Interview with Volker ‘Freddy’ Fredrich (Vocals/Guitar) from NECRONOMICON and Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
Freddy: We are a mixture of thrash metal, punk and power metal. This has developed in the last years. Everyone who knows us, knows that we originally come from the punk scene, but we have always been metal heads, so the step to thrash metal was actually logical, especially bands like Slayer and Metallica have animated us in the 80s to this step worth.
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
Freddy: I personally have been making music since I was 7 years old. At first classical guitar and piano. I am a total Kiss fan and the album “Destroyer” was for me the starting signal in the rock music. Then came the punk scene and I founded with Axel and Lala (all founding members of NECRONOMICON) our first band called ” Total Rejection “. After that we took Jogi on board and NECRONOMICON was born.
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
Freddy: Bands like Exploited, Discharge and GBH were major influences when we formed our punk band. This was also reflected in the lyrics, which were very socially critical. That’s what we adopted over the years with NECRONOMCION. There are so many issues in the world that we should be concerned with, whether it’s war, poverty, social injustice or environmental & climate change. I think that often comes a bit too short. I’m not so much into demons and warrior stories. I can watch that in the movies, but I don’t necessarily need that in the lyrics of a rock band. Although we were initially also on the road in this theme. But that was more for cliché reasons. Today I would not do that anymore.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
Freddy: Of course, every artist also wants recognition for his creativ and his daily work. That goes without saying. For me, it’s the nicest compliment when the fans react positively to a new album or the new songs, and we then also feel this at the concerts. When the fans sing along to your songs and they just give you a good feeling after the concert. Then i know i’ve done something good. That’s my inspiration.
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
Freddy: That is not so easy to answer.
It fills me with pride that after more than 35 years I can still make this music that I love so much. We have experienced so much, and it is not a matter of course that one is still active after this time. I hope it will stay like this for a long time and NECRONOMICON will continue to find its place in rock music in the future.
THIS IS MY GOAL
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms
in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
Freddy: Sure, times are changing. we also recorded the new record mainly at the band’s own headquarters. we decided to take this step years ago and bought all the necessary equipment.
But: we always had our producer and mixer ( Achim Köhler ) with us, who produced us strictly according to his ideas and specifications. The only difference is that you don’t have to rent a studio anymore and therefore you have more time for a new production. What I don’t like are these “artists” who produce music from the computer and can record almost nothing themselves. I am too “old school” to find that good. Also, you should allow a production “humanity” and not produce everything so perfect. We are all people and not machines. This development is unfortunately very dominant at the moment. Unfortunately.
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
Freddy: We have a booking and promotion agency that we have been working with for years. This works very well, but of course we are always looking for good partners and booking agencies worldwide.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
Freddy: This is the change of time. Who still buys CD`s today…? We as artists must come to terms with it even if it is hard and MUST use the new possibilities and accept. With it we earn finally a part of our money from which we live. That’s why I think it’s great that the good old vinyl record is so popular again.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
Freddy: Huuuu; very difficult. But for me the album “Rain in Blood” is one of the best Thrash Metal albums ever. Every song is a killer. I envy Slayer for this work.
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
Freddy: The music business is tough. It’s not easy to make a living from music as an artist, sales (CD) have been declining for years, only the download industry is an important part to secure your sales.
Also touring is not so lucrative anymore. Many promoters go only “door deals” and do not give a damn about promotion and marketing for your club. Here, too, the festivals are certainly still a very important point in the live business.
But it makes no sense to complain. Somehow you have to go through it; as an artist who is not exactly a world star, you have to go through it. It is what it is.
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
Freddy: I am planning a punk project with many different musicians from the metal and rock scene. I hope I can realize this.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
Freddy: Our new homepage goes online on release 28.04.2023.
There is also our store integrated and of course all the important links like our Youtube channel, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and so on.
That should be easy then.I thank you for the interview and say as always at this point also many thanks to our fans for all the years of support and attention.
Thanks
Freddy
NECRONOMICON links:
Band/Artist location – Germany
Website – Facebook – You Tube – Soundcloud – Merch – Reverbnation –
Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer – Last Fm –
