TANKARD
German thrash metal band TANKARD celebrate their 40-year anniversary this year, which means that they formed back in 1982. They start the celebrations with a box set, "For A Thosand Beers", on February 25 through BMG, which includes all the early stuff that they released on Noise Records. The members are currently in the studio to record a new studio album, which will continue the celebrations. That album will be released in September via Reaper Entertainment.
Today's line-up is: Gerre (vocals), Andi (guitars), Olaf (drums) and Frank (bass). And Frank was the one who was kind enough to answer my questions in late January 2022.
The promo photos are probably old, and I don't know who took the photos.
There's much punk in your thrash metal. What inspired you to play the way that you do and form a band?
This came automatically and was not planned. At the time we started with the band we have heard a lot of Thrash, NWOBHM, but also Punk.
But I think the Punk influence got less in the past years.
How does the songwriting process work in your band?
Mainly Andi and myself are creating Guitar Riffs and Gerre is doing the melody lines then. After this we put this together an work it out.
You have been around for 40 years now. What is the highlight of your career so far?
Good question. There were so many. I think the biggest highlight is that we've survived as a band and still some people out there listening to it :-)
You celebrate these 40 years with a box set, "For A Thosand Beers". Tell us more about the box, and do you have any memories from that time that you would like to share?
It contains the albums we have released with our first record company, Noise Records, and there will be unreleased video material from Dynamo Eindhoven and Frankfurt from the 80s. A book with pictures from this time and the "Open All Night" video and and and...
But this will not be the real 40-year celebration. It's just a retrospect of the first years. There will be some more this year.....
What is the most crazy thing that has happened when you have played live?
On a show in the early 80s I had unfortunately too many drinks before and fell asleep on stage...... Very embarassing moment!
You like beer alot, so what's your favorite at the moment?
Currenty it's one from a city called Lauf in Bavaria. It's named "Brauerei Simon Hell". But my beer taste changes very often..
So what does the future look like for TANKARD? Any concerts? New album?
Yes, we are currently recording a new Album which will be relaeased later this year. The title will be "Pawlow's Dawgs", and there will be some more according to the 40-year celebrations.
Additonal to this a lot of shows are planned, but according to C19 we don't know how many of them we can play.
Anything that you would like to add?
To all the metal heads: Stay heavy and keep on rocking!!!!!
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