Scorpions at 50 heading our way

IT PRETTY MUCH goes without saying that German metal quintet Scorpions is the most popular foreign rock band in Thailand, and has been forever. So local fans who thought they’d seen the last of the group in 2011 when their “Farewell Tour” rolled through Bangkok are rejoicing. 

Scorpions are coming back again, this time celebrating 50 years in the business and with a new album to play.

Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs were still only kids on the streets of Hanover half a century ago as the industrial city climbed out of its post-war paralysis. They hauled around their instruments and amplifiers in a wheelbarrow. And then they became Continental Europe’s most successful rock band, matching German-made cars in their exportable power. 

“Return to Forever”, released last year, is their 18th studio album and has sold just as well as the rest, of which there are 100 million units in private collections around the planet. Three generations have grown up listening to “Always Somewhere”, “You & I”, “Holiday”, “Send Me an Angel” and many more, and today’s teenagers form the latest fan base as they browse through the Scorpions catalogue on YouTube. 

We asked lead singer Klaus Meine, still a live wire at 68, about this new mob of Scorpions fanatics.

 

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN 2016?

We’ve toured all over the world. We went back to the US and did our first residency in Las Vegas, which was very nice. We played for the first time in Beijing. And since May we’ve had Mikkey Dee from Motorhead with us, replacing James Kottak, who had to take some time off due to health problem. Mikkey has added fresh energy and we’ve had fun playing together. 

Now we’re looking forward to coming back to Asia and to Thailand again. 

 

WHAT WAS THAT BUSINESS ABOUT A “FAREWELL” TOUR BACK IN 2011? 

We saw a whole new generation of rock fans joining the party on that tour and it was amazing to play in front of three generations. A lot of kids came to see us and they were, like, “When are you coming back?” 

Then in 2013 we did an “MTV Unplugged” session in Athens, right after we played our final show in Munich. We should have said “No, we’re finished,” but we were really excited about the opportunity. 

And the next thing we knew we started writing songs again, because we wanted to make that project more special. And we realised we still had so much energy and creativity left. 

In 2010 we felt like we wanted to finish and get out of this cycle of making records and going on tour. Maybe we all just needed a break. But it was definitely the right decision to keep going. Ever since then we’ve been touring and it’s more successful than ever. We have 10 million followers on Facebook, including a lot of young kids. 

We don’t know what life will bring next, but for now we’re enjoying it very much.

 

THE YOUNG FANS ADD THEIR OWN SPARK.

These young teens watch our videos on YouTube and I guess they like what they see and hear. They know some of the classics and decide that if we ever come to their towns, they’ll come see us and have a great rock ’n’ roll party. 

There are emotions you can’t get from just watching videos on the Internet. Our show is about togetherness with the fans – sharing the moment and the emotions. It’s about having a good time and leaving reality behind for two hours. 

Our original fans are growing older with us. When we started out we were all as young as the kids are today. So it’s nice that we’re able to bring the generations together, singing together, rocking together and connecting with each other. The old fans sit at the sides of the arena with big smiles on their faces, watching the kids having fun up front. For a moment it brings back their youth, when they were teenagers going to a rock concert for the first time. 

Music and sport always bring the world together. In troubled times, wherever you are in the world, music can bring people together in a peaceful way and add a little bit more positive to the world. That’s what our fans get from the concerts. 

 

SOME OLD-SCHOOL ACTS DON’T WANT FANS TAKING VIDEOS DURING CONCERTS.

I think it’s okay. Back in the day, they held their lighters in the air when we played the ballads like “Always Somewhere” and “Send Me an Angel”. These days they hold up their phones, and it looks really cool. 

If using a phone doesn’t take away from them their engagement in the show, it’s fine with me. I’m not too worried about them posting the videos on YouTube. For young bands maybe it’s a problem because they need to be paid for their music. For us, it’s a huge promotional tool. We reach a worldwide audience that way and get instant feedback. 

 

DO YOU LISTEN TO A LOT OF NEW MUSIC? 

We like our old favourites – AC/DC, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith – but we try to stay connected to new bands, too. I like 3 Doors Down very much – I know they’re not so new! 

And in all the countries we go to we try to get in touch with the culture and the local music scene. I know there’s a young rock scene in Thailand and I’d love to know more about it. 

 

DID YOU EVER THINK SCORPIONS WOULD COME THIS FAR?

Of course not – we didn’t even know if we could make a living as professional musicians! 

When we first started, we all had day jobs and played in clubs on weekends. We didn’t have professional management, so we put together tours on our own whenever we had holidays. 

But we believed. We had the talent, the energy and the willpower to make it happen. Whatever it took, we wanted to go all the way. Our intention was to take our music all over the world. 

We dreamed big, but we didn’t think we’d make it to 50 years! It makes me sound so old! But when we get out onstage you wouldn’t think you’re seeing a band that’s 50 years old. It’s a story of success and of friendship, of a band that’s always believed in teamwork. 

Reaching 50 also means joining a very exclusive club with bands like the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Beach Boys. Not many bands have made it to 50, and we’re very proud of that. 

 

IF YOU COULD TIME-TRAVEL, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF 50 YEARS AGO?

I would say, “Klaus, take a deep, deep breath. There’s a big challenge coming your way. There will be highs and lows and ups and downs. You have to fight to survive. Sometimes when you’re trying to make it to the top, you have to go down, and maybe down some more after that, but, if you believe in yourself and your band, you’ll make it to the top again.”

 

DO YOU REGARD YOURSELF AS A SUPERSTAR?

No. I don’t mind being called a superstar [laughs], but I don’t consider myself one. I would never tell people I am a superstar. I’m a musician and a singer, and that’s what I do for a living. 

All these years I’ve had the privilege to live my dream. We’re not big stars. All of us are very down to earth. When we have a show it’s not like “us up onstage and the fans down there”. It’s all of us together. It takes the band and the audience to make it magical. 

 

Angel on the way

 

- Scorpions will be |performing at Bitec in |Bang Na, Halls 102-103, |on October 26 at 8pm.

- Seats cost Bt1,200 to Bt8,000 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.