MASTER

// Falber Teles

SOURCE - You have just released your new album called "Four More Years of Terror", what has the response been like so far?
PAUL SPECKMANN - So far the response has been killer. People really seem to enjoy MASTER metal. I have signed to a killer new company called Twilight-Vertrieb Records in Germany. These motherfuckers have been promoting the shit out of the CD. You can still find ads running nearly a year later. So, it's about time we found someone who believes in MASTER again. This has been a long struggle, but I certainly refuse to give it up.

We will be touring Europe beginning on October 6th with TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY, Dave Ellefson's new band from MEGADETH until the 21st of October. I am really looking forward to this.

SOURCE - What was the band trying to accomplish with the new album, "Four More Years of Terror"?
PS - Of course I am always trying to bring killer metal to the people, and of course with a new album, it's easier to go on tour, as well as play all the summer festivals in Europe.

I write this music for myself, and really hope that the fans enjoy "Four More Years of Terror" as much as I do. It's really great to spread your ideas around the globe. I obviously have a much different view of the world than most of the other bands. Many people are still singing about fantasy, and I choose real life. The ups and downs of mankind as well as the struggle we face each day to survive on this God-forsaken earth.

SOURCE - According to the critics, "Four More Years of Terror" is the best CD since "On the Seventh Day". What your opinious about it ?
PS - Well, I belive that most of the CDs I recorded are quite good. I mean every CD has its good and bad. Every CD has been a different time period in my life, and of course life is not all good.

I think the production is killer as well as the song-writing on "Four More Years of Terror". I am influenced by the world around me. In this particular time period, a lot is happening in the world, and this is a great help to the song-writing process.

I mean on the other hand, many of the critics are just a bunch of young assholes, that really know nothing about the history of metal, and think MASTER is some new band. I am happy to say that some of the younger fans are starting to appreciate and respect the MASTER legacy. It's about fucking time. I have been struggling to get my message to the world for years. People need to learn to get along. All this prejudice must be deleted, and mankind will have a better outlook for the future. Races, colors, and creeds must be tolerated. We are all different in many aspects, and the sooner people learn to get along, the better!

SOURCE - MASTER has been pinned as a death metal band. What do you think about the high level of categorization in the metal scene today? Do you consider yourselves a death metal band?
PS - Categories have always been a big problem. MASTER was put in the Death Metal category in the beginning, but I never really saw the band as a Death Metal band. It's just Metal, and as for other so-called categories, I believe that if the music comes from the heart and your soul, it must be good. It makes no difference what I, or the critics think of it. If you believe in yourself and the songs you write, then they must be good. These categories make me ill. It's just good music I am trying to create.

SOURCE - How was MASTER in the past and now, are you searching for new kind of streams?
PS - Not really I am just sticking to my guns and playing what I know best. As for new streams, well I guess living in Europe, has me swimming in them. We are constantly touring these days, but mainly in Europe. I have been trying to get Tumba Productions in Brazil to bring MASTER to South America, but Edu just keeps putting me off. It's really a shame, as MASTER was last in your part of the world in 1998, and this has just been far too long. I hope one day we can return for a tour in South and Central America. Maybe you know someone that can help?

SOURCE - Can you write us something more about living in Czech Republic and how is the scene here?
PS - Well, I have been in Czech nearly six years, and living here is killer. This is why I am staying here for good. The Metal scene is exploding here. Every year a band can play at least twenty different festivals if they desire too do so.

On a summer weekend for example, there will be three festivals running on the same weekend in Czech and between five and fifteen thousand people will visit all of the festivals. So there is never a shortage of Metal in the summer time.

Of course we have the best beer in the world right here in my new country, as well as beautiful woman, and great food. What more can an old-rocker ask for brother?

SOURCE - Do you know what your old band members (MASTER, ABOMINATION and DEATHSTRIKE) have been doing since those days? Are they still active musically?
PS - This is great question. Well Bill Schmidt is still living at home with his mother. He's 45 years old. He's still smoking dope and using hard drugs till this day. This is why he never succeeded in the music industry. I mean let's face it, I have done my share of drugs as well, but it never became my whole life. I still drink Jack Daniels regularly on tour, but I can handle it.

Bill Schmidt was recently seen playing with a Glam act called DIAMOND REXX in Chicago. Guitarest Chris Mittelbrun plays MICK MARS in a MOTLEY CRUE tribute group. As for the others, they really all gave up, and none of the previous members who were worth a shit, ever really did another record. I feel bad about it, but only the strong survive and the original weaklings fell by the wayside. I have learned through the years, that many people are afraid of success, and the original members never had the strange too follow through.

SOURCE - Are you still working on your autobiography? Should "Masterpieces" be considered the soundtrack to accompany a future book ?
PS - "Speckmann Surviving the Underground" is finally nearly finished. No I will just have to find a good distributor for the book. As for the Masterpieces I had considered this when I released it, but no, the book will have a CD with many other tracks I suppose. We will see. I really haven't thought about the CD with the book as of late.

SOURCE - What are you guys doing for your life, since I know that you have to work to be in a Death Metal band (well, until it doesn't pay out), or have you left your jobs and devoted yourself fully to the band?
PS - I haven't worked a regular job in many years. When MASTER is not touring, I support the nderground by working as a tour-manager, or a merchandiser. I work about six months a year for bands like VITAL REMAINS, DISSECTION, ILLDISPOSED etc. I really enjoy this lifestyle, so I am on the road quite often. Between this work and MASTER I can surely pay my bills. This was a very great question by the way! I was moving furniture in Arizona, California, as well as my hometown in Chicago for at leat fifteen years, but you can read that story in my book.

SOURCE - Are you plain fed up with everything going on over there (USA)?
PAUL SPECKMANN - The USA is and has been one big joke since its inception. First killing the Indians and now trying to force democracy on people and countries that aren't interested in the American Way. Bush is nothing but a tyrant trying to steal all the oil in the world for his own devious purposes. This Modern-Day-Hitler should be linched by a mob and hung by his balls. This hypocrite spends his time brainwashing the American people with his silly speeches regulary on CNN.

I just cannot understand why the American cannot see this. Maybe it's because I AM ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

Hopefully someone figure out what's going on before it's too late. I hate politžicians in every country to be honest. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, but the politicians always seem to have full pockets. Maybe I should run for president. At least Metal would reign supreme. Enough of all the killing and violence already. You turn on the TV, and this is all you see day in and day out.

SOURCE - The market is overwhelmed and flooded by bands, and most of them sound the same. Actually, most of them sound like you, and a few other influential bands in the scene. Do you think there will soon be a anti-climax of Death Metal, but then again a climax of Black Metal?
PS - I don't worry about this nonsense. There is and always will be one MASTER, and it looks as if the band will be going for many more years. Another tour is in the works for October in Europe, so it just keeps going. As for everyone else, I really don't give a crap anymore.

People will always copy MASTER as they always have, and I can do nothing about it. I just wonder how these bands go to sleep knowing that there isn't an ounce of originality in there music. There is only one Black Metal band that I really know of, and it's called VENOM. "Lay Down Your Souls To The Gods Rock 'n' Roll" !

SOURCE - Are you planning a new recording in the spring of 2007 and can you tell us something more about the new songs?
PS - I have written several tracks, but it's just in the early stages. I have several tours coming up besides my own. So, it will take some time to sort out the details. It's too early to talk about brother.

Of course we will record a new CD, but probably in the early spring with a release in the fall, followed by another tour.

Twilight-Vertrieb Records
MASTER

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