Interview with Herman “Ze German” Rarebell,
Former Drummer of The Scorpions
Interviewer and local musician Keith Kettmann met up with the legendary Herman Rarebell, former drummer of the band The Scorpions, to discuss Herman’s new CD and audiobook during his visit to St Louis.
Herman ‘Ze German’ Rarebell was with The Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on eight popular studio albums. He wrote the lyrics for their classic songs ‘Make It Real,’ ‘Dynamite,’ ‘Blackout,’ ‘Arizona,’ ‘Bad Boys Running Wild,’ ‘Don’t Stop At the Top,’ ”Tease Me Please Me,’ and ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane,’ among countless others.
Here’s what Keith had to say about their meeting:
I was initially excited to interview Herman because he was in the Scorpions, but we also share a small bit of background history. We are both from Germany. While Herman grew up there and (presumably) still lives there, I came to America when I was 2 and haven’t been back since. I learned the language a bit, but I can only communicate in English. If I were to speak German to a real German, they’d think that I was a tongue-tied 5 year old.
When I met Herman, I first greeted him with “Guten tag! Wie Geht’s?” (Hello! What’s up?) He then proceeded to ask me, in German, if I speak German. My reply was “klein bit”, which means “a little bit.” He then asked if I’d learned German in school or from my parents. By this time my vocabulary stopped being “impressive” and I had to respond in English that my accent is horrible and he probably wouldn’t be able to understand me.
We sat around and gabbed about the “homeland” for a bit before deciding to proceed with the interview and discuss his new audiobook, My Life as a Scorpion, and the release of his new CD as Herman Ze German, Take It As It Comes.
Herman Rarebell of The Scorpions. Photo Credit: ©Angie Knost
Keith: Where did the concept for your audiobook, My Life As A Scorpion, come from?
Herman: I’ve wanted to do an audiobook for a long time because I feel that people spend a lot of time in the car, driving to work and from work.
I said to myself, “Make it entertaining.” So I worked with a voice imitator on the album and I also worked with my old friend Pete York from the Spencer Davis Group, and he was the interviewer. He played Chris Welch. Chris Welch was one of the most famous interviewers from back in the 70’s and 80’s in the Melody Maker magazine. [During the album] we have interrupts from Arnold Schwarzenegger, as you know, and you have the feeling of being in South Bavaria, in one of those pubs, where you drink a beer and eat sausage and sauerkraut, in the homeland, so to speak.
So this was the atmosphere that I wanted to put on the audiobook, and I wanted to talk about my life as a Scorpion; but I’m also a scorpion, as you can see from the zodiac, I was born on the 18th of November. So my life is not only the 20 years with the Scorpions. I had a life before and as you know, a life after. So ‘My Life As A Scorpion’ tells you the future, what I’m planning to do. It also takes you back to before I joined the Scorpions. Plus you get all of the inside info on The Scorpions.
"My Life As A Scorpion" by Herman Rarebell
Keith: The audiobook is very entertaining. You also have a solo album out, too, entitled Take It As It Comes. Can you describe the music-making process on the record?
Herman: Well, on this album, I was also the producer. For the first time, I could really choose all of the good songs and make sure there’s no album fillers on there and I chose only a dozen songs. And also at the same time I could chose the best musicians for the songs, so I worked with about 10-12 musicians on the album. I only sang 3 songs on the album, Take It As It Comes, Heya Heya, and a new version of Rock You Like A Hurricane. Kind of a speaking version, “Rammstein Version.”
Keith: I was going to ask you if you liked Rammstein.
Herman: I think they’re a great band.
Keith: As far as pre-production goes, how did that work out with the dozen musicians playing on the record?
Herman: Well, those songs go for over a period of 18 months to 2 years where I’ve chosen this song and that song. We went to this place in Munich, and you get this song that maybe you liked in the beginning, and after 2-3 months you think, “That’s not good enough.”
Those 12 songs all, for me, have hit potential. It was very important to not have album filler on the new record. I wanted to make sure that every song sticks in your head.
CD, Take It As It Comes
Keith: What advice do you have for people that want to form their own bands?
Herman: Believe in yourself and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!
Keith: Do you have any advice on recording contracts?
Herman: Make sure that you know that the record company pays you something (laughs). You have to get a lawyer to look into your contract that way you can make sure that you’re not going to be ripped off. It’s a little investment in the lawyer which can pay off big time in the end.
Keith: What is your equipment setup?
Herman: My favorite drum kit is my Vistalite (Ludwig) which has a 26″ Kick drum, 14″ rack tom, 16″ & 18″ floor toms.
Keith: John Bonham?
Herman: Yes, exactly. Then I have another drum kit from DW (Drum Workshop) which has a 24″ Bass Drum, and the variability of a 13″ rack tom or a 14″ rack tom, depending on how loud I want to be that night and also 16″ and 18″ floor toms. Then I also have another drum kit which is a Yamaha with 2 bass drums, both 26″ (tall) and 18″ deep, 1 rack tom 15″ the next 16″, 18″ and 20″ floor toms. It’s huge, that kit.
Keith: What cymbals do you use?
Herman: Paiste. I’ve been very faithful to Paiste since 1979. I’ve been endorsed by them since then, and they’ve been very good to me. Right now I use the 2002 series. I use a 22″ ride, 20″ crash, 18″ crash, 17″ crash, 20″ China and 15″ hi-hats.
Keith: How did you get the endorsement from Paiste?
Herman: I remember it was after a Scorpions concert in 1979, and my roadie at the time and I went to the factory to get the cymbals. I remember we were walking through going “Get me this one, this one, this one.” We left with almost 100 cymbals. We tried them all, and I was really impressed with what they have there.
Keith: Do you have a drum endorsement?
Herman: At the moment, I endorse DW. But I also have an offer from ddrum because I played a gig with Elliott Rubinson, and a gig with Michael Schenker. At that time we were talking about a tour, and it would make sense for me to make the switch. I like them very much. A very killer sound, but at the moment, I’m still with DW. I see no reason to leave.
Keith: Being a drummer, do you play any other instruments?
Herman: Yes, I do. I actually play the piano. I do a lot of compositions on the piano, but sometimes a composition starts with a drumbeat. I hear something on piano, and then in the end, the words come. But sometimes, it could be the other way around, where the words come first.
Keith: This next question is an odd one. Can you name 5 bands that you’d love to be the drummer for?
Herman: Ja, I wish one day that I could play with Led Zeppelin, my favorite band of all time. I wish I could play a few songs with The Who, when John Entwistle was alive. I wish I could have played ‘Fire’ with Jimi Hendrix. I wish I could have played with Cream, for example ‘Crossroads’ or ‘White Room.’
Keith: And finally, top 5 bands that you’d love to tour with?
Herman: Right now, I wish Led Zeppelin would reform and I could be the opening act. Also Aerosmith is a great band to go out with. AC/DC. Ted Nugent was the first tour that we did. And The Scorpions. The Scorpions are now retiring, so I can’t mention them, so who should be #5? The Rolling Stones! Of course!
Find out more about Herman and sample tracks with these links:
Find Herman Ze German’s CD Take It As It Comes with these links:
