Cinema Bizarre - Interview in ROCKOON! 03/2009
CINEMA BIZARRE
ROCKOON! #03 (March 2009)
[Translation © eurydike]
„...when a love falls to pieces and you collect all your anger and sadness and start to see everything from a different angle...“ (Strify)
The band is in the starting blocks for another chapter of Cinema Bizarre. Because Luminor left the band, Romeo has now become an official member of the band. What is more, the Berliners-by-choice have just finished working on their upcoming album. More than enough changes and announcements to ask the guys for details.
Rockoon: Let's start off with a rather unpleasant topic today: Luminor left the band. How did you first learn that he will definitely no longer be part (of the band)? Not in the near future at least...
Strify: Luminor has always been a lone warrior. He, however, had a dream he fought hard for - together with us. His health steadily grew worse and he had to go to the hospital on the first tour already. Such incidents accumulated and we knew it could not go on like that because of Luminor's health, because of us and because of the fans. We then decided that we would let him have a few months time to recover. But this time grew longer and longer, we played more and more concerts without him and more and more fans were disappointed at the shows. Till the end I hoped he would get his act together, but at the same time we already started working on the new songs and Luminor contributed to some of them. We were about to define the plan for 2009. But Luminor then decided to leave. He is in need of more time for himself. A lot will be happening this year, and he himself said that it will all be too much for him and that he doesn't believe he would be able to join us for the shows all over the world and for the many promotion trips. The day on which he told us (about his decision) was a strange and sad one.
Kiro: Luminor had been pausing for health reasons for quite some time already. It took long but we wanted to give him the chance and the time to recover. When he finally told us his decision, we had already suspected what it might be! Needless to say that we were shocked nevertheless! Anyhow, we have to live with his decision and try to make the best of it and always do our best!
Shin: We all met and Luminor then told us that he is, physically, longer capable of being part (of the band). That was a shock for all of us - and for Luminor as well, I think.
What did each one of you appreciate about Luminor?
Kiro: I appreciated everything about him. He's a good guy.
Strify: His humour is great. His sarcasm often made our day.
Shin: His humour, his uniqueness and his profoundness.
Yu: That he was game for a joke even in unpleasant moments. (grins)
There were no interpersonal problems now and then?
Strify: These exist in every relationship for sure. But there was nothing severe when it comes to us.
Kiro: There are always problems... and let's be honest, wouldn't it be quite boring without these little problems? They need to be coped with in order to get ahead!
Yu: Just like with everybody else there were problems; if there weren't any, it would be a bit weird...
Shin: Yes, there's quarrel now and then... but that often happens when we are all bunched together. Normal, ain't it?
Romeo officially belongs to Cinema Bizarre now after he already participated in numerous shows and trips of yours. How did you actually get to know him?
Kiro: He's a good friend of the band and we knew him from the beginning! He always backed us up and supported us!
Yu: Just like the others, I first met him at AnimagiC [Translator's note: Germany's biggest Manga and Animé Convention] where he had already worked as a helper for many years. First I kicked his ass playing Guitar Hero and later on playing Tekken... He, however, claims that the games ended in a tie. (grins)
Shin: Yu introduced me to him one day. They have both known each other for a long time.
Strify: I met him shortly after our moving to Berlin. Funnily enough Yu had met him at the same Convention we first met. Some day, Yu invited him to Berlin.
And what does each one of you particularly appreciate about Romeo?
Kiro: He's very committed and always on the ball. (grins)
Shin:His helpfulness and his ambition.
Yu: He's always eager to lend a hand whenever he can, especially when it comes to decimate (the consumption of) alcohol. (laughs)
Strify: He's very generous. And good-natured - sometimes maybe even a bit too much. (grins)
And what, concerning himself, should he still work on and improve?
Kiro: Concerning every person there are things he/she can work on! I think everybody knows about these things himself/herself well enough!
Strify: Ha ha, don't blame me but I prefer to tell him myself. Or how would you like it if your little flaws and weaknesses were discussed in public?
Yu: There are things about everybody the he/she can improve or change; some more, some less. (grins)
Shin: Everybody needs to work on himself/herself... nobody is perfect.
Romeo, what does it mean to you to no longer be part of Cinema Bizarre as a "backup" but as an official member?
Romeo: It's fantastic to share our lives and our passion for music. It means a lot to me that we decided to walk this road together from now on. We all share a dream, and it's unbelievable to be able to live your dreams together with your best friends.
Which three songs off Cinema Bizarre's first album particularly mean a lot to you?
Romeo: Escape To The Stars, After The Rain, Lovesongs (They Kill Me)
Between you and me: Are the other four guys very chaotic?
Romeo (laughs): I couldn't wish for better friends by my side.
Tell me, how did you come up with the name Romeo? Did your parents really chose it for you?
Romeo: Just like many other things in the world it has something to do with a woman, a lost love and new courage given by a person who was there for me.
On March 21, you will play your new single live at the Berlin show for the very first time. Can you already reveal the title?
Kiro: We have several songs to choose from, did not decide yet though.
Strify: It's February 11 today and even if you might not believe it, we have not yet decided what the next single will be. We have three favourites at the moment and it's a hard decision because each song represents a different style.
And what are the topics of the tracks you short-listed? Of one of them at least...
Strify: We experimented a little at Out Of Love and it is different than the songs on Final Attraction. It's very danceable and inspired by Nineties-Eurodance with a touch of Army Of Lovers. Especially because the song is danceable and different, it's one of my favourites. It's very extroverted and deals with a love falling to pieces and you collect all your anger and sadness and start to see everything from a different angle: a little sarcastic and you smirk about how you behaved and how that destroyed everything. Exactly what I like. Why hide when you still have a life to live? The opening line is wonderful too: "As I was searching for some cookies in an empty jar, I realized some days are made to press restart." - What would a day without cookies be?
What about Cinema Bizarre is different in 2009 compared to 2008?
Kiro: We will travel the world and that's something I look forward to a lot! In addition, there will be a lot of TOYZ of all sorts for everybody. (grins)
Yu: It's a whole new year, everything changes in a sense and not at all at the same time. (laughs) But the first changes are having Romeo as a new member of Cinema Bizarre, a new album and so on. It's a new act being written and we try to master it as good as even possible. (grins)
Romeo: The music has developed, there are other influences, fun and work are on another level as well. There are things that changed. In a positive way, of course! This year we might conquer emotions, halls and maybe even the world with bombs of surprises we have in store. (laughs) We did a great job in the last few months and can hardly wait to finally present TOYZ, the result of our work, and to raise the passion in your hearts with it. Also the performance and the realisation on stage promises news for shows from New York to Berlin and beyond!
Shin: We are ready to play!
Strify: I've finally tasted blood. Now I want it all or nothing at all.