Michael Schüren is my Cousin. A kind of double cousin, because our mothers are sisters and our fathers are brothers.

We both started making Music together when we were 10 and 11. My Cousin played organ, I played the drums. At the same time, I took drums and piano lessons, but the drums have been my favorite instrument.

We played some small gigs together, mostly small parties from older People, e.g. Friends of our Parents or grandparents. We played old English/American songs like „Raindrops keep falling on my Head" or some German Schlager. However, I think we have been very cute for the old guys, and they liked it very much. After 5 years the band was grown up more and more, and Michael started his Business with cover Music, Top 40 music, but this was not my game. I founded a new Band called „Torso" to make my own Music (later Michael was part of this band as well). However, we had a lot of fun, but no success. Because of some bodily issues I had to quit playing drums. Michael an me restarted the Band with new musicians, but it never made it on stage again. ("Raindrops keep falling on my Head" authors: Burt Bacharach & Hal David; recorded on 1969 by B. J. Thomas for Buch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid movie with Paul Newman as Butch and Robert Redford as Sundance - BG Czech fanclub notice)

My first contact with BG was in Krefeld in my rehearsal room. BG was one floor below. It must have been in 1992. At this time I was asked by former Lucifer's Heritage member Christoph, If I could produce a Demo for his new Band Pillow Killz. They produced their first demo with André Olbrich. However, I remember some parties in my room when the BG guys came and put a new demo recording of themselves in the cassette player. So, this was the first contact. After producing this Demo for Pillow Killz I concentrated for several years on writing music. I never had ambitions to become a "star". (Lucifer's Heritage was pre-Blind Guardian name 1984 - 1987; Christoph Theissen /1969 - 2013/ was LH guitar player during Battalions of Fear demo era 1986/1987 - BG Czech fanclub notice)

So much later in April 2009 my cousin asked, if I could eventually play a gig for Blind Guardian in Portugal end of August. The booking came very late and my cousin had a different contract for this weekend. What I have learned in my life is: Always say "yes". So I got one of Michaels Synthesizers and started to work on the setlist. I was used to play the piano, never keyboards or organ, and even if the keys are black and white there is a big difference in those instruments! However, after some months of preparation I met the BG-Guys at Düsseldorf Air-Port and the adventure began. I never tried the songs with them before, so the first time we played together was the next evening on stage. It was a very small festival, probably not more than 4.000 Metalheads in front of the stage. But for me it was a great experience, and all BG-Guys have been very nice to me. I felt like being part of it! Everything was very impressive, but the most powerful impression was the professionalism of the crew. This was awesome! (it was a show on 30 August 2009, Festival Ilha do Ermal, Vieira do Minho, Portugal - BG Czech fanclub notice)

However, after that I played several times as sub for Michael. I have been in Belgium, in South America and Spain (with Judas Priest) in April and May 2012, (If I remember correctly) and then a few gigs end of 2016, when the live video was recorded. I remember, this gig was followed by three other gigs the following weekend. This Gig in Oberhausen was definitely not the best one I made. It was the first one after a long time, it was the first time in Germany, very close to my homestead, and I knew a lot of guys down there in the audience. And I was sure, they have had a special eye on me! And, to be honest, I didn't know by then that this concert will be recorded. If I see the videos I think I was very "static", if you know what I mean.

Peter: So, Milan, that's the story kept short. But as you know: What happens on tour stays on tour. Finally: I was in the states for business very often, and sometimes during BG-tours in North America. And of course: I took some of my American friends to the BG Concerts! What I finally want to say: Wherever in the world I meet this band, they always let me feel, that I am part of the band, even when I am just part of the audience and not on stage!