Author of the translation:
This is an interview with Beppe Götte (the drummer) that appeared in the Czech rock zine 'BANG!' 1st of September, 1995 under title 'Feeling is everything'. The interviewer wasn't very friendly. I can't really blame him for giving strict questions but I'd give these questions to some other corporate-bullshit-band or singer that sniffs around. There's no need to go far just check out MTV or any corporate-shit-radio stations or magazines BUT I WOULDN'T ASK IN THAT WAY SPERMBIRDS, who are one of the most sincere bands I have ever listened to. I made my best translating this into english, those who have it may find some kind of flaws inside but I think it's exact enough.

Q: I'm interrested if the group feels the fact that the style Spermbirds are playing for years is suddenly popular?

A: That's very strict conclusion. I wouldn't see it in such a bold way. If you really believe in what you're doing it
really doesn't matter whether others are playing it too. We have always been more into punkrock. And from punkrock it's
a little step into more brutal sound and expression. White Zombie for example. Their new album is not as hard as the
previous and they are getting success now, after some time. That's not a mistake or a calculated intention of any
particular group but it's a moodness of the media. That unpredictable factor of conglomeration, generational
aggressivity, immediate reflection influenced by changes in rock music in general.
I know what you're thinking. That we should feel bitterness from the fact that others one-hit miracles are getting
success instead of us. But no. I don't think we're having that feeling.

Q: Even though I would doubt about the purity of the Family Values album that it wasn't a calculation.

A: Think about it in the way that we can't do anything else and we are doing only what we know best. It's your problem if
you feel in the music something else.

Q: I do not doubt neither your instrumentation nor the purity of self-expression. I don't believe the album in general.

A: And what do you want to hear? That we wanna be in fashion? Nobody in the world would face this.

Q: The album is hard, aggressive and uncompromising. Do you behave the same way in real life?

A: I don't think so. No, not at all. Rock is stylization.

Q: Can one trust stylization?

A: Why not? Or in other words, why can't one let himself be led by the creator into his world? Everyone likes tales. Although we all know that reality is somehow different.

Q: Okay. But Hardcore or crossover is based upon the fact that it belongs to people, it doesn't wear a 'make-up' , it's not
always beautiful, it is sincere.

A: Bullshit. For example we are not exactly a political band. Of course we are not singing about meadows in bloom and
beautiful places. But I can't say that we are some kind of political barometer too. Nobody is, neither Biohazard even
though we respect them nor Prong or Rage Against The Machine. The biggest tragedy is when Scorpions sit and sing
about iron walls falling and that the winds of change finally blew. That's politics for 9-year old. So we are not
a political band we are a metal band, what do you think?

Q: May be. But you are also proud Germans. Why don't you sing in German? I can understand why a Czech band sings in
english but german language is however one of the world languages. Don't tell me that kind of phrases that it's too heavy and not very flexible.

A: Yes it is heavy and inflexible. Some of our groups have tried to become more famous with german language but they
never did.

Q: You want to get successful commercially? Then I don't understand the philosophy of hardcore, punk...

A: It is simpler than you think. When you want to tell others something important.

Q: What are Spermbirds telling so important?

A: The question of drugs, alcohol, divorced families, political frustrations doesn't seem to you enough? What is more
important? Oh, yes, wars, regional conflicts, religions.

Q: Okay. If I understand it right you want to cover most of the fans spectrum. That would be much better with some kind of
change in the style than with crossover.

A: We don't think that we are one of the many.

Q: One of the few?

A: In Germany we are the best.

Q: Let's turn now to the Family Values album. Your favourite song?

A: 'Pop Song', that's some kind of irony. Then 'All I Want', that's maybe one of the heaviest we have ever written.

Q: And what about 'Kaiserslautern Über Alles'?

A: We're all football fans but although the song's title is in german we sing it in english and again it's mostly ironical. By the way you know that 'Kuka' and 'Kadlec' are playing in this club, don't you? (Czech national team
football players - translator)

Q: Do you remember your last gig in Prague?

A: Yeah, of course. Prague is beautiful. I'm not kidding I know that everyone tells you this. People were great. One can see that people in your country understand the music and know how to entertain themselves. We are mostly entertaining band we want to provoke positive feelings in fans to make them forget the problems and get happy. That's the intention of Spermbirds. Other things like hardcore, crossover, subjective feelings of the critics are second, not important. FEELING IS EVERYTHING.

Back to interview page

back to main page