Q: Let's start with the history of FIGHTBALL.
A: We founded FIGHTBALL in October 2006 and started making music together. In 2006, Roger (bass), Sören (drums), and Daniel (guitar) were together and met Bertel online. We then met at Punk & Disorderly and hit it off right away. Shortly after, Bertel said he was moving to Berlin and wanted to make music. At that time, we knew Bertel's other band “Silver City” and met to make music together. After the first rehearsal, which went well, we decided to form a band together. We needed a name that would stick in people's minds, and FIGHTBALL came to us spontaneously in the bathroom. We all liked the name, especially because it made everyone think we were a hardcore band.
Later, we met Flo (guitar) through a friend, and he quickly joined us. Things went well until 2010.
Q: I joined in 2010.
A: When Bertel left us. That was after a tour with Rat City Riot through the Basque Country. After the tour, Bertel told us that he wouldn't have much time for the band in the future, and we parted ways amicably, without any arguments. It was, of course, a shock for the band. Being without a singer is tough.
We first tried to continue on our own, then we had two guys come in to audition. Phil was the third, and we immediately liked him.
Q: I read ads from bands looking for punk rock singers online. I wanted to try it out, and I immediately liked the ad that Sören had written for FIGHTBALL. He mentioned a few bands so that people would know what direction it should go. The Clash, Rancid, Street Dogs, and Bouncing Souls were listed. These were all bands I knew and fit the direction I could imagine making music in. Since I'm a nice person, I called Sören. We got along very well on the phone. I was really looking forward to the audition. As soon as I entered the rehearsal room, I knew I wanted to stay.
After the rehearsal, the band quickly agreed that we should continue together. By now, the guys are my best friends. I have more to do with them than with anyone else. We are a unit. It's great! That's what I've been looking for my whole life.
Q: At the beginning, when Bertel was singing, you had a slightly different style. Why did you keep the band name after the singer change?
A: That was also one of the reasons why Bertel left. Daniel and I wrote about 80% of the music back then. However, it wasn't always 100% to Bertel's taste. Since 2006, we've become more open to different styles. This has changed our music, but not overnight. We tell ourselves that we can do whatever we want, and just because we might have written some quieter pieces doesn't mean we can't write a fast punk song again.
Q: I saw you back then with Bertel and thought his singing leaned strongly towards Oi, and you had Oi influences because of that.
A: We definitely had that influence.
Over time, we just listened to more punk rock, and our style developed more in that direction. However, we would never say that we don't like our old music anymore.
P: Nothing we do is forced. Every song we make is what we want to do. The music we create is directed by us. We don't have a label telling us how we should sound.
A: There are plenty of punk bands that work with producers. This sets a certain path for the recordings or songwriting. We just do what we want. Of course, this leads to some friction. Some think the song is too slow, others think it's too fast.
Q: What sense does it make if every song sounds the same?
A: Exactly, and many bands have a red thread or had success with one song, and then they continue to record in that style. We don't want to get stuck. That's why we also incorporated the organ into our repertoire.
Q: How would you describe your style?
P: Definitely punk rock!
A: Melodic, English-language punk rock all areas.
Q: Let's talk about the current album “The Hyperbole of a Dead Man.” What do you want to convey with the title, and who came up with the lightbulb character in the booklet?
P: That's an interesting story. The title came from Sören. Literally translated, the title means: The Exaggeration of a Dead Man.
With this title, Sören summarized the messages of the songs. He sent this to Alberto Bekerini from Rome. Alberto did the entire design and also came up with the lightbulb character. The character goes through a whole story, which is graphically processed in the booklet.
A: The story goes from birth to death. I had quite close contact with Alberto. We wrote a lot to each other. He then received the songs, wanted to hear our vision of how we wanted the graphic implementation, and then he started drawing. The highlight of life is when the character sits on a bomb, doomed to die, but at that moment feels free.
The stages of life include the first love, represented as a colorful kiss mark in the booklet. This is the only splash of color in the booklet.
Alberto did a great job with the booklet. We are very grateful to him for that.
Alberto also designed our new poster. We continue to work with him. He has become a good friend of ours.
P: Even though we've never met in person.
Q: You recorded at the “Daily Hero” studio. That's Flo's studio from 5Bugs. Why did you choose this studio, and how satisfied are you with the work done there?
P: It was the first studio work I was involved in. We are very proud of the new record.
A: Before Phil joined the band, we had already recorded three songs there. The recordings appealed to us, and for us, it was also a test to see how they work and how we get along with the people there.
Working with Flo and his team is great. It helped us a lot since we don't have much studio experience yet. Flo delegated well and suggested many things for us to try.
P: Since we worked without a producer, Flo took a lot into his own hands.
A: Flo gave us many little tips. Since he also makes music himself, his tips were very concrete and helpful. The end product is great!
P: Flo is a very professional person who still maintains his punk attitude.
A: The production is very good. It rivals many larger studios. He has very good equipment. He also has his price, but everything is fair and reasonable.
Q: Let's talk about a few songs from your album. The song “What They Say” criticizes all the lies of politicians. What do you expect from politics? What needs to change?
P: We are politically active. There is a big difference between us and other bands that express their politics to gain success. For example, it's self-evident to be against Nazis. A punk band doesn't need to put that on their banner to try to win people over with all their might. If you make punk rock, you have to be politically active!
A: We discuss current events in politics. However, we believe that we don't need to emphasize in every song that we are against Nazis.
P: We don't even have to say that. Of course, you are against Nazis if you listen to punk rock. That's just how it is! We have more important things to say than what is already standard from the outset.
A: As long as Nazis are not prominent in the state parliament or have any real say in any other form, we won't pursue the topic as intensively as other bands do. In relation to Nazis, we are doing well in Germany. There are many countries where it is much worse. The fact that we can sit here, drink beer, chat, and later play a concert is not something that is taken for granted in many countries! Or that we can go on tour here without a hitch. That is hardly feasible in many countries. It's a privilege that I think we sometimes don't appreciate enough.
If you look at Singapore, Russia, or generally Eastern Europe, it's not like it is here. For example, when Nazi concerts are stormed in Poland... that's different from here. They are much more brutal there and often armed. Then you have to do something and show commitment.
I always say, FIGHTBALL is not a Mother Teresa band!
P: I believe in tolerance and that we need to talk to each other, that we need to discuss things together. Of course, everyone has their own political views; we in the band also have controversial discussions. We don't want to process an opinion on every political topic in a song that we don't all agree on internally.
Q: The song “Berlin Radio” is both a tribute to Berlin and a collaboration with Radio Dead Ones.
A: Exactly. Radio Dead Ones are friends of ours. I had already been in contact with the band and asked them if they would support us on the song. The song is meant to be a small homage to Berlin, but it also has a critical undertone. Many Berliners see this city as the best city there is, while there are so many great cities in Germany and around the world that one should also look beyond their own horizon. At the same time, the song, at 1:30 minutes, is a tribute to old-school hardcore.
I personally really like hardcore, but only the old-school stuff. All that metalcore stuff is not my thing.
We wanted to do something with the song that people wouldn't expect from us. It turned out pretty well. The song has contributed to our friendship with Radio Dead Ones growing even stronger. The band is coming by tonight.
We help each other out, give tips, and exchange ideas.
Q: The song is a tribute to Berlin and the subculture here. Many Berliners view the changes in this city, especially with the growing tourist influx, critically.
How do you see these changes, and how do you deal with tourists?
A: I believe Berlin is something unique in Europe. Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, those are all tourist cities. Berlin is different. We know people from California who would move to Berlin immediately. When I think that they have 360 days of sunshine a year and orange trees growing there, I wouldn't want to move away.
I have lived in Prenzlauer Berg for almost ten years, and what's happening there now is really crazy! I'm not a native Berliner, but when I compare how it was when I moved there and how it is now... The district has changed dramatically. I don't like some of the changes.
I believe that a city like Berlin cannot survive without tourists. Everyone benefits from the tourists. A club like Wild at Heart benefits from tourists going there. For example, New Year's Eve is packed here. Who goes to a club on New Year's Eve? Most people stay home or celebrate in small circles.
Everyone benefits from the tourists, but everyone also has a tear in their eye because...
P: ...when it comes to rent prices, it gets difficult. I'm a native Kreuzberger. I wasn't born here, but I grew up here. At some point, my family could no longer afford the apartment. Ten years ago, we moved away. That's when it started. Apartments that used to be shabby but were located by the canal, you definitely can't afford anymore as an average person.
It's difficult, but I can understand it. However, I wouldn't move away from Berlin because of that. Berlin is my hometown.
A: The rent prices are crazy. When people come from Swabia and pay €2,000 in broker fees to get an apartment, we can't keep up. In Swabia, that's normal.
Our buddy Timo from Small Town Riot in Hamburg told us that they pay completely different rent prices in Hamburg. When we complain here that a 3-room apartment costs between €800 and €900, they ask you in Hamburg if you're crazy. They pay €1,600 for the same apartment in Hamburg.
What bothers me a lot is that everyone wants to go where the action is, but when they have an apartment here, they want to dictate to the club or bar on the ground floor that it should be quiet by 8:00 PM. That doesn't work! That drives the businesses to ruin!
Take S.O. 36, Kato, or Schokoladen; they have all been hit with strict regulations. Many clubs can't afford these regulations.
Things like “We kindly ask our guests to go inside by 11:00 PM,” what is that? In summer, I should go inside at 11:00 PM when it's still nice and warm outside?
The businesses benefit from their outdoor spaces. People drink more outside than if they had to go inside. Then most people just leave.
If I want to move to where the action is, I also have to live with the consequences!
People who want peace should move to Biesdorf.
P: There are plenty of apartments available in Zehlendorf. You live in the green and quiet!
A: Everyone is welcome, but Berlin should remain Berlin. Berlin has a certain charm that no other city has. That's what makes Berlin special. That shouldn't be taken away from Berlin.
Q: Do you have favorite locations in Berlin?
A: Here! This is our home club. Today's gig is probably our tenth concert at Wild at Heart. How often have we hung out here... Wild at Heart is our home base. The Jägerklause is also cool. I remember when they first opened. There was just a bar, a fridge with Berliner Pilsner, and nothing else. You can find us in Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, and Prenzlauer Berg.
Q: Let's get back to the music. The keyboard has made its way into your sound.
P: My father was a jazz pianist. I started playing the piano at the age of six.
The piano was my first and most intense encounter with music. When Sören found out that I could handle the keys, it quickly became clear that we would try to incorporate the keyboard into our songs.
When I joined FIGHTBALL, my thought was “We are now making punk rock.” You don't immediately think of piano or keyboard. That's how it came about, and it's fun!
You can do so much with the keyboard. In the new songs, we are also working intensively to incorporate the keyboard. I see it as an enrichment.
A: We also have a song with harmonica. Flo (guitar) recently bought an accordion on eBay when he was drunk. We need to incorporate that as well.
Our tour bus needs to get bigger soon. We are considering buying our own bus anyway. There are more and more concerts, and we have to calculate whether buying a bus might not be cheaper than renting one. We had to cancel some concerts because it wouldn't have been feasible with a rental bus.
Q: With City Rat Booking, you have someone who can book very long tours.
A: That's true, although they have mostly only worked with bands from the USA so far, and those bands have played long tours, like Born to Lose. However, they are currently changing a lot. They like us, we like them, so there will be more concerts from us in the future. The collaboration with City Rat Booking will become closer. Let's see what the future brings.
Q: Are you looking forward to the gig with Buster Shuffle tonight? Are you excited?
A: I'm looking forward to Buster Shuffle. We got to know the band when they played at the Endless Summer Festival last year. I personally already knew the band from the tour with Broilers. Buster Shuffle are really nice guys, a bit shy maybe, but that's how the English are. I think tonight will be a cool evening.
It indeed turned out to be a cool evening.
FIGHTBALL warmed up the audience well as the first band and were significantly better than at their record release party. The band has ambitions and wants to play live! Something big can come out of this!
BUSTER SHUFFLE then played to a nearly full house. It was a big party that the English knew how to celebrate as the main act. The unique sound of the band and the witty remarks between the songs made the performance unforgettable!
