2018 saw Christmas release their third album ‘Scum As You Are’ to a huge nod of approval from RPM HQ so with a bunch of UK tour dates announced we thought it was only fair to get hold of frontman Max and ask him a few choice questions about the past present and future for Christmas. Take it away Max…
firstly for those who don’t know to introduce yourself? Let the readers know a little about the band?
We started Christmas in 2010. We planned to found a glam-rock band. It didn’t end up as one (maybe luckily?!). Glam rockers are good musicians, we just have been looking good with our instruments. Also, my hair stopped to grow on my head and started growing on my belly. After a few years of searching for our sound, we released ‘APPETITE FOR SELF-DESTRUCTION’. It’s the perfect record for me!
We started Christmas in 2010. We planned to found a glam-rock band. It didn’t end up as one (maybe luckily?!). Glam rockers are good musicians, we just have been looking good with our instruments. Also, my hair stopped to grow on my head and started growing on my belly. After a few years of searching for our sound, we released ‘APPETITE FOR SELF-DESTRUCTION’. It’s the perfect record for me!
Looking back to the first and second albums, those titles, did they cause the band any problems (we all know how touchy some Rock stars can be over what they perceive they own) or did people have a laugh at the titles? Tell us how you look at the recordings you’ve made to this point?Well, like I said, ‘APPETITE FOR SELF-DESTRUCTION’ is the perfect record for me. Written in about three months we caught a wild mix of Turbonegro’s ‘ASS COBRA’ and Poison Idea’s ‘FEEL THE DARKNESS’. The artwork was made by a good friend of mine from Mexico who also worked for other huge bands and the producer is from the Mod scene in the UK and moved to Germany about fifteen years ago. He totally got into it and was a brilliant addition when we produced the record.
As for ‘LOSE YOUR ILLUSION’ we worked way longer on the songs. The production process was not that perfect like the first time we went to JPs studio and I think he had different things on his mind. He did a good job in mixing and mastering, but he didn’t get the connection that much on that one. I can hear it from my side I think. The artwork was made by another good friend who also did our logo and the first EP’s artwork. You see, I know many people that are a genius in doing artworks!
‘SCUM AS YOU ARE’ is the perfect example for a DIY record! Even if the beginning of the songwriting took ages because we had band members come and go, in the end, we wrote the songs very quickly. Alex, our drummer at that time, has built himself a small studio in his basement and recorded everything himself. He also mixed and mastered it and did a really good job. My girlfriend, Annika, took care of the artwork this time. With her together we screen printed all the covers ourselves. Now we do all our merch ourself as well. Pretty much a lot of hard work, but definitely worth it!You’ve announced a bunch of tour dates already for 2019 what other plans have you got lined up? Any more recording or is the plan to tour ‘Scum As You Are’ for 2019?
We are a multi-tasking band! We will record our next album in the first half of 2019. In fall we will have a huge tour in southern Europe on the schedule, that one is not announced yet, so we tour as well.
We are a multi-tasking band! We will record our next album in the first half of 2019. In fall we will have a huge tour in southern Europe on the schedule, that one is not announced yet, so we tour as well.
Did you do anything differently for this third album? The total package was great and a lot of attention to detail was put into the whole thing how important is it to bring your music out on vinyl as well as CD? Does it enable you to tour or is it the other way around does the touring enable you to make records?
Music is made to be heard! For each and everyone, no matter if vinyl addict, CD listener or music streamer. Our vinyl album contains everything, vinyl, CD and download code. Packed in a screen printed sleeve and with a huge booklet! We wanted to deliver quality!
Music is made to be heard! For each and everyone, no matter if vinyl addict, CD listener or music streamer. Our vinyl album contains everything, vinyl, CD and download code. Packed in a screen printed sleeve and with a huge booklet! We wanted to deliver quality!
Touring and releasing record goes hand in hand. You go on tour to pay the studio, then you release music and want people to hear it, so you tour again. Then you got money again and hey, why not go and record some new songs?
What about the future? singles? A new record. any plans? or videos maybe?
Absolutely! We did three 7″ singles next to the album last year. One of them was a split with my childhood idols THE TURBO A.C.’s. Now we are working on a split single with SKINNY MILLIONAIRE, the other band of the guitar player from the TURBO A.C.’s. Probably there will be another one before the album as well.
Absolutely! We did three 7″ singles next to the album last year. One of them was a split with my childhood idols THE TURBO A.C.’s. Now we are working on a split single with SKINNY MILLIONAIRE, the other band of the guitar player from the TURBO A.C.’s. Probably there will be another one before the album as well.
Your playing with Trigger Mcpoopshute again when you come to Wales and you also have the excellent Pizza-tramp with you for a few shows on the continent is it important who you take out with you on tours?
Punk rock means friendship. Our first show in the UK was with those grumpy old men from TRIGGER MCPOOPSHUTE. We straight felt in love, they are kinda punk rock daddys for us! Last year they came to Germany for some shows with us. I want them back next year! With PIZZA-TRAMP. it is just by chance that we play together. In the past we played some shows here and there together, it never was planned. Pretty cool dudes though and they are wild!
That European tour last year looked great fun when you do it with bands who value what they do like those guys its lifelong memories and it has to be a good time doing it as well.It’s always important to be on eye level with people. Never look down on someone else, you don’t want them to look down at you, right? Respectful and fair handling makes a tour a really cool time for everyone. Unfortunately, in the past, we also toured with bands that looked down on us. Each night they made a drama of everything. Horrible!
Any future plans or news you want to announce? The floor is yours. Just leaves me to say Good luck with the tour and hopefully, we can catch you when you arrive in the UK…
There is nothing with a deadline yet. But thank you for being there for us!!
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