Well, you’re in Russia for a second time. How can you describe your feelings? What’s the difference between Russian and European public?

It depends, I mean, it’s hard to say “European public”, ‘cause we play in different countries… In Italy people are very friendly and emotional, in Germany they are very cool and tough… Then, of course, it depends on where you play and who organized it. Like in Germany and Italy you can have 500-600 people, in Russia there are a few fans, but they are very heartful. I think Italian and Russian audience is the best I ever had. They are much more energetic… In Russia we played in Saint Petersburg, and now in Moscow, and the venues are always fantastic. I really like to be here. In Germany, for example, people think, like, “it’s cool to listen to that sort of music”, ‘cause they just pretend to be cool and hard, other than listen to it. But in Russia, Switzerland or Italy they just listen to the music, and that’s great. We’re happy to play here again.

It might seem strange to you, but many people here identify industrial music with some certain ideology…

I think, yes, it deals with ideology, but, anyway, we’re all individuals… It’s very difficult, for we’re living in a XXI century. For me it’s ridiculous to say “I’m left. I’m right, I’m a communist, I’m a nazist”…for all these systems collapsed many years ago.

And what about you? Does your music have a message of ideology?

I don’t bring any message to my music. I don’t tell people what to think or what to do. I mean, Der Blutharsch in Europe is very controversial. They think we’re nazi, blah-blah-blah, but I don’t tell people what to think or what to feel. They should choose it with their own souls, for no-one has to be told what is right and what is not, people should decide for themselves. So that’s my message: “think for yourself, make your own decision, don’t believe anyone who tells you what to think or what to do”.

What’s your attitude to the Past? The Tradition behind you?

It’s always politics when you say it, but it’s not politics that I’m talking about. You know, today we’re having that European Community, there’s a tendency to make Europe “the United States of Europe”. To destroy our past, to make Italy just like Germany… You now that “euro” – we don’t have our own currency anymore. More and more they take away our past, trying to make Europe a big market. I think now it’s very important to stick to your Past, to keep your traditions, to look back. I mean, I want Europe to be Europe. If you go to Italy, you have Italian food and money, you talk Italian… You know, I go to any place here in Russia, and ask for a beer, and they always give me imported beer…But I don’t need a Dutch beer here, I want Russian beer! I don’t need a fucking McDonalds in Vienna or Moscow!… We don’t even notice it, everything’s becoming commercialized, made easy to buy and sell. All our Past, all our history is sucked away by this Big Globalization Thing.

Do you personally stick to the Tradition? Do you live according to them?

Yeah. I mean, it’s very hard, we’re living in a modern world, and have all these modern things. So I fly to Moscow, I don’t have to go by feet… I think the most important thing is to use technics but not to get used by it. Or, these computers – I hate them, totally, but it’s very easy to send an e-mail…

Is your music “traditional”?

I don’t think it is, ‘cause I mix a lot of different styles, I don’t even consider myself being a musician, I just take bits and pull them together. It’s multi-cultural in the end, but it’s more of a European culture, like, “European traditional music”… Anyway, it’s very hard for me to judge my music, ‘cause I just do it. I can’t explain why, or how, or what do I feel when doing it…

Do you consider Der Blutharsch a band striving for rebirth of Europe?

I think this thing is very important. I mean, there’s a total mess now, most of the people are consumers. Most of them prefer choosing an easy way. Tradition is our soul, but most of modern people are totally corrupted already, they know nothing about their history … They have their shitty life, shitty work, they are just a part of the system, and all they can have is a breakfast in McDonalds on Sundays… I don’t expect anything from them… But I think there are some people who still keep the heart for Tradition, still carry the flames of our Past, and wait for re-awakening. They are rich, they’ve some kind of… maybe, proudness?….

What influenced the music of Der Blutharsch?

It’s more like everyday life and everyday feelings… Yes, I read a lot and listen to some music, but that’s different, they don’t really influence me. It’s more like reading or listening, and then entering some special state of mind… For me it’s quite an emotional thing. Well, maybe, in a way, I get influenced, but I can’t tell. Like, for example, I read Stephen King, and then I think: “Yes, I got something”…

What about the avantgarde scene in Vienna – I mean, 
the bands like yours, or Novy Svet, or Allerseelen…?

It’s very funny for me, for people always think there exists some, but it’s just me and Kadmon of Allerseelen, and some of our friends… It’s just a few bands, you can’t consider these few a real avantgarde scene… Yes, we can influence each other, like, that guy from Novy Svet, he’s a friend of mine. When I met him he didn’t do music, and when I showed him something, all these samplers and technologies, he was really impressed… And a month later he gives me a tape and says he made it himself, and I listen to it and say “ OK, it’s good, I’ll release it”… But there’s no scene, it’s nothing but four friends… Vienna isn’t an avantgarde city either… Nowadays that kind of scene hardly exists anywhere. Maybe, in London, 15 years ago…

Do you know any non-commercial bands from Russia?

Hard to say. Just a few. Reutoff, Sal Solaris, Neutral…I think it’s the same here – no scene, just close friends…

So in Europe it’s the same as here?

Yes… Maybe, in Austria it’s easier, we have all these independent labels and promoters, but the situation is the same.

What German bands do you like?

Genocide Organ, Anazephalia… Bands like Einstuerzende Neubauten. You know, it’s difficult sometimes to judge the music… First you don’t like it, and then you meet them, get to know them closer, and you change your opinion…

Were there any places that influenced or inspired you?

First, it’s Vienna. ‘cause I live there…Maybe, Saint Petersburg, when I got to Heilige Feuer festival… Hard to say - I travel a lot, and I get inspired everywhere…

Ever travelled in Russia?

Well, I was here in 1987, for five days. I visited Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and a pair of small towns… These days I joined the organization called Russian-Austrian Friendship, and they organized the tour. So every town we stopped we had these official ceremonies, and police was guiding us and showing everything. It was a good impression, but it wasn’t really travelling… Now we’re here for three days, walking around Moscow, talking to people, but anyway, it’s more like snapshots… And it’s quite hard, ‘cause I’m a foreigner, I don’t understand what’s going on, I just see things, but don’t get the concept. And I had no chance to go to the countryside, but I hope one day I’ll do. I’ve heard it’s beautiful over there…

What do you expect from the concert?

I’m really excited. You know, during Heilige Feuer I in Saint Petersburg I didn’t really expected anything. It was a small venue, maybe 100 people, but it was fantastic. We came on stage and they just started clapping and singing… And then I talked to people – some of them came from Siberia, 30 hours by train, just to get to this gig! A very emotional experience. I think tonight it’s going to be very good. In Germany people just come and say: “OK, they are from Vienna, that’s cool” – and nothing more. But here people are really into this thing… You know, I was in MTV Russia…

Really?

Oh, yes, they came to our press conference, and made a half-hour programme, and did interview with us. The guy from there, he didn’t know about us, but after the show he was impressed.

Do you like the club where you’re playing tonight?

Yes, a fantastic place. In Austria we don’t have venues like that for independent musicians…

Have you heard the other two bands you’re playing with?

I know Reutoff, ‘cause I released some records by Reutoff. I like them a lot. I know Neutral, someone sent me a CD once, and I’m aware of what they do. Sound really interesting. I’d like to know some other bands, I think, the stage in Russia is really interesting, but it’s quite hard to get them in Germany. They don’t just record CDs, some shit to say “we’re cool, we’re musicians”, they express themselves, it’s an existencial thing for them to do music… When I heard Reutoff, I said to myself: “Yes, that’s something”. I think many Russian bands are like that…

http://www.derblutharsch.org