Tiger Rouge release a 10 inch record on
Wolverine a while ago. Their punkrock really
made me like them. Here´s an interview with the
group done in April 2022
Please tell me a little bit history of the
group?
Evil_B:
Please tell me a little about every member in
the group right now, age, family, work,
interests and something bad about everyone?
Earlier bands? Other bands on the side?
Evil_B:
The thing is that as you get older you need
different things. That's why the band members
were chosen according to their jobs and not
according to talent ;-) Elmex is an optician -
sooner or later it happens to everyone, Dead Cat
works as a dental technician, Mo is a trained
carpenter and I work as a supervisor in
logistics.
If I had to say something bad about the others,
it would be the following things:
Elmex always tries to get the best out of the
sound and sometimes drives the others crazy.
e.g. I have a different amp with me today, oh
Evil, I also installed different tubes in your
amp, could something sound funny now etc.?
Mo could be a little less chaotic.
Dead Cat could decide more, play less
Switzerland and stay neutral
and I...I´am just perfect without mistakes ;-)
Okay fun, sometimes I should really play the new
songs more at home and not only in the rehearsal
room.
Let's move on to the bands:
Elmex has played with Cobra Jim, Narcotic
Nurses, Lazy Riots and some others. Currently he
still plays with Dead Dates and Invaders from
Venus.
Mo has played with Heisenberg FX, The
Abberations and many other projects as a touring
drummer. He currently plays with the Input Kinks
and has helped the Abberations out with a few
live shows.
Dead Cat has played bass for CBB, The Imploders
and the GTO's among others. He has no other
bands besides Tiger Rouge.
I was active in bands like Kein Plan, Angels
Poetry, The Lazy Bombs and some other projects.
There is no other band besides Tiger Rouge, but
I still work as a DJ on some weekends and take
care of the booking and social media stuff for
the band.
I can hear much different influences but mostly
punk? I hear Misfits and Godfathers in the same
time… Favorites from the past?
Evil B:
Personally I listen to a lot of punk, but also
metal and way up there are also bands like
Gluecifer, The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies
Turbonegro, Social Distortion...and so on. Of
course, this has a certain influence on our
sound, but Elmex also likes to listen to Iron
Maiden or ACDC.
Elmex:
Yes, and when it comes to punk music, "The
Adolescents" and “Social D.” influenced me the
most.
Tiger Rogue are you satisfied with the name?
How did it came up? You weren’t afraid that
some other band would be named like this? Which
is the best bandname you know?
Evil B:
We are happy with the band name, otherwise we
would have looked further and taken another one.
We came up with the name when the band had been
in its current line-up for just one month and we
were looking for a name.
Dead Cat came to the rehearsal from work in the
lab and had the name with him, I think he read
it on some ampule.
But we were all quite quickly enthusiastic, we
quickly looked to see if there was already a
band with the name. No, so we gave it to him.
That's the whole story behind it.
Sure, we could say that the Tiger Rouge is the
counterpart to the Moulin Rouge. We used to stop
there on our old tours and as a homage to the
Tiger Rouge in Bankog, that will now be our band
name.
Puhhh, the best band name... Tiger Rouge of
course ;-)
What´s the best thing with playing live? Are you
playing any covers when you play?
Evil B:
For me, one of the best things about playing
live is interacting with the audience and
testing out which songs go down well or where we
can improve. So far we don't have any covers in
our set, but they can still come.
And where is best to play? And the worst place?
Evil B:
The best concerts I've had so far were at the
Pitcher and at AK47 Düsseldorf.
There are always people there and you are always
seen as a band and treated very well.
One of the worst venues was with my old band The
Lazy Bombs, I don't know the name anymore.But it
was an old factory ruin with a small hut and a
generator for the electricity that was always
out. The sleeping places were also in this "lost
place" without glass in the windows and with
damp mattresses.
Elmex:
Best Club was Pitcher in Düsseldorf or the Bla
in Bonn, worst was Route 66 in Düsseldorf
How is to play this sort of music in Germany
right now? Which types of bands do you have
concerts together with?
Evil B:
In Germany there is a relatively good and big
scene for punk rock music. Especially Düsseldorf
is one of the origin cities of punk in Germany.
So far we have played more with local bands like
the Jelly Janes, The Anchor Brakes, The
Pighounds, Thin Lassie, and others.
How would you describe your music in three words
to people who never have heard you?
Evil B: sarcastic lyrics, dirty and rough sound
What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or
is it a lifestyle? Have it changed through the
years?
Evil B:
Which song/album or group was it who took you
into punk/hardcore?
Evil B:
For me, it started relatively early with rock
and metal. Guns N Roses' Appetite for
Destruction was my introduction to guitar music
back then. I was about 10 years old.
As I said before, Düsseldorf was one of the main
punk cities in Germany, so you couldn't get past
the music of the Toten Hosen, Male and other
"old" punk bands. And that quickly led to the
Ramones, The Clash, Sex Pistols and Social
Distortion.
Elmex:
Maybe Punk in Drublic by NoFX
What shall a young guy do today to shock their
parents as the way we did when we were young?
They have already seen everything ;-)? Or isn´t
it necessary to shock your parents?
Elmex:
To shock your parents these days, all you have
to do is wear Dsquared or Camp David, be totally
tattooed, and then you have to listen to German
Schlager Music and finish your studies at the
age of 22.
How is it to live in Germany right now?
Politically? Fascists? What do the german
government says about the war in Ukraina?
Evil B:
Is there any good bands from Germany right now?
Is the punkscene/metalscene/hardcorescene big?
How is it in your hometown?
Evil B:
We have many good bands in Germany and
especially from Düsseldorf that have done a lot
for music in Germany, especially for the punk
rock scene: Toten Hosen, Broilers, ZK, Male
later the Krupps - all bands from Düsseldorf.
Evil B:
I've never been to Sweden, but I'd love to go
there. Just because of the landscape and
especially because of the great music scene. The
Sweden Rock festival, for example, would be
something I would like to visit.
Mhhh typical Swedish...Red wooden houses at blue
lakes and Ikea ;-)
Typically German always complaining, not being
satisfied with anything and working hard
Have you heard any good bands from Sweden?
Evil B:
ABBA, that was the answer you wanted, wasn't it
;-)
I am an absolute fan of Swedish / Scandinavian
bands. I'm currently waiting to finally get the
new Hellacopters album. Otherwise Chuck Norris
Experiment, who are also good friends of mine.
Backyard Babies, The Hives, Millencolin The
Bones to name a few. There are so many good
bands from the Scandinavian countries that it
would be too much to list them all.
Elmex:
I love
“Royal Republic” and “The imperial state
electric”
Your lyrics, who does them and what influences
you? Never in german? Please tell me a little
about the following songs
Elmex:
I wrote all the Lyrics. They are mostly about
love, sex, violence and addiction. When you lead
a boring working-class life, as I do, you long
for these adventures.
-Punkrock in emajor
About a Pop Punk Band ( or maybe us?), waiting
for the beginning of their show
-You reap what you sow
Violence against
a child and some kind of consequences
-Play with me
S&M Games
Is there any subject that you never will write
anything about? Or isn´t anything sacred?
Elmex:
About sports cars
Politic and music, does it goes hand in hand?
Which is your most political song? Is it
important to get out your opinions in music? Or
is it OK to play music and not sing about
politics?
Evil B:
I think that music and politics are connected.
At least it depends on the music you make. With
chart music I don't expect a political
statement, its just made for the masses and not
aimed at a special crowd.
We don't have a political song (yet), but it
doesn't have to be in the songs. It is more
important to reach the audience at the live
shows through announcements and actions or to
take a clear stand in interviews and actions.
Best political band/artist?
Evil B:
I can't say who is the best here.
Everyone who stands up for change or against
racism, war and injustice is one of them.
Elmex :
The Adolescents
Do you think that music(lyrics and so on) can
change anyones life, I mean people who listens
to music? Do you have any example?
Evil B:
Music and especially the lyrics can influence
people positively as well as negatively. It
always depends on the mood and how a person
consumes music.
Music can have a very emotional effect and also
animate people to think and lead them through
difficult times and changes.
I myself associate many beautiful memories with
music and individual songs.
Your favorite recordcover alltime? Who does
your recordcovers? And do you have any
good recordstores in your hometown? Are you
buyng records yourself? Evil
B:
Again, there are so many good record coves, I
can't decide on one.
Our cover and all graphics are made by a friend
of us. He is a selfemployed graphic designer
with his company "graphicstube" and also plays
in a punk rock band in Düsseldorf. “Yps” is a
really nice guy.
We have a few good record shops here in
Düsseldorf, for example Hitsville records, which
has been around for as long as I can remember.
I've been buying my vinyl there since I was a
teenager.
Or the Rainking Recordstore, to name just two.
I myself buy everything I can get on vinyl, I
just love to put the record on the player and
hear the crackling and the sound of the vinyl.
Elmex:
"Iron Maiden Killers" is my all time
favourite record cover.
Of course, we also listen to records and buy
them. The last record I bought was the new Tiger
Rouge.
Is it important to get out physical records of
your stuff? Why or why not? Vinyl, CD, cassette,
what do you prefer if you could choose whatever
Is 10 inch the best to do?
Evil B:
I want to have everything from my bands on vinyl
or CD. I like to have something in my hand that
is personalised with love. All this streaming
stuff is handy when you're driving in the car or
to reach a lot of listeners quickly, but it's no
competition to a vinyl or CD.
Why 10 inch...for a 7inch there would be too
many songs and for a 12inch not enough that we
recorded. So simple it is.
Please tell me a funny thing which have happened
during your career and under some gig? With this
band or some other band you have been tp?
Evil B:
I remember a moment with the Lazy Bombs at a
gig. We were in the middle of a song at a
festival, suddenly all you could hear was an
indefinable noise and a clang from the drums.I
turned around and didn't see our drummer
anymore. He slipped off the drum platform with
his stool while playing and took half the drum
kit with him.
So we quickly improvised on the stage until he
has rebuilt everything and the set went on... He
claims to this day that it didn't happen, so I
blame it on the booze...
How does your audience look like? Which people
do you miss on your concerts? Which is the
biggest band you ever have played together with?
Evil B:
our audience is mixed, there is the punk with
the mohawk but also the rockabilly girl or the
guy in the suit. Today you can no longer define
it by outward appearances.
Personally, it was a festival where I played
with the Lazy Bombs and also Lagwagon played
there.
Please rank your five favoriterecords, five
favoriteconcerts and five most important things
in life?
Evil B:
Favorite records:
1.
Hellacopters – By the Grace of God
2.
Backyard Babies – Total 13
3.
Social Distortion – White light, white Trash,
white heat
4.
Toten Hosen – Damenwahl
5.
Gluecifer – Automatic Thrill
Favorite
Concerts:
1.
Sepultura 1996 Düsseldorf Stahlwerk
2.
Turbonegro 1998 Düsseldorf AK47
3.
Sjock Festival Belgium – every Year
😉
4.
Toten Hosen 1993 – Philipshalle Düsseldorf
5.
Skunk Anansie – Cologne must be 2012
Things in life:
1.
My Kids
2.
Playing live Shows
3.
Hearing Music
4.
Go to live Shows
5.
Everything else
😉
First, last and most expensive record ever
bought?
Evil B:
First record:
Iron Maiden – No prayer for the Dying /
Vinyl
Last record:
Hellacopters – Eyes of Oblivion / Vinyl
Expensive record:
Hellacopters – By the Grace of God 1st
pressing / Vinyl
approx 200 Euro
Is it boring with interviews? Is it much
interviews? What do you prefer, liveinterviews
or like this via email so you can think after
before you say things?
Evil B:
I prefer live interviews, because you can
interact more quickly and immediately react to
an answer that is given. There is a better flow
in live interviews.
Do you care about reviews? Which is the most
peculiar you ever had, with this band or any
other band you have been to? Have you ever
changed anything after a bad review?
Evil B:
I have received both good and bad reviews with
all my previous bands. With bad reviews it
always depends on whether it is constructive
criticism or the writer is having a bad day or
doesn't listen to this kind of music himself and
has no connection with it.
Which bands do people compare you to, is it
boring that people compare you to other bands or
is it understandable?
Evil B:
I've heard so many comparisons, there were
Misfits, Volbeat, The Bones, Social Distortion
etc...
People always try to compare and it's a bit of
an honour to be compared to the big bands.
If you could choose five bands from the past and
the history and nowadays and both dead and
living bands to have a concert together with
your band. Which five have you been chosen?
Evil B:
1.
Motörhead
2.
Social Distortion
3.
Gluecifer
4.
ACDC
5.
Hellacopters
Is music a good way to get out frustration and
become a nicer person outside the music??
Evil B:
Music is an outlet to let out frustration. If I
have a bad day and I can go to the rehearsal
room, it's immediately better afterwards. And
yes, it also does something to you outside of
music, but I don't know if you necessarily
become a nicer person ;-)
Which is the most odd question you ever have got
in an interview?(Except this one)
Elmex:
So you make music according to the motto
"asocial and proud of it"?
Mo:
I can’t remember
Which is the question you want to have but you
never get. Please ask it and answer it?
Elmex:
By a beautiful female journalist: “You are the
best-looking man in the world. Will you come to
my hotel room?”
Futureplans for the band?
Evil B:
Sell the Record, play Shows, go into the studio
to record another vinyl
Mo:
Play a lot of festival Shows
For yourself?
Evil B:
Continue to have a good time with the band,
spend time with the kids and my girlfriend and
above all stay healthy
Elmex:
Stay healthy to be able to play music as long as
possible
Mo:
Just made Music
Wisdomword?
Evil B:
Do what you want to do, even if others smile at
you for it.
Hold on to your dreams and pay attention to your
fellow people who don't have much and need help.
Something to add?
Elmex:
Maybe 38 more questions?
One more question…. beerfavorite sort? If you
did a beer which sort would it be and what have
it been called?
Evil B:
At the moment I quite like drinking a local beer
from Bremen. Haake Beck or the Kräusen from the
brewery.
Elmex:
Olbermanns aus der Düsseldorfer Altstadt
Mo:
Craft Beer!
Normally I don't drink at all, but when I do
drink beer, it's usually the beer from the
Düsseldorf private brewery Olbermanns in
Düsseldorf's “old town”.
|