»Mike just started to drink the burning liquor through his straw, he had to cough and dropped the glass, so the whole bar was on fire… especially as he tried to blow out the flames.«

This interview was originally intended for Daylight Suffering. Made by Mårten Jacobsson in September 2002.

For this interview, Daylight Suffering turned to Eckhard "Ed The Tongue" Ostra, drummer in Messiah's Kiss.

Mårten: Well, we all know that you are playing together in Messiah's Kiss, but
what did you do before that? What bands did you play with?

Eckhard: Me and the other guys (with the exception of Mike) played in a band called Repression. This band was founded in the beginning of the 80’s. Repression was a typical true metal band and we were playing in all kind of metal-clubs in Germany. During that time we released 4 albums. All of them self-produced, and self distributed. But we did not push Repression that hard during the 90’s , because when grunge and all that stuff came up, it was really not worth to contact any record company with the music we played.  

Mårten: How did you guys meet each other? When did you decide to form a band
together?
 

Eckhard: We all come from Dinslaken. In this town the metal scene was not that big at the time we started with Repression. Me and Georg met first, and we both knew a couple of friends playing instruments too. So we came together, did some rehearsals, drank some beer, and that was it until the end of 2000.

 Mike joined the band in March 2001. Our former singer had a lot of troubles with his voice-strings, and even an operation could not help during that time. The songs for »Prayer for the dying« were already written at that time That was the reason why we were looking for a singer, who would perfectly fit to the songs. And there was no doubt at all: Mike Tirelli is the perfect one! And in the same step we changed the bands name into Messiah’s Kiss.

Mårten: How do you like to tour around the world for months? At least that is
what is going to happen if the album is doing well.

Eckhard: Well, non of us has any experience with touring so long. But I can tell you: it’s the most important thing for us to get on the stage, turn on the lights, play it loud, and kick some ass!! It’s just great to play live in front of an audience.  And we are so happy that we get the opportunity to support DORO on her European Tour this autumn! And after this tour, I’ll let you know how it feels to stay six weeks on the road!  

Mårten: Who are your influences when you write and play music?

Eckhard: We all have our roots in the late 70’s from bands like Black Sabbath, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Thin Lizzy. And when the NWOBHM scene came up, we were all infected by bands like Judas Priest, Accept, Iron Maiden. But if Georg or me writes a song, it just comes out of our heart. We are still so addicted to that kind of metal, that it just comes out the way we love it, what we would like to hear as a fan, and of course: what we can do best!

Mårten: What do you do when you don't play music?

Eckhard: I’m a “hockey-crazy”! I really love to go on the ice and skate my adversaries into two half’s. And I do like motor-biking as well, especially if I drive with a pretty girl on the pillion! Georg is pretty much into soccer and jogging, while Alex and Andy like the Formula One, American natives, and other sports too.

Mårten: What do you want to achieve with your music? Do you have a certain goal
how much the CD should sell?

Eckhard: What about 10 million? This would guarantee a saver live, the rates for a villa on Hawaii.... just kidding.  We are focused to sell us much as we can, that’s for sure. If you are not selling enough CD’s, then you might not be able to bring out another release. But it’s pretty difficult at the present time, because there are thousands of metal releases each month. And of course the touring is very important for the sells. But I’m pretty sure that we are doing well with the sells, because our record company SPV gives us great support, and there are lots of fans out there, who still love and believe in traditional heavy metal.

Mårten: Do you have some special band that you would like to share a tour with?

Eckhard: Well, I would like to support any band which is playing true metal, and we are so lucky that we may support together with Crystal Ball the European Doro tour, because this lady is the true metal queen!  I don’t like the idea of mixing things up in this direction – like being on the road with a real Thrash- or Crossoverband. Not only for myself, but for the fans!  Of course to be on tour with one of our favourite Metalbands like Judas Priest or Iron Maiden would be the greatest thing in our lives!

Mårten: How does the writing process work in Messiah's Kiss?
 

Eckhard: Our guitarist Georg writes most of the stuff. He usually comes up with a whole idea of a new song, starting with the music first. Then we add the vocal lines to the riffs. If we decide that we got a cool new song, we start to write lyrics fitting to the melody of the song.  Alex adds the guitar solo as the very last step for completing this song. I prefer the writing of a song in the same way too. I never start with the vocal harmony as well.

Mårten: Tell us something fun from the recording of »Prayer For The Dying«.

Eckhard: I guess I would need all your webspace if I would tell you everything from the recordings. We always have lots of fun together, which is the most important part to have a real band, and no project kind of thing. For example: We went to a club one night during the recordings. Rainer (Hänsel) ordered a couple of B-52’s. When Mike just started to drink the burning liquor through his straw, he had to cough and dropped the glass, so the whole bar was on fire… especially as he tried to blow out the flames.      

Mårten: I like the artwork for your new CD. Was it your idea, or was it the
artist who painted it?

Eckhard: As we changed the name from Repression into Messiah’s Kiss, Georg and me were surfing the internet trying to find an illustration which would fit to the band’s name. As we took a look at a couple of fantasy sites, all the sudden this artwork from the Spanish artist Luis Royo was shown on my screen at home. And we immediately felt: That’s the one! It fits perfectly to the bands name and the album title as well!


Mårten: Could you describe a typical day in the life of Messiah's Kiss?

Eckhard: Well, we all got our jobs to do during the day. In the evening we take care about our hobbies, ladies (so far as present), and the rehearsals at least twice a week. We are all very active persons. Non of us stays at home for a longer time without getting bored, We still love to go to concerts, not as musician cops, but as real fans! And on the weekend, if we are not playing, I hang around with my friends, going to several bars, the cinemas, or whatever to have some fun.    


Mårten: When can we expect new material from you?

 Eckhard: We always write on new material. Especially Georg. He is almost addicted to this, because it relaxes him from a working day. I will also write two or three songs, so I’m sure that we got enough great ass kicking heavy metal songs for a new record by the end of next summer latest! And I can promise you that the next record will be entirely in our kind of business. We will not change our style, cause what we do, is what we love, what we believe in, and what we do best. Our kind of True Metal will hammer straight in your face again!

Mårten: Thanks a lot for this interview!

Editors notice: Messiah's Kiss have recorded a new record. Hopefully it will be out during spring 2004. Until that you should check »No Prayer For The Dying« out!

And be sure to check out the band's official website: www.messiahskiss.com