MASTER
By Falber Teles • Mar 5th, 2008 • Category: Featured Band, Interviews
SOURCEWEBZINE – Hello Paul! Thank you for you being at my disposal. It is honor for me to peak again with one of my peers.
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Hey brother, it’s an honor for me to do another interview with you. I really live for these interviews and it’s obviously a chance to share my opinions with you as well as my fans in Brazil. I thank you for showing interest in Master.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Today Master is a cult band into Death Metal, for you who are a cult band?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Black Sabbath is a cult band for me and always will be. I still listen to this legend on occasion as well as my other favorite cult legend Motorhead. Seeing these legends perform year after year helps keep me motivated to continue on the trek for metal. These fuckers are in their sixties and still rocking. I am 45 this year, and I hope to continue on for the years to come. Master just finished another successful European tour and the houses were crowded, so there is still hope for Master and we will certainly spread the word with our music. The world is in turmoil these days with terrorists like George Bush dictating the way we should live. That will be the day when these geriatric patients will be removed from office, so we can live in a truly free world. The youth of today need to take a stand against all these crooked politicians and bring the power back to the people once and for all.
SOURCEWEBZINE – After such a long career, what do you think “Slaves To Society” adds to the Master legend?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – This is the most aggressive album that we have recorded in many years, but the music and the ideology speaks for itself. Anarchy is nearly lost. The people need to revolt and create a really free society. There are millions of young people in every country that just sit back and take the shit from their governments. It’s really a pity that such chaos still exists. We are all Slaves To Society all working for the puppet master. I hope people really listen to and read and understand the lyrics. The truth is that if changes aren’t made soon, then we will all lose our so-called freedom as we know it. With all the latest technology, the police and governments are getting more and more control over everyone. Before long they will know everything you do and say. I mean in London it’s quite ridiculous all the cameras around watching your every move. The USA will soon have this as well. I left the USA to get away from this bureaucracy and yet the US government is putting radar in the Czech Republic to fend off the Russians. I cannot escape big brother. The Russians said they will aim the missiles directly at the Czech Republic. this is terrifying to yours truly.
SOURCEWEBZINE – In your opinion what has been the biggest contribution you personally have given to the music world?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – I have shared my views and feelings about the various subjects I write about. I have written some killer albums that express my opinions and desires. I think this is the greatest gift I have given. I have been able to express my free speech, but soon this freedom will no longer exist.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What is you more yearn in this life?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – More freedom to do as I choose. I wish I could travel more to countries like Brazil, and Argentina and share my music and ideas with the people, but no one seems to be interested in bringing us there. I would also like to return to Japan with Master, but I still must wait for an offer.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – The internet has opened many doors for me and has made interviews like this possible all over the universe. The internet has also given me many more opportunities to play festivals and do more tours throughout Europe. The only draw back is all the illegal downloading of my songs as well the songs of other artists. Why buy the CD when you can download it for free. That’s really kiling the artists, myself included.
SOURCEWEBZINE – And what about internet and you? Do you have a good relationship with PC and technique?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – I do alright. I get the work done that needs tending to. I use the computer nearly every day looking for more shows as well as more interviews. I could always learn more, but I am doing alright.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Could you tell us more info about the new release ‘Master’ CD/DVD released via Displeased Records ?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Actually the first two Master CDS were re-issued. Both CDS have a bonus DVD with them. These are some live shows from the early nineties, and for me are rather interesting to watch. Obviously these shows are quite old and even for me they are quite cool to watch. The shows are from the first two tours of Europe. The CDS are re-mastered as well. The original Chicago mixes appear on the debut CD that were mixed by then drummer Bill Schmidt and myself and really capture how the was the CD was meant to sound. Scott Burns remixed and remastered the CD for Nuclear Blast in 1990 at Morrissound studios and much of the energy and aggression was lost. So this is a must for real collectors. “On the Seventh Day” remastered is also cool.
SOURCEWEBZINE – In your opinion, why was Chicago the center of the death metal scene in 80s?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – I believe it was the water from Lake Michigan that helped produce such a genre. But, also the early heavy metal scene in Chicago was influenced by the water as well as the city way back in the early eighties. Bands like Trouble, Thrust, Warcry, Zoetrope and Witchslayer were from there in the inception of the Chicago Metal scene.
The Florida scene came a few years later. While on the Massacre, Denial Fiend tour in 2007, Death, Six Feet Under, Massacre, Denail Fiend bassist, Terry Butler, told me that he and Chuck played the song “The Truth” from Deathstrike which I wrote, on the first Death tour. What a small world it is. Chuck said years later that he never heard of me or Master?
SOURCEWEBZINE – What do you think about the Brazilian metal scene? Do you know much about our bands?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – I don’t know a whole lot about it, but I know that Edu and his band Nervo Chaos just toured Europe for a 4 weeks, and I am sure this was a success. I just wish Edu would bring Master too Brazil, but he never has.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Where haven’t you played live that you would still like to get to?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Brazil, Malaysia, and Japan with Master. I was in Japan with Krabathor once.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Speaking of successful Death Metal Bands – what do you feel after all those years, when Napalm Death, Morbid Angel or Pestilence publicly refer to you as having had big impact on their music or when those bands clearly imitate the traditional MASTER-Style?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – It’s an honor, but no reason to get a big head. More power to them and their success, but it is nice to be mentioned from time to time. It’s called respect.
SOURCEWEBZINE – For how long have you been living on the Czech Republic?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – I have been in the Czech Republic since joining Krabathor back in 2000. There is more freedom in Europe, this is the reason I never returned to the God forsaken country of America.
SOURCEWEBZINE – When can we expect a new album? I know I’m hungry for another Master attack!
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Master will record a new album in the fall. We are in the process of writing new songs. I am quite busy these days on the road with other bands as a merchandiser, tour manager, or even a roadie for example on the Dissection tour before Jon killed himself. I stay busy supporting the underground. I will join Jungle Rot and Warmaster on their European tour as the merchandiser on March 28th for 17 shows.
We have six tours coming up with Kraft Evention the company I have worked for for the last 5 years.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Any final words for the readers and your fans?
Paul Speckmann (vocals/bass) – Yes, support the underground and buy the CDS.
Thanks for the killer interview Falber.
Falber Teles
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