Official Bonfire English Support Squad

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Claus Lessmann Interview: On a warm October day I found myself sitting at a table bathed in autumn sunlight, across from the singer we all know and love Claus Lessmann. I did not imagine I would ever be doing this, imagine my shock when he said yes to the interview! On the morning of Saturday 30th October we sat down to discuss and hopefully find out some of the inner workings of Bonfire’s main man… Welcome back to Firefest, did you have a safe flight? Claus: “Yeah, there was some problems with our voyage, cause we had to stay in Munich and had to travel with the plane today, but so far quite okay, had terror warnings and stuff, but we are ready to rock.” Thank you for coming back again. Claus: “Always a pleasure.” You’ve been back three years in a row to England, is it just because we are great fans or do you like England? Claus: “Both, both of it, England has great fans, very nice people. They still know how to rock the homeland of rock n roll I would say and always a pleasure being here and I start loving it more and more and well, but you have to tour somewhere else as well, but the only thing I regret is no time, we never have enough time to walk around the city you know and spend a day in Nottingham like do a little sightseeing or whatever. Or whatever there’s no time. Have you not got any time , this time too… Claus “Only this morning, so I’ll take a walk around the city for an hour and then go back to the hotel room.” You recently celebrated yout 50th Birthday, though you don’t look anywhere near fifty… Claus: “More like sixty!” (laughs) NO! (laughs) you look wonderful you really do, your very nice… Claus: “Thank you” How do you keep looking so fit? Claus: “I don’t know, I have no idea… I just live. Live, eat, drink…” You look very good! Claus: “Thank you.” Is it difficult being in different countries for short periods being surrounded by different cultures and languages? When you are doing a gig, because it’s a different language, it is difficult to communicate…use that language? Claus: “Actually it’s not that difficult for me, so I really enjoy that, I really enjoy meeting and seeing different cultures and meeting different people, the problem only sometimes is you don’t have…because I always say something in the native tongue you know, to learn things before you go on stage. That is sometimes is a problem, speaking in Russian or whatever, difficult to remember things and read them you know.” Having been in the music business so long? How do you feel it has changed over the years? How has it changed how you write with Bonfire and the music business in general? Claus: “It has changed a lot…changed since the 80’s for example and especially the music industries they…it’s like they don’t treat you like an artist anymore. It’s more that you are just a number you know, just a person who brings money for them you know and it’s a lack or respect I think that’s the biggest problem I think, the biggest change and people are getting more and more spoilt, because at any time they can see almost anything and this wont impress, what can you impress someone nowadays, it’s not very easy.” Cause people expect too much these days. Claus: “Yeah it’s some of the negative things I think. Has it changed how you write songs or how has that developed Bonfire? Claus: “No nothing has changed when you are talking, writing…no nothing there has really changed.” Do you write from personal experience or just what’s around you? Claus: “Yeah, no everything that surrounds me, what surrounds you is personal I think.” You are a very versatile band having done the 3 football songs and the theatre production is there anything different, like the theatre production in line for Bonfire or yourself? Claus: “ No not really, I think we…this theatre thing is over for us now, but to be honest I would do it again, I would do it again anytime, it was a lot of fun and it was a completely new experience for us and maybe if somebody comes up to us and says do it again, another play maybe some Shakespeare or whatever. The Räuber was a very good interaction between band and actors… Claus: “ It worked very good, we did fifty shows and they were all sold out I think, which was really great. People say it was sold out because of you guys. Claus: “ Yeah, we’ve been honoured, somehow we can be proud. You have a very distinctive voice, it’s easy to pick you out on the Axxis 2oth anniversary song, the rough nature of your voice, is to most people what makes Bonfire’s sound. I read somewhere you have a lame vocal cord, is that in your opinion what makes Bonfire so distinctive? Claus: “Maybe…maybe, maybe it is, this is the reason my voice is a little different then others, but sometimes it’s not good, knowing that one vocal cord is like f***ed (laughs) but erm you have to live with that.” It gives you a nice sound. Claus: “Thank you, too many compliments!” I’ve read that you do a lot of charity work in Germany, some people call you Claus the good heart Lessmann, that must be something to be proud of. Claus: “Claus the what?” Claus the good heart Lessmann. Claus: “Yeah maybe I have a…how do you say that? That sort of feel that…it’s hard for me to say no and I always try to care about people.” It shows, whenever anyone I talk to say your such a lovely guy… Claus: “But sometimes you know if you are like that you end up being an asshole, you know but that’s part of the deal maybe.” You always come across as lovely, you always have time to talk to your fans. Claus: “I try to you know, but sometimes it’s not good… (SOME PEOPLE HAVE ABUSED HIS KINDNESS TOO MUCH RECENTLY, SOME THINGS HE SAID I WILL NOT PUBLISH HERE DUE TO LEGAL REASONS AND BECAUSE I FEEL IT WAS TOO PERSONAL.) Have you had any funny moments on tour recently, you would like to share with us? Claus: “No, no funny moments, it’s all so sad, no funny moments at all. It’s always fun you know, I think nothing special, it’s just a bunch of guys going out, hanging out, playing music, having fun.” When your not on tour, how do you relax and just chill? Claus: “Relax? Going out with the dog, doing bbq's, reading… Are you a good cook? Claus: “ yeah I love cooking.” I did read somewhere, some motorcycle thing, that when you go on bike trips with people, you do the cooking, it was translated from German, is this right? Claus: “Yes, that’s right I love cooking it’s very relaxing for me. What else do I do, sometimes I ride with the bike…” What type of Harley is it? Claus: “It’s a soft heritage classic, what else do I do? That’s it and I have to go to work again.” Finally do you have anything to say to the fans on the support squad, there is about 340 who have joined. Claus: “Thank you for the warm welcome to England and thanks for your support and love to come back soon.” 　 　 Thank you to Claus for finding the time to talk with us at firefest, cause I know that time was very, very precious on Saturday, it really is appreciated. Interview done by Suzy Pope copyrighted to bonfire english support squad j