http://www.inextremo.de
Interview with Lutter

German medieval rockers In Extremo are just ready to release their new and to date most experimental album entitled Sängerkrieg. For me it was the right reason to get a chat with band’s bassist Lutter and ask him a few details about the new album, band’s career so far as well as his views on German scene, football, fans and just about anything in-between.

MR: Hey, in the very beginning please introduce your band shortly for few of those who might have not heard your music yet. When and where it all did start and who formed the band?
Lutter: Hello, this is Lutter, the bass player from In Extremo. Oh Lord, our history it’s a little bit complicated, I’ll try to make it short: In the beginning In Extremo was actually a medieval acoustic band and they mostly played on medieval markets here in Germany (and for example also in Horsens/Danmark). The rock band was formed in 1997, after a long time in rehearsal rooms to check out how we can combine this old medieval stuff with modern rock. Our first concert as a rock band was in April 1998.

MR: How did you make the name ‘In Extremo’ for the band, and what should it mean?
Lutter: In Extremo means completion. We thought it’s a good name for a band, isn’t it?

MR: Your songs are mainly ‘medieval’. Where do you find songs that you sing? I mean where do you find inspiration?
Lutter: Our songs on our first albums were mostly ancient songs, we used both melodies and lyrics. It was more the way to “cover” these old songs in general. After a while we tried (or we were brave enough) to write our own lyrics and melodies. Now we only use some parts of the lyrics or melodies for our songs. We’re 7 very different members in the band – with 7 very different inspirations.

MR: What are your main duties in the band beside of playing instrument?
Lutter: It’s also very different. For me and our singer Michael it is travelling. A lot of inspirations you can get from countries far away from home.

MR: Who’s the main song writer?
Lutter: We haven’t any main song writer, really!

MR: How does In Extremo song comes to? Do you first write lyrics or music?
Lutter: This is also very different. Our guitarist likes to write the music first, I first like to write the lyrics and then I try to check out any song ideas.

MR: Now please introduce your latest record entitled Sängerkrieg.
Lutter: Every latest album from a band is the best album, you know? Because it shows the peak of your development.

MR: How was the recording process? Any new techniques this time around? How does it differ form your previous work?
Lutter: Some new techniques, of course, because the world has changed. But we were at the same studio and we’ve worked with the same producers. Never change a winning team. It’s not so easy to record all these different ancient instruments and they know what we want.

MR: Elaborate on the album cover, what does it represents and who’s responsible for artwork?
Lutter: The artwork is from Dirk Rudolph, he’s a very well known graphic artist here in Germany. He also has made the artwork for Sünder ohne Zügel from 2002. We like his style and ideas.

MR: Is there some kind of a theme throughout the whole album or just a bunch of heavy songs…?
Lutter: No, there was no main theme like our album Sieben.

MR: The band has been active for 12 years now and your discography is already huge. What is this one record that you would say that you’re most proud of?
Lutter: You can ask every band in the world, they all will give you the same answer: The latest album is the best and most important album in the whole career.

MR: You’ve played big European venues such as Rock am Ring, Wacken Open Air and Roskilde. Which one will be forever printed in your head as the best and most memorable one?
Lutter: The best concert of all was a free concert direct in the heart of Mexico City in 2000. We’ve played in front of maybe 12.000 crazy Mexicans. It wasn’t our best concert at all, but we were most impressed.

MR: Any spinal-tap moments that you would share with our readers? Any funny stories while touring…?
Lutter: Yes, a lot of! But we don’t talk about it…

MR: How do you rate German scene nowadays? Progressing or stagnating?
Lutter: I don’t know, because we’re not really interested in the German scene, you know? We don’t see the band as a part of a scene wherever.

MR: Going back to your own music; do you have preferences on what languages you use other than your native German or do you just use what sounds cool?
Lutter: The sound is not important for us, the story has to be a good story.

MR: So you must know a few languages, right?
Lutter: You have to learn the sound, it can’t be perfect. But a lot of our used languages are dead and forgotten.

MR: Do you watch football and what is your opinion on German national team’ performance at this year’s European tournament?
Lutter: We like to watch football, but we have different favorite teams. Michael likes Croatia, our drummer likes Switzerland and the rest will support Germany. But today it will be the last match for Germany, they’re not good enough. (The day of Germany’s quarter final match against Portugal, edit.).

MR: I have seen a schedule for your upcoming tour and Denmark/Copenhagen are not there, why? Do you know how big your fan-base in Denmark is at all?
Lutter: No, we don’t know, really.

MR: Have you ever played Denmark, beside Roskilde Festival?
Lutter: Yes, but it’s a long time ago… 8 years? But we don’t get any serious offer from Denmark.

MR: Where do you see In Extremo in let’s say five years from now?
Lutter: I don’t know any musician which is looking in the future. We’re musicians since 20 years and if you growing up as musicians you definitely give up to make plans to the future.

MR: …and I guess same goes for you? You’ll maintain to be a permanent member of the band?
Lutter: Maybe… I’ll write some books (in German) and have to improve my English (Laughing).

MR: Say your last words in order to close this interview.
Lutter: See ya in Denmark?

MR: I hope so. Thanx for taking your time chatting with us.

Interview done by Bato