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glieder an der Talentshow „The
Voice of Germany“ bestimmt nicht
allen eingefleischten Fans gefällt.
BOSS
►
Klar, an einer Castingshow
mitzuwirken, wäre auch für uns vorher
nie in Frage gekommen. Es geht nicht um
musikalisches Können, sondern um Ju-
rys, die keine Ahnung von Musik haben.
HOSS
►
Bei manchen Shows ist die
Platte schon fertig, bevor der Sieger
gekürt ist. Das ist ein austauschbares
Kunstprodukt. Darüber haben wir uns
jahrelang ziemlich aufgeregt.
BOSS
►
Aber, und das erklären wir
auch unseren Fans, das Konzept dieser
speziellen Sendung hat uns überzeugt.
HOSS
►
Wir haben darin die Chance
gesehen, ein positives Gegenbeispiel
zu liefern. Bei „The Voice“ werden kei-
ne Freaks zur Belustigung der Leute vor
die Kamera gezerrt, sondern die Kandi-
daten werden gescoutet, es kommen
nur Leute auf die Bühne, die wirklich
gut sind. Und das Wichtigste: Es geht
tatsächlich um Musik.
Das Album „Liberty Of Action“ ist
jetzt imHandel. Ab März sind „The
BossHoss“ auch wieder auf Tour. Alle
Daten der Tournee auf
www.thebosshoss.com
P E O P L E
“THEY DIDN’T
EXPECT THAT
FROM A BUNCH
OF KRAUTS!”
The Boss Hoss’s cowboy-inspired
outfits – boots, hats and all the other
classic Wild West accoutrements –
have helped win the Berlin band
legions of fans at home in Germany.
But how would US audiences
respond to their raucous blend of
country and rock?
GW
talked to
frontmen Alec
“
Boss
”
Völkel and
Sascha
“
Hoss
”
Vollmer about big
hats and even bigger dreams
You went to Texas last summer, to
“look for inspiration”, as many artists
do. How do seven urban cowboys
from Berlin go about finding
inspiration in the Deep South?
BOSS
►
We went to a lot of clubs, met
some great musicians, and listened to
some fantastic music. There’s country,
blues and rock music blaring out of all the
shops – it’s great. We also did some gigs
in Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
What did the Yanks make of a bunch
of Krauts in cowboy hats?
BOSS
►
Some of themwere really
surprised. The cowboy hats made them
think we were country musicians but our
music is much more varied than that. It’s
got elements of rock and punk in it too. They
certainly didn’t expect that kind of thing
coming out of Krautland.
But the hats are important. Do you
think you strike a chord with Germans
who hanker after a simple life?
HOSS
►
Rock ’n’ roll always provides
people with a bit of escapism. If your boss
gets on your nerves during the day, you
put on some AC/DC in the evening and you
instantly feel better. Our cowboy thing and
our songs, which are about doing what
you want, allow people to project their
dreams onto us. The current single‚
Don’t
Gimme That
, is about the fact that people
everywhere have to do crap jobs, but it
shouldn’t stop them from doing what really
matters to them.
Seven years ago you were working as
graphic designers and making music
in your spare time. What would you
have said if someone had told you back
then that you’d be performing in huge
concert venues and touring the USA?
HOSS
►
I’d never have believed it!
BOSS
►
We never thought it would
happen. Even when we got our first record
deal, we never thought we’d get even bigger.
HOSS
►
And it all gained a totally new
momentum with
The Voice of Germany
.
Some of your hardcore fans aren’t too
happy about you being on the jury of
The Voice of Germany
talent show.
BOSS
►
Well, we never had anything to
do with casting shows until now. Most of
them just parade people in front of an
audience and give them their 15 minutes
of fame. It’s not about music, it’s about
juries – who haven’t a clue about music.
HOSS
►
In some shows, the record
has already been made before they’ve
announced the winner. The song’s an
interchangeable product, which every
contestant has practised singing. We used
to get really annoyed by it.
BOSS
►
But – and this is what we say to
our fans – we liked the concept of this
particular programme.
HOSS
►
We saw it as an opportunity to
deliver a positive counterexample, to make
a casting show that’s actually good.
The
Voice
doesn’t parade freaks in front of the
camera for the audience’s amusement; the
contestants are scouted. Only really
talented people make it on stage. And
most importantly, it’s actually about music.
The Boss Hoss’s new album, Liberty
of Action, is on sale now. The band go
on tour in March. For tour dates see
www.thebosshoss.com
26
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