GAMMA RAY REVIEWS

I spoke with Henjo Richter (guitar) at Progpower USA 3.0 Festival for close to three hours. We both stood outside his hotel, drinking (me - wine, Henjo - beer) and chatting. So the following is not really an interview, just recollections of our extended conversation (including my relentless ass-kissing). At times Kai Hansen (vocals/guitar) and Dirk Schlachter (bass) were joining our talk and quickly departing. Henjo spoke with an adorable German accent, he never stopped smiling, and is overall one of the sweetest people I ever came across.

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Hello, Henjo! For too long you kept us waiting!

Hey, you know the lyrics, that's great!

Man, it's great to see you guys here, finally, after all these years of worshipping my cd player with your cd in it!

Well, it's good to finally come to the United States.

Why couldn't you come before? Back in 1997 I could only dream that some day I will see all of you, guys live!

Oh, we tried three times, actually, and every time there was a last minute cancellation of tour. Promoters, labels, everything.

DIRK: You know, we always wanted to do a show here. And we are happy to be here finally. You know, we are not making any money off of this festival. But at least we are not going to be at a major loss or anything.

Henjo, you wrote my favorite Gamma Ray song, "Send Me A Sign," which also happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs. Two questions with respect to that. #1: are you going to play it tomorrow?

Yeah, it's on the list.

Great! (it actually turned out that they did not play it, because their time was cut short) How did you write that song? How do you write your songs, what is the songwriting process in Gamma Ray like?

Well, it's actually pretty simple. I have this little tape recorder and I always hum into it every idea that I can think about. I then bring it to the rest of the guys, and we discuss it, and it goes from there. And for "Send Me A Sign," same thing: just hummed it along. Everything is first played on the acoustic guitar, then... you know.

Here's a bit of an unfair question. Which GR album is your personal favorite? I know, it's usually the last one for the artist, but...

Actually, no. It's gotta be "Power Plant."

Really? Mine too! "Sign," "Strangers," "Gardens"...

"Gardens" we're playing tomorrow.

(I jump up) Omygod, you just made my day even more perfect!

This is a good album, well sounding, everything.

What are you expecting from the show tomorrow?

Well, from watching today's event, I can see that people know our songs. We came not knowing what to expect. But I'm sure it will go OK. The organizer has done a good job.

Another provocative question. Do you get the feeling that in the German metal scene, overall, some bands compete against each other?

No, I don't think so. This is not a sport, we don't compete. At least, our band doesn't compete. We try to stay friends with everybody, I try to remain everybody's friend. I mean, you know, there are some negative feelings here and there, but, you know...

Are you (and Kai in particular) still friends with Ralf Scheepers?

Oh yeah, big friends still. We hang out a lot, you know, he is a great guy.

Alright, how about this one. Do you think drugs are a part of the contemporary metal scene? In Europe.

No. Not at all. Alcohol -- yes (laughing), but not narcotics. We stay away from them, and I don't think they are a problem. Sometimes, you know, I may smoke grass... you know David Letterman, right? Well, in Germany we have the same type of a program, in fact, when this guy appeared on tv, they stopped the Letterman show, you know. So, sometimes, if I'm alone at home, I can smoke a "laughter," but that's it.

Who did you like from the performances so far?

All of them, actually. Edguy was good, as usual. Tobias is a great singer and a showman.

Do you hang out together in Germany?

Yes, him, other folks, yes. Iron Savior, so on.

Why did Kai left Iron Savior?

You know, time and all. He decided to concentrate on this band more.

What about Running Wild? Do you hang out with Rolf? You are both from Hamburg, aren't you?

No, strangely. He is also from Hamburg, but, you know, we just go to different places, I guess. In Hamburg, there are certain places where they play metal and all, so we go to some places, and he must go to other places, I guess.

Do you know anything about their new guitar player?

Bernt is good.

What about Heavens Gate?

I think they are pretty much no more. Sascha Paeth spends all his time producing... him and that other guys, Miro.

Alright, speaking of records... When are you going to treat us with the new cd?

Well, next year we're supposed to have a live album and then a studio album.

Wow, that's intense. But where do you take the time to actually write the songs?

You see, like I told you, I'm always writing something. I like to record every idea that I come up with, so then maybe something comes out of it, and maybe it doesn't. We always look to write catchy stuff.

So how did you have the time to play on both "No World Order" and then on "Avantasia" in less than a year? Wasn't it extremely time consuming?

Actually, on "Avantasia" there was very little time required. I kinda just came and played, it was all already written.

So, do you think Kai has buried the hatchet with Helloween?

Well, it's hard for me to judge, I've known the Helloween boys for quite some time, longer than I've been in Gamma Ray, actually. Especially Markus. At one point I was even invited to play with them, recently, after Roland left. But, you know... (laughs)

What do you think about the latest changes in Helloween?

It will be interesting. Their drummer, Mike Storr, I know a little. But we'll see. Roland and Uli got an interesting project going, with Jorn Lande. I know their keyboard player too. Did you have a chance to check out Masterplan yet?

No, not yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Oh, do it, by all means, it's terrific! Great songs, and Jorn is just terrific. I saw him sing, he is magnificent.

Wasn't their keyboard player with Gamma Ray at some point?

No. Jans Eckert, the bassist, was in Iron Savior.

Ooops, sorry. But, you know, it seems like every European musician was in every European metal band at some point in time!

Well, it's a pretty tight music scene. And you know what? I think that's the way it should be. Because, radio and TV do not play metal at all, so we kinda have to stick up for each other and play together and all that.

What? What do you mean European stations don't play metal? Don't various bands sell well and are steadily on charts and all that?

Yes they are, but, believe it or not, they just don't play us! Do you want to know why? I think, personally, is because they -- TV, radio, politicians -- they see heavy metal as a dangerous music, you know, a corruption of people. Because, you know, we try to go deeper than pop bands. Besides fantasy lyrics, we write about politics, social issues, all that, and that disturbs them, you know what I mean?

Yes, I absolutely agree. Take your latest album, for instance.

Absolutely.

Have you made any videos for "No World Order."

Videos are a painful question... (laughs) They're expensive.

I remember the "Rebellion" video, that was funny!

(laughing) All Gamma Ray videos have always been funny. That one was hysterical.

And don't forget "Space Eater."

Oh yes! I actually even forgot about "Space Eater," we haven't played it in ages, and it's actually a darn good song! And a funny video, of course. You know, we've just been touring on the "Skeletons From The Closet" tour, playing tunes that we haven't played on our normal shows.

Damn, wish I could have been there. Now, have you ever read any harsh criticisms of your creativity?

You know, I think we've been fortunate enough not be under serious fire. I mean, we hear that we sound like Priest a lot, and it's true for many German power metal bands but you know, a lot of us grew together, listening to Priest and Maiden and obviously it's very deep in our heads now. But we like it, it's great. Those were the songs I was learning on guitar back then.

How many hours a day did you practice?

Not enough hours, I'm afraid.

Who is a better guitar player, you or Kai?

We don't compete (laughs). He is very good, though.

How come your albums are self-produced? You don't have any producers, why not?

I guess it's because we have a pretty clear vision of how the album should sound. I guess it would be interesting to try a producer some day, but for now Kai and the rest of us, we work together well.

Would you've worked with Tommy Newton?

Why not, I guess... I like Conception and Ark, Tore Ostby is good. But we have our own thing.

Now, another controversy. How do you feel about playing right before Angra after the World Futbol Cup final?

Wow, never actually thought of that, that's a good point. You know, I think we actually did a lot better than we expected, you know, the goalkeeper helped us a lot.

I see that Kai smokes. Isn't it bad for his voice?

Well, he is actually doing a lot of things to protect his voice. As for smoking, you know, he cannot totally miss out on the things the rest of us enjoy. But he is in a good shape, vocally.

Are you married?

No (laughing) I'm not married. Kai is married, and he is one year older than me, he's got two beautiful children, sometimes I even babysit them. He is 38. I was in a serious relationship once, for a long time, actually. But we broke off about the same time I joined Gamma Ray. It was very hard. But looking back, I think that, honestly, this was a right decision. Right for me. I still hope to find a right woman.

Well, I hope you will. I know she has been born already. Alright, good luck with the show tomorrow, I know you will do great, and I hope to see you again!

Thank you very much!