Herman Rarebell
Fads in music come and go but classic sounding hard rock stands the test of time year after year. With that being said Herman Rarebell has come out with an album that makes just that statement. Take It As It Comes is sturdy musical statement that brings modern elements in a marriage with a classic barrage of guitars and songs that do not give up. Herman Rarebell gave Metal Exiles the opportunity to sit down inperson and get into the depths of this great release.
An interview with Herman Rarebell by Jeffrey Easton.
Metal Exiles: It has been 14 years since you were a full time member of the Scorpions. For those who are not aware of what you have been up to, fill them in.
Herman Rarebell: Since I left I had a record label called Monaco Records that I started with Prince Albert, I did a thing with Ron Wood (he creates art as well) of the Rolling Stones called Art Meets Music. For that we took Ronnie’s paintings and showed them on a big screen and played live to the art. I did a band called Drum Legends with Pete York (Spencer Davis Group) and the famous Jazz drummer Charly Antolini. I am now working with my wife in the new Herman Z German band and a new record called Take It As It Comes. I have also created a audio book called “My Life As A Scorpion”. There are some funny stories about my time in the band in the book as well as my life before the Scorpions.
Metal Exiles: Where did the idea for the Audio book come from in the first place?
Herman: I have always wanted to do an audio book so I met with a voice imitator to do an interview form history of my life.
Metal Exiles: Concerning your former label, Monaco Records, what did you learn from running a record label?
Herman: I learned that the biggest thing is that you can gain a lot of money and lose a lot of money. We came at a time when labels had a hard time selling CDs so that ruined the label. The record buying world has changed now.
Metal Exiles: On the other hand what did you gain from running a label.
Herman: You can sign artists that you love and believe in and you have 100% profit where as before you had to give a percentage back to the record company.
Metal Exiles: Why did you not release solo albums on your label?
Herman: I figured that there is a lot of work involved with a label and I learned that it is hard being creative, making records and touring the world while running a label. It is easier to sign and share the money with another label and let them do the work to promote the album. Darkstar has done a great job so far and great with digital distribution. Record companies made a lot of money on the Scorpions when you consider that from every dollar you get the band might make ten cents. One day I said to myself “hmm, something is wrong here”.
Metal Exiles: How did the deal with Darkstar come about?
Herman: Darkstar was contacted by James Jackson, the lead guitar player in my band, because he thought they would be good for our distribution in America. I contacted the president of Darkstar, made our agreements and here we are.
Metal Exiles: How are they handling you so far?
Herman: They are doing a great job so far. You can find me at Amazon, Best Buy, digitally at iTunes and directly from the record company.
Metal Exiles: What is your current take on the music business?
Herman: I think personally that the game has changed. It is no longer the album anymore, it is the song. People really do not go to the record stores anymore because more and more people download what they want. I think the future of music is an all digital world so it will really depend on that one song.
Metal Exiles: Do you miss the days of going to the record stores and doing the big instore signings?
Herman: Yes I do, I miss the days of vinyl and having all of the info on the back of who wrote and played what on that album.
Metal Exiles: Let’s get into Take It As It Comes. This was already released in Europe, correct?
Herman: This was released in Germany under the title of I’m Back but I could not find a company in the states to distribute it. It was on Amazon as an import for $38 but I thought that was a bit much and did not expect many sales. But since I finally found an American company I changed the name of the album to Take It As It Comes because I love the song and it is my life’s philosophy as well.
Metal Exiles: This album is a long time in the making. Why did it take so long to get another Herman Rarebell solo album?
Herman: I had so many things going on but I knew it was time for a new album because I was itching to go out and play. I found a good band and since I was producing the album I had the luxury of picking the songs that I wanted. I told the guys in my band to bring me their best songs so out of all of those I picked the best ones to record.
Metal Exiles: You said you picked the best songs to record but yet you’re a great song writer (He wrote “Another Piece of Meat”, can’t get better than that) so why did you accept submissions rather than write the album yourself?
Herman: As the producer I just said to myself just take the best songs, nobody is going to give a shit about who wrote what when they hear the song. I made sure all of the songs were on a high level but I did write “I’m Back” and I do think on the next record maybe it will just be me writing by myself. Also when I go out on tour I do not want to be out front singing all of the time the songs I write. I have a great singer in the form of Stefan Erz. He is the perfect frontman, a cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Steven Tyler and he knows what he is doing and I would rather be drumming than singing.
Metal Exiles: You did something very interesting here, you recut “Rock You Like A Hurricane” into a different version. Why did you do such a diverse version of the classic and what do your former bandmates think of it?
Herman: To be honest I have no idea what they think of it as nobody has said anything to me. I wanted to make something completely different, a 2010 version because there is no point in touching the original version. For me it was having a challenge to do something different with it.
Metal Exiles: So why did you do a spoken word version?
Herman: I can’t touch Klause as a singer for the only way for me to do it is to speak it. I am also a big Rammstein fan so I think speaking is cooler.
Metal Exiles: Another thing that stands out on this album is rather than a lot of guitar solos you have Sax solos. Why did you decide to go that route?
Herman: First of all I have played with some of the best guitar players in the world so at this point in time there was no reason to show another guitar player to the world. Also I am married to my wife, Claudia, who is a great Saxophone player. I also feel I would have an easier time getting played on the radio stations if had Sax solos rather than guitar solos.
Metal Exiles: Is that why there are two different versions of “Your Love is Hurting Me”?
Herman: Yes, that is the reason. I know the adult oriented radio stations will play the one with the saxophone solo in over the guitar version. I want to be on the radio stations that play the likes of Phil Collins and besides if you are getting intimate with your lady do you play music with guitar or Saxophone?
Metal Exiles: I truly understand your point of view there. So what are the plans for Herman Rarebell now that the album is out?
Herman: We are planning a big tour of the States in the near future, maybe a House Of Blues tour in the new year. So we will have to see what we can put together.
European hard rock at its best is what the new Herman Z German consists of so if you were a fan of the classic Scorpions sound then Take It As It Comes is the shot you need.
http://www.hermanrarebell.com/
BUY TAKE IT AS IT COMES!
An interview with Herman Rarebell by Jeffrey Easton.
Metal Exiles: It has been 14 years since you were a full time member of the Scorpions. For those who are not aware of what you have been up to, fill them in.
Herman Rarebell: Since I left I had a record label called Monaco Records that I started with Prince Albert, I did a thing with Ron Wood (he creates art as well) of the Rolling Stones called Art Meets Music. For that we took Ronnie’s paintings and showed them on a big screen and played live to the art. I did a band called Drum Legends with Pete York (Spencer Davis Group) and the famous Jazz drummer Charly Antolini. I am now working with my wife in the new Herman Z German band and a new record called Take It As It Comes. I have also created a audio book called “My Life As A Scorpion”. There are some funny stories about my time in the band in the book as well as my life before the Scorpions.
Metal Exiles: Where did the idea for the Audio book come from in the first place?
Herman: I have always wanted to do an audio book so I met with a voice imitator to do an interview form history of my life.
Metal Exiles: Concerning your former label, Monaco Records, what did you learn from running a record label?
Herman: I learned that the biggest thing is that you can gain a lot of money and lose a lot of money. We came at a time when labels had a hard time selling CDs so that ruined the label. The record buying world has changed now.
Metal Exiles: On the other hand what did you gain from running a label.
Herman: You can sign artists that you love and believe in and you have 100% profit where as before you had to give a percentage back to the record company.
Metal Exiles: Why did you not release solo albums on your label?
Herman: I figured that there is a lot of work involved with a label and I learned that it is hard being creative, making records and touring the world while running a label. It is easier to sign and share the money with another label and let them do the work to promote the album. Darkstar has done a great job so far and great with digital distribution. Record companies made a lot of money on the Scorpions when you consider that from every dollar you get the band might make ten cents. One day I said to myself “hmm, something is wrong here”.
Metal Exiles: How did the deal with Darkstar come about?
Herman: Darkstar was contacted by James Jackson, the lead guitar player in my band, because he thought they would be good for our distribution in America. I contacted the president of Darkstar, made our agreements and here we are.
Metal Exiles: How are they handling you so far?
Herman: They are doing a great job so far. You can find me at Amazon, Best Buy, digitally at iTunes and directly from the record company.
Metal Exiles: What is your current take on the music business?
Herman: I think personally that the game has changed. It is no longer the album anymore, it is the song. People really do not go to the record stores anymore because more and more people download what they want. I think the future of music is an all digital world so it will really depend on that one song.
Metal Exiles: Do you miss the days of going to the record stores and doing the big instore signings?
Herman: Yes I do, I miss the days of vinyl and having all of the info on the back of who wrote and played what on that album.
Metal Exiles: Let’s get into Take It As It Comes. This was already released in Europe, correct?
Herman: This was released in Germany under the title of I’m Back but I could not find a company in the states to distribute it. It was on Amazon as an import for $38 but I thought that was a bit much and did not expect many sales. But since I finally found an American company I changed the name of the album to Take It As It Comes because I love the song and it is my life’s philosophy as well.
Metal Exiles: This album is a long time in the making. Why did it take so long to get another Herman Rarebell solo album?
Herman: I had so many things going on but I knew it was time for a new album because I was itching to go out and play. I found a good band and since I was producing the album I had the luxury of picking the songs that I wanted. I told the guys in my band to bring me their best songs so out of all of those I picked the best ones to record.
Metal Exiles: You said you picked the best songs to record but yet you’re a great song writer (He wrote “Another Piece of Meat”, can’t get better than that) so why did you accept submissions rather than write the album yourself?
Herman: As the producer I just said to myself just take the best songs, nobody is going to give a shit about who wrote what when they hear the song. I made sure all of the songs were on a high level but I did write “I’m Back” and I do think on the next record maybe it will just be me writing by myself. Also when I go out on tour I do not want to be out front singing all of the time the songs I write. I have a great singer in the form of Stefan Erz. He is the perfect frontman, a cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Steven Tyler and he knows what he is doing and I would rather be drumming than singing.
Metal Exiles: You did something very interesting here, you recut “Rock You Like A Hurricane” into a different version. Why did you do such a diverse version of the classic and what do your former bandmates think of it?
Herman: To be honest I have no idea what they think of it as nobody has said anything to me. I wanted to make something completely different, a 2010 version because there is no point in touching the original version. For me it was having a challenge to do something different with it.
Metal Exiles: So why did you do a spoken word version?
Herman: I can’t touch Klause as a singer for the only way for me to do it is to speak it. I am also a big Rammstein fan so I think speaking is cooler.
Metal Exiles: Another thing that stands out on this album is rather than a lot of guitar solos you have Sax solos. Why did you decide to go that route?
Herman: First of all I have played with some of the best guitar players in the world so at this point in time there was no reason to show another guitar player to the world. Also I am married to my wife, Claudia, who is a great Saxophone player. I also feel I would have an easier time getting played on the radio stations if had Sax solos rather than guitar solos.
Metal Exiles: Is that why there are two different versions of “Your Love is Hurting Me”?
Herman: Yes, that is the reason. I know the adult oriented radio stations will play the one with the saxophone solo in over the guitar version. I want to be on the radio stations that play the likes of Phil Collins and besides if you are getting intimate with your lady do you play music with guitar or Saxophone?
Metal Exiles: I truly understand your point of view there. So what are the plans for Herman Rarebell now that the album is out?
Herman: We are planning a big tour of the States in the near future, maybe a House Of Blues tour in the new year. So we will have to see what we can put together.
European hard rock at its best is what the new Herman Z German consists of so if you were a fan of the classic Scorpions sound then Take It As It Comes is the shot you need.
http://www.hermanrarebell.com/
BUY TAKE IT AS IT COMES!
