October 3, 2015
SKULLBOOGEY are rock band from Taunus, Germany.
They came into the finals of the Global Battle of the Bands in Dusseldorf.
They were support for the British metal-stoner "Orange Goblin" on their European Tour in Frankfurt, and the gig at the Metalfest Germany at the Loreley in 2013.
Four men and four studio albums...
this is simply rock and roll.
this is simply rock and roll.
Where, when and how was formed the band, and why the name "SKULLBOOGEY"? The members of the band.
The band was formed 2001. It started as a recording project, while I was unsatisfied with the band I was playing in and started to write songs for my own project. As I met chris, he was sure, that the songs needed to be presented live, so we started the Band Skullboogey.
The name “Skullboogey” is a fictional name, that is formed from skull and bogeyman.
The members are Stefan Wendling: Guitar, Vocals, Jens Urban: Leadguitar, Chris Zickmann: Bassguitar and Drummer Ben Juelg.
What is the musical style?
We like to call it Riff-Rock. It’s kinda like heavy but not very close to metal.
What is the subject matter of his songs and what are inspired to compose?
In most cases it’s ordinary life that makes the stories. Like “The ‘Wolves” was in my mind, when I came home late in my hometown and everything looked quite dangerous. I was glad not to look like an average victim. So no body would bother me, but the rich folks shouldn’t been out that night…
What are your musical influences? The musicians of reference.
I’m a total Rock’n Roll Guy. My greats are ZZ-Top, AC/DC and Motörhead. I like Southern rock, Country and Blues. But I’m also a kid of the 90’s and dig Soundgarden and Alice In Chains.
Which musicians or bands from Germany do you like?
I'm absolutely not into german music. The only ones that sound good to me are Rammstein. But I don't really listen to them private.
Music genre that do not like anything?
I'm a huge fan of like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band.
But I also have alot of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne Albums as well, as my favorit 90s bands like Rage against the machine, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden. But definitly no "real" heavy metal.
Each of you, where they studied music?
I never studied music, nor did Chris. Ben studied Audio Engineering and Jerns studied music teacher in Frankfurter.
How time dedicate rehearse and how they are organized to work?
I write all the songs and lyrics, I record demos with the song ideas and send them to the other band members. Then we meet for rehearse and everyone throws in, what he has, to make the songs what they are later. We’re totally self organized.
What are the main challenges that have been presented so far?
The main challenge is to keep the music alive while doing a daytime job full time. Like everyone of us does. We all have wives and children to look out for. Sometimes it’s pretty hard to drive straight from work to a venue and put on a good show. But we always do it like men.
How many presentations have since the formation of the band?
Often as we can. I don’t have counted our gigs. They’re quite a few.
How important is for you the aesthetic on stage (costume, performance, communication with the public, lights, sound, etc)
We are street guys and we don’t even change clothes, when we get on stage. We keep it authentic.
As is the public that follows your band?
From students to mid fourties. People who share our love of pure, authentic rock’n’roll.
What are the most requested songs?
We almost always play “Stand Up” from the first record.
Why sing in english?
I grew up with only English speaking rock bands. All the music I love is sung in this language. And as I’m very familiar with this language it’s no question to me, that I use it, when it comes to music.
In places where acting charge a fixed cashed by presentation, or depending on where the price varies?
It always depends on the offer. We’re not in the position, to call up prices. We play or we don’t.
What place in the world, would you like play ever?
Germany is fine for me.
What is the main means of dissemination of their music?
Playing Live, of course.
The local media (radio, tv, etc) what space grant them to disseminate his work?
That’s very difficult with our style. It’s very underrepresented by radio. Local newspapers are better to reach in cases of announcing concerts.
What songs have recorded in a professional manner, Demo, EP, Single, etc?
"Purified" is our fourth, professional, full length album. As the previous albums we recorded "purified" by ourselves. But for a change of ideas I let Ben (our drummer) produce this one.
I record all the demos by myself, as I'm a pretty good drummer too, and hand the songs to the band. then we rehearse and everyone speaks his mind. If any of the songs isn't good enough, it's out. I have too write another one. I was very careful about writing songs that could be presented live. Real band songs. That's why the album got the name "purified". Because it is something like the pure essence of what skullboogey is about, no fakes, only rock'n'roll.
Then we go to production. This time it took a little time, because I was by realy bad health and we had to stop the production for a while. So it was basically recorded in two sessions one in 2013 and one in 2014. We record on ProTools. Where-ever. We don't use "studios" to record, because Ben and I are both real good engineers and producers and own the Equipment to record by ourselves.
That keeps the costs low. We don't have to pay any third person. The mastering was done by a professional master-studio in Frankfurt. Then we promoted the album and send them to record labels and 7hard did finally put it on the market.
I record all the demos by myself, as I'm a pretty good drummer too, and hand the songs to the band. then we rehearse and everyone speaks his mind. If any of the songs isn't good enough, it's out. I have too write another one. I was very careful about writing songs that could be presented live. Real band songs. That's why the album got the name "purified". Because it is something like the pure essence of what skullboogey is about, no fakes, only rock'n'roll.
Then we go to production. This time it took a little time, because I was by realy bad health and we had to stop the production for a while. So it was basically recorded in two sessions one in 2013 and one in 2014. We record on ProTools. Where-ever. We don't use "studios" to record, because Ben and I are both real good engineers and producers and own the Equipment to record by ourselves.
That keeps the costs low. We don't have to pay any third person. The mastering was done by a professional master-studio in Frankfurt. Then we promoted the album and send them to record labels and 7hard did finally put it on the market.
Tell us how the previous works were made: "Life is a pity", "Dead $ Sold", "Skullboogey III"
Well, they were made like records are made. We recorded them and searched for a label to put them on the market. We were paying everything private. there were no managers, record deals or cooperatives either, but our good man from finest noise promotions "Keule". But we had to pay him also, of course.
All three records were produced by myself. Songwriting etc. was done over the years - always in progress.
All three records were produced by myself. Songwriting etc. was done over the years - always in progress.
Presented their material to record companies, they went to see some Record Company, local, national or international?
We have a record deal with 7hard, wich is a part of the 7us family.
Do you have a music manager or representative?
We’re completely self organized.
What is the support they receive from their families, friends and colleagues?
Well, our wives let us play.
Oh! very well, they are good guys!
Government policies that apply in your country for musicians?
We can do almost everything we want. There are no limitations given from above. Freedom of speak... We have to pay taxes, though... But there is no government support for musicians or anything either.
Why you like the art of music?
It’s inside me, I can’t change it, even if I’d like to. I heard Queen, when I was a kid and it struck me. The electric guitar and the drums became god and it never changed.
What is the message wishing to transmit to those who listen?
Have a good time, be who you are and nevermind…
What are the dreams and the expectations that have?
