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PHANTOM 5 : "S/T"

PHANTOM 5 -  and their self-titled debut release as well as a new band put together by former BONFIRE singer Claus Lessmann, together with producer and guitar player Michael Voss (CASANOVA, BONFIRE, MAD MAX, MICHAEL SCHENKER). They have enlisted a sort of who’s who of German classic and melodic hard rock with a lineup completed by Robby Boebel (Frontline), Axel Kruse (Jaded Heart) and Francis Buchholz (Scorpions). Born as “Supremacy”, this new German melodic rock alliance, with five real aces on the pitch, could not disappoint. So, after the name change to Phantom 5, the new album started to take shape. According to the band: “it sounds like we did a follow up to the famous Bonfire ´Fireworks’ album with a touch of Frontline meets JADED HEART groove… it is a driving monster with huge walls of guitars, powerful soaking drums and fine catchy melodies…we took a trip back into the world of the eighties!!!. Find out more about their debut album and the songs. Here's the former BONFIRE and now PHANTOM5 singer:  CLAUS LESSMANN

Your forthcoming album is to be released on May 13th, 2016. Are you pleased with the final result?

Honestly I must confess, that I am more than pleased with the result and I think everybody in Phantom 5 can’t hardly wait to see it be released. I was very proud and happy to work with this great bunch of talented and nice people. Thank you boys!

How long have you been working on the album?

I think we started in February last year with the songwriting and finished the final mix in late October 2015.

How did you all get in touch and what made you connect as a band?

As far as I can remember it was Serafino (Urban's note: top dog at Frontiers) who came up with this idea. One of these days he contacted Michael with his idea, if he could bring together some sort of a “German all star“ melodic rock band. He already had the complete line up on his mind and so Michael started to give everybody a call and as you can see, everybody jumped on board.

Kindly tell us something about the writing process and what you're trying to capture.

The time of writing the songs was really more than fantastic. We tried to capture the very relaxed atmosphere in the songs. Michael and I also tried to bring back the good old days from the time he was in Bonfire at the end of the 80-ies, when we were touring Europe together with the Point Blank album and especially to bring back the great chemistry between us, when we were writing songs together at that time. I must admit, that the two of us just turned out to be a perfect combination. Everything just came so naturally and easy.

We also tried to be creative in locations we both are not used to. We rented a very nice place in the Bavarian Forest and brought some mobile studio stuff with us and I can tell you, it was so inspiring in between all this nature that was around us. Just like rocking the wilderness and bringing back the harmony, which is so important to music and creativity, according to my opinion.

"All The Way", what's it all about? Give it all you got and nevermind the haters?

Actually it is about the pressure we are facing in our everydays life. Not only in relationships. It happens very often, that one part wants things so bad and to happen a lot faster than the other and hardly can’t wait to see the things become reality the same moment he wants them. Do you know what I mean? And sometimes this part puts a lot of pressure on you and sometimes you feel that you barely can handle this situation. This can be a very serious conflict for you. Some people just need a little more time to think things over a little longer and realize that basicly they want the same thing.... just a little slower.

Lyric-wise, (the album) is it the work of pure inspiration, fantasy, or the harsh reality?

Well, I think it is a little bit of everything you mentioned....just like what life is about...a well portioned mixture

Tell us something about "Blue Dog". Not your ordinary kind of title?

Blue Dog... that’s a very funny story. So, we had this song written at the end of a very hot summmer day, up in Greven, where Michael has his studio. I’ve already been there several times and every time, when we finished working and I was on my way to my hotel, I was passing by a little bar. I’ve never been in there, because all the people I’ve asked, if it’s worth going in there, said: „I think ... you don’t wanna go in there ...“. They never really told me a reason why. So, in this particular night I stepped in and it was just amazing, strange and fascinating at a time and I have spent a wonderful and funny night in that little bar called „Blue Dog“ with a lot of nice people. ...some have been a little strange :-)) ...now I know why some people don’t wanna go there...but they should give it a try!

On the next day I told Michael about my nightly trip and he said that we should write the lyrics about that last night for this new song we wrote the day before. So...Here we are „Blue Dog“

What kind of equipment are you using in the studio? Are you in up-to-date or old school?

We have been using real good material and definitely there was also some old school stuff. I just must say it again... it is always the right mixture of things that make the difference. There was this one microphone I was using in the "wilderness sessions" at "Camp Gruber" with the mobile stuff... I liked it so much that I had to buy one, when I came back home. It will always be a good memory for these days - anytime I use it.

What's the secret behind a good production?

Hard to say and probably impossible to answer. Maybe it is the magic of the moments and the magic between the people that are working together.

Going through the tracklisting. There's a "Don't Touch The Night" (similar to your Bonfire debut and Don't Touch The Light) as well as a "Frontline". Are you messing with our minds or simply trying to be clever :)

It was just fun, to make some little quotes on yesterdays... you just can’t erase your own history....nobody can! :)

Would you say there's a special sound such as, "German Melodic HardRock", or Teutonic Metal?

Yes, maybe when we are talking about Teutonic Metal. Rock music has become a very global thing. Back in the 70-ies German Rock music was called „Kraut Rock“, maybe because the Germans were not able to do it better, but since the Scorpions appeared on Germany’s Rock scene at that time, everything changed and Germans learned to rock and showed and proved it to the world. The Scorpions did a lot for the credibility of German rock bands. Thanks to you guys!

You started out as 'Supremacy' and became 'Phantom 5'. Why the name change? and why the five phantoms?

Again it was Serafino who first came up with the name and we thought that it was not a bad choice, plus it was his baby. But then it was clear that we had to change the name, because an other band from south America already used the same name and we wanted to avoid problems. So Phantom 5 was born and „5“ just because we are a 5 piece band.... plus it sounds a lot cooler.

Will it be tough to enstablish yourself or will the ex-Bonfire, Scorpions, Frontline, Casanova, etc. tag linger?

It is and it always was not easy to be successful in the music business and nowadays - it even seems to be harder than ever. But we don’t want to put too much pressure on us and Phantom5. What we tried to do was not the attempt to reinvent melodic hard rock. We just wanted to be part of a fine piece of music and according to my opinion we have done a pretty good job.

What did you learn and experience from your previous acts and albums? Never trust the three-piece-suits?

Haha... maybe the most important thing I’ve learned in the past was that you always should appreciate friendship and loyality and ...very important!!!!...to save some money for the/your lawyers, because there are SHARKS out there ... and they are waiting for their meal :-)))

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do

Just let me say ... Thank you all for your support over the years and I hope you will like the new album of Phantom 5.... see you all - out on the road... Someday, somehow, somewhere!!! ...Take care!
CLAUS LESSMANN

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's label   
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