Franky Winkelmann

GurD

Formed by former POLTERGEIST members in 1994, GURD is a Swiss Thrash Metal band whom have been putting out a steady stream of releases since their inception, with 9 full-lengths leading up until last year's "Fake", a crushingly-heavy, politically-motivated lump of Thrash. Matan Yaniv spoke with the band's bassist, Franky Winkelmann, about the music and themes within their new album.

By Matan Yaniv

• April 5, 2015

Hello Franky, how have you been? Thank you for taking this time for this interview for Metal Temple.

Hi. Litte bit sick at the moment but I will survive... hehehe...

Please Tell me a little bit about your new album

Yeah, 'Fake'.... in my opinion one of the best GurD albums in the history of the band. I really love it. It has an intense power, is a little bit back to the roots but has diversity at the same time without loosing the GurD own style.

"Fake" is actually your tenth album, what do you think differentiates it from the previous albums?

Hmmm, style wise I would say not so much. We still are into thrash metal with the GurD own style groove elements. It's again hard, very fast, rocking and at the same time groovy.....and absolutely merciless... Hehehe...

And... We had the opportunity to ask Gyula Havansàc, one of the finest cover-art designer, who also did designs for ANNIHILATOR and DESTRUCTION, to do the cover for our new album. The moment I saw the cover art, it blew my mind...my first thoughts was: .f****, that fits absolutely perfect to the theme of the song.

Something similar, how your previous albums have influenced this album?

Well, 'Your Drug Of Choice' was also a killer album in my opinion, but I can't say that we were directly influenced by it. Ok, maybe more subliminal... Hehehe... Finally we have found our style, you know what I mean......

We are mostly influenced by all the things that happen around us in the world and this normally takes part in the writing process of v.o.'s lyrics....

Do you have any song that you mostly proud of in this album?

Oh yeah... Hagridden definitely for me. It's a song that comes along like a superheavy tank to grind everything down to the ground... hahaha.....
I really love this song...

Tell me why have you choose "Fake" to be the title song and the name of the album?

You really ask me that? Only a few hints: look at the news, look at the stories in the newspapers, look at all the 'stories' the try to sell us etc.etc.......do you really believe all what 'they' say???? Does it sometimes not look like it's all a big FAKE?? Just to misinform us all with the goal to have a better control over us all?

Let's leave the album a bit, you are well known as a band that done some tours with some of the most greatest Metal bands worldwide, which tours do you most remember fondly?

OK, since I'm not a former member, but a fix part of the band as the bassplayer since 2003, I can only talk about the touring I had done with our buddies and good friends from Pro Pain in the last 12 years and the tour we had done in 2011 on the Neckbreaker's Ball Tour with Dark Tranquility, Eluveitie, Varg and Mercenary. That was indeed a funny tour but with Pro Pain we always had a blast!! Love these guys....

For the future to come, with which band would you most want to tour with?

Hmmm, maybe with Monster Magnet... I know, it would not be a fitting package, but so what. I love their music and it would be a blast for me to go on tour with them...

This year you celebrating your 20th year as GurD, are you planning to do some special show or something for this occasion?

We allready did our 20th anniversary show in the famous Z7 in Pratteln on the 5th of December 2014 were we had also the 'FAKE' CD baptism celebration. Our friends from 'Pure Inc' took part on this evening as they performed a reunion show only for this evening. That evening was absolute remarkable for me....

Speaking of which, in your entire career you have done a lot of things, what is the thing that you most proud of?

What I'm really proud of? Hmmm, maybe that I have not lost my believe in making music and still wanna rock the stage... Ah yeah, that I can be a part of it with my great buddies from GurD...

As we said you are celebrating your 20th anniversary right now, but what do you think that will happened in another 10 years? on your 30th anniversary?

As far as I will not lose my enthusiasm in music I still will stay on stage with my buddies from GurD... Hahahahahaha...

Thank you for the interview ,do you have any message for the fans and readers?

Hey, no problem... Was a pleasure for me... to all the fans out there: thanx for your support!

STAY BRUTAL and don't eat that shit you get served from the so called free media... HORNS UP!!!

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