RAREBELL: 'I Spent 20 Years Of My Life In The SCORPIONS And I Call It The Golden Years'

Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with former SCORPIONS drummer Herman Rarebell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: In the CD jacket [to Herman's latest album, "Take It As it Comes"], you mention that you wanted to modernize "Rock You Like A Hurricane" but that it was a big challenge to do so. You sing in a quick and low, almost monotone voice. Did you view another version of the SCORPIONS' biggest hit 26 years later as a big risk?

Herman: Well, you have to remember that I wrote the lyrics to the song. What happened was there was no point to copy it like it was because it was fucking great! It was awesome. But then I don't want to play something crazy. I want to play something really cool. I also made the second verse a little longer, if you noticed; there were not enough words in that verse in the original, and so I speak it very fast. To fill out the gap, for me personally, I like that verse. It made history. It was a great song and a good video.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Have you received any feedback from your former bandmates on the song or the CD as a whole?

Herman: Rudolf [Schenker] likes very much "Heya Heya" and the same for Matthias [Jabs]. Everyone has a different one they like. "Let Me Rock You" is a song for everyone, at a barbecue drinking beer with your friends and having a party.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: What do you want people to know about the "My Life As A Scorpion" audiobook CD?

Herman: I just tell my story as my life in the band. Scorpio is my zodiac sign, so it's been my whole life. It's entertaining and has comedy, so it's not boring to listen to. I spent 20 years of my life in the SCORPIONS, and I call it the golden years. We went all over the world.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: On it, you say that "Passion Rules The Game" is your favorite SCORPIONS song. What do you like most about it?

Herman: Well, (chuckles),I like the drums. But don't forget, I wrote the song. The first thing that came to my mind was the drum beat (makes drum sounds). Then I finished on the piano, and I came to Klaus [Meine, vocals] and said, "I have no idea for the lyrics." And he put it down. I do plan on playing it live because it's never been played live. The SCORPIONS never played it, and the band I have now, they can play it easy.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: So what was the main reason you left the SCORPIONS, and did it affect your friendship with the guys?

Herman: No, not at all. My position at the time was that I was with the band for 20 years. Then the '92-'93 grunge period came, and I felt heavy metal was at a low end. MTV didn't play hard rock anymore. There was a big change in music after "Face The Heat". I felt there was a period in the book of life that it was time to do something new. I said it's time to make a statement again, make a solo record, because that's what I am — a musician.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: You were on the Monsters of Rock tour in '88, and at the time, James Kottak was drumming for the opening band on that tour, KINGDOM COME. He replaced you in 1996 and is still in the SCORPIONS. What do you think of him as a drummer?

Herman: I picked him. When I wanted to leave the band, I spoke to Klaus and Matthias, and I said, "I want to do something else. I think you guys should take James Kottak. He's very similar to my style, and I think he can play the stuff I've played before, so you're not going to lose anything, really." I think a new episode of rock music is going to be written with the SCORPIONS finishing and I'm continuing on.

Read the entire interview from the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner.