – really, it’s not just words.
While visiting different countries – do you have time to see the sights or do you just go to the club and interviews and so on?

We have some time, but not enough to see everything that we’d like to. We’ve seen a little bit St.-Petersburg, a little bit Moscow when we were in Russia, and it was wonderful to do a bit around. Off course it’s nice to have someone who could tell you about this and that, but mostly it’s not possible.

Do you have plans to make a big Russian tour and visit many more cities than you did? As for example Kingdom Come did.

We wish we could do that, too! We’re still working on it.

Well, let’s distract ourselves a bit from music and speak about other things. Switzerland is very well known as a country of banks, cheese and chocolate.

And what about tennis? Rojer Federer is a world champion.

Well, I know this name, but I’m not that good at tennis… It’s not so interesting to speak about banks, so let’s talk about the other ones…

By the way, Ksenia, do you like chocolate?

Yeah, I do, I think like any girl. And what about you? What sorts of cheese and chocolate do you prefer?

I like white chocolate! And speaking about cheese (thinks for a while) mmm, I’m so spoiled in cheese here in Switzerland! But I like all the cheese on the earth! (laughs)

And what do you like to eat in the countries you visit? Do you stick to your preferences or do you prefer to try traditional country food?

Surely I always try different cuisines. If we go to Japan we try Japanese food, if we are in Russia we try your traditional food. And I liked it! In Russia we tried everything that we could – in small portions, but everything. (laughs) There were lots of cucumbers and all the stuff cut into a little things, than we tried a very tasty cake, but it was a very high-calorie one I suppose (laughs), but very tasty.

Have you ever thought of giving up music and occupying yourself with something else? Aren’t you tired of never-ending tours, studio recordings, shows and interviews? (laughs)

No, never! When you have an interview with people who know what you’re doing – it’s really interesting. It makes the work you are doing – tours and recordings – worth of something. When people follow the events in the band and want to know what you do it’s great. It makes everything rolling in a right direction. Off course sometimes you’re tired of touring, cause there are lots of them (laughs) But when you keep on doing it regardless of everything it becomes a kind of profession.

In the year 1997 I fell on stage and broke my ankle and I kept late for 45 minutes, cause I was at hospital and after that they told me that I had to do a concert again! (laughs)

Oh, God! I wouldn’t say it’s funny…

(laughs) me too, but for some people it was.

And do you have some countries and venues where you prefer to play, where you like to play most of all?

Well, actually I like challenges. Each new country is a challenge. The reaction of the fans is different. And it’s very nice. When we played in Russia it was nice, we played last year in South America and it also very nice. It’s always a challenge when it’s about a fans’ reaction. Even each fan in one and the same country reacts differently, and I like it.

All the guys from Gotthard seem to be always in a good mood. Aren’t you ever feel low, when you don’t feel like doing anything?

Well, I think it’s a part of a human being. But I think we should wake up in the morning and be happy that you woke up! I think it’s a good thing and a right way to solve your problems whatever they are. Because if you like life, you can always find a way-out, you can always see what can be fixed and it what way it can be done. As long as there is life there is hope! And I think it’s very important to put a smile in you face in the morning, because when you smile – people smile to you and everything seems not that bad!

And how often is Gotthard invited to different festivals? And does it mean much to you who will be your partners on stage?

No, not really. I think stage is a stage – it’s a place for everybody. The most important thing is that people should be happy, and if they are happy with the line-up that’s good. But I don’t think that it matter much for us whom to play with. Off course we have some favorite bands, but sometime it’s like this, “Well, let’s go and check this band!” And sometimes you have to go back to the hotel cause sometimes it’s not possible. (laughs)

If you had a chance to return back in time – would you change anything in your life?

Well… To tell the truth I think I would change one thing. But it’s not possible. (sighs) I woul’ve spent more time with my family.

Yeah, I think there is always such a problem when you’re a musician, cause you have to spend a lot of time on tours…

Yeah… But in other things I wouldn’t like to change anything. I don’t regret anything in my life. But if I could change something in my life – I would change only this thing… Which make sense I think.

And when are you going to Russia with the concert?

I hope very soon! Thank you all for your support!

Interview by Ksenia “Wolfin” Khorina
Questiones also composed by Blindman
23 апр 2007 the End

Gotthard

No life without hope