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Counter culture from the underground
By Billy Schear
wschear@mscd.edu

Billy Schear: In what ways besides the changing band line-up has KMFDM evolved since its creation?

Sascha Konietzko: Band members changing has always been a signature of ours, and a lot has changed in terms of how we’ve forged our well oiled machine. The spirit though, hasn’t changed at all which has always been the creation of music without any conventions or tradition, without any regard to hurt feelings.

B: What is the protocol for deciding which songs are to be done in English or German?

S: It isn’t so much a question of protocol as it is: songs develop in the studio and the lyrical content often dictates itself and decides on it’s own whether it is to be sung in English German or even French. Sometimes the decision is made for practical reasons for example "A Drug Against War"couldn’t be said as directly in German, the translation would take up the whole page.

B: How is the decision as to who is to provide the vocals on each track made?

S: It is done in a very modular way. I will come up with a bass line then pass it to Andy, and he passes it to Jules, Steve or Lucia and every one decides what they can contribute. Generally speaking a lot of consulting and checking the thermometer so to speak. We convene regularly and discuss what each member feels they should be working on.

B: Have you perceived any resentment on the part of German fans for having left your country of origin?

S: Not really, we have been going back there every year so that seems to appease the resentment in the meantime. I will say though that the number in our fan base is a hundred times greater here in America then in Europe. America is definitely our home and our base.

B: Do you ever compare yourself favorably or not with other artists, if so to what end?

S: I don’t really do that. There is no need to compare myself with anyone, if so what would be the criteria? Who sells more records? Who looks better on stage? That’s ridiculous I believe that every creative outlet should be purely individualistic.

B: Drugs in various forms are often brought up in connection with many of your contemporaries in the genre. Do drugs have any influence on the creation of your music past or present?

S: No they don’t. When I saw potential for success, (well, I don’t know if I really want to call it success) for something like success I dropped the drug habits and became clean. On the other hand I don’t condemn the occasional using of recreational drugs, exploring their effects for fun is much different than them having a say in your work. I believe that drug habits are diametrically opposed to productivity it’s either one extreme or another and I’m definitely prefer productivity.

B: What is it about your music that has me wanting to rip the system and commit acts of sabotage?

S: I don’t think it’s about inciting sabotage or instigating riots, it’s more of a frame of mind. As I mentioned before I grew up as a part of a post war generation that lived in a state of limited peace. The entire western world is completely spoon-fed from birth everything from religion to political ideology is instilled within the human mind. We’re told when to go to school, when to grow up, when to go to work, and when to die. Society has put you to sleep and KMFDM exists solely to wake up that individual inside.

B: Very well put.

S: Actually, yeah that is. I think so too, I like that.

B: Has the mentioning of KMFDM in association with the incident at Columbine High School had any lasting affects on your music or its sales?

S: Two things come to mind when people hear about KMFDM, "Kill Mother Fucking Depeche Mode" and Columbine, those are the biggest tags attached to our name. And to be honest it has probably hurt us in terms of sales and possibly certain record stores not carrying our stuff. Much of it has blown over though. That was probably the most frightening moment in the history of our band.

B: Do you condone violence of any kind?

S: Not at all, I am probably the most non-violent person you will meet. I believe firmly in diplomacy and its use in resolving all conflicts be they personal or political.

B: Do you identify with any specific political party?

S: No I don’t. I think they’re all shit. Democrats are not democratic, Republicans are too cowardly there are only two parties that hold any sway over the policy making in this country, this system is not made to give minorities a voice and that is an utter shame.

B: I have noticed numerous references in your music, in interviews and in the form of logos on your T-shirts and album jackets to the Baader-Meinhof Group, are you a supporter?

S: Not a supporter so much, it’s more a part of my past having grown up in Germany in the 70’s when they were active it was impossible not to take notice. Their activities were an awakening not only for Germany, but also for the world. I had a feeling then that the actions they conducted were only the beginning that globally it would intensify. And behold here we are. Today is the fifth anniversary of 9-11 and every time you turn on the TV the one word that keeps resurfacing is terrorism.

B: Do you consider yourself a social activist, if so to what degree?

S: I’m not an activist, I’m an entertainer. I entertain people. I choose thought provoking and controversial material, but I have no intention or interest in getting my head bashed in while holding a picket sign there are much better ways of expressing yourself. Although, if you put social activism into a slightly broader scope, I do have daily conversations with people, with fans before and after shows just like you and I are having now, and if they walk away with something valuable something that might help them make a change in their life or in this world then I suppose you could call that activism.

B: Is there ever a fear even in the back of your mind that this person might take something else out of your message or dialogue and say, turn into another Columbine Killer?

S: Not in the least. Nothing I say serves as motivation to murder people. I have a habit of assuming that everyone I talk to and everyone I share my music with is intelligent and is capable of making decisions on his or her own. I am not prepared to deal with people who aren’t awake.

B: In reference to the sixth track on the Hau Ruck album, is everyday really a good day to die, and if so does that include Boxing Day?

S: I think if we’re prepared there isn’t much we’ll miss, for example when I bored a plane and strap myself in that seat, I’m powerless in a hurling piece of metal, but I sit there having known that I made love to my wife last night, and that I have no debts, nothing hanging over my head. It is the essence of existentialism

B: That’s a great thing to say, but a hard concept to practice. It must be nice to be in a place where you can sing the chorus: “Every day is a good day to die” and do so with genuine feeling.

S: It is hard to practice, but education is work and you must never stop educating yourself. You can not trust anyone else to do it for you.