Blitzkrieg was a German fanzine during the 1980’s written in German. But here’s a translated interview for you.
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DAMIEN
The band DAMIEN was founded in Frankfurt in May '83 and its original lineup consisted of Tony Clark (guitar), "The Finn" (bass), John Cadden (vocals), and drummer Mark Reed, who proved too unprofessional after just two gigs and hindered the band's progress. He was fired and replaced by a 2-meter-tall, 140 kg monster.His name was Rudi "Tiny" Matthies, and he had previously played in the Frankfurt band STEAM. But "Tiny" wouldn't regret the move, because in January '84, they received their first response to the countless demos DAMIEN had sent to record companies. Berlin producer Wolfgang Eichholz was absolutely thrilled with the group. He was particularly impressed by the playing of guitarist Tony, who was only 16 at the time. Tony, the son of a well-known opera director from Seattle, Canada, and a Hungarian actress, seems to have been born with musical talent. At the age of seven, he learned to play the classical guitar, and his virtuoso guitar playing still characterizes the group's style today. However, before a record deal could be signed with Wolfgang Eichholz and Manfred Schulz of SPV, the group had to part ways with their singer, John, due to family problems and a few misunderstood comments. He was replaced by Englishman Mark Wederell, who had already played with Tony two years earlier in a band called SAVAGE. Now, nothing stood in the way of the contract, which binds DAMIEN to SPV for four years and at least three LPs.
At the end of March, the band played their first gig with Mark, which was a resounding success. Recording for the LP was supposed to begin in mid-April in a Stuttgart studio, but they found the conditions there so terrible that they had to "quickly" go to "Recordland Studio" in Berlin. In this fantastic studio, all the material for the LP was recorded within four days under Wolfgang's direction. The LP ultimately became just a mini-LP called (whatever?) "Damien."
The record, however, seems a bit disappointing to me, because the songs, all penned by Tony and "The Finn," despite the very good guitar parts, somehow lack the final punch you expect from top-notch HM records. However, anyone who likes more melodic stuff can buy the record with a clear conscience; they won't be disappointed. Thanks to their excellent live gigs, the four have certainly built a loyal following, which will likely also be enthusiastic about the mini-LP.
By Stephan Meese