GUNNAR EYSEL :
BASSIST - LOVE LIKE BLOOD

U- Tell us what the band is currently up to, and touring etc.?

GUNNAR- Right now we're hardly working on our next and upcoming album. Writing new songs, recording them on our own gear, running something called "Pre-Production". That's the main stuff we "waste" our time on right now. Plus, we are looking around for a new label deal as it seems Hall Of Sermon Rec, is just doing Lacrimosa furtheron. We decided already before releasing "Chronology of a love-affair" to stay off stages. So no tours and shows again this year. We'll kept this for next year, it's time to get back on stage next year with a new regular album in hand.

U- Any plans for a live home video or DVD in the near future?

GUNNAR- Nothing like that. I always said, unless we have a serious budget we refuse doing and releasing any video footage. I hate all that carp, low-budget videos and it would be a nightmare to see Love Like Blood on any cheap video stuff. Video clips, why should we spent that much money for a one or two-times broadcasting. Unfortunately, most music channels have their rotation system, which again, is based on the "Top 50" charts albums or singles. Meanwhile all "Alternative" or "Special" programs have been stopped, therefore it's a waste of money.

U- Have you Played bass, or anything else, in any other bands?

GUNNAR- Never ever. Stop, oh a couple years ago, I played a short tour for Umbra Et Imago. Their bass player got a Trinitus and I helped my friend Mozart. But generally I'm not interested in jamming or side-projects. Can't really say why, but prefer concentrating on Love Like Blood and actually I'm bored about all stuff beside my own music. It's just my philosophy, I'm not into that competition to be best on my instrument, I'm not into writing songs for other bands and other styles. I just want to express my own with my band, nothing more.

U- When people ask you to describe your music, what do you tell them?

GUNNAR- Meanwhile, pure Rock Music. Handmade traditional Rock stuff. Years ago I always said Gothic Rock, but nowadays this category seems to me very unclear. To many "a bit of that" and "a bit of that" made Gothic Rock into something people ask me "what's that"? "Categorism" is over, for my point of view. This question should be passed to our audience, they know best how to define our music, but I'm sure you will get many different styles.

U- Does it piss you off when people say you're just like the Sisters Of Mercy, or do you take it as a compliment?

GUNNAR- Not at all. Surely, the first two years of our career all comparisons made me pissed off. But you learn to handle it. If I would make a list of bands the press and the audience compared Love Like Blood to, would need some papers and you would start to laugh. About Sisters Of Mercy, I know and I accept them as "Rootz", the grandfathers of Goth Rock and that's okay. Every music style has their "Rootz" as well bands of the next generation. So if people say "just like", that hurts a bit, but I always recommend to stay tuned with the Sisters Of Mercy, and listen to one record per decade.

U- Why do a covers CD? Was this something you wanted to do, or a record label idea?

GUNNAR- First, that's been my stupid idea. If my label would have requested such an album I would have surely refused doing it. Why do a complete cover album? A very simple process. Sometimes you wake up and a brilliant or weird idea sticks in your mind. Same about "Chronology". I thought the whole concept is excellent and unique and I remember no other compilation with a similar concept behind. A Goth band is writing a biography of 20 years of Goth music. A very tough and risky adventure, coz no band wants to lose their face, provided it would not work out. The day this album came to my mind I simply thought "man, I would buy such a record without thinking". I would be curious if it works and anyway this CD is always a nice trip though 20 years of my favorite music. Further it's a nice lesson to see how Goth music developed over the years. And finally the thrill is, the whole stuff is recorded and interpreted by a well-known band.

U- Do you think your style will change much on the next Love Like Blood CD? Are you guys going to jump on the "techno-goth" bandwagon?

GUNNAR- Not really. Love Like Blood stand for pure and traditional Goth Rock and that's what our fans like. But we can't close our mind against modern sounds and we don't want to mark time. Therefore you will notice more samplings, some loops on our upcoming album. But not that drastic you can say Love Like Blood changed to what you call Techno-Goth". I think it's important and refreshing to present you music as modern as possible. But I will never lose and forget the typical Love Like Blood sound. That's the most important, if you put on a Love Like Blood CD you must recognize us in a second.

U- Over the years you have gone through a number of band members, why so much turn over?

GUNNAR- Coz, they've been a bunch of lazy, boring blokes. No professional attitude, no real musicians. I always had to kick ass and after years I've been sick of that. Sometimes it took all I loved about Love Like Blood and I felt just like the "Big Ass Kicker" or like a supervisor you always have to push the band members. I know it's hard to survive in the music biz, but I just want to work and play with musicians who know what they've started. The day they show the first signs of retirement they get dropped. We never had problems or fights about music, just the fact that after a couple of years the guys retired and had to be replaced. Otherwise Love Like Blood would be dead and buried.

U- Any chance of a North American tour in the near future?

GUNNAR- Unfortunately not. Still our records are badly distributed in the States and Canada. As long as this will not change we can't expect any serious offer from any promoter. Over the years we got many requests but no serious and no-one can expect Love Like Blood paying the whole shit on their own. Unfortunately but obviously touring overseas is f****ing expensive. Therefore we wait in patience the day a better distribution and sales enables us finally to come over and play a tour.

U- What's your opinion of the goth music scene in North America compared to Europe?

GUNNAR- Can't say, as I have no impression and experiences about the North American scene. Some said, that the European scene is much, much bigger than yours. And I heard that your scene is more into Death Rock, poetry and Vampirism. The European scene now is split up into thousands of small groups, which made it powerless. Traditional Goth Rock is quite out of fashion over here, Goth Metal overtook a lot. Goth people listen to Type O' or Paradise Lost, and at the same time, complain that Love Like Blood is doing too much "metalized" riffs. That makes me confused. But it's not just the Goth scene, all Underground or Alternative scenes reduced to small groups, it seems that currently we have times of mainstream, and younger generations are not that much into to being different by listening to Alternative music. That's a rough impression about the other side of the ocean.

U- What's the worst job you ever had to do, to support yourself while being in the band?

GUNNAR- Actually none. I'm a lucky boy, you see. I worked sometimes for a Metal label, but my excellent computer skills helped me make money when needed. As well I'm good in graphics, which sometimes also helped surviving. Just did the upcoming Lacrimosa Single artwork. Honestly, I would hang up myself doing any crap just for the money. Okay, I recorded some demos with crap bands in my little home studio, hahaha, but that's acceptable, hahaha.

U- What current musical trend bugs you the most?

GUNNAR- All mainstream, and that's a lot.

U- If you had to spend the rest of your life on a desert island, and you could only bring, 1 each of the following, what or who would it be:

CD : Alice In Chains "Dirt"
MEAL : a huge Filet Steak on pepper sauce, potatoes and green salad
DRINK : a crate of Warsteiner
FAMOUS BABE : Alyssa Milano

U- If you were offered the job of playing with the "The Back Street Boys" for one million US $, but you could never play again in any other band, would you take it?

GUNNAR- A glance on my account would make me want to say yes, but I'm no whore and no money can take the freedom of my life.

U- If you could make a wish, and have any band on the planet disappear forever, who would it be, and why?

GUNNAR- Love Like Blood, this would be the chance to experience a completely different life. Something like a re-birth. It would be very interesting if I would work again as a musician or may be do something totally different. Guess, I would do something different, cause nobody gets this chance.

U- What songs do you like playing live, which are the hardest?

GUNNAR- Songs like Kiss & Tell, Fallacious World, Liberation, Night is Young. These are some of my favorites. The last, Night is Young, always makes me so sad and sometimes you can see tears on my face. The hardest are songs you have to concentrate on playing and it disturbs a bit your vibes. Actually we avoid playing such songs live, but for example "Everlasting Dream" has to be played accurately so it works and everybody in the band has to concentrate on playing. But we understand that the feelings and vibes on stage sometimes seem very different to the audience.

U- Who gets the most chicks in the band?

GUNNAR- Guess who, my brother Yorck. But that's natural and I have to say Love Like Blood isn't much into that groupie and chick stuff. We take and esp. Yorck just takes it as a compliment that's all about the mysterious Rock 'N Roll legend.

U- What's the most "Rock n Roll" thing you (or the band) has ever done? (like trashing hotel rooms, sex with albino midgets, that type of thing)

GUNNAR- Coach surfing with the Fields Of the Nephilim guitarist, driving the highway from Berlin to Hamburg. We were both totally pissed and climbed on to the roof of the bus during the drive. We simply had been totally out of order. I just remember that someone told the bus driver that two freaks are surfing on this coach. He stopped and got us back in the bus and really freaked out. Still can't believe that we did that shit. We had, and we still have a lot of parties on tour, which may end in some Rock 'N Roll disaster but, hmmmm, I'm not that proud about it, if we lose control. We love to talk in private about these legendary stories and we always have a big laugh.

U- What CDs do you play when you are on your own, and no one is around to hear? Any embarrassing secrets you want to tell?

GUNNAR- It's no secret, but many people don't understand that I love some Hip Hop or Rap stuff like Missy Elliot, Dr.Der etc. People get confused when they hear about it.

U- What's the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you on tour?

GUNNAR- Many, many things. Can't take the one and only. Like one tour we thought the whole crew was sleeping, had a nice quick fuck with my girl friend not recognizing that nearly the whole crew is watching us; or two days off in Amsterdam, just arrived, eaten two of these nice cakes and have been fucked for the next 24 hours; or I had stolen many, many backstage drinks, put them all in my bag, and when leaving the club my bag ripped right in front of the promoter.

U- What's the proudest moment you have had as a member of this band?

GUNNAR- Two moments, I'm proud of not giving up in 1995/1996 when I dropped the whole band. I'm proud that I took over the competition and to keep Love Like Blood alive as a two-piece. I've been that close to making an end with my band and my music. The other one is the cover compilation "Chronology of a love-affair" which I've done nearly on my own. I remember many nights I struggled and I can't say any other recordings any other album has been as tough as this one. It's been more than one time I've been close to call my record label and to tell them that this album will not work, but again I haven't done it. That kind of stuff makes me proud. It's easy giving up, but you experience the greatest moments of live if you get stuff done through all these tough situations.

U- Out of all the bands you have played with live, which bands or musicians are cool to work with, and who drove you to the point where you wanted to punch him in the back of the head?

GUNNAR- Oh, must say that most of the bands are really cool, just some of the "Super Styled Goth Fashion" bands could do better not acting like little chicks, hahaha. I remember a band called "Like a Movie", best example. But it's wrong to talk bad about other bands. We really don't care about those as long as they don't bother us. I just can tell you that mostly straight "Goth Festivals" are more of a nightmare than cross-over festivals. We had more excellent parties with Metal bands than Goth chicks, hahaha. They're always that shy and always care that much about their make-up and clothes instead of doing a good job on their instruments or having a good party. It makes me sick watching bands backstage hanging around with that depressive and super-serious face.

U- What's your favorite beer/drink? And give us your best "drunk goth-rock guy" story

GUNNAR- Yep, beer that's my love, hehehe. I really don't care which brand, but it should be a so-called "Pils" and it should be a German brand. Sorry, but most other beer taste like wasted water. The Belgium beer is not that bad, I like their cherry and all their fruit beer, they brew. But I hate that kind of Budweiser stuff. About the story, better not, it's too disgusting. A funny one is we left the club after having an intense aftershow party at the bar. When leaving, we asked the guy if he is still able to walk on his own, he confirmed that he is in order, just a few meters out of the club, first have to mention it heavily rained during the gig, he fell straight face forward into a huge deep puddle laying their like a dead man.

U- In a drinking contest, who in the band would be the first to pass out? Who would be the last man standing?

GUNNAR- Depends on the drinks. Hard stuff like whisky I'm the first, my brother is gonna be the last. If we stay and run the contest with soft drinks like beer, maybe it's me or the drummer who win the contest and Alex, the guitarist, would be the loser.

U- If you guys see the TV show "The Simpsons" over there, who is your favorite character, and why?

GUNNAR- Sorry I have to disappoint you, I never watch this show and I don't like it. That's the wrong sense of humor for me.

U- I'm going to name a band, you tell me your thoughts in 5 words or less:

Tiamat : Death Metal goes Pink Floyd
Theatre Of Tragedy : Tragedy, the missing talent on the vocals
Paradise Lost : Depeche Lost or Paradise Mode, but I like it
London After Midnight : Sacrifice, please sacrifice yourself to me
Sins Of Thy Beloved : forgive my sins never listened to an album
Two Witches : Vodka Rulez
Type O Negative : I'm too black for this world
HIM : ever heard about Billy Idol?
Sisters of Mercy : Mercy, mercy
The Mission : Godly mission

U- Would you rather tour with, Goths or Metal heads? Why?

GUNNAR- Neither nor of both. We prefer doing our own tour and really don't care that much about supporting bands whether they Metal or Goth. We're no Racists, :) you know.

U- What group would you love to tour with, that you haven't yet?

GUNNAR- Can't say there's any band I'd really like to tour with. Already said before, we prefer to headline our own tours and to see the crowd who want to see Love Like Blood. I hate to support. Either people come along to see Love Like Blood or they will not see us live on stage. We avoid bothering people in a supporting role. That's up to others. Sounds strange, but that's our way. There are many artists I'm looking forward to meeting one time, may be having a beer and some small talk, whatever, but that's all.

U- What's your favorite movie, and actor of all time?

GUNNAR- "Once a time in America" and Robert De Niro

U- As a band or musician, have you ever been pressured by a label to do something you didn't want to do? (song choices, lyrics etc.) Did you cave in, or tell them to "cram it"?

GUNNAR- Never ever. And if they tried it, that shit would have been sorted in a second. May be this results from the fact that we released our first albums on our own label and still the whole production process is under our control. Therefore our record labels just have to run the marketing and the distribution and they better do a good job on this part.

U- Every group of friends has someone who always gets picked on and teased, so who is it in Love Like Blood? And what do you all do to him, or if its you, what do they do to you?

GUNNAR- It's really a draw, everybody gets teased by his little mistakes. And everybody can stand it and we all have a laugh. For example I'm the "Grooveminimizer" cause I'm too lazy to rehearse and maybe the worst musician in the band, plus drinking too much beer on tour definitely doesn't help that much in this case. So during Soundcheck I just hit one string and they tell me "perfect, it's okay, get your next beer". So they always make jokes on my excellent skills. Our drummer Al is called "Granddad" cause he's drinking all night, wakes up late afternoon, playing the drums a bit too laid back and moving around so slowly that the whole crew is always shouting "Morning Grand dad".

MESSAGE BOARD

IF YOU THINK GUNNAR, OR LOVE LIKE BLOOD SUCKS, CLICK HERE!

HOME
OFFICIAL LOVE LIKE BOOD HOME PAGE

© 1997 urotsukidoji_1@yahoo.com

Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
Old Guest Book

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page