HERMAN RAREBELL

INTERVIEW AND LIVE PHOTOS BY MARKO SYRJALA

Herman ‘Ze German’ Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his long and successful career with the band Scorpions. Rarebell joined that band in 1977 and played on 8 studio albums including; LOVEDRIVE, BLACKOUT, LOVE AT FIRST STING and CRAZY WORLD. Rarebell was an important composer in the history of the group as he wrote many Scorpions songs like “Another Piece of Meat” and “Passion Rules the Game”. He also wrote the lyrics for some of the Scorpions biggest hit songs like:  ”Rock You Like a Hurricane”, “Blackout” and “Bad Boys Running Wild”.  Rarebell quit the Scorpions in 1995, after 18 years, prior the release of PURE INSTINCT album. Later on he released a few solo albums and toured with his band Herman Ze German. He also participated on the Drum Legends project with Pete York and Charly Antolini and formed Monaco Records together with Prince Albert of Monaco. In 2011 Rarebell released his autobiography AND SPEAKING OF SCORPIONS… and later on the same year he formed a new super group called Strangers in the Night together with Michael Schenker, Michael Voss and Pete Way. In late 2011, Schenker released the album TEMPLE OF ROCK which featured Rarebell, Way, Voss, Wayne Findley and several special guests. In early 2012 Schenker, Rarebell, Findley, vocalist Doogie White and another former Scorpions band mate, Francis Bucholtz, toured under name Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock. The bands highly successful LOVEDRIVE REUNION tour landed finally in Finland on early May. In Helsinki I had a chance to sit down with Mr. Rarebell and here are the results of our interesting discussion. Read on!

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KOTKAN MERIPÄIVÄT

25.07 2008 KOTKA, FINLAND

Kotkan Meripäivät is not such a festival where you can see too many metal or hard rock bands but sometimes the deviation approves all rules and this year the legendary Scorpions were headlining this three day festival. Scorpions are still continuing to tour support for bands latest release HUMANITY VOL 1, which came out over a year ago. In fact it was less than two months since Scorps last time played in Finland when they co -headlining Sauna Open Air -festival in Tampere but almost sold out audience in Kotka proved that there’s a huge demand for Scorpions in Finland.

REVIEW AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ

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KLAUS MEINE

Legendary German rockers Scorpions are back in the limelight with their new album “Humanity -Hour 1″ which is the bands 21′st studio release. The album proves that although the band has already reached their respectable 35 year landmark they still have a lot to give to the fans of melodic hard rock and metal. The new album is produced by Desmond Child who is one of the most respected and successful producers in today’s music business. I had an opportunity to sit down with the band’s vocalist and founding member Klaus Meine just prior to the band’s triumphant performance in this years edition of the legendary Swedenrock. Here is what Klaus had to say about the new album and some other current topics in the Scorpions world… 

Interview and pictures by Marko Syrjälä

Transcription by Andy Osborne

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SCORPIONS

5.9 2004 Ice Hall, Helsinki FINLAND

Review and photos by Marko Syrjala

In the 80′s, the Scorpions were definitely one of the biggest bands in the hard rock world. They were playing for sold out audiences everywhere in the world and they also sold millions of records. However, during the nineties things started to go wrong for Scorpions. After a few experimental and commercially unsuccessful albums they now finally returned back to their musical roots with new brilliant UNBREAKABLE album.

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