Scorpions arrives in Brazil with ‘Rock Believer,’ album ‘focused on fans’

In the cold German city of Hanover, Scorpions entered the studio to record an album like they hadn’t done in a while. During the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, rock believer (2022) – marked by a raw atmosphere, coming from live takes, made with all the musicians in the recording room at the same time.

Unlike usual, Scorpions did not work with a producer. The members themselves took charge of the task, which, according to the guitarist Matthias Jabsmade the album’s tracks fit perfectly into the band’s setlist – packed with hits like “Wind of Change.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil, jabs highlighted: “It is never easy [montar o setlist]. With so many classic songs, when we release a new album, we’re like, ‘Okay, we want to play two or three new ones,’ like every band does. But we wanted to play six or seven because they fit so well.”

rock believer it has been described as an album made for the fans. Leaving aside the commercial ballads, Scorpions aimed at weight and pleasing his loyal audience. “From the beginning, we defined: ‘Let’s make an album focused on our fans.’ No ballads to play on the radio. We recorded the same way we did in the 1980s,” said jabs.

The first tour after the quarantine period began in 2022, precisely to promote the album. “Going up on stage after so long was just amazing,” described the musician about the common feeling that has hit artists in the last year. It is with this excitement that Scorpions arrives in Brazil in 2023 – a country with which it maintains a close relationship. The tour has dates in Manaus, Ribeirão Preto, Florianópolis, São Paulo and Porto Alegre. Recalling other passages, jabs he pointed out that the agenda is rarely limited to the Rio-São Paulo axis.

We have been to Brazil many times. The first of them in 1985, at the first Rock in Rio. We don’t just play in Manaus, Rio and São Paulo. We went to Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Vitória, Belo Horizonte… many places. We have a good amount of fans in the country. It’s great to be able to see you soon.

Check out and full interview of Matthias Jabs The Rolling Stone Brazil:

Rolling Stone: How does it feel to be back on tour after the lockdown period?
Matthias Jabs: Two years away from the road. We’ve never been through this before, it was the longest break for us and other bands as well. We make the best use of it. you see the bottom [apontando para o estúdio ao seu redor]here we recorded our most recent album, rock believer, We spent a year recording, so it didn’t feel like we were sitting around doing nothing. We also prepared for the tour, and in March of last year, we started to do shows again. Getting up on stage after so long was just amazing.

How did it feel playing Rock Believer live? How did the record take shape on the road?
Due to the pandemic, we were unable to go to Los Angeles to record with our Californian producer. So we had to stay here in Hanover, our hometown, and we didn’t have any producers as nobody could travel. That was the good part. We did the production ourselves and that’s why the album sounds like this. That’s why new songs fit so well into the classic catalogue. We can play any track on the new record, we pick five of them, and in any order, they work.

Was it an easy task to assemble the setlist then?
[Risos] It’s never easy. With so many classic songs, when we release a new album, we’re like, “Okay, we want to play two or three new ones,” like every band does. But we wanted to play six or seven because they fit so well. Then we realized that, as they are very new, not everyone would know…

Although, as you said, the tracks don’t fit the catalog well, they sound distinctly different from more recent records. How was the decision to go for a heavier sound?
From the beginning, we defined: “Let’s make an album focused on our fans.” No ballads to play on the radio. Rock songs, something fans would enjoy. We recorded the same way we did in the 1980s: everyone in the same room recording live.

Despite not everyone knowing the new tracks on the current tour, how was the reception to Rock Believer?
Reception was very good. It didn’t take long for most people in the audience to pick up the lyrics and sing along, which is a good sign. With the help of internet, things are distributed more easily.

How is working with Mikey Dee? What was his contribution to the record?
Mikey has a great personality. He fits right in with the band and has been with us for six years. This was the first album we recorded together and he’s very energetic and has a lot of power. We can record and rehearse for eight hours a day. We worked really hard and you can hear his energy in the songs.

I would like you to talk a little about Scorpions’ relationship with Brazil. You’ve been here a few times and you always try to come to more cities besides Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
We have been to Brazil many times. The first of them in 1985, at the first Rock in Rio. We don’t just play in Manaus, Rio and São Paulo. We went to Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Vitória, Belo Horizonte… many places. We have a good amount of fans in the country. It’s great to be able to see you soon.

In the last Scorpions conversation with Rolling Stone Brasil, you were celebrating 30 years of Crazy World – an album written under another political context. In 2022, again in an atypical historical context, you released Rock Believer. What has changed in the band since then?
Crazy World it was a long time. It came when the polarization between east and west fell away, and “Wind of Change” became the soundtrack of the moment – ​​the opening of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany. The song wasn’t written for these events, but it was perfect for it.
rock believer it was produced during the pandemic, which changed the world drastically. What we see today, with the war in Ukraine, is something we never imagined seeing in the middle of Europe – a war in the style of 100 years ago – so close. It’s a terrible thing. I hope it ends soon, but it doesn’t look like it will.

Rock Believers of Manaus, are you ready? Can’t wait to rock the Monsters Tour with Kiss and Sepultura tonight. See you soon!! 🦂🦂🦂💥💥💥

Next Up:
12 April – Manaus
15 April – Bogota
18 April – Ribeirao Preto
20 April – Florianopolis
22 April – Sao Paulo

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— Scorpions (@scorpions) April 12, 2023