MASTER frontman/bassist Paul Speckmann
Mike: It's great to have this chance to do this interview with you. What can you tell me about Master the past 10 years? I'm not so sure many fans knew you were still together or even just recently reformed with a new lineup and album.
Paul: It's a rather funny question to begin with, but here goes! I never left the scene, I just moved to Europe where the scene has alway been greater as well as better than in the USA. I joined a band called Krabathor after finishing the System Shock Over Euro Tour in support of the Faith is in Season CD back in 1998. After travelling on a bus with Malevolent Creation, Master and the opener Krabathor for 44 cities, needless to say we all became great friends. I was offered the position of bassist in Krabathor shortly after the out and took up the challenge. I sold all my stuff in the USA and left for the Czech Republic. We recorded two CDS together and toured the world. Since 2003 Master has recorded and release several albums including Let's Start a War in 2002, followed by The Spirit of the West 2004, Four More Years of Terror in 2005 and the latest Slaves To Society in 2007 and the re-issue was just released in the USA on September 16th. So needless to say we have been quite busy. As for touring, Master has been touring constantly, at least twice a year in Europe since I moved here in 2000. As for a new lineup, the lineup has been the same since 2004 and it wouldn't be called reforming, as I never stopped living my dream.
Mike: Your about to begin your first U.S. Tour in over 10 years, how does it feel to finally get
back out there on your home turf as Master again?
Paul: We'll see, of course I am looking forward to this return, but we'll see how the reaction from the fans is. Let's face it, Master never had any real support in the USA and no more than fifty fans ever showed up to concert when I lived there. We were and are still undeground, so I truly hope the people come and support the band this time around. It always seems that the copycats always get support in the USA, but hardly ever the originals. The Truth from Deathstrike says it all.
Mike: You have a new album titled "Slaves to Society", a new label along with a new band lineup, do you feel any pressure with all this starting up again?
Paul: As I said in previously we never started up again. I never left the scene, only in the States. it's as if Master is ready either take over where you left off but under some different circumstances. The circumstances have always been quite difficult for the band. It's always been really hard to keep a lineup together, as many of the younger people in the world's expectations are always ridiculously too high. If it was only about money, I would have left the business years ago. I still believe in getting on the stage and sharing my beliefs.
Mike: How does "Slaves to Society" compare to previous releases?
Paul: Comparing albums is a waste of time. Every record has had its time and place in the history of the band. Slaves To Society is no different. This is one of the fastest most brutal records that we have recorded in many years, and it's definately worth a listen for true belivers of original bands. I recommend this very people who want to hear great original music with intellectual lyrics that mean something. I realize that kids to today would rather worship and suport Satan, but this is really the furthest thing from Master. I write songs about the perils as well as the trials and tribulatiosn that mankind faces on this God forsaken planet. Satan sells better of course and people would rather forget the Truth, but I choose to embrace it.
Mike: Is it hard to believe that bands such as Carcass, Obituary & Death looked up to a band such as Master as a major influence during their careers?
Paul: Why, Master and Deathstrike wer among the first bands to embrace this style and record in this genre? Hell, Bill Steer wrote me personally by post when he decided to quit Napalm Death and form Carcass. The world is much smaller than you think. Master was approached to tour with Obituary in Europe in 2004, because Frank told our agency that the first Death Metal record he heard was the debut from Master, and he said it would be an honor to tour with us. I am no dummy, I of course gladly acepted. The tour was a complete success and the pleasure was all mine. As for Death, I met Terry Butler on the reformation of Massacre after twenty years, the first time was on the Death tour when Funeral Bitch supported for the Chicago show, as well as the legendary Kam Lee and we had many serious discussions about the begiinings of the genre. Mr. Butler also informed me on the first day of the tour that he and Chuck covered the song I wrote called the Truth on the first American tour of Death. It was rather hilarious to hear this after in many interviews before his untimely death Mr. Schuldiner claimed that he had never heard of the band Master. Napalm Death took a different approach and covered the song Master on their Leaders Not Followers Part Two a few years back, and they even went as far as sending royalties for the next two years. Thanks guys!
Mike: Like a lot of bands who have been around as long as Master, you seemed to have had your ups and downs off stage regarding the business part of the industry, what have you learned from that experience?
Paul: Never trust record labels, many are complete rip offs like Nuclear Blast. Master sold 50,000 records for the label, and the paid small amounts of royalties and spent a majority of the Speckmann money on promoting many younger newer bands, but this is the nature of the beast. Who could blame them really. Only it would be cool if they would get off their asses and pay some of the bands who helped them in the begining. Obviously without my many projects in the early days, the then fledgling label would never have got off the ground. You have to remember where you came from. So I am a bit more cautious when signing anything these days.
Mike: How about your previous bands such as Abomination, Deathstrike and Funeral Bitch, did they get the respect and praise that Master did?
Paul: Of course, many say that Deathstrike which actually was released on demo before Master, was the best thing I ever recorded. Many people like Abomination the best, but opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. News Flash: Deathstrike and Master original guitarist Chris Mittelbrun and I will get together and record an albums worth of songs in the near future and people should definately look out for this. I am sure this will be the best record to come along for many years as Mittelbrun wrote the classis Re-entry and Destruction as well as co-wrote Unknown Soldier as well as Funeral Bitch and a few other classics. I certainly look forward to this collaberation after all these years. A tour will most certainly follow in Europe in the fall of 2009.
Mike: Were fans expecting to hear Master songs during a performance?
Paul: Yes, and they always heard a few!
Mike: How far do you plan on taking Master this time around? Will there be more touring set for 2009?
Paul: many will follow including Russia and South and Central America as well as 25 more European shows to be added over the next few months.
Mike: Thanks very much and good luck with the rest of the year and into 2009!
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