{"id":48692,"date":"2016-06-24T00:00:25","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T00:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/?p=48692"},"modified":"2016-11-20T16:08:37","modified_gmt":"2016-11-20T16:08:37","slug":"feature-doro-06-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/feature-doro-06-16\/","title":{"rendered":"DORO – Triumphs And Agonies (June 2016) | Features \/ Interviews @ Metal Forces Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

DORO – Triumphs And Agonies<\/strong><\/span>
\nAnthony Morgan<\/span>
\nJune 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nD\u00fcsseldorf, Germany-based metal vocalist Doro Pesch entered the music sphere in 1984 fronting the Warlock band, whose debut platter Burning The Witches<\/em> arrived in March of that year. 2014 marked 30 years since Doro\u2019s arrival proper, the frontwoman wishing to mark the occasion. June 2016 live DVD set Strong And Proud<\/em> documents Doro\u2019s efforts in this regard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought that for the 30th anniversary, we wanted to do something really nice and special,\u201d Doro remembers. \u201cWe celebrated the 20th anniversary a while ago; Lemmy came up, and we also did duets with Udo Dirkschneider and Biff (Byford, Saxon). Then for the 25th anniversary, we celebrated big with the Scorpions, and then for the 30th anniversary, I thought \u2018Man, how can I top that?\u2019 I think the 20th and 25th anniversaries were so awesome, but then I thought \u2018Let\u2019s celebrate it for a whole year, and let\u2019s record like two or three shows.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then many fans asked for… I was doing a tour with an orchestra in 2004, and we played Wacken. We did one record \u2013 it was called Classic Diamonds<\/em> (September 2004). It was really special, so I thought \u2018How about we do one show in my hometown, a full metal show with guests? And then one show with orchestra and guests, and then doing the Wacken show?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I talked to the guy who always does our DVDs. I said \u2018We\u2019ve always done nice things. What do you think? I\u2019d love to do something special with people maybe the fans haven\u2019t seen yet,\u2019 and he said \u2018Shall we do a whole movie, like a real big documentary.\u2019 I said \u2018Yeah,\u2019 so we got cameras the whole year with us. Then there\u2019s a documentary behind the curtain. It\u2019s like two to two-and-a-half hours long, and it shows really nice things. Everybody had something to say, like the band and the road crew, all the guests. I think it\u2019s a really nice movie; it was very intimate, very human, sometimes funny, and sometimes very interesting. <\/p>\n

\u201cThen of course there was the big Wacken show with the big stage and pyrotechnics, and then the two shows in my former hometown \u2013 one with an orchestra, and the other a full metal show. The whole DVD I think is actually seven or eight hours long, so there\u2019s lots of stuff on it. Tons of songs, and tons of songs which I grew up with and loved by artists that I love. I was born and raised with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, so of course I had some guests like Biff \u2013 we did \u2018Denim And Leather\u2019 again (Saxon, from the October 1981 album of the same name), and \u2018You\u2019ve Got Another Thing Comin\u2019 (Judas Priest, from July 1982\u2019s Screaming For Vengeance<\/em>).\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cPhil Campbell (Mot\u00f6rhead guitarist) was there \u2013 we did \u2018Breaking The Law\u2019 (Judas Priest, from April 1980\u2019s British Steel<\/em>). Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), we did \u2018Fear Of The Dark\u2019 together with the orchestra (from the May 1992 album of the same name). I did all kinds of songs which I love so much and which inspired me. With Udo Dirkschneider (ex-Accept), we did three songs; \u2018Balls To The Wall\u2019 (from the December 1983 Accept album of the same name), \u2018Princess Of The Dawn\u2019 (from March 1985\u2019s Metal Heart), and \u2018Dancing With An Angel\u2019. \u2018Dancing With An Angel\u2019 is a song that many fans like. It\u2019s a ballad \u2013 it was on Udo\u2019s album (Man And Machine<\/em>, July 2002). I asked the guests which songs they wanted to do, like maybe their favourite songs of their career. Then we all got together, and talked about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach show in Dusseldorf was three-and-a-half hours long, and the Wacken show was one-and-a-half hours. The video director said \u2018You\u2019ll have to kick out some songs because it\u2019s much too long.\u2019 It was supposed to be a two-DVD set and a two Blu-Ray set, but for DVD there are time limits, so I had to kick out so many songs. Man… it was so heartbreaking, so I asked the record company if we could make it a three-DVD package. They said \u2018Okay, let\u2019s do it.\u2019 I think there are 28 bonus songs, so for fans who are maybe not familiar with every song, or sometimes for the fans love some songs which are not played at every show, it was just to make it really special and involved for the 30th anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It would be remiss of Metal Forces<\/em> not to touch on the topic of the aforementioned Lemmy. A friend of the singer\u2019s, the Mot\u00f6rhead frontman died on December 28th, 2015 at the age of 70 following a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. \u201cI would say that Lemmy was like my best friend in the music scene,\u201d she shares. \u201cI met him in \u201983, \u201984, and we hit it off right away. We became great friends right away, and then we toured together many times. I had the great chance to work in the studio with Lemmy a couple of times. Our first collaboration was in 2000 on the Calling The Wild<\/em> album (September 2000); he wrote a beautiful song called \u2018Alone Again\u2019, and then we covered \u2018Love Me Forever\u2019 (from February 1991\u2019s 1916<\/em>) \u2013 the Mot\u00f6rhead classic. Then our last duet was for our last album Raise Your Fist<\/em> (October 2012); it was \u2018It Still Hurts\u2019, and we recorded it in LA. I think it\u2019s such a soulful ballad. <\/p>\n

\u201cLemmy was one of the most soulful people I have ever seen; very intelligent, very straight from your heart, and very unique. He was definitely my mentor, and my best friend in the music business. We all miss him so much, and I know that all of the fans out there can totally relate. I think he was one of a kind. I would say for me, it was always Lemmy and Ronnie James Dio (ex-Black Sabbath \/ ex-Rainbow). They were my biggest heroes and I\u2019m super-sad that they are not with us any more, but I\u2019m so glad that I had the chance to listen to the music, to get to know them, to go on tour together, and to go to the studio together \u2013 it\u2019s unforgettable. Me and Lemmy, we always text messaged when we had a birthday or at Christmas, or when a new record came out. We were great friends, and I\u2019m so sad. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wanna write a song for Lemmy. I went to his funeral, and then I had this little melody in my head. It\u2019s called \u2018Living Life To The Fullest\u2019, and I wanna put this song on the new record in memory of Lemmy. Probably the new record will come out in 2017. I loved him so much, and he was a great, great person to talk to. Very, very deep, and one of those spiritual, very intelligent people. There was a time in my life. It was 2000. My dad, which was my best friend… I\u2019m an only child, and my dad was my best friend, He was a great father, and he died. I was so devastated, and really not feeling well. One day later, my phone rang and it was Lemmy. I told Lemmy what happened, and said \u2018I\u2019m so devastated. I\u2019m so down. I don\u2019t even know if I can do anything any more.\u2019 It hit me so, so hard. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe said \u2018Doro… You know what? Let\u2019s do something together. Come to LA, and we\u2019ll do a couple of songs together.\u2019 I said \u2018Lemmy… I\u2019m so sad. I can\u2019t do anything any more.\u2019 He said \u2018No, Doro… Let\u2019s do it. Let\u2019s do it, and I promise you we will spend some time together. Let\u2019s do it.\u2019 Then I went to LA, and that was the first time we collaborated \u2013 where we did the two songs, \u2018Alone Again\u2019 and \u2018Love Me Forever\u2019. He was such a great friend to me. He was an angel, I tell you. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn some ways, I think he saved my life because I was so sad. I was destroyed, and Lemmy… He always had good things to say; he was very deep and very gentle, and a total gentleman. I will never, ever forget that. It was one of the saddest times in my life, but also one of the greatest times in my life. Somebody took care of me, and that was like \u2018Wow\u2019. That it was Lemmy was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The passing of Lemmy was a sad occasion. \u201cI got a phone call in December,\u201d Doro reveals. \u201cIt was a woman. She called me, and said \u2018Doro… Just to let you know, Lemmy is not doing well at all.\u2019 When we went on tour, there were times where Lemmy didn\u2019t feel well, but a couple of days later the tour would go on and it was always alright. When I got that phone call though, I immediately started… Yeah, I remember tears were rolling down, and I could feel that something serious was coming. Then the next day I heard. <\/p>\n

\u201cI got another phone call, that he wasn\u2019t here any more. I couldn\u2019t believe it, but I kind of felt like \u2018Wow.\u2019 I\u2019m so happy and grateful that I had the chance to spend so much time with him. We had so many great conversations, talking about life and laughing. I think Lemmy had such a great sense of humour. It was so awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lemmy arguably possessed a sharp sense of humour. \u201cYeah,\u201d the composer seconds. \u201cIt was very sharp, very fast and sharp. He had such a great sense of humour, and he was the real thing. He was one of a kind. You always knew that Lemmy was honest in what he said, and what he did and when he played. I guess nobody will be as important and unique as Lemmy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In formulating setlists for the three respective performances collected on the Strong And Proud<\/em> DVD, the thoughts and feelings of guest performers like Biff Byford, Phil Campbell et al were considered as well as those of the fans. \u201cI tried to put all of the favourite songs of the fans together,\u201d Doro explains. \u201cAt Wacken, we had one-and-a-half hours. We thought \u2018Yeah, let\u2019s concentrate on great show elements like a drum-riser going up, and pyro where the songs would fit like \u2018Burning The Witches\u2019 (from the March 1984 album of the same name).\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor \u2018Burning The Witches\u2019, we had like two girls who were hanging from the stake, and then the witches burning on it. I think it looked really cool \u2013 I think it was very metal (laughs). It took like one year to build the stage for Wacken. I just picked the songs which I thought the fans would like the most, and then we were in Dusseldorf with the orchestra. <\/p>\n

\u201cI picked the songs in accordance with the guests. For example, I asked Biff \u2018Shall we do \u2018Denim And Leather\u2019?\u2019 He said \u2018Alright, yeah,\u2019 and then we said \u2018Let\u2019s do another one, like \u2018You\u2019ve Got Another Thing Comin\u2019.\u2019 We did it before, when we were on tour, and we did it for my 20th anniversary. We talked to the fans and to our guests, and then I chose the songs I thought people would like to hear, or that people hadn\u2019t heard in a long time but are good songs and special. Something like \u2018Touch Of Evil\u2019 (from September 1987\u2019s Triumph And Agony<\/em>), which was a song that was recorded on 12-inch tape in 1985 but was always cool. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere some songs which we don\u2019t always play in the setlist, like \u2018Ich Will Alles\u2019 (from September 2000\u2019s Calling The Wild<\/em>). That\u2019s a German hard metal song with a powerful vibe, and all our friends and guests came up, and that was cool. I wanted to tell the fans that the fans are the most important thing in my life, so the DVD starts with \u2018We Are The Metalheads\u2019. That\u2019s the Wacken performance, and then all of the metalheads come onstage. I thought \u2018Yeah, let\u2019s start with that,\u2019 because I\u2019m still a big metalhead. I\u2019m still a fan, and I\u2019m happy to belong to the metal scene. It\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lyricist has performed at the Wacken Open Air festival on a number of occasions throughout the years. \u201cI think we might\u2019ve played ten times at Wacken at least,\u201d she estimates. \u201cI have definitely been there more than ten times singing the \u2018We Are The Metalheads\u2019 anthem. I have been a guest in other people\u2019s sets; last time, when I saw Mot\u00f6rhead at Wacken, I guested on \u2018Killed By Death\u2019 (from June 1983\u2019s Another Perfect Day<\/em>). <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ve been at Wacken many times, playing our own show many times. I think we might play in 2018 again, because there\u2019s another anniversary coming up. So, maybe that\u2019s something people will talk about. I don\u2019t know for sure, but yeah, playing at Wacken is always special. They\u2019re always very supportive in helping you when you want to do something different, or when you have a special idea. They always want to put on a special show. People from all over the world come there \u2013 it\u2019s very international. I love that. It\u2019s kind of very meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The May 2nd, 2014 concert at the CCD Stadthalle in Doro\u2019s hometown of D\u00fcsseldorf happened to be the performance alongside the orchestra. \u201cThat exact same orchestra we had in 2004, when we did this tour,\u201d Doro notes. \u201cWe filmed a DVD \u2013 actually, the DVD was filmed in Wacken as well. The DVD was called Classic Diamonds<\/em>, and it came about because some people called me to see if I wanted to do a charity concert. It was called Rock For Animals, which was for animals in need. They protect animals, or make sure abused animals get to a safer place, so we did a charity concert. Some people called me, and asked \u2018Do you want to be a part of it, and sing two songs?\u2019 I said \u2018Yeah, I would love to do it,\u2019 because I love animals. <\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of weeks later, they called me up again and said \u2018Doro, can you sing four songs?\u2019 because one singer said he couldn\u2019t make it. I said \u2018No, no… Of course I can.\u2019 A couple of weeks later, they said \u2018All of the singers have cancelled. Can you sing the whole show? We have a couple of guitar players doing guest appearances.\u2019 I said \u2018Yeah… I could try.\u2019 Then we did the show, and it was great. It was a surprise to everybody, but it was great. Then the fans said how it was a fantastic show, and that we had to do it again. We did it one more time, and it was great. Then we did a whole tour. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was in 2004, and then the Wacken people heard about it. We actually played it at Wacken, and these are exactly the same people you see on the 30th anniversary DVD. It was 80% of the same orchestra people on the DVD, and they\u2019re from all over the world \u2013 Russia, Korea, Japan, England, Germany \u2013 and I thought that that was so cool. We had some of the song arrangements, which were still the same and then some songs we did new. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe guy who did it, he became a friend of mine. He knows our music; he knows how it should sound, and that it shouldn\u2019t sound corny or conservative. He knows that we are rock and metal, and nothing cheesy. I think it came out pretty good. If you work with somebody who knows, then you can much more easily trust the person when somebody knows your music, or knows what you are all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

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One might assume the May 3rd, 2014 concert at the CCD Stadthalle was a more upbeat affair given that it was a traditional rock performance, but such comments would suggest the orchestral evening was more laid-back in atmosphere. \u201cWe had to make sure that people wouldn\u2019t think the orchestra show was only ballads,\u201d the vocalist highlights. \u201cWe immediately started with \u2018Touch Of Evil\u2019, and that\u2019s one of our heaviest songs. It\u2019s off of the Triumph And Agony<\/em> album; there\u2019s a big drum intro, and then it\u2019s a crazy song. <\/p>\n

\u201cI scream my ass off, and then we started the orchestra show with \u2018Touch Of Evil\u2019 so that everybody would know that it wasn\u2019t going to be a boring show with ballads. It had a lot of fast songs as well, and the rock show \u2013 the full metal show \u2013 was the same. It was full-on metal, but with some anthems of course too, and some soulful songs like \u2018Above The Ashes\u2019 (from March 2006\u2019s Warrior Soul<\/em>) or something. So, a good mixture between super-heavy and fast anthems, and soulful songs like \u2018Love Me In Black\u2019 for example (from the May 1998 album of the same name). Both shows had the same level of energy, though. The orchestra show wasn\u2019t just\u2026 It was very cool, and with high energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strong And Proud<\/em>\u2019s second DVD disc consists of a documentary entitled \u2018Behind The Curtain, Inside The Heart Of Doro\u2019. \u201cIt\u2019s almost two-and-a-half hours long, and it shows the whole year of the 30th anniversary celebrations from all over the world,\u201d Doro details. \u201cIt\u2019s like stuff from every country, and all of the people talk about how they feel. For example, my band members and everybody get their own spot to say how they got into the band, and how they feel, and how they view it. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe road crew and all of our guests, they have nice things to say. You can really see us backstage or whatever \u2013 when we get ready for the show \u2013 how intense it is, what everybody does. Or on the tour bus, like when we go to sleep on the tour bus. It\u2019s very human, very intimate. It\u2019s two-and-a-half-hours of like the title says, behind the curtains, and like backstage stuff. I think lots of stuff people wouldn\u2019t expect or know yet. It\u2019s really on the inside, and very human I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strong And Proud<\/em>\u2019s cover artwork was designed by Geoffrey Gillespie. \u201cGeoffrey Gillespie is one of my favourite artists,\u201d the frontwoman enthuses. \u201cI asked him to paint for this DVD, for the 30th anniversary. I said \u2018I want to have something great again.\u2019 I think it took him\u2026 I don\u2019t know how many months, but I think it was four or five months, and then it came. I saw it when he sent it, and I was so happy and was sure that the fans would like it as well. The limited edition is a earbook, a big book with like 60 pages of pictures and stuff. It was really nicely done. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s all kinds of packages for the diehard fans who like to collect stuff, which looks really nice and has value. I think it\u2019s worth it for the 30th anniversary, but you can get the vinyl as well. It\u2019s two vinyl records, and you can get other stuff separately. Also, it\u2019s our first Blu-Ray. At first I thought that it wasn\u2019t necessary, but then I saw the quality and thought \u2018Wow.\u2019 When you watch the DVD in Blu-Ray, it\u2019s very nice. The hair on everybody\u2019s head, it\u2019s so clear. The DVD is nice as well, but it\u2019s all in one package \u2013 a limited edition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Details with respect to Doro\u2019s forthcoming 13th solo full-length studio album are imprecise at the time of writing. \u201cI don\u2019t know, but definitely some great guests,\u201d she comments. \u201cThe new record will probably come out in 2017, but it\u2019s too early to tell. We\u2019ve written a couple of songs, but we haven\u2019t really been in the studio yet to do recordings. Yeah, next year. As I mentioned, some great guests will come up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sound-wise, the performer harbours aims and goals for the forthcoming effort. \u201cI would like to go in the same vein as Triumph And Agony<\/em>, and Raise Your Fist<\/em>,\u201d she lists. \u201cThese two records I always love, so very metal and lots of anthems. Fast songs, and some surprises, and some soulful songs as well, and of course some great guests. Maybe some guest guitar players, and a duet. I don\u2019t know with whom yet, but yeah. We will try to do something with bands we love, but it might be hard to top a duet with Lemmy. That\u2019s probably not toppable, but I\u2019ll make sure it\u2019s something cool and something great. <\/p>\n

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\u201cI just did a duet with Amon Amarth (\u2018A Dream That Cannot Be\u2019, from March 2016\u2019s Jomsviking<\/em>) \u2013 I loved it. We are great friends. I went to Andy Sneap\u2019s studio close to Birmingham (Backstage Studios in Derby), and spent a couple of days there. Everybody was there, and we had such a great time. I guest sang live on my birthday. They played Rock Am Ring, which is a big festival, something like Sonisphere. It\u2019s really big. The band asked me if I wanted to do it live, and I said \u2018Oh, yes. That would be so awesome.\u2019 So, we just did it live, and I love that song. I love that band, and I love that record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doro\u2019s 13th solo studio affair has yet to receive an actual title. \u201cWe\u2019ve just been making sure that the DVD was finished, and now it\u2019s coming out,\u201d she reasons. \u201cIt\u2019s too early to say, but definitely the song for Lemmy \u2013 \u2018Living Life To The Fullest\u2019 \u2013 that will be on there. The title though, I don\u2019t know. We\u2019ve only recorded one song, actually. It\u2019s called \u2018Fight Through The Fire\u2019. It\u2019s a very fast song, and heavy. The other songs though, I don\u2019t know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time of writing, no other track titles exist. \u201cNo, it\u2019s too early,\u201d the singer underlines. \u201cSometimes you write songs, and you don\u2019t even know if you will pick them for the record. I always like to write as many songs as we can, and then pick the best ones. We think \u2018Yeah, man. That deserves to be on the record.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

And as well, the musical style of Lemmy tribute \u2018Living Life To The Fullest\u2019 is yet to be finalised. \u201cMaybe it starts out slow, and then speeds up,\u201d Doro ponders. \u201cI\u2019m not sure about the arrangement. We\u2019ve put it down as a demo. Maybe the arrangement is not yet cast in stone. At first it seemed to be a slow one, but then\u2026 Yeah. We\u2019ll see. I can\u2019t say yet. Sometimes when you do stuff, it shows you the way. You\u2019re doing it and you\u2019re in the middle of it, and you feel it out \u2013 that it\u2019s too slow, and needs to be sped up. So far, it\u2019s just the demo. We\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preceding the record\u2019s impending release has been April 2016 maxi-single \u2018Love\u2019s Gone To Hell\u2019. \u201cThat was a song that we wrote for the new record, but then I thought \u2018Man, I don\u2019t want to wait till a whole new record is coming out,\u2019\u201d the songwriter divulges. \u201cI wanted to put it out, and I wanted to make a video for it. I felt that song had some kind of magic, and I wanted to make a really nice video. I thought that the song had so much class that it wouldn\u2019t be right to have a cheap video for it filmed on a cell phone in black and white. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat can sometimes work great for a rock song, a metal song, or a punk song, but for that song I thought I wanted something top notch \u2013 like really expensive looking with great locations. Nobody wanted to support the video because they\u2019re not important any more, so we did it through crowd-funding for the first time. <\/p>\n

\u201cThen we talked to the fans, and some fans said \u2018Yeah, let\u2019s do it all together.\u2019 We thought of some great things to give to the fans in return, like my stage clothes, or a lifetime VIP pass \u2013 all of these goodies. The first thing that was gone was actually the movie blood, the blood from the video. We had all of these props. So yeah, we did it through crowd-funding, and the fans supported it. The video came out in two versions; one is just performance, and the other one is with a story. It shows the story about the lyrics of \u2018Love\u2019s Gone To Hell\u2019; when a love affair starts out great, but ends in total chaos and disaster. That\u2019s what the song is about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether \u2018Love\u2019s Gone To Hell\u2019 will feature on Doro\u2019s 13th solo full-length studio affair is yet to be determined. \u201cI don\u2019t know, since we just put out the single,\u201d she considers. \u201cMaybe in a different version. Yeah… I don\u2019t know yet. It was written for the new album, but I don\u2019t know yet. It depends when the new record is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having cut a wealth of LPs throughout the years, the wordsmith nevertheless harbours a favourite. \u201cWe\u2019ve done like 16 records, and many DVDs and many 12-inches,\u201d she cites. \u201cI think one of my favourite records is still Triumph And Agony<\/em> \u2013 it has some great memories. When we play songs like \u2018I Rule The Ruins\u2019 or \u2018F\u00fcr Immer\u2019 or \u2018All We Are\u2019, it\u2019s always so great and fits so great. My favourite song I would say is \u2018It Still Hurts\u2019 with Lemmy, from the Raise Your Fist<\/em> record. At the moment, that\u2019s my favourite song. When I hear Lemmy sing, that\u2019s always so awesome. Of the records, Triumph And Agony<\/em> was one of our magical ones, but I think every record has magical songs on it. In terms of whole parts of a whole record though, I think Triumph And Agony<\/em> is my favourite.\u201d<\/p>\n

And by the same token, Doro concedes to there being a least favourite among the catalogue. \u201cThere was one album,\u201d she confesses. \u201cIt was the third record, True As Steel<\/em> (August 1986). It was supposed to be a total metal record, but there was so much pressure from the record company to do it more commercial, and then the mix was much more commercial \u2013 it sounded much more pop to us than we intended. The demos were great, but then suddenly it was like a more radio friendly sound. I would say the True As Steel<\/em> record isn\u2019t my favourite, but I think it had some great songs on it. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe still love to play \u2018True As Steel\u2019, or sometimes \u2018\u2026 To Rock\u2019 \u2013 that was our very first video. Sound-wise though, it was a difficult record, because everyone wanted it to be a big commercial seller. We were just a metal band. It wasn\u2019t our intention to have radio friendly songs (laughs). It was mixed a little too poppy, I thought, but now listening back to it, it\u2019s not so bad. It\u2019s actually okay, but at the time it was annoying. It was a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the vocalist has \u201cgreat memories\u201d of the Warlock days. \u201cMy first big show with Warlock actually was at Castle Donington at the Monsters Of Rock festival, in \u201986,\u201d she offers. \u201cI think that was one of the most important days in our lives, because we did pretty good. The fans were going crazy, and everybody said \u2018Okay, let\u2019s give this band a shot. Let\u2019s give them a chance.\u2019 Then we went on tour with Judas Priest, and that was my favourite band. It was such a great tour, in \u201886, and then we went to America. We did the Triumph And Agony<\/em> album. I fell in love with America, with New York, and everything fell into place. The whole record seemed really magic, and then we did a tour with Ronnie James Dio in \u201887. <\/p>\n

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Warlock 1987 (l-r): Niko Arvanitis, Tommy Henriksen (seated), Doro Pesch,
Michael Eurich (seated) and Tommy Bolan<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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\u201cThat was so great; that was fantastic, that festival and the touring experiences. We were there at the right time, and in the right place. We just started to grow bigger, bigger and bigger. I would say \u201986, \u201887, amazing, and then a couple of years later I could see that grunge was taking over, and that was a total shock. We couldn\u2019t believe it, but it was a big struggle to keep it going \u2013 to survive that era. It was worth it, though. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn \u201899, I had the first feeling that metal was coming back in a big way. Then in 2000, I had a long tour with Ronnie James Dio in America, and all of the places were packed and sold out. I thought \u2018Oh, that\u2019s so awesome. Metal is definitely coming back in a huge, big way.\u2019 I have definitely seen many ups and many downs. You just have to try to hold on, hang in there. Give it your all, and you will survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Doro\u2019s greatest anguish throughout her several decade career additionally relates to the Warlock band. \u201cThat was when we lost the rights to the band Warlock,\u201d she imparts. \u201cWe went to court, because the guy who took the name had nothing to do with us. He took the name though, and it wasn\u2019t right. It was the first time that I was in court though, and I was kicking and yelling. I couldn\u2019t believe it, and then the judge didn\u2019t believe us. We were metalheads with long hair and bullet belts on. He probably didn\u2019t like that, and then the name was gone. That was probably the lowest point. I always wanted to do music for the rest of my life, and then we thought \u2018Okay, we\u2019ll call it Warlock anyhow and do another record.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t possible, though. We immediately got letters from lawyers, saying we couldn\u2019t use the name Warlock anymore. I couldn\u2019t believe it. I thought \u2018Let\u2019s wait one year.\u2019 We put one record out, the Force Majeure record. The record company said \u2018Okay, let\u2019s put it out under the name Doro. Maybe fans will make the connection.\u2019 I said \u2018Yeah, if we have to.\u2019 I never intended to do a solo career, and then it took 20 years to get the name back. Almost 20 years \u2013 it took a long time. I would say that that was one of the most difficult scenarios. \u2018Welcome to the music business.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Given that the Force Majeure album (February 1989) was issued under the Doro name and the frontwoman continued from there, can Warlock and Doro be viewed as one and the same? \u201cI still love to play all of the Warlock songs,\u201d she begins. \u201cI don\u2019t see much difference between the two, but the marketing was different. They always wanted me to be more of a solo artist, but I never wanted to be a solo artist. I never was; I was a team player, and I am a band person. Like when you see the guys in the band; Nick Douglas the bass player has been in the band for 26 years, and Johnny Dee the drummer, 23 years in the band. Everybody has their place, and everybody can put in their ideas. <\/p>\n

\u201cNow though, I have the rights to the name Warlock, so it\u2019s possible to do something with it. I wouldn\u2019t wanna jeopardise what we have with our band, though. It\u2019s tricky, because some of the old Warlock band members totally gave up on music. They were so fed up with the music business, which I can totally understand. If we did some shows though, it probably wouldn\u2019t be all of the original line-up. Just maybe the line-up from \u201886, from Triumph And Agony<\/em> or something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

To clarify, no plans are amidst to reform the Warlock band. \u201cNo plans yet,\u201d Doro confirms. \u201cIt would be possible, but so far we haven\u2019t thought of anything. We did a couple of reunion shows; in Wacken we did it one time, and the Metalwave Festival in Spain. Yeah though, not lately, but it\u2019s not impossible any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Highlights for the entertainer happen to be the various individuals she has worked alongside throughout the years. \u201cI\u2019ve always worked with great people, like going on tour with great people or working together in the studio,\u201d she raves. \u201cI\u2019ve always worked with my heroes, and that was always the highlight. Like working with Lemmy in the studio, or doing the Mot\u00f6rhead tour, or doing the Ronnie James Dio tour, and getting to work with great musicians, and having the chance to become friends and work together. I guess my first really big tour with Judas Priest, unforgettable back in \u201886, and then in \u201987 with Ronnie James Dio. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, I would say all of the Wacken shows are always the highlight. It\u2019s such a big international festival; the atmosphere is always phenomenal. All of the collaborations with bands and musicians mean something to me. Those are always my happiest memories, and it\u2019s so great when you can do something with somebody and listen to the record. That\u2019s awesome; I think the collaborations on each record were always the highlight of the record somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Albeit working with various high profile musicians thus far, several other names exist on the wish list. \u201cThere are so many great people in the world,\u201d Doro observes. \u201cI\u2019d love to do something with Rob Halford (Judas Priest) or Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.), or Glenn Danzig (Misfits). There are so many great people. Rob Halford, that would be so awesome. Something like that, yeah. It depends. Sometimes the song has to call for the right duet partner, or guitarist, or something.\u201d<\/p>\n

The singer has duetted on \u2018Breaking The Law\u2019 alongside Rob Halford in the past. \u201c\u2018Breaking The Law\u2019, we did that live one or two times,\u201d she recalls. \u201cThat was great. I went to see Priest. I was just a guest, and then Rob said \u2018Hey, come on up. Let\u2019s sing \u2018Breaking The Law\u2019 together.\u2019 I thought \u2018Okay\u2026,\u2019 and that was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strong And Proud \u2013 30 Years Of Rock And Metal<\/em> was released on June 24th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast Records.<\/p>\n

Interview published in June 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DORO – Triumphs And Agonies Anthony Morgan June 2016 Doro Pesch D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany-based metal vocalist Doro Pesch entered the music sphere in 1984 fronting the Warlock band, whose debut platter Burning The Witches arrived in March of that year. 2014 marked 30 years since Doro\u2019s arrival proper, the frontwoman wishing to mark the occasion. June […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[311,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doro","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48692"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50425,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48692\/revisions\/50425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}