DOUGLAS MCCARTHY TALKS ABOUT THE NITZER EBB REUNION TOUR AS WELL AS PLANS FOR OTHER MUSICAL PROJECTS, HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH DEPECHE MODE, THE TENSE ATMOSPHERE IN THATCHER’S ENGLAND OF THE ‘80S, HIS POLITICAL VIEWS, CURRENT LIFESTYLE AS WELL AS HIS FAVORITE SHOWS AND COLLABORATIONS
Nitzer Ebb – one of the most influential bands for the electronic music scene is back on track with a big reunion tour. Their sound has had a big impact right from the beginning of the ‘80s till nowadays on the birth and development of genres such as EBM, industrial, techno and acid-house. On the wave of the new interest in rough and analog music, that is obviously in the air now, Nitzer Ebb’s classical albums started to sound up-to-date again. Old and new fans all over the world are energetically dancing all over the world at their sold-out shows all over the world.
The band was started in 1982 in Essex, the UK, by two school friends – singer Douglas McCarthy and drummer Bon Harris. The name Nitzer Ebb actually had no meaning, it was meant to sound German and was reflecting the band members passion for early German electro bands. Their original approach to creating music, as Douglas McCarthy mentioned in one of his interviews, was based on a principle of creating music with fusing rock energy, but without using guitars. Nitzer Ebb’s earlier sounds were heavily inspired by the UK post-punk scene and bands like Bauhaus, Killing, Siouxsie and the Banshees and on another hand, was impacted by electronic music pioneers like DAF, Die Krupps and Front 242. Such a combination formed the body of their unique sound -a combination of industrial rhythms, rough electronic effects, aggressive vocals and song lyrics with powerful and direct messages. It’s better to see and to hear it once, but without a doubt, Nitzer Ebb can be described as one of the most vigorous bands in the world, you can definitely feel waves of pure brutal energy coming down from the stage at their shows.
The band has such a powerful background with 5 studio albums, cult musical videos, tours with Depeche Mode and working with massive producers like Alan Wilder and George Clinton. The guys are now in their 50s and are still focused, сheerful and ready for action.
We had a chance to talk with Douglas McCarthy about Nitzer Ebb’s reunion tour, his other musical projects, friendship with Depeche Mode, tense atmosphere in Thatcher’s England of the 80s, political views, current lifestyle, as well as much more.
Interview: Dmitry Tolkunov
Hi Douglas! You are currently on the Nitzer Ebb reunion tour. Is it a nostalgic kind of tour performing only old and classic Nitzer Ebb songs, or will you be playing some new music too?
Hello. It’s somewhat nostalgic but we have reworked the classic tracks to create a more club vibe to the show. No new material.
Do you maybe have some plans to release some new Nitzer Ebb music, after many years of silence?
We’re not ruling anything out or in. First, we want to concentrate on the tour.
How is the tour going? Have you had any memorable gigs so far?
We haven’t officially started the tour but last December we did some warmup shows in London, Stockholm and Gothenburg. They were all great shows.
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