Interview with Snoppi Van Heek of Wizard
Interviewer: Eric
Eric: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. To start
things off why don't you tell our readers a little about the bands career?
Snoppi: Oh, what career do you mean? We exist since over 20 years now in
the same line up and during this time we recorded 8 albums. We had a lot of
great concerts and were together with Grave Digger on European tour in 2004.
For more details there is not enough time and place here. Perhaps you can
inform yourself more on our internet-site.
Eric: Did you ever think Wizard would be around for twenty years as a
band?
Snoppi: If you are young you don’t think about what will be in 20 years.
We always met each other in our rehearsal room, drank some beer, talked about
girls and played a little bit heavy metal.
That’s all, nothing changed the last 20 years. And it’s still very much fun!
Eric: On May 18, 2007 Michael Maass returned to Wizard after a four
year absence. Did Maass approach the band as a whole or was it just a spur of
the moment thing that sort of happened?
Snoppi: He wanted to study beside of his job and so he had no time for
rehearsal any more. So he took a 3 year break and after finishing his studying
he came back to the band. This was clear from the beginning so we are not
surprised of him coming back.
Of course we are very lucky that he is back now. Now Wizard is complete
again.
Eric: How does Thor compare to the last two Wizard releases?
Snoppi: You mean with Goochan and Magic Circle? The big difference is the
sound. Achim did a very good job, it is the best sound Wizard ever had. The
guitar kills, I like that very much. Goochan had also a good sound, but a little
bit softer. The Thor-sound is coming more from the balls, if you know what I
mean, it is more metal! The Magic Circle had the worst sound ever and because of
that I was very keen on changing this and work only together with people who
know what they do. And Dennis and Achim really know what they do.
What the songs concern I think that Magic Circle is no single step behind
Goochan and Thor. When I think about the songs with a good sound, I could go
mad. The songs on the magic circle are one of the best we ever made. And if you
write in your review that Wizard grow old, you are right. We are a very old
band. But that has nothing to do with the quality of our songs.
Eric: When working with Achim Kohler did he take Wizard to a whole new
level or did he let you guys do your own thing?
Snoppi: He simple made the sound, nothing more and nothing less. The
recordings were finished, he did not produce the album in the matter that he
decided what to play. He only made the sound as long as we were satisfied with
it. And this he did very good.
We did a preproduction in Volkers studio (bass) and so we knew before
entering the studio what to record.
Eric: It seems like we get a new Wizard album every other year. Is
this planned or is it really just dumb luck when labels release your albums?
Snoppi: We make an album every two years. Do you think that’s too often?
We do not plan this. This is the normal cycle of our work. I don’t know why this
are always 2 years. But that’s a good tempo, so we have time to practice for
concerts and for preparing new songs.
We feel no pressure in releasing albums, so we just do it like we want it. If
we are ready with new songs, we record them. If we are not ready, we will not
record them. It’s just that easy.
Eric: Out of the 11 tracks on Thor which one stands out the most and
why?
Snoppi: For me Utgard (false games) and Resurrection are the best songs.
I like the guitar riffs very much. I am not a big fan of chorus lines and
melody, I like riffs more. A little bit thrashy, that’s great.
For me the songs are pure power. I could start drinking beer immediately when
listening to that songs.
Eric: Wizard has played shows with bands like Edguy, Grave Digger, and
Sacred Steel. Are there any bands that you still want to play with live?
Snoppi: No. We always want to play live, no matter what band plays there
beside of us.
Eric: What do you think of the sudden popularity of power metal music
all of the sudden? Is there one band that really start this or did it just take
time for people to find this kind of music?
Snoppi: Puh, you don’t have to ask me such questions. I don’t know. Is
power metal popular at the moment? I am not very much involved in our local
scene, so I am not up to date. For me it is not important. I have fun with don't
what I do. And as long as we meet once a week and drink beer, everything is
fine.
There could be millions of power metal bands around: Why should I care? I
play Wizard-songs and that means having a great time and fun. And that’s the
most important thing when making music, isn’t it?
Eric: Out of the bands twenty year career is there anything that you
would like to change?
Snoppi: No, not a special thing. I am very satisfied with how things went
for us. So why change? We reached the best possible aim: We are five friends
playing 20 years (and longer) together. This says all, doesn’t it? There can’t
be something went wrong or Wizard were not existing today.
Eric: Onto the final question. Tell our viewers why they should pick
up Thor?
Snoppi: If you like good guitar sound, if you like to make party than you
may listen to our album. Beside that: Just buy the new Hammerfall album or the
next Manowar album like the most metal fans do. We don’t complain because it is
not important. Be lucky in whatever you do, that’s all.
Eric: Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope
to get the chance to see you guys live in the near future.
Snoppi: I also thank you for the interview. For more information just
visit us under: www.legion-of-doom.de
Wizard Links:
