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On the winds of change
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Interview Decades after they first burst onto the scene, the Scorpions are out to prove they still have the magic with their latest album Humanity Hour 1, writes RAKESH MEHAR
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pulsating NUMBERS In just a little over a week, the Scorpions will be returning to play at Palace Grounds
For most people, the name Scorpions always brings up associations with the iconic, anthemic “Rock You Like a Hurricane”. Indeed, for almost everyone but the biggest fans, the band is primarily associated with the ’80s and early R
17;90s. Contrary to popular perception, however, one thing that the Scorpions have always stood for is changing with the times.
So it is that in 2007, decades after it burst onto the scene, the band has taken a look around and created an album that yearns for what is most dearly missed in the world today, humanity. “(Producer) Desmond Child first introduced the concept of ‘Humanity Hour 1’,” explains front man Klaus Meine.
“In a way it is a continuation from where we left off on ‘Winds of Change’. It touches on various aspects of humanity, and gives out the message — Make love not war.”
The idea of humanity, says Meine, was a rather obvious choice for the album considering where the world and the band are currently. “We wanted to make a rock album, but with a positive message and positive energy. And it’s the sign of the times. Humanity is a more important subject today than anything else.” And besides, it was about time the band got onto more serious material after so many years on the scene. “This is a much more mature album, with songs of hope and songs of the darker side. With more mature lyrics. We didn’t want to make another album about boys chasing girls,” says Meine.
What may be of greater interest to Indian fans, however, is the special video of the single “Humanity” created just for local airplay.
The second instalment of Nokia and VH1’s Shot By You initiative, the Indian video for “Humanity” features photographs and video shot by VH1 viewers.
The three-minute video, which went on air on Friday, was put together from roughly over 1,000 entries received from across the country, and according to Meine, has far more impact than the band expected of it. “The video is amazing, totally unbelievable. There are some truly great images in it. Some of the images are so strong we wish we could have had them on the original video. The whole thing has a very special atmosphere and the most important thing is that it fits with the message we are trying to give. It’s a fantastic idea to challenge creative, young minds like this.”
An added treat for enthusiasts of alternative music is a guest performance by Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan on the song “The Cross”. A rather fortuitous collaboration, according to guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who first met Corgan many years ago. “And he (Corgan) was very excited about meeting his idols. I found out that he had everything that the Scorpions had made including the early Tokyo tapes. So I asked him what he thought about singing for one of our songs.”
Eventually, that plan coalesced on the song “The Cross”, explains Meine. “We were bumping into each other a lot because we were working in the same studio. We even played a ping pong match together. It was a lot of fun working with Billy.”
If a new album and an India-specific video aren’t enough excitement for fans in the city, there’s also the news that the Scorpions will be returning to play at Palace Grounds in just over a week.
“We have great memories of Bangalore. We have so many fans there and they know all the words of all our songs. It’s a very special city and we are really looking forward to coming back,” says Meine, eagerly awaiting December 16, when the band takes stage here.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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