HEIN FRODE HANSEN:
DRUMMER - THEATRE OF TRAGEDY

U- Whose idea was it for the changes in Raymond’s vocal style over the years, from Death Metalish, to clean, to synthesised?

HEIN- Completely his own. He was not comfortable singing only in this style and wanted to move further with the rest of the band. We still consider it clean vocals but we added a few more effects etc.

U- Theatre of Tragedy’s sound changes with every CD is this intentional, or just what comes out when you guys are writing?

HEIN- Both. We as everybody else change as people, and musicians. We will not allow ourselves to stagnate within one style. We are without boundaries. We define ourselves what the Theatre of Tragedy sound should be. And if you add to the fact that we have not have the same guitar player line-up for one single release. This affects you sound.

U- What other known (and unknown) bands have you played with?

HEIN- I used to sing in a band called Serpent in 1988-1991, and drums in Phobia (the first version of Enslaved) 1990-1991. That’s about it. Plus the infamous Rock and Roll Angels back in 1986. Well, we made it big on the local youth clubs. Hehehehe.

U- When people ask you what type of music do you play, what do you tell them?

HEIN- Depends on the person that asks. If it is some straight ordinary person, I usually tell them it is hard rock. The better the insight of the person the more complex answer. Right now it is electro pop metal (actually that is Lorentz (keyboards) definition!).

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

HEIN- Sorry. We do not have nearly enough videos/clips etc to do something like this. We are all huge dvd fans though. The best film media ever (or so far…).

U- What is going on over there in Scandinavia? The volume of great music (Punk / Goth / Metal) coming from Finland, Norway & Sweden in the last few years is staggering? Why do you think so much talent is concentrated here? Is it to cold to go outside, so you stay indoors and play music 24/7?

HEIN- It is such boring countries that we have nothing more sensible to do. :) It is not that cold actually. US east coast and Canada is a lot colder in the wintertime. Or we just have so much goddamn talent here that we just run over everyone else with a monster truck!!!

U- What’s your opinion of the music scene in North America?

HEIN- Hmm I don’t really know many bands. Type O is not the worst. Morbid Angel used to be killer in the old death metal days. Sorry. Well I like stuff like NIN, Rob Zombie Filter and stuff. That is quite cool. Even the new Korn is not that bad.

U- When did you know that Theatre of Tragedy had "made it"?

HEIN- August 2000 when I could quit my job and concentrate 100% on doing music.

U- If you were offered the job of drumming for the "Back Street Boys" for 10 million US $, but you could never play drums again in any other band, would you take it?

HEIN- Yes. Wouldn’t you? Hell I’d do it for half. My wife and me would be set for life and we could buy an island. And I could listen to music all day long. And buy the most expensive import beer. That would be life!

U- Have you thought of what tunes will be played live on your up coming tour? If so, what do fans have to look forward to?

HEIN- Well the songs will be picked from all of our releases, dating back to the first album. The main weight will be from the last two ones obviously. But there will be about 8 old ones and 7 new ones. We go on tour promotion the new album after all. Lets just say that the old ones reflect a bit the poll on our homepage. (www.theatreoftragedy.com)

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

HEIN- Right now I am looking forward playing the new stuff. We have played the old ones so many times. Bacchante is fun to play thou.

U- With all the electronic sounds on the new CD (Musique) do you use any drum loops live, or is it all you?

HEIN- We use drum loops and me. Both kick more ass!

U- Dose everyone get a say in the writing?

HEIN- Well I usually leave the writing of material to somebody with more nose for this stuff and Raymond, Lorentz and Frank have much bigger noses than me. ;-)

U- What do you say to people that bitch and complain about how the bands sound has changed?

HEIN- That they should move on with their lives OR get a life. No seriously. If people don’t like it that is their privilege and there is nothing anyone or I can do about it. You can’t please everyone. We like to consider that most of our fans have grown with us over the years and is at the same experimental stage as we are now. Unfortunately we might be a bit mistaken there, but I would say about 50% or the old fans are still with us.

U- Is Liv Kristine (female vocalist in the band for the uninformed) just as gorgeous in person as she is in cyber-space? (We never get to see her live in US/Canada).

HEIN- Depends on whom you ask. Liv is a beautiful woman, but she has been in the band for so many years now that she has learnt how to put up with us and the other way around. She is more like one of the guys except with breasts. (Hmm did I write that?)

U- What are your musical influences? Those from when you started, and those that inspires you today.

HEIN- Early days: Kiss, Twisted Sister, Candlemass, Celtic Frost, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Forbidden, Destruction, Bathory, Merciful Fate/ King Diamond, Depeche Mode, Johnny Cash, The Cure, Paradise Lost, Exodus, Megadeth, Poison, Psychotic Waltz, Watchtower and a bunch of other metal bands.
Nowadays: Too many to mention. Everything from Mr. Cash to the new Haunting record. Covenant, VNV Nation, Rob Zombie.. ahh what the hell I don’t want to write all of this. Just have the readers check my personal profile on our website.

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?

HEIN- Well I was playing Darude "sandstorm" loud as hell earlier today alone, but nothing in my record collection is able to embarrass me. (well, maybe a LP or 2).

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

HEIN- On our first tour (Dec 1995), on the first concert and in the middle of the set my old double drum pedal broke in two. Left me running around screaming for another for about 5 minutes while Lorentz played some crap on the synth. That was very embarrassing!

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

HEIN- Tough one. Getting the first deal, Releasing each record. Telling my mom I quit my job to concentrate on music full time. There are several moments...

U- You guys have played a lot of festivals etc., so what other bands or musicians are cool to work with, and who just pissed you off all day?

HEIN- Ha ha ha. Well That one has the same answer. The guys in Tristania and Sins of Thy Beloved. Fun and annoying in nice way!! Cheers guys! Hell of a party in Leipzig this year lets find another festival that cancels and get just as drunk. The Tiamat guys are really cool as well!

U- What’s your favourite beer/drink? And give us your best "drunk rock guy" story.

HEIN- Favourite beer is a tie between Miller and Kingfisher (Indian). "Drunk rock guy" story? Are you kidding me. I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you afterwards...

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

Sisters Of Mercy : Used to be great now washed out (fuck that was 7!)
Korn : latest album rocks (almost)
Kid Rock : Crap!
Metallica : used to be great but now washed out (fuck that was 8!)
Motley Crue : 2 first albums rule!!
Limp Bis? (whatever their name is) : I am indifferent to this!
The 69 Eyes : Cliché lyrics, worse then ours.
Paradise Lost : Chameleons of Goth metal.
Type O Negative : tall and good looking :)

U- Does the band get along well in the studio, our do you fight amongst yourselves over every note?

HEIN- We get along fairly well considering we are 5 completely different individuals.

U- Would you rather tour with Sisters of Mercy or Slayer? Why?

HEIN- Both of them! That would be killer. But only if Wayne Hussey rejoined Sisters and Lombardo rejoined Slayer!

U- What’s the worst part about being a musician?

HEIN- The security of not knowing if you will get a paycheck to cover your loan/rent and knowing how much the amount would be.

U- I know you are now married, so I’ll ask the question like this: If they were willing, who in the band could get the most chicks?

HEIN- Shit that’s a tough question, coz I know my wife will read this interview at some point and it would be tactical of me to have the right answer. And that would off course be me, then Lorentz, Frank, Liv and Raymond. In that order :) :)

U- How can Liv not be married yet? Are all her boy friends retarded?

HEIN- No comment.

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"?

HEIN- Well, to put it this way. We make the music and record it. That is our job. The label must sell as many copies as possible. That’s their job. In order to get there, there will have to be some compromises made.

U- Pick a letter A-C to complete this sentence; We (Theatre of Tragedy) make brilliant CD after brilliant CD because ;
A) We are musical gods sent from hell/heaven.
B) We are a bunch of lucky bastards.
C) All other bands just suck so much, it makes us look great.

HEIN- I pick all of them if it is ok!

Thanks a lot for the interview Jeff. Nice to do some tongue in cheek interviews among all the seriousness on promotion. Everyone else; Check out "Musique" our new album and hopefully we will see you all on tour! Rock On!

Hein, signing off now... bye bye.

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