The Hanoverian hard rockers Scorpions have been in business for over 50 years. In an interview with t-online they talk about tours, the end of the band and a world without rock greats.
In 2022, the Scorpions celebrated worldwide chart success with their current album “Rock Believer”. This should now be celebrated with a big tour. In an interview with t-online, singer Klaus Meine and guitarist Matthias Jabs talk about the challenges of concert tours, crying colleagues and fitness.
t-online: Ozzy Osbourne has ended his concert career, Kiss and Roger Waters are currently on a farewell tour: how long will the Scorpions continue to perform?
Klaus Meine: We’ll do it as long as we’re having fun and, above all, the demand is still there. It’s a great privilege to still be able to play around the world after all these years.
Do you still like touring?
Think: Yes. What is of course exhausting – today more than in the past – are long distances between the shows. It’s especially hard in America, where you sit on the bus for up to 14 or 15 hours. The good old rock ‘n’ roll romance doesn’t help either. All you really want is for the journey to be over.
Matthias Jabs: However, we travel comfortably. That makes it bearable. And we don’t have to stand in line at Frankfurt Airport. That’s very cool.
Have you ever talked about the final act?
Think: No, to be honest, we don’t worry about that anymore.
Still. However, the time will come when the big rock bands will say goodbye after 40, 50 years of careers.
Think: Yes, the impacts are getting closer. But as I said: We still enjoy it and we are used to delivering. It’s great that three generations are now in front of the stage.
How do you explain that?
Think: We seem to be doing something right.
Do you actually have to rehearse before a tour?
Jabs: We don’t play the same show every year, our shows are always redesigned and rehearsed for the tour. New songs are added that require different processes, a different stage design, maybe even changed stages. Each of us then prepares intensively for shows in the evening. But of course we have a “Rock You Like a Hurricane” on it, we don’t have to go through that anymore.
And physically? They are on stage for one and a half to two hours. That is exhausting. Do you train before performances?
Think: You have to get in shape between tours. Planning is important here. A personal trainer can also help. I also do a little weight training. It is important to be physically active. Concerts keep me young at heart, which of course also inspires me.
Do you sometimes get homesick on tour?
Think: No not true. We never had that because we liked to be on the road. Especially in the US. That was the ultimate for a German band. But I remember we were with the Def Leppard in the 80’s. That was before their breakthrough and they were our opening act. After a few days of touring, I come down to breakfast one morning and their guitarist is standing in front of me with tears in his eyes, saying he wants to go back to Sheffield.
A rather unusual scene, right?
Think: It often happened that the supposedly hard rockers started to cry.
Jabs: I’ve never experienced that with us. When we’re on the road, we enjoy it. After a few weeks of touring in the US or Asia, it’s still nice to be back with family and friends to recharge the batteries.
