Hi, first , thanxs for the interview. And counld you start it with a little biography of your group?
Hello , no problem, it’s a pleasure for me to answer your questions.CHINCHILLA started in 1988 and released their first demo-CD "No Mercy" in 1990. Due to some personal differences the band split-up, but I couldn´t live without a band and three years later in 1993 I reformed CHINCHILLA with a complete new line-up. In 1994 CHINCHILLA recorded the 5-song-Mini-CD "Who Is Who?" with ex-Letter X singer Martin Obermeier. Excellent reviews from the national press attested the fact that CHINCHILLA was a band to watch out for. In the end of 1996 the band went into the studio again to record the second album "Horrorscope". The album got released in Japan through Virgin Music in May 1997, but it took the band until the end of 1998 to release the album in Europe through Point Music. Meanwhile Martin Obermeier had left the band and CHINCHILLA had to look out for a new frontman. It took the band only a few rehearsals to find Thomas Laasch, a man with a great voice and a perfect live performance. With this line-up CHINCHILLA played many live-shows, mostly in Germany, and got excellent feedback from the fans and the press as well. In the end of January 2000 the band played its first European tour as a support for Vanden Plas. CHINCHILLA had the chance to play Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and France. Finally the band got the recognition it deserved, which it already had for a couple of years in Japan and Germany. It was no surprise that the five boys got invited to play bigger festivals like the "Biker Union 2000" in Schleiz and the "Bang Your Head" in Balingen. CHINCHILLA is an experienced live band that already shared stages with Scorpions, Krokus, Saxon, Uriah Heep, Running Wild, Primal Fear, Doro, Pink Cream 69, Vanden Plas, Edguy, U.D.O., Rage, ect... In May 2000 CHINCHILLA signed a record deal with Metal Blade Records and about the same time they finished the recordings for their (by the time) new longplayer "Madness". Again they produced with Achim Köhler and the result was superb. The press reactions were excellent, especially in Germany they reached highest ratings and very good sales figures. Besides loads of headliner shows CHINCHILLA also supported Paul Di Anno for a few shows. The highlight of the year was the gig at the "Wacken Open Air", the feedback from fans and press was overwhelming and the show was a big success for the band. After that show CHINCHILLA completed the songwriting for the new album "The Last Millennium?" and entered the House Of Music Studios once again to record with Ingmar Schenzel this time. The mix was done by Achim Köhler, responsible for the work of bands like Primal Fear and Brainstorm. CHINCHILLA were able to support the album with a complete European tour together with Demon and Tad Morose. The band had a few line-up changes in 2002, but got ready with the songwriting in December to record the new album. "Never change a winning team" - CHINCHILLA followed this rule and went again to House Of Music to record the fourth longplayer "Madtropolis" with Ingmar Schenzel - the mix was again handled by Achim Köhler. As a special guest CHINCHILLA invited ex-Motörhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke to play a solo on one of the new songs - it turned out amazing! After that we made a break, cause Tommy get the second time father. I started to write new songs and Roberto got into Chinchilla as new member. He is the new bass player and also a big help. He made our new homepage and he is a good songwriter too. In Mai 2004 we started to record with Ingmar Schelzel "Take no prisoners" and with out any doubt it`s the best ablum which Chinchilla ever made. The sound is brillant and raw, with the keyboards in the back a again, Chinchilla is able to kick a lot of asses. The new motto is the law: "Take no Prisoners".

Your new album "Take no prisoners" is just out, how was it received by the fans & medias?
We\'ve got excellent feedbacks for "Take no prisoners" from the press and our fans. Lots of interviews showing me the interest for our band, a lot of congratulations. We played two songs on the Saxon Tour and the feedback was fantastic.

And are you personnaly satisfied with your album?
Yes, I\'m satisfied!! Our new CD "Take no Prisoners"is the best thing we’ve ever done, but this is the story I always tell, ha, ha, ha, and it’s the truth!! It\'s high class Metal that combines the best of two worlds! The intense energy of Power Metal and the catchy hooklines of Hard Rock. It’s more “back to the roots” and the sound is raw, that was my intention and vision for “Take no Prisoners” and it came true!!! We put the keyboards in the back to get the power of my guitars more in the front!!! My first intention after “Madtropolis” was, the next CD must get back to our roots and I think we got it. “Take no Prisoners” has much more parts of the british way of heavy metal. It’s more the old school of heavy metal and that’s fine!! Raw guitars and a good riffing!! We kick ass and that’s what we want. Power straight into the face and no pussy metal.

Why those gangster\'s costume? Thats not very "heavy metal"....
I don\' t think so, cause Al Capone was the heavyest boy of his time, by his physical extent and his from bullet proofed deeds. He was definitely heavy metal!!! At first Roberto and I thought about new ways, not to do the same like every band. It must be different and very special, that was our thought. Not a typical metal cover!! That was our intention. My idea was the gangster look, like Al Capone, cause he never took prisoners! We both loved this idea and Roberto started to work out the booklet. He got the idea with the newspaper, I think a brilliant idea. But when he finished our one "newspaper&quo

t; booklet, the record company told him, it\'s not possible to do that and they made a normal booklet leaning on the original. "Take no Prisoners" is our first concept album .

What does the lyrics talk about?
"Take no Prisoners" is the continuation of "The last Millennium" and “Madtropolis”. It`s about the terrible situation nowadays. Primarily I would like to make the fans think about the situation we`re in right now and if I reach this goal with my lyrics, I have settled my thing to my satisfaction already . The lyrics are all written like parables, so this way I don\'t get in trouble with too many people. Everyone can make up his own mind and I think everyone will come to a similar conclusion . I don\'t like to arise as an instructor or prophet , but I think it\'s important for everyone , because the "No Future" attitude doesn\'t take you anywhere.

Where and who record "Take no prisoners"
We recorded "Take no prisoners" with Ingmar Schelzel, the guy which recorded "Madtropolis" and "The last Millennium". Our motto is : Don\'t change a winning team!!!!! Achim Köhler, mixed the CD\'s and Ingmar Schenzel was responsible for recording , both excellent engineers and producers. But this time Achim had a lot to do and we had no time to wait, cause "Take no prisoners" have been released at 25.10.2004, this was the only edition from Thomas Jensen to get the Saxon Tour. Well, so we asked Ingmar, he is responsible for our live sound too, and this was the first time for him to do such an important step into this business.
I think without any doubt , the result is brillant!! Ingmar did a great job and Achim was always on his side to help him. Without Ingmars experiences, it would be difficult to record such good sounding CD\'s. He is cool and relaxed. There is no timepressure in the studio. It\'s a cool and easy workatmosphere. The mastering was done by Christian Jungebluth. We recorded all leadguitars at my homestudio and the other things we recorded in a studio, were we will never put a feet in it again!!! There is no more to say about this place!!

Do you have a favourite track on the CD?
No, cause every song has his own story for me and that\'s important. On the other hand, if I didn\'t remain 100% to a song, it would never find the way on a CD.
I\'m responsible for the most songs from Chinchilla and please understand, for me it\'s not possible to have a favourite song, cause I love them all!!

In which way is "Take no prisoners" different from "Madtropolis"?
It’s difficult for me to compare my own work and find some differences, cause every composing period has his own flair and his own history. So “Take no Prisoners” has much more parts of the british way of heavy metal. It’s more the old school of heavy metal and that’s fine!! We kick ass and that’s what we want. Power straight into the face. “Madtropolis” has more the Scandinavian touch of heavy metal, cause it was my experience to put the keyboards more in the front and a lot of people were not afraid about it, but for me it’s okay. I like Madtropolis and I would never chance anything, cause it was an other time and another feeling. There are great compositions and good arrangements on it and the coincidence between the guitars and the keyboards are fantastic. But it’s a matter of taste and as you now, tastes are always different.

How is the teamwork in Chinchilla? Does everyone participate in writing the music, or is there one "main" soongwriter?
I’m the main songwriter and I\'m responsible for the most songs on “Take no Prisoners”, like the records before. Our new bass player Roberto was a big help and he stand by my side and wrote “Silent Moments” and “Money talks”. Through his assistance we got fresh blood and new influences in our music and that’s important for the development of a band. Roberto and I did a cooperation and the result is brilliant, “The Ripper” is one of the strongest songs on the new CD. I wrote the basic guitarriffs and the main keyboardparts 8 months before we entered the studio. Then I arranged the parts in my little homerecording studio. 10 weeks before we started to record I started writing the lyrics. Two weeks later it was finished. After that I was working out the melodies and vocal lines. You can always hear the instrument on which I wrote a song on. When I write a song on my keyboards, it sounds like the Scandinavian kind of Heavy Metal, when I write it on my guitar, it sounds very British. This mixture makes our music very interesting.

How was the name "Chinchilla" chosen to become the band\'s name and in which way does it represent you?
Okay, it\'s the 1000 times answered question. It`s not a typical name for a Metal band, but I think it`s an interesting name. Chinchillas are funny and sweet animals, on the other side they get killed for some rich chicks coats.It`s like Dr. Jekyl and Mr.Hyde,good and bad,life and death,both sides,dominant,fast and raw songs,the old school of Heavy Metal and on the other hand the ballads,tender and sentimental. Don\'t forget this name is like gold, cause of so many release every month, the names of some bands sounded very equal. The only band which we were equal, years before, was Cinderella. Our name is easy to keep in mind and you never forget it. Look, we are on the right way, cause it\'s the 1000 times answered question:"Why did you choose that name?"Everybody who heard our name the first time, thought: "What has this name to do with metal?"That\'s an important point, cause they start to think about our name and the band, just like you.

What are your main influences?
It\'

s normal that we are influenced, because we can\'t invent Heavy Metal new, but I think we have our own style. My favorit influence is the old kind of Heavy Metal. All bands of the early days , for example Motörhead , Kiss, Saxon , Accept , Ozzy , Black Sabbath , Dio, Rainbow, Pretty Maids and the new bands like Symphony X , Stratovarius , Labyrint and Primal Fear. It has to be a good mixture between the old stuff and the new influences. It`s very important to find your own sound and way to create your own style of Heavy Metal . Our lyrics were influenced by pure reality, by the news we watch on TV each day and the history of the last 1000 years . Nothing has changed, the rich are sitting quite far above and we are left to bleed. If you look back in history, there is always a Cesar, Napoleon, Hitler or a Bush omnipresent. Call it King, Leader, President or Chancellor it\'s always the same, cause they are:" Pouring the foolish people sand into their eyes, grabbing the clever ones by their sharp mind." They are sitting behind their big desk and smoke thick cigars. They put their guarded hand quite far above us and we must face the music they get into.

You have been on tour with Saxon. How was it? Great I guess...
It was a great time, cause they were all fine people and good musicians. The guys of Saxon are all gentlemen. No trouble on tour, no sound or light restricts, at each club a soundcheck and every night a party. There was no envy and no jealousy, no trouble with big rockstars and that\'s the way you have fun on a tour. We played every night in front of around 1000 peoples and that was great.

Way did you left you previous label: Metal Blade? And how is it till now with Armageddon Music?
Before I started to write the new songs for “Take no Prisoners” the band stand on a crossroad. The last four years were as hard as one can. Always the same promises:” You play on festivals and you get a tour.” Okay, we played a tour with Demon and we played in Wacken, but we were always looking for such a thing, like the Saxon Tour. A big headliner, that was the thing, we needed to make bigger steps into the business. But we never got the chance, cause it was always a matter of money and the descision of one man. On the other hand, Metal Blade, Andreas Reisenauer made good promotion for as, a lot of interviews and a lot of good reviews, thanxs Andy!! Good reviews, wasn\'t that a matter of money?? ha,ha,ha, okay that was a joke!! The members of Chinchilla got angry about this situation and Josh left the band. After that, there was the thought to stop everything, cause it makes no sin to make every year a new CD without touring. So I told the other guys, we must cut everything, every guy and every partner who stops us. After that I thought our new motto is:” Take no Prisoners” it’s a good title for our new CD, cause nothing describes our situation better. It was a dangerous step to separate us form Metal Blade, cause it\'s very difficult to get nowadays a good deal!! But it was the right step. After that I met Thomas Jensen and that was the key of our new future. We got a new record company, a new management and a new booker. We are satisfied with their work, cause dreams came true. A european tour with Saxon and after that two Shows with WASP and that happen only in 4 weeks. You see, ICS and Armaggedon are very interested in pushing the band into the right position.

What\'s next for Chinchilla?
Chinchilla are confirmed on Wacken 2005 yet and there are plans for other big festivals, but these things are not confirmed yet. We just finished the european tour with Saxon and it was a good feeling to know, on the way back home, that we play three days later two shows with W.A.S.P. Our new booker Thomas Kreidner, from ICS, made a good job for us and for the next years, he has so many plans for us. But one thing will be sure, we play next year some big festivals and I think more than one tour with a big headliner.

And, to finish, could you explain to us, your vision about the "Spirit of metal"?
You mean" We need some new heros or how long will Metal survive??" .It\'s a dangerous time, cause a lot of bands will get lost in the flood of releases. The record companys must support bands with future, with carisma und good songwriting!!! The scene needs new heroes, but there are too many bands and the crowd can\'t decide which bands they support and that\'s the reason why we have so many reunions. I think some reunions are important, cause these bands wrote metal history and that\'s okay, but a lot of reunions are only motivated by the fact of money. The scene is alive and growing, but overwhelmed. Too many releases every month, too many projects and too expensive prices for CD\'s are the main problems for the scene. I think in 5 years we have a big problem , cause the old bands are going to retire and there is no younger band with such a superstar status. We need Bands like Kiss, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Saxon, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, tell me only one younger band with such a status. There is none and that\'s the problem, the scene needs fresh heroes and leaders who are able to defend the metal spirit. But this is a problem which must be cast by the record companies. The quality of a band is important, their music and their image their behavior to show the audience that these are examples, humans with big balls and not stupid behaved rockstars!!!! To play in one band , cause you have to show the people the solidarity, to stand together cause they need new idols. Than there will be a changes and Heavy Metal will survive.

Thanxs for your precious time, last words are yours.
Thanxs to all metalheads, without you, the fans, we`re nothing. Keep rock & roll alive !! If you are looking for more info\'s about chinchilla, please feel free and visit our new homepage: www.chinchilla.rocks.de.