Interview with Dennis Ward and David Readman, Karlsruhe, 12.12.2009

In December I got a happy opportunity to visit the Knock Out Festival in Karlsruhe and to see the live show of Pink Cream 69. Of course, I also wanted to meet with The Pinkies, and after the show with help of Kosta Zafiriou and Nicolas Krofta I was in the dressing-room of PC69. Nicolas introduced me: "This is Tanya, who traveled 30 hours by bus to see Pink Cream show". After this sensational statement The Pinkies seated me with them, regaled with beer, and the interview began.

What about a new album of Pink Cream 69?
Dennis: The good question!
David: Are you want truth or lie?
Dennis: Actually, last week we got demos of the songs and we start a song… now. And then we will see. And we finish… aaah…
Nobody knows?
Dennis: Exactly, exactly.
David: Yeah, everybody write in the band except a drummer. And we can't make it very fast, can't get many songs…
Dennis: From where we can get them, ha-ha
David: It takes time, and I see like a band was around long time, of course we want make new record now but some different situation, and Dennis is a big famous producer…
Dennis: I'm not big…
David: So thing is a little bit slowly.
In "In10sity" Alfred was a main composer. Who will be the main composer on the new album?
Dennis: On "In10sity" we composed… (he pondered)
I read Alfred wrote 10 songs. Is it right?
Dennis: No…
Dennis and David start recall the tracks of "In10sity".
Dennis (to David): You wrote two songs, I wrote melody and lyrics… But it's not matter who writes a song.
David: It's really depends which is the best song.
Dennis: We don't have rules.
About Unisonic. This band won't interfere with new album of PC69?
Dennis: Ah, Unisonic. We started this too, we writing songs for this too. The good thing is what we write songs and some from them will work for Unisonic, some will work for Pink Cream.
Doesn't it delay the Pink Cream album?
Dennis: No, Unisonic album is not same what Pink Cream album.
You make this, you make that…
Dennis: Да-да. Мы работам и в том, и в том направлении… везде работаем…
Альбом Unisonic выйдет в конце весны?
Dennis: Yeah. We work little in this way, little in this way… everywhere work.
The Unisonic album will be released in May?
Will you play only two shows with Unisonic?
Dennis: Yes, we will perform two shows: in Sweden and at "Masters Of Rock". Maybe there will be a tour.
David: It's you think so...
Dennis: So only better! Ha-ha! A tour is a hard time.
Will Pink Cream play a show in a next year?
Dennis: Pink Cream show? Hmm, when is a next Pink Cream show? Nobody knows. We write songs and late we will see. It's a winter time and we usually not play in this time.
In this moment Alfred Koffler came to dressing-room and after "hallo" with him the interview continued.
David: You know anything can happen. We can play in January in some festival, wherever, you know, things can change any moment, so we nothing planed.
Dennis: Two months ago we don't know about this show, ha-ha
(it's very strange because the official site of Pink Cream 69 announced this show at the Knock Out Festival in august).
David, what about Voodoo Circle? Do you record a new album too?
David: Yeah. We will release it in the end of a next year.
When?!
David: In the end of a next year. Maybe earlier but unlikely.
Oh, it's so long time!
David: No, not long.
Dennis: Time goes fast for us.
David: It could go faster. We have songs, lyrics, I recorded vocals, but it could be soon, but, you know, it's… maybe because of Pink Cream, not me - anyway, this is an end of a next year. I don't care what happened now, it's in January work will start.
Dennis: Yeah, this closing of the year… We don't know what will be in February.
David: So you come again in January and we tell you more.
Yes, I will come - another 30-hours trip!
(Everyone laughed)
Jan Bayati came to dressing room and The Pinkies were distracted for a moment.
David, why you recorded Voodoo album in Canarias?
David: Yes, in Grand Canary. Alex [Beyrodt] has a studio here. And he decided what it's good time for me to go at his studio and work to songs. What we did.
Dennis: In good weather.
David: It was +29° every single day and no clouds in a sky.
Not like here now.
David: A door of the studio looking at the swimming pool, so we work little bit, Alex stop play guitar, I stop sing, and we go swimming.
Dennis muttered something.
David: It was fantastic. We did in 5 days 17 songs…
Dennis: Not bad. Pink Cream needs a year for this.
David: … without arrangement.
About Unisonic again. Who are composers of the songs?
Dennis: We will!
(Everyone laughed)
Dennis: Actually, we have at the moment two songs coming from outside. I like them, they are very attractive. I can't tell who wrote them but it's interesting stuff. We have no problems to play other people's songs.
Yes, second Place Vendome is very good!
Dennis: It's everybody says that it's a very good album.
Does Michael Kiske write songs for Unisonic?
Dennis: Kiske… He writes too. I think he will doesn't write much for this album because he is busy with other things at this moment. It's difficult time for him as a composer. But anyway, no rules, no plans: you write this, you write this.
Does Alfred or Uwe will take part in Unisonic as guitarplayer or composer?
Dennis: A guitarplayer of Unisonic is Mandy Meyer.
But second?
Dennis: No second.
In live shows too?
Dennis: No.
In that moment Nicolas came and called David with him. I said goodbye to David and continue the interview with Dennis.
Dennis: One guitar player. Not more, it's basically thing. We like an idea have it… simple. It's easier for travel. 5 people are more difficult than 4. One more - we don't really need it. I go keep it in four pieces and simple, it's really important for us. We don't need to be louder; it's a rock album, not a metal album. So, one guitar player.
PC69 "Past & Present" DVD is great. Thank you for this gift for fans!
Dennis: Thank you.
About "Keep Your Eye On The Twisted" video. Why there is the unpublished version on DVD?
Dennis: Well… I don't know! Ha-ha! We had a material, it's old, and we wanted to show to fans what we had years ago. We really want to be sure that there is much interesting material on DVD "Past & Present". I think it's everything that is interesting from our 20 years.
Yes, of course! We made a tribute site of Pink Cream 69, now it's translated into English.
Dennis: Great! But I don't often sit in internet. I opened so many interesting in internet, I think it's nice to look in Google and to learn so much information, it's great, but I can't sit! Anyway, every day on computer click-click-click, so: finish - no computer.
It's good, but I am sitting at the computer all night long.
Dennis: All night? Oh, it's make me crazy!
It's crazy and much hit to the eyes.
Dennis: Oh, yeah, understand.
We want to get the official status, "official fan-site of PC69".
Dennis: Great stuff! Cheers! Of course!
We need your permission…
Dennis: So it's great, what you do, and we make songs and an album. I sure an album will be. I guess, if things go well, we finish write songs in August and we go to start recording. Usually we are writing songs and record them in the same time. The basic material of a song is rhythm; it's just needs drums, after vocal, and after arrangement. So wait!
Some personal question. We have many Japanese magazines in our site with the articles about PC69. One article is from Karlsruhe, and on photos there is a little boy with all of you. Is it Ron?
Dennis: Magazines? From '90s?
Yes, 1991, 1992, 1993…
Dennis: Oh, year… Yes, it's Ron.
Why did you decide to stay here?
Dennis: In Germany? Well, I finished a high school, my father worked in military and after high school I started making music. Played in clubs with cover band Tusk, it was good time, so I stayed, and shortly after that I join to PC69 and so I stayed.
Didn't you ever think that it was bad decision?
Dennis: It's hard to say. Never know what could happened if I make something else. It could be better, could be worse. I don't know! Hard to say. I can't imagine my life without my little daughters, for example. Maybe my life could be easier, maybe could be harder - I don't know.
About "Games People Play" album. The producers were Dirk Steffens and PC69. Is it you or all band?
Dennis: All band. It was really first try...
Nicolas came and said: "Last question, ok?"
Dennis (continue): First try. Really democratic. Really everybody had a job. And it worked so well and we decided to make a next record alone. Ha-ha... For some point its not happened. But it was important for us in those days that people knew that we can do it. I don't know why but it was important. Dirk Steffens did all producing but after the second record we understood that we can do it. He got producer's credits, we wanted get it too! Probably it was a main reason.
Thank you.
After I asked autograph for me and the webmaster of our site Dennis was very impressed with my notebook - the gift of friend with logo of PC69: "It's very nice, very nice!". When Dennis signed he commented: "Dennis Ward and the logo".
In the end of interview Dennis got a gift for him and all band from Ukraine - Ukrainian flag which traveled with me from my hometown. I covered Dennis' shoulders with this flag.
Dennis: Oh, Cheers! Thank you very much! From Ukraine… I put it in a practice room. I promise I take it in a practice room. I don't loose it; I put it on my guitar!
And Dennis tied Ukrainian flag around his guitar.
Thank you!
Dennis: You are welcome and it's really nice that you came so far and saw the show. It's nice!
I will come again…
Dennis: When we'll play!
Yeah, if you'll play!

Author: Tanya 'ivanna' Valchishena