The Scorpions... and I

Pic by: Clinton Cardozo

As a very very recent rock fan, say about two years old since I started listening to rock, thanks to a rock-devoted bar in Delhi called Turquoise Cottage, where I was a regular at, I realised meeting and speaking with the men who sang Winds of Change was quite a rush.

Ok screw the politically correct English language and the way to write decently. Man!!!! It was fuckin awesome - the Scorpions just about ten feet away from me, looking at me and smiling, answering my questions.

Ok first of all (I have to say this), I don't know if I should blame them for not knowing anything about the scorpions, but journalists here are such bloody big duds man.

The Scorpions - all the five men - they're right in front of you, and NO ONE asks them any questions. Just standing there jaded, staring blankly at the 'loud' looking men.

To start off how it went, I was pretty much guessing the Scorpions are gonna feel they've arrived in a backward jungle of sorts the minute they reach the airport.

Klaus Meine, the vocalist, actually thought they were brought out of the airport through a back door coz hell it was so different than what they've experience before. No fans shouting out, no shutterbugs, no cameramen, no journalists. No one even recognised them.

Then when they entered the Doha Intercontinental Hotel, everyone was just staring at them... blankly. In fact, Mat Jabs (lead guitar) who led the way into the area demarcated for the press, came in staring back at the blank faces and said, "Ok... Hello."

Still... no response. Just blank stares.

I thought it must have been so weird for them. Imagine them in Russia or Germany or anywhere else in the world - they enter anywhere, and people start screaming and whistling and clapping.

Here, it was a little quiet... eerrily quiet.

As far as I was concerned, it was just me and the Scorpions. And a few other spectators switching their faces from me to the Scorpions and back.

There was a time when the camera man of a TV news channel had the camera facing towards me more than the Scorpions. I was like... errr... whatever works for you dude!

So, this is how it went.

Karnig Sarkissian, event organiser: Who can introduce the Scorpions but themselves. The Scorpions, the legendary rock band. Mr. Klaus Meine , Rudolf Schenker, Mathias Jabs , James Kottack and Pawel Maciwoda. So... if you have any questions... please.

Silence for a few seconds. I just knew then its gonna be me and only me.

Me: It must have been a rather quiet entry in Qatar, right?

Klaus Meine: Uh... it was very quiet. Yeah... we came through the backdoor entrance... I guess.

Me: No, no, that was the front door.

Meine: [Smiles] We're very happy to be here... first time in Qatar. Very excited about this Peace For All Tour. Well, we just arrived. Straight from the airport.

Me: Were you surprised? No fans shouting out...

Meine: Aaah... you know. It was very quiet, but I'm sure tomorrow (today) night will be different. And, even the stewardess on the airplane - Qatar Airways - they said, show is sold out (only 2000 tickets sold till now) and everybody on the plane was excited. So umm... we're looking forward to tomorrow night's show. We play the acoustica. We have lot of guests with us... lot of guest musicians... from all over the place, so many countries. They're joining us tomorrow for the show. And... yeah, we're ready to rock.

Me: It's an honour [Salutes]. You... answering my questions. Thank you.

Meine: You're welcome.

Suzanne Grant, event director: Anybody else? Any questions?

Silence... all around. Scorpions, staring. Press, staring back

Me: [Thinking, what!!!! No questions? Ask you fuckers]

And, a journalist (unknown) finally asks [I wished he hadn't]: Can you tell us what number you'll be starting the concert with?

Meine: [Looks at Karnig] What time does the concert start?

Suzanne Grant: The number.

Karnig: 9 o' clock...

Unknown journalist: Err... the number... the song. Is it a secret or...

Meine: Aah how many songs?

Unknown journalist: What are you gonna open with?

Meine: Aaaa... I think we open with a song... Lovely Sunday Morning. And we'll play songs from the acoustica show, including a couple o' songs we recorded especially for the Acoustica album, couple o' years ago. It's very special Scorpions meet of music, and of course, we play all the classics, all the big hits. And there will be, of course many, ballads in the show, but it's also a show that has a lot of energy, and lot of songs where we really... want to rock, you know... we really...

Me: When you're performing, does the size of the audience ever matter to you?

Meine: Size of the audience... You know, first of all, in this kind of show...uhh... for us it's important that we have a great night together with the audience. And that the people join us and sing along with the songs, and they walk out of the show saying, it was magic.

Me: It doesn't matter how many people...(?)

Meine: No, it doesn't matter. We played in front of... I mean... 350,000 people in Rio, or even 800,000 people... Uhhh you know so it doesn't matter you know. We just came back from a tour in South America, where we played big shows in Mexico and Brazil, and there were like audience of between 25-30,000 fans. So... but... even if it's small, smaller audience, you know, it can be very very special. So, we don't care. Every show we give a great show...

Me: But probably Qatar will be the smallest number of audience you have ever...

Meine: The smallest [looks surprised]?

[Everyone around starts laughing]

Me: Probably only 8-10,000 you know.

Meine: I think in the very beginning when we played small clubs, and we played shows in south of France, and we were about to play at midnight, and there were like, maybe 20 people sitting at the bar saying, 'Come on people let's start the show' you know.

Me: But that was back then right [In a matter of fact way]?

Meine: But yeah... it, it changed.

Unknown journalist: Uh Rudolph, it's been 40 years since you started the band. How do you feel about it.

Rudolph Schenker: Good, feel great. It's a dream come true. So coming from germany... to really be a world-known band with a career like the Scorpions. It's fantastic to have a... not only have a career... but also still be there (for so long). I think that's the most important point because you think we're up very fast and to have your success, but then how to stay up... on top. And I think we're doing very well, and we enjoy what we're doing. We really feel the vibe of the band, and umm... we like to travel around the world, meet our fans around the world, and build bridges between cultures and thats what... a very important point... we came to Russia to build the bridge, to Russia, to really... go for peace. And... ya I think thats a very important point. Specially (because) we came from Germany, to make an announcement for peace. And Scorpions are playing for the word 'peace'.

Me: How did Russia happen in the first place? I mean, it was a really crazy thing to do in the mid-80s, right, playing in Russia? No one ever did that.

Schenker: That was the basic idea, because we always... we had in mind when the political situation changed in Russia and we had to play in Buda Pest then we met the promoter and we told him that... umm... we are very big in Russia, and it will be great to play there...

Meine: Because we want to build these bridges and we tried everything from our side... production wise... to really go to Russia and play in 1980s. And being the big production they are, which cost a lot of money, which we lost in the first place, but you know... for us (it) was more important that we're winning the people, and we give the people a great show. And in the end, we spent so much money, but we got so much love and so much from the audience side that the philospohy of the band Scporpions is not to think of money, we're doing it for our feelings and the fans to build bridges, and play for people who love music. And that's why I think the Scorpions (are) still playing music... because of this philosophy.

Me: But you still keep going there... Russia? Favourite place or something... [Don't think he got the question]

Meine: Yeah, we played a couple of months ago in Kazaan, which is in south Iran. We played a big show with a classical orchestra. And ummm... so once in a while we... it was the only show we did with an orchestra. Most of the times the Scorpions - the five of us - with James Kottack on drums, Pawel Maciwoda (on) bass... Aaaa... we just play shows, rock shows all over the world.

So, to go back to acoustica, it is very special for us, because we... we... again we all were saying you know how this is a very special and beautiful way to play our material... with different arrangements, and of course, come here in the Middle East and play songs like Under the Same Sun or Winds of Change, you know... very strong... strong vibe and a feeling... like Rudolph said to build bridges and to...

Me: But do you think a song like Winds...[Interrupted by Suzanne Grant]

Suzanne Grant: Alright, we have time for three more questions. So Rohit, if you can just let somebody else cut in. Before we go we have a couple of one on one's lined up. Anyone else? [Silence] Anybody else? [Silence] Three more questions. Are you gonna give it back to Rohit?

Karnig: I'll ask a question. Mr. Meine, is this Under the Same Sun... was it written for the Middle East? Was Middle East in your mind?

Meine: It's a song...aaaa... we wrote in the early 90s. There was a canadian song writer. It's a song about peace in the Middle East, it's about peace... for all over the world you know. And... so... for us... and music, it's very much connected with so many places with fans all over the world, different parts of the world. So the message of peace comes through in many Scorpions songs... (Under the Same Sun) it's such a beautiful song.

Me: Do you think now a song like Winds of Change can change the world. At this point of time...

Meine: A song cannot change the world you know... but umm...we as musicians and artists, we can send out positive energy. You know music... music is the language of love, music is the language of peace. You know... and in a world which... many parts of the world, where people are hoping for peace, for a more peaceful world, music can help to bring people together, make more standing and respect for each other, and to act for more peace in the world. This is what music is doing. And this is what artists can do... in their song-writing, in their performance.

Lezlie (from the organisers): Have you (got) any plans to record a new CD of this tour?

Meine: When we come back home from this tour, we'll go to the studio, we'll start writing new songs... there's a lot of material...

Me: I think what she means is a CD about this concert. Of this particular concert.

Meine: We'll see. We record every show, of course. But there are no plans yet to release an album of any of the shows.

Me: 30 years of travelling, of touring. Do you feel deprived of anything? "Life on wheels", like you said once. Do you miss anything? Is there anything you miss?

Meine: I think after all these years, it's a privilege that this band is still touring around the world. So many different part of the world. And it's very exciting to come (to) this part of the world... and... We know, because of the Internet, we know that we have many many fans in the Arab world. So, it's every exciting for us to come here. So, are we getting tired? [Shrugs] I mean, traveling sometimes is tiring, living out of your suitcase is tiring. You know, but it's very special when we're out there and we feel connected with our fans through the music. And it's our work. So, after all these years it's a privilege that we still can do it. And it's very exciting for us to come here and play.

Me: Your son is what... 20 now?

Meine: Yeah.

Me: Is he into music as well?

Meine: Aaa... he loves music. he's probably not turning out to be a musician or a singer, but of course he loves music.

Me: But you haven't spent much time with him, or your family, right?

Meine: I mean... we have our families... and we have the Scorpions family. You know... the family of spiders. And ummm... you know... to be a Scorpion, it is not a job you know. It's a passion, it's a life philosophy you know... and it's also about friendship. And we all spend so much time together travelling to play shows all over the world, and it only works when you have the right chemistry. And it feels like to be with your family. Fortunately our real families, they support us and they're with us for so many years, because they know we're musicians and our heart is with music and our fans all over the world

Suzanne Grant: I think we have to wrap it up now. Because the Scorpions are tired... (and all that jazz about we look forward to seeing you tomorrow night).

That was my first meeting with the Scorpions. I swear, when they went off and I sat down, I could feel the blood rushing down, the adreniline coming down.

"You were gunning, literally gunning for them," Clint said, while we drove back.

"Was I? Really?" was my reaction.

I had no idea. I was in a trance.

Man!

That was something.

Next time, when I'm tripping on one of their songs at Turquoise Cottage, I'll always look at the speaker, take a sip of my beer, and say, Yeah, yeah, the Scorpions. Done em.