Hello, it's great to hear from BITUME again. "Lolch" will see the light of day this month. Why "Lolch"? What can listeners expect and what is different?
Yes, the good piece will be released on November 5th. The story of Lolch began back in 2002 with the "Wahlwiederholung" in a 30-second song. After there was Lolch 2 on "Gut im Trend", we thought it was time to reveal the Lolch. However, this time it is Lolch 5, and we still don't really know what will happen in episodes 3 and 4. That's more future music. What listeners can expect: 13 songs within a good half hour, full speed, then half gas, then full speed again, and at the end, the story about Lolch to wind down. It still sounds exactly like BITUME sounds. I think the songs this time have come more from the gut, which has done the whole thing a lot of good, in my opinion. Everything has become a bit faster again, and the production is a bit rougher, yet there are a few poppier anthems included. Interestingly, some songs only developed into really good songs after the recording, while others unfortunately lost some life during the recording compared to the rehearsal room feel. All in all, I think – how could it be otherwise – that these are the best songs we have made so far.
Tell me about the recordings. How did the songs come about? Did someone come up with a chord progression and you all worked on it together? How can I imagine the creation of a BITUME song?
Usually, one of us comes up with an idea, sometimes just a guitar riff, sometimes a nearly finished song structure, sometimes Crischan comes with just a text and a melody; it varies a lot. Then we work on it together. Some songs are finished very quickly and are not changed anymore. Others, however, are rearranged anew at every rehearsal. Sometimes it takes ages until we are satisfied with a song. If we hadn't pulled the emergency brake at a certain point and said that we would just leave the songs as they are, we would probably still be tinkering with them forever. But that’s also what we really enjoy.
Recently, it has been very quiet around BITUME. Were there personal reasons for this, or was the air a bit out of the band internally?
It was mainly personal reasons. There simply wasn't enough time, partly due to professional reasons and partly due to family reasons. Interestingly, it wasn't so much the time to make music that was lacking, but the time to organize. We have been rehearsing regularly, sometimes more, sometimes less, and have also played concerts from time to time. The whole thing got a bit stuck because there was no time left for all the organizational work that goes into it. We have always organized a lot ourselves, for example, booking tours. But this time we also took on the entire production of the album ourselves and didn't delegate anything except for the mastering. I have to admit, we underestimated how long that could take. The songs have been finished for a long time, some for several years. We just took our time because we don't want the whole thing to turn into stress; after all, it is and remains a hobby that we pursue because we enjoy it.
On your last album, you had Archie Alert as a producer? Why did you take everything into your own hands this time? Did you want to work completely independently, or were you dissatisfied with the results of the last production?
We were actually very satisfied with the results of the last production. Archie did a great job. However, this time we went into it with completely different conditions: We neither had anywhere near the same budget nor the time to prepare ourselves so that when someone like Archie came by to record, we could actually record everything. The lack of time and our catastrophic time management threw a wrench in the works. Additionally, we don't sell enough records for the costs incurred to be covered solely by sales. And we won't be able to play as many concerts as we used to in the future. That's not a big deal, but it would take away any financial leeway for other things if we had spent more money on the production. This way, we can still make T-shirts and, if we want, finance a tour in the distant future.
“Tour” is a good keyword. What does the future hold for live activities? You have already been to Brazil and Finland. How did that come about and what was the response?
We will play as many concerts as we can manage time-wise, as we have in the past. The only problem is that time is getting tighter. There will be a release tour in November, and then here and there on whole weekends. In the summer, we would be happy about one or two festivals. Fonsstock is definitely back on the agenda, and then we'll see what else comes up.
Brazil and Finland were amazing experiences. Both came about through contacts with other bands. We started touring in Germany in 2002 with the Nitrominds from Brazil, who were also on Vitaminepillen Records at the time. After several three-week tours, a band finally emerged that I have seen live more than 50 times. And then they invited us to Brazil. The singer André had a label there, and we toured together. The response was fantastic, sometimes even euphoric. But that seems to be very normal in Brazil. People just celebrate the music more. The Finland connection came through No Shame. We had already played in Hamburg with them in 2002 and drank many green bottles together. We agreed to do a split single and then a tour through Germany and then through Finland. This led to two Finland tours, and the third joint Germany tour is now upcoming. The response there was also great, but of course different. In Brazil, as a European, you are more of an exotic, and people are more interested because such things are offered to them less frequently. All in all: We would do both again immediately as soon as time allows. The offer from Brazil was already on the table again, but unfortunately, it didn't work out time-wise. Maybe it will work out again.
As an insider;-) I was allowed to listen to some songs. “Es regnet Scheisse” is a typical BITUME punk rock number. On your last album, pop was more in the foreground. Am I wrong in my assessment to claim that BITUME has returned to their roots?
I don't think we have ever strayed far from our roots. Rather, "Punkrock Motorcity" already sounded quite different from "Wahlwiederholung", and "Gut im Trend" sounded quite different from "Punkrock Motorcity" again. Admittedly: "Gut im Trend" could be considered more poppy, but I believe that is more a question of production than songwriting. If we had recorded "Gut im Trend" ourselves, it might sound similar to "Lolch". Essentially, it is solely the speed that has picked up a bit again, which certainly does not solely determine the roots of our music. However, these are not really conscious decisions. If you lock the four of us in a rehearsal room, BITUME music comes out, sometimes in this form and sometimes in that form, without us thinking much about what should be different from the previous album. What people ultimately like better is up to them. We don't think too much about that; the main thing is that we like it.
Your lyrics seem very cerebral. Personally, I find that very exciting. How important are the lyrics? Or should the music take center stage?
I personally find the lyrics very important, but I wouldn't want to say they are more important than the music, or vice versa. The music would be pretty boring without the lyrics, and the lyrics without the music. It's just that the statements are mainly made through the lyrics, and I really like that they are not made up of simple platitudes or unambiguous and easily interpretable phrases. Some people find the lyrics too cerebral. I like that about them because they are so cerebral that if you feel like it, you can take something to think about from them. On the other hand, if you don't feel like thinking, the heavy themes are packaged in such a way that you can easily ignore them and just focus on the music and the mere stringing together of words. There isn't really anything in between for me.
Could I still claim that the lyrics also have a political or at least socially critical background? Or is that too much interpretation for you? To what extent would you consider BITUME a political band?
I wouldn't describe BITUME as a political band, but the lyrics sometimes have political backgrounds. However, the lyrics are packaged in such a way that you don't immediately recognize them and shouldn't recognize them right away. Rather, it is certainly Crischan's intention to leave room for interpretation. And that is precisely what gives the lyrics their charm.
I think the lyrics are a sensitive topic. Especially in today's time, where, in my opinion, there is an infiltration of the "scene" by so-called "gray zone bands". What is your stance on this? Would you play festivals where such bands perform?
I have to admit that I haven't followed who is currently a gray zone band, so I don't know who you are referring to. However, I have a pretty clear opinion on this. If someone has already slipped into a gray zone, which for me means not clearly and unequivocally declaring to reject any form of racism (both in words and in behavior), it is no longer acceptable for me to share the stage with such a person.
“Lolch” will be released, like your predecessor, on the Cologne label ROOKIE RECORDS. Was it your first choice, or did you not even consider releasing with another label?
Rookie Records was definitely our first choice for Lolch. Jürgen is a great guy and does very good work. Additionally, Rookie has now built up a band family that consists of great bands and also unites a very nice stylistic mix. We are proud to be able to join bands whose records have been spinning on our turntables for ages, such as Spermbirds or Pascow.
Please briefly tell us about the formation of BITUME. What has changed since then? Does the band hold the same significance as it did at the founding times?
In autumn 1999, Tom and Chrischan, who had played together in the Hush Puppies, teamed up with Uwe and founded BITUME. At the same time, I was still playing in another band with Tom, which became too much for him. Subsequently, we dissolved that band, and the guys asked me six months later if I wanted to join them. That was in early 2000. A lot has happened since then, and of course, a lot has changed. We had times when we played almost 70 concerts a year. During that time, I basically only did other things on the side. That has now turned around, and the band runs on the side. Therefore, the significance has naturally changed a bit, which is due to both professional and family reasons. You could say it has shifted from a – well – "life's work" to a hobby. And it is still the coolest hobby I can imagine, so this shift is fine for all of us.
Were BITUME ever more than a hobby for you? Did you even have big goals, or did the band just run alongside?
I believe none of us, and no one who has ever made music seriously and with enthusiasm, can deny having dreamed of not having to work on the side to finance making music. Realistically, that was never the case for us, and we have always been realistic enough to be very aware of that. Therefore, the band has always run alongside, a time-consuming but beautiful hobby that certainly provides more free beer than any other.
Phillip:
TURBOSTAAT or EISENPIMMEL
Turbostaat
FINNLAND or BRASILIEN
Brazil
FLEISCH or KÄSE
Cheese
RUHRPOTT RODEO or FORCE ATTACK
Ruhrpott Rodeo
OSTSEE or NORDSEE
North Sea
VISIONS or PLASTIC BOMB
Plastic Bomb
RTL or NTV
NTV
You could assemble your own dream combo, aside from the rest of BITUME. Who plays guitar, who plays bass, who sits on the drum stool, and who screams into the microphone?
Oh, my own dream combo, let's see: Andreas Ness from Dackelblut would play guitar together with Malcolm Young from ACDC. That would certainly be an exciting combination. The bassist from Bombshell Rocks would play bass. I unfortunately don't know his name, but the bass on the From Here and On is amazing. I would put Andy Strachan from The Living End on drums, and Chuck Ragan would have to take over the vocals. I would then also drive the tour bus to be at every concert!
Speaking of Chuck Ragan. If BITUME were to come to an end someday, could you imagine staying true to music solo? Would you assemble a new combo, or would it definitely be the end of your musical development?
So far, I can't really imagine that BITUME could come to an end soon. But that doesn't mean I couldn't also imagine making music in a different constellation. It would definitely not be the end of music – I can't do without it somehow. We already have a Ramones cover band just for fun. I could also imagine trying out completely different things. We all feel similarly. For example, UW played alongside Buzz Aldrin for a long time. Tom now plays drums in Disco Oslo, where I also once helped out as a bassist. There will always be something like that on the side, and there will certainly be something like that even if it should come to an end.
