MS: Hi! It’s an honour for me to talk with you, I recognize that I couldn’t imagined that one day I might do. and it’s because the meeting of the group has surprised both friends and strangers. From Headhunter… Can be considerly a reunion, or this is a temporary project? What are the plans of the group in the long term?
Schmuddel: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to me as well. First of all, I have to say, that Headhunter (HH) never really split up – so we can’t talk about a reunion. We just did nothing for almost 14 years, because Schmier returned to Destruction at those days and Jörg and me had some other projects we were in. But –to come back to your question: It is definitely NOT a temporary project. If the fans like our new album “Parasite Of Society (POS)” we will definitely record another CD next year and of course we will be seen live.
MS: As I say the band’s reunion, in a panorama that on the other hand it is increasingly accustomed to seeing such events, has been at least a surprise. How was the idea? What motivated you led to it and what has changed since the mid-nineties to rethink the back of the group?
Schmuddel: The fact, that we are back is a reaction to a lot of HH-Fans, that asked Schmier constantly about a new album over all the years. Because our old CDs weren’t available anymore, we thought about a remastered-series. Schmier got in contact with AFM-Records. They liked the idea and offered us to do a new CD as well.
MS: Since you Edit "Rebirth" has spent almost 12 years, almost the same as that Headhunter was dissolved as band. I suppose that work together again, the same members, has been a shock for you. How was the trip? What find better and worse when what left him?
Schmuddel: I’m not quite shure, if I understand your question correct. As I said, HH never split. Jörg, Schmier & I stood in contact over all the years. Of course we all were very happy, that we had the chance to work together again. And it was a lot of fun. After I all, I must say it was, like the 13-year-break didn’t existe.
MS: Parasite of Society "is your new album now on sale. What intended you to say with that title?
Schmuddel: Well – look at the cover J Everybody, that has political and financial interesstes in our human society under the “Cloak of charity” is a Parasite. Parasites are nesting – sucking off your blood. They take others live, to existe. On our planet we have a lot of POS. Just have a look, what is happening in China at the moment. POS will definitely bring a political message. “Watch out, that the POS’ won’t mislead our kids”!!!
MS: I think musically the change from your previous work is not as big as we could think. I suppose that your return will mean that Headhunter has a lot to offer musically to fan… How would you define your new proposal?
Schmuddel: What you hear on POS is the consequent development of the band, although we didn’t write songs for over 13 years! But that’s the magic of HH. As Schmier met me last year to start the songwriting for POS, it was just like in the old days.
MS: Thrash, speed, heavy or even power metal. Headhunter are grouped under a lot of influences from, probably, of the bands in which each of you has participated or is participating but… What collective you think that will host "Parasite of Society" better?
Schmuddel: Puhhhh…. I don’t like stereotyped thinking at all. Let me say it very easy: We are a Rock’n’Roll-Band. We play our music – if people say: “I like your thrash-metal” oder “great heavy-metal” —- I don’t mind. To me it’s still POWERMETAL
MS: As I said before, "Parasite of Society" does not fall entirely within any specific genre, but remains as divided among several. I assume that you has repaired at the possibility that this, rather than being a positive point for the fan, it’s may be something negative… Have you ever felt fear for the public indifference, or you compose themes thinkin’ about the acceptance that it will have?
Schmuddel: We don’t really think about what we do. As I said: We write our music – the music we like. People might like it or not. I don’t care. If POS is selling good – I’m happy about that. If the record will fail we had at least a very funny time recording it J …. Truth!!
MS: Some songs of old, seems to belong to the past. Are all themes and ideas contained in "Parasite of Society" new, or have rescued a few things of the past?
Schmuddel: We didn’t have any ideas in store of the past. The material of POS is brand-new. All written in autum 2007.
MS: For your return, you have decided to accept the offer of the people of AFM Records to get your disc. How has been work with them? I suppose that will take things easier because Destruction have contract with them for some time…
Schmuddel: Maybe you’re right. I don’t know if this fact really helped us. People of AFM like our music and they are very professional. Look – every musician in HH is more than 40 years young! J We needed a company that says “O.K. – do what you like, we will release it”. So we had the lucky chance to do a typical HH-Record without any orders or commands from the record-company. So I have to say a big THANK YOU, AFM !!!
MS: What about the process of making the record? Tell us something about it has been developed, problems arose where you was making the disc or anything you consider important…
Schmuddel: Sorry – there is absolutely nothing during recording we could call a Problem. We worked with Gerd Krenz as the technic and Achim Köhler doing the mixing. We just had a very good time in the studio, lots of drinks and great fun…
MS: What can you tell us about the cover? Has been created by the same artist of Destruction’s covers? I say this because the style reminds me a lot to the front pages of the latest works of Destruction…
Schmuddel: To be honest, I don’t know, if the artist has done a Destruction – Cover so far. Only thing I can say: he’s a guy from Hungaria – and he did a very good work. He really likes HH and gave everything he can. And I think the artwork is brilliant. That’s the way a Metal-Cover has to look.
MS: We are going to do a small twist to the conversation to talk about other things broader HEDAHUNTER. What about you? We know that you had played with Talon many years ago, but after Headhunter we have had a little lost track of you, trully…
Schmuddel: Yes TALON was my first band, with witch I did three records between 1984 and 1988. After HH stopped I worked for a radio-station, did a huge amount of recordings in my studio…Radio-Commercials, Music for industrial Movies and so on… Since two years I’m owner of an agency for advertising and of the KlangWerk-Recording-Studio. I played some years in Cover-Rock-Bands, just to train my fingers and I’m Musical Director of a project with Austrian Music.
MS: Actually Destruction walk mired in what will be his new record, working on the new songs and those things. You’ve been very close to Schmier last months and I think you’ve had even minimal contact with the new material… What do you think about it?
Schmuddel: Oh – what a question… Don’t get me wrong folks, but I don’t have a single Destruction-CD at all. When Schmier & I are together, we just talk about our stuff – so I don’t have an idea, how the new record of Destruction will be, sorry….
MS: You have not many concerts provided, however, the band is confirmed for the annual edition of the legendary Wacken Open Air. How are you raising this event in particular?
Schmuddel: Well, at that moment, we don’t know, what we will do on stage to have a very special surprise. We talk about the songs we wanna play… We talk about the stage-outfit, the backdrops and stuff like that. We will shurly make this event particular for everybody who will take part with us…But don’t ask me what this will be… We don’t know yet…
MS: We arrived at the end of the talk. If you want to tell us something that you want, now is your opportunity.
Schmuddel: Nothing special… I hope, I got your questions right and I wanna thank everybody, who read it until here J
MS: Thank you very much for meet us so kindly, we hope to see you in concert here, but now it seems somewhat difficult, and this will not be because Schmier doesn’t like our country… J
MS: Greetings, Take care!
Schmuddel: No Problem Raúl, it was a pleasure to me. CU
Raúl del Amo