Klaus Meine ” We’re not getting away from here (Hanover) and we don’t want to postpone planned production (New Album). That’s why we connect every day with our producer Greg Fidelman in Los Angeles via video zoom. The nature of this collaboration works incredibly well “.
Although all band members received negative for Corona, musicians wear protective masks in the studio. Mine of course I sing in a recording booth. But due to the embedded discs, the suspended particles from your breath cannot sing throughout the studio.
” You shouldn’t miss enough distance between us in the studio, although that, of course, is unusual for us. But there’s also something good about working in Hanover. We feel like we’re in our early days when we recorded our first albums here. Makes us feel good “.
Since we can’t be in the US recording a new Album, we‘re on a virtual production with our producer Greg Fidelman in L.A. … Rocks Big Time !!! Scorpions
German hard rockers SCORPIONS have released a new song called “Sign Of Hope”.
In a statement accompanying the YouTube release of the track, the band said: “We are working on lot’s of Hard’n Heavy Rockers for our new album these days … but because of the dramatic Covid-19 pandemic, we want to give you a little Sign of Hope that came straight from the heart in troubled times … stay healthy and safe … we love you … Scorpions“
Klaus Meine spoke to the SCORPIONS‘ official French fan club about the band’s upcoming studio album. Tentatively due in 2021, the disc will mark the German hard rock legends’ first release since 2017’s “Born To Touch Your Feelings – Best Of Rock Ballads”, which was an anthology of SCORPIONS‘ new and classic material.
Regarding how the coronavirus crisis is affecting the work on the new LP, Meine said (hear audio below): “We were supposed to start working in the studio [two weeks ago] and all of us are working in their own studios, but we’re in touch. And we keep going and we try to make the best out of this isolated situation… The last week of March, we were supposed to start working here [in Germany] before we wanted to go out together with the whole band here in the studio in Hannover. Our producer from America wanted to come over here — Greg Fidelman — and then we had to change the whole plan. And it turned out we ended up with everybody doing his own thing, working on songs and working on stuff at his own studio. So, for me, it was good. With the support of [our recording engineer] Hans-Martin Buff, he [took] me through all the different stages to record myself — not only to be a writer and a singer but also become an engineer, recording myself. And it was a nice challenge —and it still is. Every other day, I come up with things and go, ‘Hey, c’mon, Hans-Martin, you’ve gotta show me…’ It’s easy to communicate this way and get things done. That’s, so far, the good part of this in this very difficult time. So I think we’re very privileged that we can be at home and that we can spend time in the studio and do what we do anyway. But I’m sure, and I know there will be a point where it’s about time for the whole band to join together and put things on the next level.”
According to the singer, SCORPIONS “have a lot of songs” written for the upcoming album. “We started writing for this album early last year until June 2019. And then we had to go back on the road,” Meine said. “At that point, we had a couple of great songs already, so the whole thing was in progress. It felt really good at that point. Now, coming back from Australia and Southeast Asia, it was about time to pick up the recording sessions and go back into it. I know when Rudolf [Schenker, guitar] came back, he went to Thailand — the last show was in Singapore in early March and he went back to his place in Thailand — so he picked up the songs and a couple of weeks later, there was a lot of stuff coming back from the riff master. [Laughs] It’s a good creative mood, and it’s really exciting.
“Every other day, I ask myself, ‘Klaus, are we really doing a new album?'” he laughed. “‘Is anybody waiting for a new album from the SCORPIONS out there? But at the same time, it’s wonderful, after all these years, we’re still excited to create new stuff and to create new songs and we’re all into it. And having Mikkey [Dee, drums] in the band now, it’s, like, ‘Wow.’ This could be an album where it’s a little bit more on the harder edge.”
Meine went on to say that he is looking forward to working with Fidelman, who began his career as the guitarist and songwriter for RHINO BUCKET before launching his career as a producer, engineer and mixer, finding an early mentor in Rick Rubin.
“[Greg] used to work with METALLICA and SLIPKNOT, so we feel we have the right producer to go into a production where it’s all about attitude and playing together,” Klaussaid. “Which, unfortunately, right now is not happening — Greg can’t come over here, we can’t go over there to the United States — so right now it’s all a little crazy. And we don’t know how long it will take, really, to keep going and take this to the next level. But right now, it feels good. There’s a lot of work to do, and I’m happy that I can work on new material, and every other day I have songs — I put my vocals on. And the fact I do it myself — this is what I’m most proud of.”
Because the coronavirus pandemic has effectively shut down touring as people are being asked to stay home, Meine and his bandmates have been spending their quarantine time at home with their families.
“This is the time [when] solidarity and creativity are important, and to stay in touch with each other,” Klaus said.
“When we came back from Australia and Southeast Asia, we came here [to Germany], and a few days later, the situation with the coronavirus became more serious every other day. And so we thought it’s important to stay in touch with our fanbase around the world and also encourage them to stay at home in these very, very special times. It’s so important that we all try to not to be too close to each other.
“I haven’t been at home for such a long time in one run, so it’s kind of unusual for all of us, I guess,” he added. “But coming from this long trip, from Down Under, we spent so much time [on the road] in the last couple of years, so it’s, in a way, nice to have a break. And right now, it’s beautiful weather and [I get to] see a blue sky. I can’t complain, because it’s beautiful to be at home with your loved ones and spend some extra time together, and at the same time have a chance to be in my studio and work on new songs, write lyrics.”
SCORPIONS‘ last full-length collection of new recordings was 2015’s “Return To Forever”, partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the ’80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS‘ longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.
SCORPIONS were scheduled to take over the Las Vegas Strip in July with their exclusive headlining residency show at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
The band previously played a Las Vegas mini-residency in May 2016, consisting of five shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
German hard rock legends SCORPIONS are the latest musicians to stress the importance of international solidarity as we address the effects of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
There have been more than 169,000 confirmed cases and more than 6,000 deaths so far, putting public health systems and emergency services under immense pressure.
Earlier today (Monday, March 16), SCORPIONS took to their social media to share the following message: “Dear Fans all over the World, wherever you are … please take good care of yourself … more than anything we’re wishing all of you good health … we gotta be strong and united, in this very difficult time … with lot’s of love … SCORPIONS”
There is no known cure yet for the flu-like virus, which originated in China.
Officials have made it clear that the elderly — especially those with heart, lung and immunological conditions — are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, with at least 25 deaths linked to one nursing home in Washington.
In Italy, which has one of the oldest populations in the world, one hundred percent of the people who have died have been over 60, and the vast majority over 80.
According to the Centers For Disease Control And Protection (CDC), coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person — between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine has spoken out for the first time after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. As a result of the procedure, the band’s concert with WHITESNAKE in Sydney on Saturday (February 22) had to be postponed.
Earlier today, the SCORPIONS social media was updated with a photo of Meine in his hospital bed, along with the following message from the 71-year-old vocalist:
“Dear Fans , the good news first …. we had a fantastic show in Melbourne Wednesday night at the Rod Laver Arena …. loved every minute of it …. it just feels soooo good to be back in Australia !!!! The bad news is… I have had kidney stone surgery in a Melbourne Hospital … it was a very painful attack ,….
“In the hospital they removed the stone, and put in a stent …. can you imagine how i feel right now ??? So sorry Sydney …. Do we have to cancel again ??? It looks like it…. but we are hoping to re-schedule for next week,day to be announced.
“Dr Katz and his team are taking very good care of me … i’m in the best hands, but i doubt i’ll be back on my feet until early next week….. with lots of Love with a Heavy Heart from Melbourne …. Klaus”
SCORPIONS and WHITESNAKE‘s concert in Brisbane this Monday (February 24) is expected to go ahead as planned.
Matthias has announced the new producer will be Greg Fidelman. Greg is an American record mixer, engineer and record producer. He is a frequent collaborator of producer Rick Rubin, and has worked with many bands in various genres, including Metallica, Slayer, High on Fire, Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers,Bush, Audioslave, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and System of a Down, but has also worked on albums by U2, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and others.Greg is known for being a versatile producer. He has worked as a sound engineer on albums of important artists such as: (Adele’s ” 21 ” in 2011)( ” I’m with you ” (2011) by Red Hot Chili Peppers)( ” 13 ” (2013) Black Sabbath)( Death Magnetic (2008) by Metallica). His was the producer on the controversial album ” Lulu ” (2011) by Metallica & Lou Reed. Greg was also responsible for the production of ” Hardwired to Self-Destruct ” (2016) from Metallica and was nominated for a Grammy in the category ” Best Rock album “.He worked with Slipknot on ” World Painted Blood “. 5: The Gray Chapter (2014) and recently, “We Are Not Your Kind” (2019). Check out Greg’s wikipedia page below to see all his credits.
SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs has confirmed to New Zealand’s “The Metal Bar” that the band is putting the finishing touches on the songwriting process for a new studio album. The upcoming disc will mark the German hard rock legends’ first release since 2017’s “Born To Touch Your Feelings – Best Of Rock Ballads”, which was an anthology of SCORPIONS‘ new and classic material.
“We’ve been writing some material before we went on tour, before we went on tour this summer,” Matthias said (hear audio below). “It’s always difficult to come up with stuff on tour. You get the inspiration, but to actually put it down, that’s a different story, when you travel every day. So we have songs — about 10, I guess — but we will have to do some more writing once this tour is over, and then prepare for the rehearsals and recordings right after our shows in New Zealand and a couple in Asia. So we will be back in early March. And we know that we work with the producer Greg Fidelman, who is known for doing METALLICA and SLIPKNOT and others, and he’s a great guy. And he came to visit in our studio in Hannover, Germany already. So the plan is to record until the first of July, where we have a residency in Las Vegas for a whole month. And then, during that time, we can either do the final touch-ups or mix. And then the album should come out in the fall of 2020. And then, of course, we go on the road again.”
Asked where he gets the inspiration for new SCORPIONS material nowadays, Matthias said: “It works slightly different than in the early days. In the early days, I took the guitar and came up with some great riffs and was excited about that. And we took it from there. Today, almost every riff has been played already by myself and by others. What else do you wanna do? So the approach is slightly different — it’s more about the song and the melody and even the lyrics, sometimes, they could be the inspiration. And you do the riff and all the guitar work, you do that later on. Not always, but it’s not the main source for songwriting anymore, as it used to be in the beginning, when we were so excited. ‘Oh, listen to this new riff. It’s great. Let’s turn it into a song.’ It’s a little bit the other way around now.”
