DER ABEND DER SCHWARZEN FOLKLORE BY CASPAR BRÖTZMANN
Iwas born in Wuppertal, a small town in Germany in the middle of hills, a river and woodland. I started to play the guitar when I was 14 years old, played in a few bands in my home city before I moved over to Berlin where I still live. 1986 I founded my band Caspar Brötzmann Massaker. We released six records, most of them via Rough Trade Germany. In between, I played with different musicians like FM Einheit, Blixa Bargeld, Thurston Moore, Page Hamilton, Diamanda Galas, Massimo Pupillo, Thomas D, Hamid Drake, Peter Brötzmann, Michael Wertmüller, Sumac and so on. Southern Lord is currently re-issuing albums of Massaker, with four already out on the label. I also play solo bass guitar music with my new platform as Bass Totem, and shall be touring this October as support for Sunn O))).
My musical background is with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Cave, Einstürzende Neubauten, Sonic Youth, Miles Davis, Punk, Siouxie and the Banshees, Slipknot, Depeche Mode, Rammstein, Hejira and many many other bands, Musicians and composer like Charles Ives and so on. I’m also inspired by my own musical path, as well as that of my friends whichever direction that may take. I have grown up in a musician family and I think this set me off on a path of deep exploration and discovery that I am still very much on today.
In regards to recording and writing, depending on what I try to do. If I would like to record some new songs in a studio I play mostly before recording either in a practice room alone or with friends or at home alone and work out the ideas. The simple reason is to save money. Sometimes I go directly into the studio and make a session. But I guess in the end I love to play my instrument anyway. I still love to play and to be with my guitars and for sure to play live on stage with my amps and the high volume.
I paint my record covers. Mostly on some paper, I can find somewhere around or on the backside of Massaker posters. If I work on my lyrics I need some atmosphere for that and not the white background of the posters. So many years ago I started to paint some backgrounds like hunting grounds for my lyrics to have a better atmosphere. Also, I am not really into to describe other people what I want to have for a new record cover. I prefer to do it by my self and do not disappoint other people if I don’t like what they have worked out.
www.facebook.com/casparbrotzmannmassaker
