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Flake interview - Berliner Zeitung 03-Dec-02

by Ralf Kühling
When Rammstein still had Feeling
How Feeling B were the embryo for Rammstein is now published in a book.
BZ interview with Keyboarder "Flake" Lorenz

Everyone knows Rammstein, Germany’s no.1 rock export. Hardly anyone knows FeelingB, at least in the West. Because FeelingB were "DDR Underground" - and the embryo for Rammstein! Three of the Rammstein members played with the East punk band: Guitarist Paul Landers, Keyboarder "Flake" Lorenz and Drummer Christoph Schneider.

FeelingB trod totally their own path between chaos and genius and so, just like Rammstein, were not always understood correctly. Now there is the book about the Band "Feeling B - Mix mir einen Drink" by Ronald Galenza &Heinz Havemeister (Schwarzkopf &Schwarzkopf, 24,90 Euro.) BZ spoke with Keyboarder "Flake" about this exciting piece of DDR music history.

Did you ever look to the English Punk scene?
Flake: We never looked beyond the confines of our rehearsal rooms. We had enough of our own shi... - er, so we thought what we were doing was good. We did not know at all that London is a Punk city.

And West Germany?
Flake: We knew about German new wave. Our favourite Band was Ideal. But they were reviled by the Western Punks as "Commercial pigs". When we heard "Komm, wir lassen uns erschießen" (Come, we can be shot) it was clear to us - that is Punk!

Did you rehearse much?
Flake: We said: Whoever practices, can no longer do anything or they are back-stabbers. We did not want to be like Karat or the Puhdys, who were technically very good, but completely uninspired.

The established view was opposite, did you think: Them up there, us down here?
Flake: Only at first. But that went as soon as one got to know them.

Your largest shock in the west?
Flake: People: more self-confident, achievement oriented, more ambitious. There was nothing distinct. It’s mostly Easterners who work with Rammstein today too. Of course, much of that has been blotted out over the 10 years of reunification.

You and Paul, do you believe that you have both changed?
Flake: I do not hope. No one can muck us up.

Did FeelingB have a career plan?
Flake: No. Record sales didn’t matter. Whether 40 or 40000 sales - that would have made no difference. We would have earned no more money according to the principle of the East. We were content with our fans, we did not want to push it further at all.

Were you a one-off?
Flake: There were many Bands like us. Although hardly any played so badly. Crucially for us: The musician and his instrument were not important, only the implementation of ideas.

Abandoning a concert was the norm. Were some of your appearances embarrassing?
Flake:Nearly all. Well, I was not always happy. But then one drinks a few beers and everything is okay again.
Afterwards there was a party, then one forgets about it. A concert was in principle the ticket for life.

Who were your fans?
Flake: The first five years we often played in front of an audience which was not ours, e.g. in discos. With only few punks about, who could know us. In the end we were already nearly a completely normal band. So we gave up.

© 2005 Sue Lindemann