RAMSES
 DATE:
2005 NOVEMBER 30TH |
| PLACE:
E-mail |
| WEBSITE:
Ramses Official |
Hello
Herbert, can you tell me when and how Ramses was born ?
In December 1972 I happened to meet the bassplayer
Hans Klinkhammer again, who planned to form a new band with myself as the
singer. Together with a drummer, keyboarder and guitar player we tried some
own compositions and cover songs. The results were amazing, and so a new
band was born, which was named like the famous king of an ancient Egyptian
dynasty "RAMSES". So that's how it all began. After some personnel
changes the band had its first constant line-up in autumn 74 which was supposed
to last for about 5 years and to record the first two albums "La Leyla"
and "Eternity Rise".
You
were the singer only on the first two albums, "La Leyla" and "Eternity
Rise". Why you came out from the band ?
I worked very much for the band at the time - besides
composing and writing lyrics I also did the management - and there were
some strains developing within the band. Moreover I got health problems
so that I finally decided to leave - although with a heavy heart.
Have you had other experiences in music business after Ramses ?
After "RAMSES" I turned my back on the music
business for several years and it took until 1986 that it came to a further
cooperation with the band. The resulting song "This Planet" is
a bonus track on their latest "Control Me" album.
What's your opinion of "La Leyla" and "Eternity Rise"
after almost 30 years?
I think this was our most intensive and creative phase.
These two albums certainly belong to the most remarkable works of the so-called
"Krautrock era" in progressive rock in Germany. After almost 30
years it is still enjoyable to listen to these albums - a fact which is
also confirmed again and again by our fans all over the world.
Ramses is a band from Hannover as well as Eloy, Scorpions, and Jane
and I think each of these bands influenced your writing. Do you agree? …
I mean, especially the comparison to Scorpions (not just a prog band, you
know..) ...
I think that the influence of other groups from Hannover
on our music was not very important, although "Klaus Hess" of
Jane, together with Conny Plank, acted as producers on our first album.
The influence of art rock groups such as Genesis or Yes was much greater.
"La Leyla" is one of my favorite german prog album from
the seventies and people seemed to share my opinion. Is it true the vinyl
sold about 20,000 copies ?
I estimate the sales to approx. 50,000 copies. There
are no exact sales figures as illegal pressings of the album were sold inside
and outside the USA by the American record company, and we received not
a single penny in return for that. And in German record shops, these illegal
pressings were sold, too.
My convinction is that "La Leyla" contains some elements
of british neoprogressive rock of early eighties (especially Marillion's
"Grendel) in advance. Do you think Marillion knew Ramses before writing
its famous suite song ?
The music of Marillion certainly has many Prog-Rock influences
of the seventies and I am sure that also German groups had an impact.
How your fans judged "Eternity Rise" when it was released
?
The vast majority of the fans and press received the
album in a very positive way. We had produced it ourselves and thus had
been able to realize our own imaginations and musical ideas, at least to
a very large extend.
Which
german bands you mostly liked (or you were closer to) in the late seventies
? Can you tell me the name of some bands you played live with ?
My taste of music has always been very versatile and can't be reduced
to a certain number of bands. My favorites include, but are not limited
to, Pink Floyd, Enigma, the Scorpions, Yes, Genesis and last but not least
Bach.
As far as bands are concerned, that played together with us on festivals,
I just can tell some groups that come to my mind spontaneously, such as
Jane, Scorpions, Novalis, Guru Guru, Kraan, Streetmark, Atlantis. But these
are only the German groups that I recall immediately. Of course there were
also many foreign bands who performed on events where we played.
Have you ever played
outside german borders ? Where ?
During my period in the band there were gigs in Switzerland
and several times in Denmark.
Besides,
I read Ramses used to play very spectacular live gigs. Can you describe them
?
After the release of "Eternity Rise" we made
high investments in stage technology and show effects. E.g. at the beginning
of a concert, the singer came out of a sarkophagus and during the title track
"Eternity Rise" a golden pyramid emerged out of the dry ice mist.
The song "War" culminated in a pyrotechnical inferno of flashing
stroboscope lights and bombs, and this is still true for today's shows of
the band.
Are
you still in touch with Ramses guys and what do you think of their latest
albums ?
We keep in touch regularly and I still have a friendly
relationship to the musicians of RAMSES, moreover I am the webmaster of their
German Homepage. Whenever there is another studio album I will be pleased
to contribute at least one more song. Unfortunately I am not able to involve
myself in more activities for reasons of health. I think their latest "Control
Me" album is well done and can be regarded as a further development of
the band's music and is absolutely worth listening to.
What
do you think about progressive rock music now ?
Unfortunately I do not hear much of today's progressive
rock music and almost lost sight of contemporary bands of this genre, so I
can't give a statement on that.
Which
are your current favorite artists/band ?
As I already said, my taste of music is very versatile.
I try to be open to all kinds of music. I like everything that touches the
heart and soul.
Herbert,
it has been a great pleasure for me to get in touch with you in this so
unexpected way and I thank you for your kindness !!
Luca, I thank you very much for your interest in RAMSES
and our music and I wish you all the best for the future!
Luca Alberici