Page 7 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 105

BV105 pg06-07 Dobermann.qxp_BV105 pg07 30/12/2021 18:27 Page 2

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a mourning, it's like dealing with death, ‘cause also outside the band and we hang out together you spend a lot of time talking to others to
you normally end up not seeing ever again your most of the time. It makes things easier and get shows and arrange tours?
former significant other ever again. There's this quicker; you can make a decision on the spot. PDB: We spend ages arranging tours. That's
guy sitting at the table making plans and talking That's how we kept things going during lock- the hardest part of the whole thing. It takes
to his girl and all of a sudden he's talking to a down. It wasn't a bad time for me, to be honest. months of preparation and then you get cancel-
pile of dust. That's where the title comes from. I worked on music and did a few things I never lations with three weeks' notice and shit like that.
had the time to do. On the other hand, it's been It's very frustrating, but it's also very rewarding
BV: ‘Shaken To The Core’ was produced by two years of almost no touring. We play shows when you complete them. It feels like a job well
Alessandro Del Vecchio. Did he talk you into and go out occasionally for two or three dates, done, mission accomplished. I love coming
trying anything that you hadn’t tried before? but we haven't done a proper tour in a while. home from tours. Riding in the sunset with an
PDB: Alessandro did a great job not touching That's what I miss the most. And I didn't even re- empty merch bag! We're all looking forward to
what we came up with. I think the songs were alise how much I missed it until we went back to playing HRH, that is one of the few gigs where
pretty good already, compared to our previous England last September for the first time since we actually talked to the promoter. 95% of all
records; the songwriting was at a better level. 2020. ‘Cause you get used to this new world and communication happens via email or text nowa-
We hit the studio with some pretty definite you kinda adjust to its crap factor. But then I re- days and then you meet up at the gig. But John
demos, so yeah, he added a few touches here alised how much I had missed being on the at HRH is a cool guy. We actually Skyped and
and there and definitely added some colours, road. Everything is much more complicated had a chat. See you guys next November in
but there wasn't much we needed to be talked nowadays. Great Yarmouth!
into. We were already up for trying a few things
we'd never tried before. You don't hear piano or BV: Do you think it’s important that you have BV: Do you talk much about your perform-
acoustic guitars on any other Dobermann someone to talk to outside of the band? Or ances and shows with each other – and how
record, for one thing! someone to talk to about personal issues or to improve them? What plans do you have
problems? for your future shows?
BV: Do you remember the first time the three PDB: It's crucial. It's always good to have a neu- PDB Yes, probably too much. We're very critical
of you met and talked to each other? What tral opinion on things. When you're in a band about what we do. We're always trying to im-
did you bond over? What did you think of you're too involved and it's impossible to be ob- prove things and fix mistakes. Always trying to
each other when you first met? What made jective. It's essential. You play a show and you put up a better show and better ourselves. It's
you decide to be in a band with each other? think you sucked, but then people tell you it was never good enough and, in a way, this is a good
PDB: Me and Valerio have known each other great, so you have to take that into account. Or thing. We'd probably accomplish more if we
forever. I actually remember when he came to you write a music part, you get attached to it, weren't so critical about each other and about
see me play for the first time with some band I and you want to stick it in the song at all costs, ourselves, but I guess the stuff we'd accomplish
had, and the gig was cancelled because there and then one of your bandmates has something wouldn't be as good as the stuff we do accom-
were five people in the room and the owner did- to say about it, and naturally you don't want to plish with all the talking involved, so that's how
n't want to go ahead with the show so he would- back off. So you need to have the producer to we roll. We'll be on tour in March, hitting the UK,
n't have to pay us the full fee! Valerio had just have the final word. I normally trust producers. Belgium, Holland and Germany, make sure you
started his own band, and that should have After six months you realise they were right. come see us!
taught him something about rock ‘n’ roll! But he Also, I think a good producer shouldn't always
didn't back off and ten years later synchronicity side with the same guy in the band, unless it's BV: On your ‘Testarossa’ album, you had a
struck and we ended up playing together. His jeopardizing the outcome. At the end of the day, song called ‘You Talk It You Walk It’. What is
band at the time had just disbanded and our there's no 'right' or 'wrong' in music, what that about? And do YOU talk the talk AND
original guitarist had just walked away. So, it was sounds good to you might not sound good to walk the walk?
either joining forces or going down. We bonded someone else, so it's way more important to PDB: That song is about that one girl that teases
over Judas Priest, Ozzy, and pestering venues make the band function and get smoothly you all the time, and then runs away when you
until they either give you a gig or tell you to fuck through the recording process. want to come to the point. She talks the talk but
off. We make a formidable team. I met Antonio I ask my girlfriend's opinion all the time about she does not walk the walk and she drives you
when he came to audition for us, after the origi- music and especially lyrics. It's very important to crazy. She lies, denies, and she won't give it up.
nal drummer left... I thought he was a cool kid have an external and dispassionate opinion. We're the total opposite! 800 shows and count-
with excellent timing and who could sing great ing! We keep our word. AND we still drive you
backing vocals. He was playing in a gospel BV: What would you say to anyone reading crazy!
choir at the time and didn't look much of a that doesn’t have anyone to talk to?
rocker, but we gave it a shot. Also, because PDB: There's always someone you can talk to. BV: What would you like people to say about
he was the only guy who wanted to take Just break the ice and make the first move. Dobermann and your music if they were talk-
the gig! Eight years and four albums ing about you to others?
later we're still rocking away, so I'm BV: Who are you most glad to have talked to PDB: I'd love them to say we're a good hard-
glad we did! We make a pretty tight in relation to the band? Has anyone that you working rock ‘n’ roll band. That's what I believe
rhythm section. Sometimes during met helped you or given you great advice? we are!
a gig I change things on the spot PDB: I remember opening for Warrior Soul a few
and he somehow just knows it years ago. At the time we were downtuning our BV: If you could meet and talk to anyone,
beforehand and we're always instruments for some reason. After the show who would you most like to talk to? What
glued. That's not something Kory Clarke said we should tune up to normal. would you say?
you get every day, I guar- That was a good move, it made everything PDB: Vincent Van Gogh. Not sure we'd have
antee you! sound immediately brighter. much to talk about, and I don't think he was a
very talkative guy! But his paintings have always
BV: Did you talk to BV: Do you talk to fans after shows and on- talked to me, so I'd love to watch him do his
each other much line? Have any fans inspired you? thing for a few hours. He'd probably tell me to
during lockdown? PDB: We talk to fans way too much! Especially shut up and to not disturb him. I promise I would!
How was lock- after shows, as a singer the worst thing you can
down for you? do is keep talking, especially in a loud music Take a listen to Dobermann’s ‘Shaken To
PDB: We talk to venue! But we treasure our fans, we wouldn't be The Core’ album, out now on Wild Mondays
each other all the here without them, so we always try to be nice Music/Horus Music UK – and if you like what
time. We have this and have a chat with everybody that wants to, you hear, find the band over at
Whatsapp group plus they're mostly nice people. Sometimes it's www.facebook.com/dobermannrnrband or on
chat where we dis- a pretty girl, sometimes it's a loud drunk, but we Instagram at @dobermann_official where you
cuss all band and try to say hi to everybody. Also, we try to answer can talk to the band yourselves.
non-band matters, comments online and that kind of stuff, it takes
plus a fair amount a lot of time and it takes away a lot of mystique,
of jokes. It's the but we like to do it. Words By Shari Black Velvet
only pinned
chat I have! BV: You’ll be playing Hard Rock Hell next
We're friends year. Who did you talk to to arrange that? Do Photo By Chiara Buonvino
DOBERMANN