Interview with Bernd Basmer of Superior, the hard-driving power metal band from Germany. Also known as Hades on #ytsejam, Bernd is a late nite (morning in Germany) channel member.

Q. Bernd, tell us about your band. How long has Superior been together? When did you join the band?
Bernd: Superior exists in the current line-up since 1992. That's when I joined the band. We count this for the beginning of Superior now because the band was already around since 1988. Before 1992 they did a completely different music with different people and what we do now has nothing to do with the music that was done before. Shortly after I had joined the band we made a demo that already reflects the musical changes that Superior would go through in the future. But don't ask... it's not available anymore. :) Then we played a lot in the south west of Germany until we decided in 1994 to record a CD. We took a full year for arrangement and production of this CD we called 'Behind'.

Q. What cd releases have you had? How can we get our hands on Behind?
Bernd: Since now there was only one CD... 'Behind'. We're currently preparing the next CD for release. There are several mail order companies who carry our first CD and you can find them all in the newsletters I write from time to time. All those newsletters can be read on our homepage at http://www.fine.de/superior.

Q. When is the new cd, 'Younique' due to be released?
Bernd: We plan to release it worldwide in late August. I can't tell you a concrete date at the moment.

Q. What can we expect to find on Younique? What makes it unique? (lousy pun, but hey...I try)
Bernd: Hehe, well, what you will find is easy to say. You will find music with a lot of emotions and power on this record. There is a definite link to our first CD but we went a step further and included some different music styles such as Latin, Funk or Jazz. We will also have some nice little not-so-usual things on our CD such as (in parts) female background singers and some more surprises. Also there was Andre Matos of Angra singing background vocals. As we are good friends of Angra since the tour we did with them in 1996 it was just natural for us to have Andre on the album as a guest. And he fit perfectly to the song and to Michael's voice.

Q. What would you site as major musical influences for the band?
Bernd: Oh, there are a lot and they are quite different for each member. What we enjoy is for example music of Clawfinger, Red Hot Chillipeppers, Dream Theater, Faith No More (too sad they broke up!!), Sting, Jazz, Latin and Funk music, and our big influence: Film music. We like very much the suspense you can create with music. Like sitting in cinema, watching a thrilling movie and the music really makes you feel what you see. That's what we want to do also. The lyrics can be compared to the pictures, the music does the feeling.

Q. On a more personal note, how long have you been on the #ytsejam and the mailing list?
Bernd: I've been on the mailing list since 1994 and I was first on #ytsejam in 1996 or 97. I'm not sure about that...

Q. When are you coming to America to perform? Do you have any European shows scheduled in the near future?
Bernd: Well, to come to America to play some gigs would be really one of our biggest dreams. But since now there is nothing planned like this. To go there is very expensive for a band because all the instruments and equipment has to be there also. I think this depends very much on album sales. So if we sell some copies over there, our record company will send us there for sure. There is a European tour planned in Autumn/Winter but since now I can't tell you any details about it. We're working on it. :)

Q. What direction would you like to see Superior go toward?
Bernd: In our band it doesn't matter what one member wishes. The whole band decides the direction and it is always a natural development where we go to. You will hear on Younique that there are many influences packed together in our typical kind of sound. But we didn't do that because we said "Ok, now we will do more Jazz and Funk" or so. It was a natural development of the band. Of course we didn't do a Jazz album now. The sound of Younique is very heavy with huge guitars so there is of course the hard factor in our music and I think that is something that will stay in the future.

Q. I understand you met Mike Portnoy recently. Tell me about that.
Bernd: Yeah! It was quite a cool day! :) We (our singer and me) were in France doing a special gig with the guys of Angra some weeks ago. They did a kind of covers show and invited us to be their guests. But one day earlier they played at a festival in Bourges (France) where also Dream Theater and Vanden Plas were performing. As we were guests there also (but only to watch the concert, not to play) we got backstage cards so I had the chance to be with the guys of Angra and Dream Theater in one room! :) I talked to Mike and asked him what he thought about our album 'Behind' that was given to him by a good friend of mine (Thanks Paul!! :) and he told me that he liked it and that he had listened to it several times. I was quite surprised that he even knew my name! :) He is really a cool guy. :)

Q. Is it true that there is a statue of a walrus falling away in your bedroom?
Bernd: Harharhar!!!! :) I am working at it but there is somebody else who doesn't think that it is THAT inspiring... :)

(Note: The band has plans to make autographed copies of the new release, Younique, available at a very reasonable price through pre-paid mail order. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, send email to Bernd at basmer@med-rz.uni-sb.de or email me at ytsepam@earthlink.net.)

~Pam Doise