This story is from December 15, 2007

Scorpions unplugged!

Reagan Gavin Rasquinha / TNN / Dec 15, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Legendary rock band talks to TOI exclusively about music and India.

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Rocked like a hurricane: Rudolf Schenkel and Klaus Meine (TOI Photo) “The Scorpions!” I thought to myself, finding it hard to believe that I was actually going to meet this band who, like countless others, as a teenager had worshipped along with them on the altar of music to hits like Lovedrive, Winds of Change, Rock You Like A Hurricane.
Punctual to the minute of our 10 pm meeting, the rockers, who had just flown in from their gig in Shillong seemed full of pep and suitably attired in hard rock regalia — leather jackets, boots with spurs, bling shades and houndstooth pendants.
They started off with nothing but praises for the subcontinent. “It’s been amazing. We’ve played to about 45,000 people there and it was such a beautiful atmosphere, the people have been so hospitable and warm,” said Klaus Meine, who had in 1981 damaged his voice so badly he could not even speak properly.
He was advised by his doctor to consider another profession due to his voice problems. This time surely, the kids must have held their lighters aloft in time to their hit Winds of Change? “Nowadays, they are holding their cellphones above their heads! How times change!” added Klaus, with a laugh.

So what did they hear about India before heading here? “We’ve heard that music is big over here, and yes, we have heard Bollywood songs, they’re the very mainstream side of Indian music. But we find other kinds of Indian music very spiritual, because it is,” said Rudolf Schenker, as Klaus added, “When we came here, it also reminded us of the Beatles’ visit here back in the 60s. Today, there are more Bollywood film crews coming to small towns in Germany like Bavaria and Heidelberg to shoot!”

But moving back to the music, how does the band — who have either met or played with everyone from Led Zeppelin to contemporary pop acts — feel about music now vis-a-vis from when they started out? “Back in the 70s when you had an album release by a band, it was an ‘event’ in the entertainment industry. Now, there are so many kinds of entertainment in the digital era. So it’s, um, okay you know? The excitement gets a bit diluted,” said Rudolf.
Nonetheless, the band’s propensity to entertain remains undiminished. “We have a lot of experience playing live, with a balance between slow and fast songs. Live, we don’t like to play lengthy improvisations; we give them what they want and expect to hear. I think we’re best as an arena act,” says Meine.
So how do they blend the old and the new? “We use modern technology in our music, but also realise that the older analog sound was much ‘warmer’,” said Rudolf. Having met and being big stars themselves, they both have a remarkably down-to-earth approach to the ‘glory’ of the business. “When we meet other big musicians, we talk to them as musician to
musician,” said Klaus.
They both agree that classic rock is on its way back, even as they recall their antics with Led Zeppelin at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, AC/DC at Rock in Rio in Brazil and countless other memories from their musical journey that continues to play on.

About the Author

Reagan Gavin Rasquinha

A technology, gaming, features and music journalist at the Times Group. I look after the international pages and review new music for Bombay Times and review Hollywood and International film releases for the Times of India.

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