I got two vinylsingles from this German band Manege Frei and I really liked them. I was “forced” to interview them and here´s the result of that. September-2015

Please tell me a little bit history of the group?

-Formed in September 2008 Manege Frei consisted as band with 4 members. We had no rehearsal room until Juli 2009, so we used bandrooms from the bands „Tschernobillys“ (a wordplay of Tschernobyl and Psychobilly) and Subjects of suspect, where members of us were active. Our sound was shiftless and primitive (and this has not changed yet), but also slower, than it is today. We recorded some songs on our own with some music-software and put it on CDs with titles like „Knisternde Erotik“ (Sizzling erotic), which we distributed to all people, who might be interested. The sound was of course terrible and our reputation as lousy band was fixed forever. In the following years until 2012 we recorded 3 CDs with more or less songs with some people who record their own music in their free time. The sound was better, but you could hear mistakes and bumping. In these years we usually played gigs on partys or other events in cities near the east Ruhr area. 2013 and 2014 we recorded the EPs „Nightmareland“ and „return to violence“ with a professional soundman and you can hear the difference, which leaded to more gigs in other cities more away from our hometowns. In November 2014 a second guitar player joined Manege Frei. We changed our rehearsal room in Juli 2015 and share a new one (and sometimes also gigs) with bands like „The Grabowskis“.

Please tell me a little about every member in the group right now, age, family, work, interests and something bad about everyone? Earlier bands?

-Rakete 32 singer, works as social worker, free time bodybuilder, is able to eat tons of food and to produce disgusting smell Jenne 33 drummer, works as spatial planner, seems to be to the unbeknownst person in the band Kloppstock 30 guitar, works as case worker in a forwarding agency and he really loves his job!, he can also consume tons of food and has often diarrhea Garrit 19, second guitar, apprentice, joined Manege Frei much later than the others, decreases the common age of all bandmembers Marcy 31, bass, very lazy student, takes care for many unpopular workings with the band and the rehearsal room

I can hear both UK 82, hardcore and some old punkrock? Any other musicstyles you like? Am I right? Favorites from the past? Is it tiring to be compared to other bands or do you understand it?

-M: The word hardcore is often used with our latest EPs, I would describe the sound as hardcorepunk. We are often compared with the band„Rawside“, which matches good. For myself I hear everything which fits in range „Punk“.

J: Skatepunk Hardcore Deutschpunk;

K: Psychobilly, Punkrock, Black Metal, Hardcore, Rock n Roll, Horrorpunk Demented are go

R: Psychobilly, Punkrock, OI!, Hardcore, Rock n Roll, Horrorpunk…. Misfits

G: Punk Hardcore Skapunk

Menege Frei are you satisfied with the name? How did it came up? Which is the best bandname you know?

-In the beginning of our band there was a discussion if we should call ourselves „Pissecke“(Pissing corner) or „Los burros de espacio“(donkeys from outer space), in each case two persons preferred one of the names. So we hold a conversation about it and I think KLoppstock described our sound and this discussion about the name as „circus“, so we took the circus opening quote „Manege Frei“.

What´s the best thing with playing live?

-M: Much coke and prostitutes

J: Free Beer,

K: Free Beer

R: Free Beer, and the other bands, meet nice people

And where is best to play? And the worst place?

-M: Best: Rattenloch Schwerte, near home Worst: Siegenthal festival, it is a madhouse

J: Best Rattenloch, Globe, AZ Mülheim, Worst JUZ Werne

R: Rattenloch, Kultopia, Krone Darmstadt, Worst Hinterm AJZ Recklinghausen

How is to play this sort of music in Germany right now? Which types of bands do you have concerts together with?

-We have often concerts with some bands with companioned bands or bands which are just available for concerts. In most cases we are the ones with the harder sound. Our sound is not everyones favor, but in our scene are enough people who like it.

How would you describe your music in three words?

-Primitive, fast, in-your-face

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle?

-It is a lifestyle and of course it includes a fashion. Some people told me, that you can be also a punk without looking like one, that is bullshit. Dress yourself as punk, than go to your stuffy boss, go to a bunch of nazi activists and you will realize that people deal with you in another way.

How do you see on downloading, mp3 and that stuff?

-M: I like it. Some music I listen from other continents is not available here except as download. Everone is allowed to put Manege Frei songs in the internet, that makes us only better known and gives some people a good time. We do not earn any much money with our music and nobody of us joined Manege Frei to get rich, everything we do is for fun.

R: I like vinyl and cds. I often buy music on concerts to support the bands. I really like vinyl with download codes. So i can hear the music in my car.

K: I love vinyl. I spend a lot of money for music. I think downloads are a big shit. They are worthless.

J: I am a collector of vinyl. Everything is else is shit.

Is there any good bands from your Germany? Is the punkscene big? How is it in your hometown? Old good bands from your country?

M: Except Russia, most people in Europe live in Germany, so you have a big scene here and some bigger events every year. The quantity of punk people depends on the place, you will of course find more people in bigger cities. Many people complain that there are not so many events, but that is wrong. If you are willing to see some sort of concert, you will find one at the Ruhr area where we live, several times each week. R: In Germany there are a lot of good punk and psychobillybands. I really like COR, Midnight Maniax, Abfukk, Sadisten Satans (pure Brumbycore), Chefdenker, Panzerband. In Hagen there were some really really good punkbands too: the Soul Invaders, the Brats, Oi-Melz J: Good Bands are Sniffing Glue, Kackschlacht, Dackelblut, Angeschissen, Pascow K: Abfukk, Sons of Tarantula, Lokalmatadore, Cor

G: Ghettoblaster,Abfukk, the Grabowskis

What do you know about Sweden? What is typical Swedish?

-Sweden has an area a third bigger than Germany, but has only a tenth of the population and strangely enough a king as head of state. There is much wood, cold temperatures, much midges and freedom to roam. Typical swedish are Ikea, smorrebrod and elks.

Have you heard any good bands from Sweden?

-Millencolin, Wolfbrigade, Victims, the Bones, the Baboon Show, the Accidents

Your lyrics, who does them and what influences you? Is it OK to sing a song about suck a “simple”

thing as love? Both in English and in German, why not only one language?

-Rakete is the author of most lyrics. Influences are work, social conflicts, nonsense and alcohol.

Best political band/artist?

-Slime, Rawside

Do you think that music(lyrics and so on) can change anyones life, I mean people who listens to music?

-Music is able to change lifes, some groups or movements get their supporters through music. The message you are sending out (or not) sounds better with music.

Your cover on your record looks really nice, is it important to have a record cover which shows people which type of music you play? Which is your own favorite among your records ? Your favorite recordcover? Who does your covers?

-A good cover artwork is a good reason to buy a record and make the people curious. The cover of Nightmareland was created by marc I. from Odenwald Asozial. He is a great artist but we don`t have contact anymore. Maybe he is dead. We don`t hope so. We tried to get contact again but we failed.

R: My favourite record cover is the backside oft he LP Legacy of brutality from the Misfits.

M: The Cover of our record Knisternde Erotik (thefarting donkey) The cover of return to violence was created by a friend of Kloppstock. His name is Maik aka Joker.

Is it important to get out physical records of your stuff? Why or why not? Is there any good record stores in your town/country ?

-M: It is important to get out phonograph records (they are much more sold than CDs) to get back the money we spend for recording. Physical records are also decorative and you can show them around as „your work“.

J: In our town are only second hand record stores most oft he lps are shit. But there are many good stores in near citys like Hitsville Düsseldorf, Green Hell Münster, New life shark Essen, Underdog Köln or black plastic Dortmund

Do you do any covers when you plays live?

-Yes, we play sometimes „Bite you scum“ by GG Allin, „Die Jungs von nebenan“ by Smegma and „Death comes ripping“ by misfits. „Mongoloid“ by Devo

Please tell me a funny thing which have happened during your career and under some gig?

-We don`t have much fun with Manege Frei.

How does your audience look like? Which people do you miss on your concerts? Which is the biggest band you ever have played together with?

-M: Our audience are drunken idiots who like primitive music. I miss no one. The biggest bands were Rasta Knast, Eisenpimmel, Chefdenker R: Our audience is full of drunken freaks, mutants and aliens. I really like it. I miss beautiful women of the porn business.

Please rank your five favoriterecords, five favoriteconcerts and five most important things in life?

-R: the Misfits everything Troopers Troopers Knochenfabrik Ameisenstaat Blood for Blood outlaw anthems Mad Sin Surival of  the sickest J: NOFX everything Lagwagon everything Bad Religion no control Dackelblut schützen und fördern Favorite concerts: We were to drunk to remember. J Important things: M: 1.myself 2.myself 3.myself 4.myself 5.myself

R: Sex and Violence from outer space J: Nothing 26.First.last and most expensive record ever bought?

M: First: The Offpsring- Americana Last: The Higgins- Who the fuck are you? Most expensive: I do not spend much money for records

K: First LP: Guns n Roses Use your illusion, the last Lps: Warcry deprogram I spend 40 euros for e blitzkid ep.

R: First LP: Die Ärzte Planet Punk Last LP: COR Prekariat, Herztier, I spend 26 Euros for the Coffinshakers Dark Wings over the world J: First LP: NOFX Ripped, Last LP: Bad Cop Bad Cop, most expensive LPS: the Lagwagon LP Box for 150 Euro

Is it boring with interviews? Is it much interviews?? The most stupid question you ever have got?

-It`s the second interview ever. The first interview was on a concert where we were very drunk J, We were suprised how much work it ist to give an 35 question interview in english.

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosed?

-M: The Unseen Rawside Sons of tarantula Alarmsoiche Misfits R: Misfits (with Graves and Danzig), Motorhead, G.G. Allin, the Cramps, Demented are Go

J: Rancid, Nirvana, K: the Meteors, the Cramps, Wolfbrigade, the Goddam gallows, die Kassierer

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nicer person outside the music??

-M: For some people in the band it is a way to get out of frustration. Creating music is a constructive way to spend your time and leads to more activities, like concerts.

R: To make fast punkrock is good possibility to get out frustration and anger. It`s good way to express yourself and meet other crazy people. It prepares you from a boring life.

K: I got some kind of hate. Ist a great way to scream all my hate against the stupid fucking society .

Which is the most odd question you ever have got in an interview?

-This one.

Which is the question you want to have but you never get. Please ask it and answer it?

-„Do you want a lot of money, so that you can at least do what you like?“ YES!

Futureplans for the band?

-World domination, sucking everyones' brain out, create more brumbycore In the end we want to make more concerts and we want to create a LP.

For yourself?

-M: If I had plans, I would not be where I am.

R: Try to survive

J: Less work.

K: I want to quit my shitty job and become a garlic farmer.

G: I want to get rich and famous with Manege Frei.

Wisdomword?

-Everthing can always be worse Mf rules the world

 Something to add?

-Ehhh, dogs walk around here!