Manni, you left Grave Digger – quite surprisingly for most of us since it seemed you had earned your position as second head of the band. During live appearances it was easy to tell your sympathy status from the reactions of the fans. What were your motivations?

Since several months now I have the feeling that on behalf of Chris there has been done considerably less for Grave Digger, the fan club and thus for the fans as well. He seemed more interested in his other hobbies, his companies and other stuff in his own interest rather than the interest of Grave Digger (which is once more confirmed by his latest interview for the fan club). The band’s internet-presence, information for the fans or the presentation of Grave Digger itself are only the most non-essential issues that need attention. It’s interesting to see that now, more then ever, the fan postings get responded and ideas which I suggested months ago are now executed (e.g. the idea of a fan tattoo gallery and the contest). What I did not mean by that, though, was getting into every available media like twitter, reverbnation and what ever else there exists to go on the virtual rampage and recruit street teams… That’s too much off-hook in my opinion – I prefer to have a beer with a fan in some pub around the corner.

On the other hand – most recent example is the show in Gladbeck, classical home match. How many fans have been there? 150 at most? At a location providing capacities for 1000 people!? That’s a lot too thin, Grave Digger definitely deserves better than that, but you have to work for it. When I was an active member of the band those were the shows that made for a bad mood. But now, as I read on the website, everything is great…

I always believed that Grave Digger has more potential and I discussed that with Chris a lot of times, questioned decisions and organization. He pointed out to me very clearly that Grave Digger is his band, his business and that I have to keep my head out of that matter. In the end those discussions peaked to a very private and icy tone on Chris’ side, which then meant for me that it was about time to leave.

So none of the band members have a say regarding the band’s business?

Although Grave Digger is always presented as a band – Chris is the boss, the others are “hired guns”, only paid for live and studio employments. Suggestions are ok, negative criticism from the musicians has increasingly been waived as annoying “complaining” and Chris always referred to the fact that everybody let himself in for being employed as musician… “If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave”. Which is exactly what I did now ;-) I decided for myself that I do not want to do “duty on schedule” without getting myself involved any deeper. That’s not metal as in my imagination. Now we have the situation that he presents a musician as “hired gun” to the public for the first time.

Then how did that work out during the last 9 years???

During the last 9 years there have been lots of discussions – also with the other members of the band – but in the end EVERYONE worked on bringing Grave Digger forward. Nobody got held back.

Why did this get so difficult for you?

In fact I have no problem with working on a project and not being the boss. But in this case Grave Digger has always been presented to the public as a real band. Interview requests were mostly addressed to Chris and me and the longer I was with the band, the more often I had to answer the questions. What would you do if you had to take responsibility for decisions you haven’t even been involved in (which everyone thinks) and which you don’t want to back up. For example, I saw the video to “The Last Supper” on St. Stephan’s Day by chance on “Viva” in my parents’ living room. That was not funny because it really was political and I do not want to represent politics or religion (and that’s completely independent from what I think of the content itself), I want to represent music. Until that moment I only knew that there should be a video…

So, the decision “Thilo Hermann has to go” was Chris’ decision as well? Doesn’t he realize what’s good for the band?

This is not about nagging at Chris. So I have to clear up that this decision was made equally by everyone in the band. We all agreed on this matter, although Chris apparently told Thilo that it was only the hired musicians’ decision. Chris has got the last word on that kind of issues as well. Thilo was with the band for almost 2 years but he changed and what can be dismissed as tempers during a short stay in the studio can lead to irritations during a 4-week-trip in the night liner. You live together on the narrowest of space and start realizing that you talk at cross purposes, have a completely different sense of humor and attitude on many topics and you don’t feel well on the stage anymore (which we were all agreeing on as well). If you then further realize that talks and clues don’t even come across as constructive criticism or aren’t taken serious this leaves you no choice but splitting up.

How much is the wage of an employee in a German metal band?

I think everybody who knows a bit about the metal scene in Germany knows that you cannot live from the music, not even in Grave Digger dimensions. Most musicians have a main or side job. But there is no across-the-board-answer to this question. Every band has its own rate, depending on fees, band members, crew and so on. Since only Chris and the booker have access to that kind of information (I don’t know the fees the band got for single shows) I can’t answer that.

What I can say for myself is, that with all the associated expenses and costs and with only the annual income from Grave Digger I get rated “Hartz 4” (German unemployment benefit). Of course that’s been another reason for me trying to grind the band forward.

How do you “function” as hired musician? What’s the picture we have to get here? Is “5 friends you shall be” only an illusion?

There is a certain kind of illusion in that picture, although hired musicians aren’t anything unusual. There are many bands that have a boss (mostly one of the first band members or founder of the band) who hires musicians at certain terms after retirement of other original band members without them being equal band members. Chris split up with the last equal member of the GbR (company constituted under civil law) and all the others are “hired guns”, as I said before. The stability of that constellation, though, is indicative of the friendships among each other which I want to keep up with the other band members of course.

In GD’s statement on their website “goals and attitudes that could no longer be shared” are being mentioned. What were the attitudes that you could no longer share with the rest of the band? What do the other band members think of your retirement?

After all you’d have to ask them about it. I do know however that Stefan and Jens came through for me and, by that, for Grave Digger as well very strongly. I will sorely miss those days of the “3 Stooges”.

I always mentioned that I didn’t want to do “duty on schedule” because that wouldn’t be any different from an “8-to-5 job” at some local company. When we came back from Mexico I wanted to talk to Chris one more time. But first I wanted to put my thoughts on paper, sort things out. In the end this became my letter of resignation that I sent to Chris two days after Mexico simply by gut instinct and without even taking a last breath.

Was it all sealed after your retirement or did you leave yourself a back-door? How did your fellow musicians support your cause?

I precisely defined my retirement with the words: “At this point we part company.”

Chris didn’t call back after that (which is what I would expect from a friend) but instead informed the other band members that I quit. Stefan and Jens who are my closest friends in the band, were shocked from me being that consequently and also pretty pissed because I hadn’t at least told them and because apparently to them I wouldn’t be playing the last shows before heading off.

They managed to get me thinking about it again, row back, excuse for the way I set this into stone and of course – that was clear to me from the beginning – I wouldn’t have let the guys down like that. I would have played the last shows this year and I had made that clear in my letter to Chris, as well.

Maybe Chris wanted to take that chance but what he did do was slamming a big catalogue of rules in front of my feet (which I won’t be describing any further) which he knew, from earlier discussions, I wouldn’t comment on because I literally fall into blood rage on that topic… He could have said: “Let’s just do some more rock ‘n’ roll shows, try to settle down that whole affair again and see how it works out.” That would have been no problem at all for me.

The way he did it though doesn’t show any sign of willingness to compromise in my opinion, it seems more like an alibi.

What kind of a character is Chris Boltendahl?

Certainly not an easier one than me…

Your guitar sound had great influence on Grave Digger after Lulis left and you were also involved in the song writing. What do you think of your replacement choice Axel Ritt?

I wasn’t surprised by that and already knew for sure it would be Axel since 29th September. The last proof to me was the hint of a “Fire Brigade” commitment on his website six days before Chris told me that there would be “no further co-operation taking place” and nine days prior to the official announcement on the Grave Digger website. The reason that I thought it might be him from the beginning is that before I joined Grave Digger he had cautioned Chris about me and my family without even knowing me or my family. Whoever lets oneself get carried away to something like that by rumours (and for whatever reason he may have had) can’t keep quiet about such a commitment. For that reason I was sure I would find something on his well-kept website way before the official announcement.

So, I’m simply gonna skip the friendly “give Axel his chance” part – time to show courage under fire. He’s enough of a professional musician and his technical skills should enable him to perform a proper job on the guitar part. I won’t judge whether the style (his and that of his guitar playing) will fit into Grave Digger or not – that’s the job of other people and luckily some real fans pointed that out already on the website.

As Axel already declared he will put all his effort into bringing Grave Digger forward. Sounds a lot like what I tried and what in the end led to me leaving the band… What a refreshing touch of irony, isn’t it?

Very mean question: Could you imagine joining Grave Digger ever again?

After this interview? Hahaha. Well, never say never. But I’m almost sure Chris will take all this very personally because until the present day I failed in making clear to him why I actually quit. So under the current circumstances – I don’t think so. I also don’t think that he would admit any mistakes – just as I do – especially not after this detailed interview.

Plans for the future? Anything in mind already? Any progress on Daily Horror?

Basically I took myself by surprise and therefore have to get myself together and in the line again. I could record an album of Grave Digger-like songs right away, there are many ideas present. It certainly won’t be easy but many assured their support to me and I’m in touch with different people but I’m also still open to any offers. “Daily Horror” is more like a headline for the things I’m currently doing. The ideas stylistically go into different directions and I don’t want to, neither can I tie myself down yet. Right now I’m very much in the mood to line up a band of equal musicians and simply do what I can do best: Play the guitar, have fun with it and if everything is working out really well, make some people happy – maybe even earn some money by doing so.

Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Manni

With kind permission of J.Litges/hooked-on-music

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