IMPRINTIMPRINT 2

VOICE OF THE REAPER

VOLUME 1

appears as an independent member Magazine of the

GRAVE DIGGER Fanclan RHEINGOLD-SÜD on a non-commercial Base

Editorial Staff: Stefan Lorenzen and Peter Kauert

LAYOUT: Stefan Lorenzen

CONTACT: [email protected]

The fanzine appears for members free of charge as a PDF in a sporadic way

Editorial deadline for this issue: August 2017 3 EDITORIALITORIAL

II AMAM THETHE LAWBREAKER...LAWBREAKER...

Dear Grave Digger Fans,

Today you hold the first edition your heart are always welcome. Thanks and drank to: of our brand new magazine in Please contact us and write us +++ Rainer and his Team from your hands. And right now we put your concerns, questions, critic, Und Action! +++ Ralf Henseleit and in a lot of energy and got some tribute etc. to our mailadress his Team from distillery Ziegler things started. Our 4 guys invited +++ Jörg Schnebele – for the to the video shoot of beautiful Pictures +++ „Lawbreaker“ and the crowd [email protected] Chris, Axel, Jens, Stefan and followed numerous. Marcus for your support +++ The weather on March 5 at Siegen Christina – for your cool report was not the best, but everyone Everyone and everything is +++ who was involved, made it an welcome. You also help us for unforgettable day. Read the the success of our magazine. detailed „Experience Report“. HORNS UP We also have interviews with In this issue we start with the Peter + Stefan the Director Rainer ZIPP Fränzen translation of the lyrics into and the creators of the golden German. We will try to get some „holy water“ of our Teutons, the more information about every distillery Ziegler. They have translated Song from „Uncle created a flavor with „Mr. Reaper“ Chris himself. Ironfinger“ himself and explain how it all comes together. We hope you enjoy and feel free In the future, we will continue to to discover everything behind report on current topics and Grave Digger. everything else that happens in the atmosphere of the 4 „Diggers“ Of course, topics that are close to CONTENT 4

– IMPRESSUM ...... 2

- EDITORIAL …...... 3

– FANFORUM: Your opinions, suggestions, critic, tribute, others …...... 5

– LAWBREAKER: Report from „Lawbreaker“ Video shoot and an exclusive interview with Rainer ZIPP Fränzen …...... 6

– THE FOG OF AVALON: Lyrics of Digger-Hits translate into German. This time due to the issue the song: „LAWBREAKER“ …...... …...... 12

- SONS OF EVIL: 10 questions at: Ralf Henseleit from distillery Ziegler ….....…...... 13

– Healed by Metal: How I became a Grave Digger Fan …...... 15

- Stand up and Rock: How Axel became a vegan .…...... 16

– Tunes of War: WACKEN 2017 Report including an Interview with Stefan Arnold ...... 19

- PRAY: Amen – the final words and a look ahead....22 5 FANFORUM RHEINGOLD-SÜDRHEINGOLD-SÜD THE FOUNDING MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES

NAME: Peter Kauert NAME: Stefan Lorenzen BORN: 1970 BORN: 1979 RESIDENCE: Ludwigshafen RESIDENCE: Ettlingen MY TOP 5 GRAVE DIGGER SONGS: MY TOP 5 GRAVE DIGGER SONGS: 1 Heart of Darkness 1 William Walace (Braveheart) 2 Rebellion 2 Stormrider 3 The Round Table 3 Rebellion 4 Season of the Witch 4 Ballad of a Hangman 5 Healed by Metal 5 Laughing with the Dead

Mid-90s Heavy Metal were quite „out“. It was I have been a fan of Grave Digger since the mid-90s. considered relatively dusty to hear Bands of this On my way to a soccer game a coach of my team get genre. Even magazines cut „Metal“ off their title. a CD from Drakkar Label without known which The era of „Nu-Metal“ began. I also turned my „treasure“ he holds in his hands. The song we heard back on the music of my teenage years. It was time called „Scotland united“ and the album was „Tunes time to face the seriousness of life. Cut the hair and of war“. lief „Scotland united“ und das Album war get serious... What a crap! For some reason, I die „Tunes of War“. Know this Band really got me. bought a magazine with promo CD`s. One Song on My job is to design parts of the Layout and keep the this CD titled „Rebellion“. I directly get excited. I relationship between the Band and us alive. know the name of the Band, but didn´t hear any Of course, Peter and I are always in constant contact Song of them. The next day I walked into a shop and discuss new topics and planing the visiting of and bought the album „Tunes of war“. concerts. Even though i´m a big Fan of Grave Digger I visit 3 concerts of them so far. More to follow. for many years I only see them once live. But I will I would like to thank my Diggermaniac Stefan. catch up quickly. The Idea for the Fanclan and the fanzine came after My thanks goes out to everyone who was involved in the „Lawbreaker“ video shoot. His enthusiasm the creation of this magazine and of course to the attracts everyone and finally a big fat „Horns Up“ best real True-Metal Band of the world. at Grave Digger. YOU RULED!!! Also Peter for his unresting passion and my dear wife YOU ROCK!!! Claudia with my beautiful little daughter Lilly LOVED YOU!!! LAWBREAKER 6

Grave Digger called and 100 Said and done and know we are We also catch Axel and only Jens teutonic Metal disciples followed. waiting for what´s up next. we miss.... crap They invited to the „Vortex“ in Meanwhile, the recordings for the But there´ll be another chance to Siegen to shoot the video for the scenes with the bikes ran in the catch him later. Song „Lawbreaker“. A typical True courtyard of this „luxury hostel“. Now Rainer joined the crowd of Metal Song with a lot of pathos Sometimes single members of the Metalheads that increases more and also everything Metal stands band like Axel and Chris sneak into and more. He wanted to welcome for. But let´s start at the the Vortex. us, unfortunately the crowd were beginning. The waiting area filled more and too loud. After a two and a half hour drive, more with fans. Then there was a To emphasis his issue someone Peter and I arrived at Siegen. little chance to make some put up a table so Rainer can climb At a side street already were the on. So the already strong giant Club. From the disposal we knew get some little more attention. what to expect. The story could By the way Rainer is the director everyone see in the „Lawbreaker“ of the video and responsible for video. camera technology and catering. Next step was to find the entrance What he says would have been because the Location was a little done the fastest way everyone bit hidden from view. But one turn knows. around the corner and there was photos with the band and get That also applies to the present a pavilion and a person with autographs from them. Fans. He makes it clear the „Security“ on the back infront. OK The best part was, that after the quickest way. With professionalism here we´re right. We went down first photos with Chris which Peter and a lot of fun we are all rocking for a nice „Hello“. They checked and I met first, my mobile phone it. the „guestlist“ and after that we deny it´s service. So i got to bother Then Chris joined and thanked get entrance into the waiting area. Peter to take all the pictures for warmly that so much Fans will be Arrived at they send us to the me. He took over without any part of the Grave Digger History. „coordinating Supervisor“ to sign grumble. The next „victim“ was Thanks go back gladly, that we as agreements. Stefan. He also autographs any CD Fans can be a part of it at all. He Yes, even respectable citizens like and make photos with us. also wishes everybody a lot of fun. us must sign an agreement that I specially scoured my extensive The first scenes with the crowd we´ll be part of the videoclip. Grave Digger collection to pick should take place in the inside of Just the usual bureaucrats appropriate Albums which I´ll the club. They choose 5 Persons madness. Smile get signed with special pencils. that shows a tired and bored 7 LAWBREAKER crowd. All others had to stay Rainer will be the motto for the outside the building. If this scenes day. were made, the „mob“ takes place As the fans were partying, the Everybody should run into the Band plays the song again and building and made a lot of party. again. Especially Stefan has to do With headbanging and everything hard work the whole day long. that goes with it. „Take one“ and Like also all other Bandmembers. start. Legs under arms and try to Jens for example had to watch out save the best place where the for the sound insulation because camera can film me the most time. It hang from the room ceiling. When did it start again? Know? During the run into the building As the scenes were done we take OK! Lets see. the Song came from tape and the a little changing break. The entrace to the bar has to be Fans danced and sang warm. Later filming starts at the Bar. changed and many Metalheads When the tape stopped, the band There should be running a lot of are needed for the next scene. was celebrated again and again. Grave Digger Whiskey down the Peter and me aren´t choosen. That alone gives strong goose throats. Plus some erotic beauties Maybe we don´t look like „Metal“ bumps. INSANE!!! for that certain something. A few scenes with the members But as the director said, back to Of course, the Reaper wasn´t from the distillery Ziegler and the start and there we can get more missing. He obviously liked it to Reaper with the Ladies were taken. out of the crowd. Even Chris stand in the front line with the Even additing huge amount of stimulate us to give everything Ladies. Whiskey. for this shoot. A few more takes During the changing break we had It should be noted that this were taken and then the scene the chance to get closer with the Whiskey was pure full-bodied was done. Next are the scenes Band to talk with them and finally apple spritzer. between the fans and on top of we grab Jens to get the missing After that followed the „orgy“ that, one choosen Metalhead autographs. For some pictures it where pretty much everything should do a stagediving scene. was too dark in the room so we was offered what the Metal Fortunatly was not choosen the can´t take some. hearted crowd desires. 120 Kilos weight man who was Finally Peter get signed his Drunken Metalheads, lightly in the crowd. Smile.... Whiskeybottle and my CD´s from dressed Ladies that do some The claim „once Again“ from the whole Band. Tabledance. And a lot of Whiskey. LAWBREAKER 8

Of course everything only for the video. We don´t want any problems with the police. Smile..... Soon this wonderful and exciting day will end for us. We must drive back home a long way. When we left, the band had already say goodbye. They worked for this video since 8 o´clock in the morning. We the fans arrived at 1 pm. The final cut you can see in the video. In this sense

Metal up your ass Cheers Stefan

(C) Photos from Jörg Schnebele

9 LAWBREAKER Interview with Rainer ZIPP Fränzen

NAME: Rainer ZIPP Fränzen THOUGHTS TO GRAVE DIGGER: BORN: 1971 I should buy a CD of the guys long PROFESSION: Director and Fight time ago. Unfortunately, I´ve choreographer never heard their cool stuff until HOBBY: Production and Fight the cooperation. Which is a choreography sacrilege, that I will correct soon. FAMOUS BANDS: Alice Cooper, BEST GRAVE DIGGER SONG: King Diamond, Eden weint im Grab, With so many really good songs, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, I haven´t choosen one yet. Doro, The Dolmen But i´m working on it. FAMOUS MOVIES: Hellraiser, K-Pax BEST GRAVE DIGGER GIG: Tötet Smoochie The shoot for the „Lawbreaker“ FAMOUS BOOKS: Terry Pratchetts video. A Gig with only one song, „Scheibenwelt“, Jim Butchers but the mood was unbelievable. „Dresden Files“ Every Terror Idiot in the world LIFE SLOGAN: Fun is what you should learn from that. make of it!

Hello Rainer, how do you think How did the idea and planning for Gothic Label and since 2008 i´m about the shoot in Siegen today? this video come about? Who had working as a freelancer. In the The shooting was extremly cool. the basic idea? Past years i´ve done a lot of Something similar I would start bizarre things. Working in every again without concerns. Band, The basic idea came from Chris. film and video genre. Count out Location, Metalheads, Team - He will be contacted from the list will be too long for this everyone was in good mood and distillery Ziegler if the band would magazine. A recession can be worked together very well. All do a second video after „Healed seen at my homepage wanted to create a cool clip and by Metal“ but this time with the www.undaction.org done it successfully. delicious Aureum-Whiskey as A little shortcut: I´ve done 2 DVD´s „Mac Guffin“. for the band FAUN, one for CULTUS Would you start such a project Chris came to me with the idea FEROX, a musicvideo for DIMMU again? Or is it easier to work that the whole thing should be in BORGIR, 4 for ORDEN OGAN. without so much people at one a little „Metal Club“ where first I had the pleasure and honor to place? all are in bad mood but after a film in Tirol with BLACK MESSIAH, According to experience people while it all came up to a big for THE DOLMEN in South-England, from Metalscene are easier to fucking Metal-Party. Viking football for LEAVES´ EYES, handle for such projects. Why it With this requirements we build in stoneage for J.B.O. and so on is so? I can´t tell you. This may the skeletal structure and filled show a psychological analysis. it with life. The idea was so good What´s your plan in the future? Maybe because they are with that we doesn´t think about other Long term plans will always truely passion at work? possibilities. knocked over. Many things came Even because Metal is not only After that we start the unexpected and sudden. So lets Music, it is a lifestyle? Or even implementation. get surprised. I hope to filming Because Metalheads are truely with KING DIAMOND, ALICE hearted people in spite of the What have you done before the COOPER and/or DORO. Well, it will „child eater“ image? If they are work with Grave Digger? still be allowed to dream of...:-) Human.... I´m working at media area in 2000 At a look back I can say : in 2004 i was in a video „Anytime, Bubba!“ :-) department for a Middleage-/ LAWBREAKER 10

So how did you get started other 4 hours are from the video history. Wait! Ha. One thing shooting the new Grave Digger performance of the band. With happened. The girl with the blue videos? When did the and without the Metalheads. This hair has made a self-deprecating collaboration beginning? 4 hours are out of 45 forming quote about she clean this corner I was contacted by Napalm tracks and had to sorted out. We herself. Two takes later I thought in 2016. The boys and worked with 2 sometimes 3 ok lets jump on her quote and girls from Austria have seen some cameras. At the drumkit we only gave the (ironically meant!) of my produced Clips and were used 1 camera. If i´m correct the instruction to do what she can do of opinion that our style fit well guys played the song about 20 best continue cleaning her corner with the new Grave Digger video. Times on this day. herself. Clearly they´re right. And the The full broadside instantly came collaboration were so great that How long does the editing take? back: „Ok, but I need a new rag I hope to do many more things The editing was quite different. so come over here!“ with the guys. It´s cool and Because their were so many good I´m beaten. A full verbal-battle-KO rocking. Material from the peformance after points and taking my hat. AND the meta-level, but at the So, who hands out must take the One day for a whole music video same time the track has always consequences. And in this case I is a short period I think. Especially 4 minutes. Ergo some great shoots like to pay respect to the victress! when you see the result. Is it don´t find the way into the clip. Smile :-) always so easy and relaxed at a A classic proof for the golden rule Filmset? of video editing: „Cut your How does ist continue with Grave It´ll be nice if it always will be so Babies“. In other words, even if Digger and „Und Action!“? easy. Normally it´s better to film you like the individual sequence Since I´m not nostradamus I can´t on 2 days. One day for the you have to choose with a view predigt how things will continue perfomance and the other for the on the whole concept. That with the guys. Meta-level. often means to lose good scenes Another collaboration with them In this case, it has offered to film because they restrict the whole is probably possible when the the shoot at once. Because a) work. For „Lawbreaker“ the video right Project came up (we´re all the location were blocked on cut including Colour Correction full of crazy ideas) planed is Saturday and b) all sets were in took at least advantage for 6-8 nothing or I don´t can´t talk about direct neighborhood. working days. for 6-8 working it... The day was too long and of days.This can vary depending on course there were problems we the project. The most important You also do fight choreography. had to fight (but we won!), but thing is that the final Clip rocks. Maybe a nice middleage battle the team, Band and the So you sit down some extra hours with some Metalheads from the Metalheads have made it possible with pleasure. „Lawbreaker“ shoot? that the stress appears casual. A battle with the Metalheads from We have had more big problems Who knows the video maybe the „Lawbreaker“ shoot? Hmmm... on other sets, on which we clear wondering that no alcohol were that could be a „one-shot“. A them the same way, but the stress consumed at the shoot. Do you recording you only can do once. we couldn´t ignore so easy like remember a straight anecdote After that all the ambulance seems this time. At the end there gets that happened during the to be a little bit disturbing.... :-) nothing about a good team and shooting? But it´s a nice idea to do a brute also a good collaboration. Apart from that a biker strangled fight with 2 (formed) actors on a his motorcycle during the first Grave Digger concert to refreshing Your Team worked with 3 Cameras take (ok there you´ll be a big the show with some really „Heavy How many hours of filming rocker and then happend this:-)) Metal“ sounds attractive. I´ll throw Material you get at the end? and it don´t were Chris or Axel this at the guys in the room. On this day we almost get 6 hours that strangled the bike... of footage. 2 hours from the bar There was nothing which I´ve Do you have some finally words scenes, motorcycle sequence and noticed that finds the way into for our readers? the outro with the reaper. The the annals of the „und Action!“ We Metalheads are all barmy. We 11 LAWBREAKER are crazy and have one at the waffle. But we go the right way. A way that enrich the world in a positive way. And i would like to thank you for that. Thanks that you show me that Metal will never die. It´ll go on in our hearts until our own death. or a little bit longer...

PETER KAUERT

(C) Pictures from Jörg Schnebele, Sabine Popa and Rainer ZIPP Fränzen

THE FOG OF AVALON 12 LAWBREAKER GESETZESBRECHER

WE LOVE THE WAY WE LIVE WIR LIEBEN DEN WEG WIE WIR IHN LEBEN, WE ARE SO HOT. CAN`T GET ENOUGH WIR SIND SO HEISS. BEKOMMEN NICHT GENUG, WE HANG AROUND AND COOL DOWN WIR HÄNGEN AB UND KOMMEN RUNTER, WE RIDE OUR BIKES THROUGH YOUR TOWN WIR FAHREN UNSERE MOTORRÄDER DURCH DEINE STADT. HUNDRED POUNDS OF METAL STEAMING THROUGH THE SHATTERED NIGHT 100 KILO METALL, ROARING WHEELS CRY OUT FOR BATTLE DAMPFEN DURCH DIE ANGEBROCHENE NACHT, MAGIC STARS OUR GUARDIAN LIGHT DURCHDREHENDE RÄDER RUFEN NACH EINER SCHLACHT, LAWBREAKER MAGISCHE STERNE UNSER SCHÜTZENDES LICHT. I´M THE LAWBREAKER LAWBREAKER GESETZTESBRECHER ICH BIN DER GESETZESBRECHER DON´T LOOK BACK AND LIVE FAST GESETZESBRECHER NEVER LOOK BACK INTO THE PAST YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE SCHAUT NIE ZURÜCK UND LEBT SCHNELL, ONE DAY OUR NAME ARE CARVED IN STONE SCHAUT NIEMALS ZURÜCK IN DIE VERGANGEN- HEIT, HUNDRED POUNDS OF METAL DU WIRST NIEMALS ALLEINE GEHEN, STEAMING THROUGH THE SHATTERED NIGHT EINES TAGES WERDEN UNSERE NAMEN IN STEIN ROARING WHEELS CRY OUT FOR BATTLE GEMEISSELT SEIN. MAGIC STARS OUR GUARDIAN LIGHT 100 KILO METALL, LAWBREAKER DAMPFEN DURCH DIE ANGEBROCHENE NACHT, I´M THE LAWBREAKER DURCHDREHENDE RÄDER RUFEN NACH EINER LAWBREAKER SCHLACHT, MAGISCHE STERNE UNSER SCHÜTZENDES LICHT. LAWBREAKER I´M THE LAWBREAKER GESETZESBRECHER LAWBREAKER ICH BIN DER GESETZESBRECHER GESETZESBRECHER GESETZESBRECHER

GESETZESBRECHER ICH BIN DER GESETZESBRECHER GESETZESBRECHER

Album: HEALED BY METAL Release Date: 13.1.2017 Label: NAPALM RECORDS Highest Chartentry: Number 12 13 SONS OF EVIL 10 questions at: Ralf Henseleit (CEO distillerydistillery Ziegler)Ziegler)

To bring out a whiskey under the eighties with „Wildkirsch Nr.1“. flag of a Metalband is one thing. Products: Fruit brand and liqueurs, But in the video for Single Malt Whiskey „Aureum 1865“ „LAWBREAKER“ the noble drop since 2011, G=in³ since 2 years at flows in masses. If it had to be the market, Rum since 2 years in also down a boot directly into a barrels... ok, that was a little bit mouth of a Grave Digger Fan. longer for know.... That has nothing to do with the normal promotion for this Whiskey is on your list for a short product right? How did the video period. How was the idea to create shoot? a special Grave Digger Edition? The basic idea was how we could The idea came from Axel Ritt who Puh...this question is very complex get the Grave Digger edition closer called us in the sommer of 2014, if well.. the times that our Diggers to the metalheads and even more we can produce a Band-Whiskey. throws TV´s out of the window known. Luckily the above mentioned Max are definitly over. Otherwise we The most obvious thing was to takes the phonecall. Two visits had to say that our Whiskey was make a Grave Digger Clip together. from Axel at our distillery and the fault... The script from director Rainer the whiskey were choosen.l The Band are absolute ZIPP Fränken was awesome. That professionals with love and the he put these things together so How was Axel involved in the right attitude to the product (the emotional we don´t expect. development process? Music). Similar to our distillery. At this point thanks to all the We don´t want to paste only an I think that connects, because Metalheads that spend their other label over our existing otherwise is the good link to each Sunday holiday to do this clip. Aureum Whiskey. We want to do other hard to explain. Our products something special. After a feast with fruit brand and liqueur is That means sometimes a CD from with many Whiskey and other more classic. The Aureum „Grave Grave Digger were played in your Aureum samples with Axel, we Digger“ edition is METAL. and your colleagues CD-Player? create the „low peated“ Grave So i would say: Grave Digger : Specially our sales staff Max Digger Edition. distillery Ziegler = Rock meets Kirchner is a hugh metal and Grave By the way: The idea to insert classic... working very well! Digger Fan. He had the first 3 guitar corpus into Whiskey contact with Grave Digger. Me barrels, came from Axel. Will there be any other editions hearing every music which is fast We realize that in December 2016 of Grave Digger Whiskey? If I had and loud. From the Heavy Metal one wish it could be a little more genre I only have CD´s from Grave There is a new edition to the smokier, that reminds on the Digger in my drawer. No other classic Grave Digger Whiskey rough and untamed Scotland. I´ve Band. I also hear Gothic Metal called „ The Bruce“. Can you tell got a matching name for it: with pleasure. us the difference between them? THE BRAVE... „The Bruce“ is „medium peated“ Some dry (is this possible?) facts with ca. 30 ppm. „ppm“ stands I can reveal something. We planed about your products and timeline. for „parts per million“ and a new hammer for 2020... Can you tell us something short indicates the peat content in the THE BRAVE is surely an exciting about it? Whiskey. name but propably not „Dry“ is really difficult for us, but protectable. That is the general two sentences I can create.... Do you recognize any parallels problem with trademark-/name Founded 1865 as a distillery with or even a connection between rights. brewing right in Freundenberg am your Whiskey and the music of Main. Rise to a top distillery in the Grave Digger? The highlight of the collaboration SONS OF EVIL 14 with Grave Digger might be the video for „LAWBREAKER“. Are you planning other events with the Band?

Sure! That was so metal and makes a lot of fun. For the moment we´ve the „guitar in Aureum-Barrel“ project and with some more whiskey with Axel we certainly create more crazy things.

Do you want to say something to our reader and fans?

Sure.... always hear so much Grave Digger as you could and drink our Whiskey edition because no alcohol isn´t a solution. Metalheads are a cool „Community“l

Thanks for your support Metal on!

PETER KAUERT

( C ) Pictures and Logo from distillery Ziegler 15 HEALED BY METAL

NAME: Christina Grimm BORN: 1999 RESIDENCE: Rüsselsheim am Main MY TOP 5 GRAVE DIGGER SONGS: 1 Heavy Metal Breakdown 2 Healed by Metal 3 Ballads of a Hangman 4 Killing Time 5 Hallelujah

My father takes a CD into his So we didn´t meet the band. them on my guitar. To show which player, turns on the amplifier and Yet after that I would be an big music I love, I dressed accordingly the journey begins. A quiet hum, Grave Digger Fan. I extensively So i met more Metalheads and accompanied with an acoustic began to read every interview and made good friendships. guitar, sounds through the report from the band that I found If I came to metal without Grave speakers. Then vocals, guitar, bass in the internet. Practice my Digger one day, I don´t know but and drum begins: favourite Songs on guitar and hear in any case I owe a lot to the band. „Scream and die at the gallows all their albums. pole....“ I was incredibly fascinated Today, two years later, Grave such music that thrills me from the Digger is still my favourite Band. first second – hard, fast and I´m at every concert or meet and melodic – I ´ve never heard in my greet that is nearby my hometown life before. „Who is that?“ I Also at the gigs from the wanted to know from my father. sideprojects of the Bandmembers. CHRISTINA GRIMM He answered: „This is Grave Digger The Backpatch of my vest is from I heard them during my „Heavy Metal Breakdown“ also all schooldays“. So Grave Digger get Bandmembers autographs are on. my alltime favourite Band and Even at my high school diploma I „Ballads of a Hangman“, which take a pick that Axel gave me, with was the title of the album, runs in me as a lucky charm. In the work permanent loop. A little period I wrote a short sentence about the later I bought my first own Grave Band and the „Reaper“. Digger CD on a festival nearby my It´s heavy for me to choose some hometown. It was „Tunes of Songs that I like but there are Wacken“ and even get my first several with special reminder. For Bandshirt. example with „Heavy Metal At christmas my father gives me a Breakdown“ I connect to my first concert ticket for the Grave Digger concert or with „Healed by Metal“ „35 Years birthday Bash – Back to to the listening session of the the 80ties Tour“. The concert take same named album where I was at place a little later, where I stood and heared it as one of the first. in first row at the stage. At „Ballads of a hangman“ I think Overwhelming from the music about the early days as a fan and and the passion from the guys. that the band take me to Heavy As we didn´t know that the guys Metal. take some time for the fans after Beside our Diggers I get to know (C) Picture from Christina Grimm the show we directly drive home. Some other Metalbands and played STAND UP AND ROCK 16 Fist on the table. How Axel get vegan....

A few words on own things before: Humans are different and that´s ok! Metalfans aren´t different to this point. But in this extreme Music and lifestyle some of them make more thoughts to god and the world then anybody else. That´s not about to force someone with your opinion (if necessary with bombs) rather exchange arguments and counter arguments, that´s the motto. Discussion culture is needed in this time. And so we ask Axel for a little interview not for subject music or Grave Digger rather we want to illuminate the Band members from another side. So here is the interview, like it only could be released in a magazine like ours.

Hello Axel! Introduce yourself To be honest, even the most Paul McCartney says: „ If all here would be like carrying owls convinced meat eater couldn´t slaughterhouses in the world has to Athen. Can you resume shortly tolerate the situation of mass walls out off glas, all humans will how you get into Grave Digger animal husbandry and incredibly be vegetarian.“ That´s all. There´s In the fall auf 2009 I get a call animal cruelty. nothing more to say. from Chris, who was at holiday in But if you face anyone with that Greece. He said that my they´re looking away, displaced Then it was a creeping process? predecessor left the band and he or flees into purging like „ I Not really. I´m nearly like every soon needed a replacement for couldn´t do anything about that“ vegan from my generation not the upcoming shows. Me and „I´m only eating some meat“ or born vegan. Chris worked together in different „I only buy my fresh meat from Because of the eating habit of my business areas but never played organic slaughter around the family I eating meat since my 18th music together. corner“. Birthday. At that point I start to Handicap, I´ve only 10 days to Now I could write at least 10 pages think for myself and because of a learn the whole Live-program and why, how and for which reason i´m event at a farm I get a vegetarian we´ve only one rehearsal. I living vegan. But all to read is from one day to another. cancelled all meetings for two exhausting and owing to the No, I don´t seen a slaughtering at weeks and worked 10 days only cruelty of the details heavy to a slaughterhouse, but I´m take a with the Grave Digger songs. digest. I resume it with a few walk with my dog and I met 3 pigs The first gig was a little festival words. which ran into my direction. in Gladbeck. The second show Humans get the most powerful Very sweet but even more dirty already was part of the South brain of the evolution. That´s a because they take a bath in mood America Tour. At the end of the big responsibility. My metabolism for their skin problems. I stroke year, the guys ask me if I would don´t need any animal products my dog and if the pigs were not so join the band. to live healthy on the contrary dirty I had to stroke them too. I´m in the matter of cancer and Because they´re so sweet. It was Who followed you in the social heart circulatory diseases about 18 o´clock and I asked Networks, knows that the vegan according to various studies very myself what my mother was going lifestyle is, next to music, a big well placed. Through vegan to cook today. I remember that desire from you. Can you discribe nutrition I help billions of animals pork cutlet was on the diet. Your motivation or your way to to avoid from a excruciating death I look at my dog, look at the pigs this yet „extreme“ philosophy? with horrible pain and disgusting and said to myself: „ my dog I I would please replace „extreme“ rearing conditions. I also support won´t eat, why I want to eat the because it´s a negatively affected. environmental Protection and pigs? They´re as sweet as my dog in my opinion „consequent“ harm this beautiful planet as small but they don´t have a fur“. That´s matches better. as it could be. it. From this day on I´m vegetarian. 17 STAND UP AND ROCK

After I heard that male chicks were interest or they relax. crushed alive or in old german Rarely I must hit the table with my tradition get gasified and male fist to get some respect. calves to the purpose of milk If this doesn`t work I´ve some production be applied artificially, slaughterhouse scenes on my however, are killed directly after handy. When the people look at birth, living month in boxcases that suddenly there´s silence. without movement and tormented for the production of veal or Before the self titled immoral thrown alive into trash I´m guardians shows up. Do you want choosing to be a vegan since 8 to say something about your years. befitting stage outfit? All since many years are leatherette to change a situation which is Vegan always considered to be Even Chris and Jens wears imitation awful. If you buy meat, you pay woman thing or sissies. Is it not leather pants on stage. someone to torture and kill difficult to play with these image animals. Let this sentence slowly in Metal? Within the Band and You are in good company as a go through your head. And think fans? vegan in Metal.How do you about that every cow and pig has Interestingly right in Metal there explain this fact? the same death fear as every are many vegan, e.g. Mille from Artists have the advantage that human, feels the same pain. Kreator or Alissa from Arch Enemy they don´t have to insert in solid Everyone who says he likes both are die hard Entertainer. Structures. Also you dealing more animals and eating meat, is a liar. They get the best energy from with yourself and don´t let other their nutrition. people think for you. Questioning And if your best arguments didn´t Men are always wanted to be the your behavior more and if you do anything, maybe then your big hunter and provider with mace want to watch wide breasted in favorite recipe? and giant mountains of muscles. the mirror, you have to do this Personally I grow up some The reality looks like on holidays next step in your nutrition. sprouted on my window sills. or weekends they throw cheap Nutrition is imprinting thing. If you They massivly get vitamins, meat onto grill and fat tissue and eating meat in your childhood, this proteins etc.during their sprouting muscle tissue isn´t as it should be. nutrition was positive (Family, process. One of my favorite dishes Who says this is unmanly should Party, enjoyment) and when you are sprouted adzuki beans roasted prove his behavior or search on get into your working life and other in the pan with olive oil, oodles You Tube for „vegan Bodybuilder“ people fix your life and think for and oodles of onion and garlic. and see which muscle mountains you, you always stay in this seasoned with very spicy chilli and you can build with vegan nutrition behavior even if deep in yourself baked with vegan cheese. and without steroids. you don´t like it. Unfortunaly I don´t have time and because of touring I don´t plant There´re always the same old Aren´t the topic „Animalright“ a the vegetables. This needs a lot of jokes and pseudo arguments with theme for an album or a song? maintenance. But meanwhile the whom vegan confronted. Are you Very difficult! For those themes big supermarkets have a bigger still going for it or do you get you have to built a new Band, and bigger grown offer for Bio tired and frustrated? Because this theme drifting fast vegetables so I can get what I need That depends on the situation. in political direction. Grave Digger there. I`ve got interessting conversations is non political so that don´t make with fans where exchanged in an sense. PETER KAUERT open discussion arguments and listen to each other. Here I like It´s far from you to make to go into the different views and everyone that surrounds you a explain my behavior. Vegan. What do you want to say Vegan arrived at the mainstream as thinking excitation? so that most of the peoples shows Every human has the opportunity STAND UP AND ROCK 18

(C) Pictures from Axel Ritt 19 TUNES OF WAR

WACKEN 2017 – Rain or Shine. Everyone in the Metalscene knows this sentence. As well even in this year the biggest Metal Party in Germany started and we can´t get from it. Although no one was personally at the place, Peter try to make a report from the show of our 5 Teutons. And also we thinking, without some words from someone who was at the show we can´t do this report. So we interviewed the machine behind the drums, Stefan Arnold himself. So read yourself:

Fog floating over the harvested first in english we start at the Even at that song the band field. Far far away croaks the scottish highlands and their harmonizes as a unit The guitar dead bird. Pure despair in the bloody history. Killing Time play from Axel, the clock Stefan, face of one´s own transience. (what a intro where Axel shows rhythm machine Jens and impeller The breath of Death obscures that he can nail the sharp riffs) Chris are totally in their elements. the senses or is the grim reaper especially the double bass really approaching me...? drumming from Stefan is impressiv Followed by Lionheart. A song But then the redemption, because with brutal riffs and moody Solos. it´s the Reaper and we are at the The choir at the chorus doesn´t W:O:A 2017. Infernal in his frock leave any wish unfullfilled. Even and with his skull scythe the the isolated passages don´t miss Reaper opens his arms and their effect and once again the welcomed GRAVE DIGGER which crowd will be animate to join in board the stage. the band. As opening song we get directly something from health insurance Terrific and with a lot of feeling company and our health. Healed The Ballad of Mary (Queen of by Metal is a singalong song, what Scots) starts. The mandatory Did I say? An anthem that can only cuddly number, this time without be written by the one and only for me one of the best songs from Metalqueen Doro, about the GRAVE DIGGER. Tunes of war. Scottish Queen, shows the full At this spontaneous mass cure The crowd also liked it because spectrum of Chris´ voice. Even the awakens the last corner of the they go wild. Anyway the Wacken Reaper punching the keyboard a W:O:A, in front of the HARDER Metalheads were amazing and little bit more. In short one of the Stage out of the sick leave and celebrate the band from note one best Ballads in the Metalscene. celebrating the chorus as it was to the last note. Sounds obvious The stage preparation is especially rehearsed. But this isn´t so.... genius. Formed in the semicircle, There´re many Diggerfans in the Up next another great song called matching with the band, stands crowd what you can see on their The Dark of the sun! man-high coffins like monolith. Shirts. And not only from Teutonia Rarely has history lessons so much The winged skull is emblazoned but also from Argentina what you fun. During the song the clouds on each one. In the middle,like a can see on a flag. But ou don´t are opened and the sun shows up. Platform for Stefan on drums and have to be a big fan of the Diggers Coincidence??? Marcus „The Reaper“ at the keys, to know the chorus of the songs. are stone grim reapers like a So WACKEN is always a big Once again Chris shows how he monument. (I need one of them gathering of the other kind for can handle the masses and act for my metal cellar ;-) ) Grave Digger. Even in this year. with them. He not only named the Like standard at Wacken will be Except of the opener and the final songs, he ask the crowd to shown pictures and little movies act, every song that were played complete the songs. The whole in the background. At my first was from the „middleages Metalheads as a background choir Grave Digger show in Wacken at Trilogy“ that ring in your ears. Up next is the selfnamed titel 2001 there only was a huge After some warm words from Chris track from Knights of the cross. banner from the reaper of the TUNES OF WAR 20

Knights of the cross album. That song the crowd is again heavy and was also OK but nowadays you´ve incredible loud. . more possibilities. Recently, Chris shows up the last So once there flickers the blowing times with a vest with a big scottish flag, an album cover or a backpatch from the album cover. video from the highlands over the By the way, the song was dedicate Background. to the recently deceased Irfan Berk At times where are the rows thin The journey goes on with the next out, it´s a consolation that events Hymn. The round table (forever) like WACKEN exist. opens the Excalibur story. At this song you´ve to hear the last If the last notes fall silent and the chorus from Chris. Without words last Digger get of the stage, the Just awesome...... dismantling of the stage beginns to make room for the next band. Up next Morgane Le Fay. A half So hard could festivals be. ballad that cool down the crowd There´re no awards here.... a little bit, just to came up with brutal guitars and drums. Sure We almost had you deceived the everytime worth listening to moody Excalibur. But the song again. Itself stands alone. The Intro with harpsichord in the background is The show slowly comes to an end fantastic and let the imagination but doesn´t is the end. Oil the wander only to get crazy with vocal cords again, shake out the massive Riffs. hairs and starting again full powered. Next, every Metal fan PETER KAUERT should know this. The well known song from Grave Digger followed. REBELLION!!! A song that was also covered by Van Canto. He keeps what he promises. Everyone who doesn´t shake out tiredness of their bones can´t be helped anymore. Go back to the beginning and get some health insurance company Services again .

But everyone who thought that is enough is mistaken. Something is missing. Everyone who knows the guys know what it is and clearly they should not be disappointed. Like every good Grave Digger happening is Heavy Metal Breakdown the end of even every Show. It turns back the time to the beginning of the band. Allthough (or just because) it´s a simple 21 TUNES OF WAR Interview with Stefan Arnold:

Hello Stefan! Every year again, The older the harder.... we take we have to say, you made every show serious and according . WACKEN insecure. How many to prepare for every event. times are you playing there? Good question. I know that 1996 A look ahead. The second part of was the first time I played there. the „Healed by Metal“Tour starts I think we played there 8 or 9 in a few days. Will there be any times. change compared to the first Tourpart? Definitely a few times. What is so We surely change some songs, but special at Wacken? which ones I can´t say now. It´s incredible that tenthousands of people peacefully celebrates Are there any other plans? New a big party. No matter what Album, more shows, etc...? nationality, religion or skin color. For a new album there´re many Only the music counts and units. thoughts and until December 2017 we´ve some more shows. More What the sparrows whistled from we don´t have to say. the roof was later confirmed by you. Mostly songs from the So thank you for your time and „middleages triology“ have been hope you enjoy the last festival played. How did that happen? Shows. Any words for your fans? The organizer asked, if we want to Thanks for your incredible support do something special. So we agree I hope to see you somewhere at with the middleage-set. the shows and stay healthy...

Half of the summer Festivals were played. A little conclusion STEFAN LORENZEN from you? (C) Pictures from Stefan Arnold All played shows 2017 were absolutly amazing. Highlights for me were „Sweden Rock“, the „Metal Days“ and of course Wacken.

Is there anything from the shows that reminds you? Sure! At „Sweden Rock“ at 10pm right before our shows it started heavy rain and I thought the show will be cancelled. But the infield were full of Metalheads and the athmosphere was spectaculare.

Video making, South America Tour, now after the festival shows, starts the german Tour. Where did you get the power from, to show such amazing performance on stage? PRAY 22

After the magazine is before the magazine...

So you Lawbreaker, Grave Digger and Diggermaniacs. Just this moment you survey and read our first issue of the Fanmagazine. Now it´s up to yours, because it´s a Fanzine. Everyone can and should be a part of this. You have the following possibilities:

Send us your photos from Concerts, Band meetings, Festivals and so on with or without a little report.

Introduce yourself in the Fanzine and let the readers know, how do you get to Grave Digger.

You searching something from Grave Digger? Have a CD twice? Here you can create a free classified ad.

Show us your Fanart about Grave Digger. Drawings, paintings, Tattoos.....

You have a question for Grave Digger? Mail us and we asked in the following interviews or ask round

Every idea is welcome! The magazine is your playground and platform, so use it.

Of course you can attach criticism, grumble until the fell crashes or even make it better..... ;-)

About some warm words we are happy. Think about that we are at the beginning...

In the next magazine we report detailed from the second part of the tour and we take place at the Metalacker festival to see the happy guys. This and even more awaits you.

Sharp your spade and until next time for the RETURN OF THE REAPER.

Yours Peter

STAY TRUE