Interview with Udo from Chinchilla

For those that have never heard Chinchilla before, introduce them to your music.
Hello , thanxs for your interest in our band and music. We are a German Power Metal Band and we come from a town called Böblingen near Stuttgart. We make high class Metal that combines the best of two worlds! The intense energy of Power Metal and the catchy hook lines of Hard Rock "Madtropolis" it's fantastic Power Metal on highest level! That's the introduction of our record company and I think you can't describe our music better. Here are some details about our history:
CHINCHILLA started in 1988 and we released our first demo-CD "No Mercy" in 1990. Due to some personal differences the band split-up, but I couldn´t live without making music and three years later, in 1993, I reformed the band. I started CHINCHILLA with a complete new lineup. In 1994 we recorded the 5-song-Mini-CD "Who Is Who?" with ex-Letter X singer Martin Obermeier. Excellent reviews from the national press attested the fact, that CHINCHILLA was a band to watch out for. In the end of 1996 we went into the studio again to record the second album "Horrorscope". The album got released in Japan through Virgin Music in May 1997, but it took us until the end of 1998 to release the album in Europe through Point Music. Meanwhile Martin Obermeier left the band and we had to look out for a new frontman. It took the band only a few rehearsals to find Thomas Laasch, a man with a great voice and a perfect live performance. With the best lineup we had since then, CHINCHILLA played many, many live-shows, mostly in Germany, and got excellent feedback from the fans and the press as well. In the end of January 2000 the band played its first European tour as a support for Vanden Plas. We had the chance to play in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and France. Finally we got the recognition we deserved and we already had a couple of years in Japan and Germany. It was no surprise we got invited to play bigger festivals like the "Biker Union 2000" in Schleiz and the "Bang Your Head" in Balingen. CHINCHILLA is an experienced live band that already shared stages with Scorpions, Krokus, Saxon, Uriah Heep, Running Wild, Primal Fear, Doro, Pink Cream 69, Vanden Plas, Edguy, U.D.O., Rage, ect. In May 2000 we signed a record deal with Metal Blade Records and about the same time we finished the recordings for our new longplayer "Madness". Again we produced with Achim Köhler and the result was superb. The press reactions were excellent, especially in Germany we reached highest ratings and very good sales figures. Besides loads of headliner shows we also supported Paul Di Anno for a few shows. The highlight of the year was the gig at the "Wacken Open Air", the feedback from fans and press was overwhelming and the show a big success us. After that show we completed the songwriting for the new album "The Last Millennium?" and entered the House Of Music Studios once again to record with Ingmar Schenzel this time. The mix was done by Achim Köhler. We were able to support the album with a complete European tour together with Demon and Tad Morose. After that I changed the lineup in 2002, cause of personal and musical problems. I was done with the songwriting for the new album in December. "Never change a winning team" - we followed this rule and went again to House Of Music to record the fourth longplayer "Madtropolis" with Ingmar Schenzel - the mix was again handled by Achim Köhler. We invited ex-Motörhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke to play a solo on one of the new songs - it turned out amazing!

You have a new album out, "Madtropolis". Tell us a little about the album and the songs.
Our new CD MADTROPOLIS shows me the development from a young band to a professional Metal band. I think, Chinchilla with the current Lineup, is much harder and more convincing than the Line- ups in the past. Josh, Criss and Artur have the same aim like Tommy and I: to bring the band in the position which we deserve.To stand 100% behind what we are doing, to give everything for the band and the fans, to stand together and get help of everyone in the band, Our development shows me, that we are know able to create high class Metal that combines the best of two worlds! The intense energy of Power Metal and the catchy hooklines of Hard Rock . "Madtropolis" is fantastic Power Metal on the highest level! That's the introduction of our record company and I think you can't describe our new CD better. "MADTROPOLIS" is about the weakness of human kind and the terrible times nowadays. The lyrics are the continuation of "The Last Millennium". The town "MADTROPOLIS" stands for the center of their empire on earth. Primarily I would like to make the fans think about the situation now on earth and if I reach this goal with my lyrics, then I have settled everything to my satisfaction already . The lyrics are all written like parables, so this way I don't get in trouble with too many people. Everybody can make up his own mind and I think everybody will come to a similar conclusion . I don't like to arise as an instructor or prophet , but I think it's important for everyone , because the "No Future" attitude doesn't take you anywhere . There are so many crazy people in different governments all over the world and that`s very dangerous. Nowadays it`s possible, without any problems , to blind the people and to tell them we need a war. People are like blind sheep and willing to follow these leaders . The ambitions for power, glory and wealth, therefore they do everything. Blinded by their own greed they follow their big liars in their stupid doom."The rich are sitting quite far above and we are left to bleed. Any music that they get into we have to face again. We are the victims of their greed while they waste everything".

How does the songwriting process work with your band? Does one person do the majority of the writing or is it an equal partnership?
I wrote the basic guitar riffs and the main keyboard parts 7 months before we entered the studio. Then I arranged the parts in my little home recording studio. 16 weeks before we started to record I started writing the lyrics. Two weeks later it was finished. After that Thomas and I were working out the melodies and vocal lines. You can always hear the instrument on which I wrote a song on. When I write a song on my keyboards, it sounds like the Scandinavian kind of Heavy Metal, when I write it on my guitar, it sounds very British. This mixture makes our music very interesting. And another point is very important, Artur wrote the ballad"Satellite" and "Money rules everything". This way we got
fresh blood in our music and different ideas.

How do you work in the studio? Do you record songs from beginning to end, or in pieces? Do you use click tracks? How many guitar layers do you use?
We recorded 10 days and mixed 6 days. First we recorded the drum and the bass parts. Then I went in the studio to record the rythm guitars. Ingmar Schenzel, the second studio engineer and our second producer, who recorded the parts, called it the guitar army, `cuz for most of the songs we needed 8 to 12 layers. That`s crazy, but it sounds wonderful. After that was finished, we recorded the vocals and the lead guitars in exchange. The keyboard parts were finished by myself, before we went in the studio. Then we made a brake, `cuz it`s always better to listen to the recordings with clear ears. After five weeks Achim and I started to mix the songs. The most important work for a good CD. With out any doubt, I think it's the best album we've ever written.

There are a number of musicians in our readership, what gear does your band use? Please be as specific as possible, amps, pickups, guitars, strings, etc.
I play Les Pauls from Gibson and from a friend who made two Paulas for me. A Rectifer Top and two Marshall Cabinets. Josh plays a SKC Bogart 5 String bass, Spector 4 and 5 String Bass and a SWR 400 amp and 6x10" SWR cabinet. Artur our keyboarder plays Roland and Korg keyboards and Chris play a Tama Classic Set.

Will you be touring to support the new album? If so, where?
We are looking for a new tour, but at that moment there is nothing confirmed. We will play a lot of headliner shows in Germany and we try to play in clubs in other European country's, three shows in France with a French band, for example Headline.

What do you like most about the music industry?
I like the guys from our record company , cause they stand 1000% behind what we are doing and they tell you the truth and no big bullshit.This guys at Metal Blade are all big Metalheads. It's coming straight from their hearts and you can believe me, this was the one and only reason why I signed the record contract with Metal Blade. They make excellent promo for us, they have put us on the billing of Wacken and Summer Breeze, we were on Tour with
Demon and Tad Morose through Europe. We've got excellent feedback for "Madness" , "The last Millennium" and now our new "Madtropolis" of the press and media. Lots of interviews, lots of congratulations and that's Andreas
Reißenauers, Michael Trengerts and our success. It's a pleasure to work with such professionals!!!!

What do you like least about the music industry?
It's a dangerous time, cause a lot of bands will get lost in the flood of releases. The record companies must support bands with future, with charisma and good songwriting!!!The scene needs new heroes, but there are too many bands and the crowd can't decide which bands they support and that's the reason why we have so many reunions. I think some reunions are important, cause these bands wrote metal history and that's okay, but a lot of reunions are only motivated by the fact of money. The scene is alive and growing, but overwhelmed. Too many releases every month, to many projects and too expensive prices for CD's are the main problems for the scene. I think in 5 years we have a big problem , cause the old bands are going to retire and there is no younger band with such a superstar status. We need Bands like Kiss, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, tell me only one younger band with such a status. There is none and that's the problem, the scene needs fresh heros and leaders who are able to defend the metal spirit. But this is a problem which must be cast by the record companies. The quality of a band is important, their music and their image their behavior to show the audience that these are examples, humans with big balls and not stupid behaved rock stars!!!! To play in one band , cause you have to show the people the solidarity, to stand together cause they need new idols. Than there will be a changes and Heavy Metal will survive.

How long have you been performing, individually and as a band?
I have been performing since I was eleven years old and in a band since 16 years.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
Nothing!!!!!

If you hadn't been born in this century, when and where would you like to have lived?
I think in Germany and twenty years before now. Then we would be big Rock stars now!!!!

Who are your musical heroes?
My favorite influence is the old kind of Heavy Metal . All bands of the early days , for example Motörhead , Kiss, Saxon , Accept , Ozzy , Black Sabbath , Dio , Rainbow , Pretty Maids and the new bands like Symphony X ,
Stratovarius , Labyrinth and Primal Fear .

What do you do in your spare time?
Tommy and I like to watch our local soccer team on Saturdays when we are not playing. I don`t have much spare times ,cause I`m in charge for all the things around Chinchilla. I'm the booker, manager, guitarist , keyboarder and songwriter. You see there is not a lot spare time , if you play 70 or 80 shows and you have to work during the whole week.

How hard do you push yourself?
I think, if you have no spare time, cause you do everything for your aim and your band, you push yourself a lot!!!!! Cause the day has only 24 hours and the night 12!!!!! The motor for this work is your feeling and your heart. If you have Heavy Metal in your veins, you stand 1000% behind what you are doing!!!!" Heavy Metal that's our law!!!! "

When are you completely satisfied with your work?
If we are able to write such good albums, like "THE LAST MILLENNIUM" or our new CD "MADTROPOLIS" , which is, in my opinion, the best thing we've ever written. I think"MADTROPOLIS" is definitely a big step forward in our career. All that matters to me, is to have some good metal tracks, midtempo tracks and a ballad on our next CD, cause I won't copy "MADTROPOLIS". To change things is important, to show the band from a different point of view on each CD. That's what I like. With our new guys Artur Diessner , keyboarder and co songwriter, Josh Häberle bassplayer and Chris Schwinn our new drummer, we are able to top our last CD's, cause our new rythm section is top of the bill and now we are able to compose songs, we`ve never dreamt about before. We 're very constant in our development, cause we are one of the most booked bands in Germany and we got a lot of good reviews for our last 2 CD`s "Madness" and "The Last Millennium". A lot of interviews and good rankings in different metal magazines all over the world, proof that we are on the right way. So we reached a good ranking in the A.O.L charts in the U.S.A for several weeks, we reached rank 30 of the best bands of the year 2002 at Snaknetmetal Radio U.S.A.. We`ve been on rotation for several weeks on quite a few radio stations all over Europe and North America, including Alaska!, with "The Last Millennium" CD. Our sales figures went higher and higher and that`s fantastic. I think that's the best foundation-stone for the future.

What are you listening to lately?
Dio/ Killing the Dragon

What is your favorite album by another artist/band?
Motörhead`s "Overkill". I love their music and the cool way they behave, cause that's Rock'nRoll with all beautiful and all bad sides.

What Chinchilla song are you the most proud of and why?
For me the most important song is "When The Sand Darkens The Sun" , cause a dream came true. Fast Eddie Clarke played a solo on it and that was wonderful.

Are there any songs you've done that you wish you hadn't?
No there is no song where I have that feeling !!!

Had any of you recorded with any other groups before Chinchilla?
Artur and I recorded a record with our former band "Bella Beast". Josh our bass player recorded a CD with a band called "Bullshit Mama".Tommy recorded two records with the Thresh Metal Band "Backwater"

Is it possible to be on the road and not eat any junk food?
Yes, cause we are a German band!!! We love good food, cause our mothers told us to do that!!! ;)

People have the image that it's non-stop partying when bands are touring. Is that true?
Sometimes it's true , but a tour is hard work. To stay in a bus with 19 other people, including 14 guys you`ve never seen before, is very hard. Sometimes it was a great time to be on tour with guys like DEMON; PAUL DI ANNO AND THE KILLERS or VANDEN PLAS, cause they were all fine people and good musicians. The guys from this bands are all gentlemen. No trouble on tour, no sound or light restricts, at each club a sound check and every night a party. On these tours you had the feeling all guys of the bus played in the same band, there was no envy and no jealousy, no trouble with big rock stars and that's the way you have fun on a tour.

What does your contract rider call for in terms of backstage amenities?
Our backstage rider is not as special as you might think, cause we only need warm food, beer and water and our repose, that's all.

What would you be doing if you weren't a musician?
I don't know , cause I never thought about this question!!!

Other than your current band members, if you could get any musician living or dead, who would be in your"dream band"?
I have my dream band already. We are all friends who help each other, like Josh our bass player, who's in charge for all the foreign interviews`, Artur who`s co-writing songs and Tommy, who lights the fuse at each concert hall."WE ROCK THIS HOUSE DOWN". Or Chris, who`s always telling me:"No problem, I`ll fix it!", if I come up with some real wired drum parts. "We have a very loyal surrounding. Chinchilla would never be in today's position without our friends. It doesn`t matter if it is Nils, who`s checking our lyrics, Rene, who spent 3 months of his spare time to create our new cover, Volker, who`s driving us save from town to town and last but not least, Uncle Reiny, who`s responsible for our merchandising. I would never trade that in for a dream line-up.

What's the first song you remember hearing?
Beatles /Yesterday

What was the first album you ever purchased?
Beatles/ The blue album .

How many CDs and records are in your home collection?
I have 350-400 CD'S and 300 records. I prefer records, cause I think they sound better sometimes.

What's next for Chinchilla?
We`ll try to get a tour with a big headliner, that`ll give us the chance to play for a big audience to promote our new album.

Any last words?
Thanxs to all metalheads, without you, the fans, we`re nothing. Keep rock & roll alive!!!
I hope you enjoy our song "Heavy Metal", cause this song is dedicated to the countless Metal fans who stuck to their true ideals when Metal wasn`t as popular as it used to be. With your power and dedication you made it possible for each Metal band to be on stages around the whole world and rock! Thank you!If you`re interested in more information about Chinchilla,please take a look at our homepage www.chinchilla.rocks.de or use the keywords: chinchilla + madtropolis at the searchengine of your choice.
We have a special offer for you: Madtropolis CD (undersigned) +T-Shirt for 28 Dollar plus shipment 8 Dollars.
Watch out for the power!!! UDO

For more information on Chinchilla check out their web site at http://www.chinchilla.rocks.de/