After more than 17 spent without recording an album, Francis Buchholz is finally back on top of the bill as the bass player and producer of the german band Dreamtide which fourth release, entitles Dream and Deliver, will be out in Europe on 29th August. Let’s talk about that!

- Gegers :The last time I contacted you you were on tour with Uli Jon Roth. What memories do you have of the shows you played with im all over Europe?

Francis : First of all I want to say hello to you and to all the Scorpions Fans in France! Yes, I have great memories: With Uli Jon Roth's Sky Band we played in countries all over Europe including concerts  in France. I like France, even though I do not speak the french language, but I do know a couple of words! My family has french roots from the eighteenth century and I am named after my french great grandfather Francois who came to Germany in 1760. At the concerts I have always met Scorpions Fans and everybody gave me a heartly welcome which made me feel home on stage again. We were also lucky to be able to extend that tour to the USA! I have good memories of my dear friends at the Sky Band: Uli, Olaf, Michael and Ferdy, they are definitely great musicians and wonderful human beings. On this tour we had so many magic moments on stage, I mean these moments when time seems to stand still for a couple of seconds or minutes. When just music flows and there is nothing else, just music and a vibe which seems to connect everybody to each other <in the concert hall.

-One thought that you would play bass on his upcoming album, which release is scheduled for summer. However it seems that this is not the case, is there a reason for that?
From what I know Uli decided to record most of the tracks of his new album by himself. Exept for drums and possibly vocals. I believe he is playing all the guitar, keyboard and bass tracks. On the last tour, travelling from town to town, I had suggested to him to record a rock album with the Sky Band. After the shows we used to drink some red whine and to spend time discussing. When I brought up the issue he used to smile and everytime I felt deep in my heart that he wanted a different direction for his album - I mean play a different style. During the tour we had grown together closely as a band and I was convinced that we could have recorded some great music! But as Uli masterminded all of his former albums, he consequently decided to be in charge for his upcoming album alone. I respect his decision.

-You're finally back as the bass player of the band Dreamtide. After so many years, what made you think that it was time for you to be part of a band again?

First of all: It feels good to be back! But, no, I did not think that it was time for me, things just happened like that. 

-How did you get in touch with the members of Dreamtide?

The first time ever I heard about Dreamtide was, when our singer Olaf gave me a record and said: Listen to this, that is my band "Dreamtide". I listened and was impressed by great songs, extraordinary guitar work and singing. Then, after coming home from touring with Uli,  I met Dreamtide's guitar player Helge Engelke at a party of a friend of mine.  I had known Helge for some years already and I always knew him as the lead guitar player in "Fair Warning". But I had never talked to him about his band Dreamtide. This time we discussed Dreamtide's music and he invited my to his studio to listen to some of their new stuff. In the studio it turned out, that I liked the music a lot and many ideas came into my head. We got along great and discovered, that Helge and I have a very good understanding in the approach to music. I felt that we were on the same wavelengh!

-Were the songs of "Dream and Deliver" already written before you joined or did you have a say in the composition process?

All the songs were already written and recorded in advanced demo versions. I did not mind. To me it does not matter if I have a say in the composition process. When I work on a great song - but yet a unfinished recording - I can contribute in so many other ways.
Most of the songs you hear at the radio have come a long way from a couple of chords and some vocal idea to a finished hit record.   

-How did it feel to get back in the studio as a member of a band and not a producer?
Originally I went into the studio just to have some fun, possibly to produce, not to play. Then I did have lots of fun discussing the production of the album, working on sound and ideas. After a couple of weeks it turned out, that the former bassplayer of Dreamtide was busy doing other things and therefore not available for the recordings. Helge asked me if I would take over. I said: "Why not?" How did I feel?  If I had not felt great I would not have done it. In other words: It feels good. I love the music, the compositions and lyrics, and Dreamtide is a very good band.

-How would you describe the album "Dream and Deliver" for people who do not know the music played by Dreamtide?

It is hard rocking with a lot of melody, feeling, groove and personality.  

-The music of Dreamtide is still hard rock but is much more melodic than the Scorpions. As a bass player, did you approach the recording sessions differently from with the Scorpions? In terms of musicality, what are according to you the main differences between those two bands?

My approach to recording sessions has always been the same: I want to get my bass sound as good as on stage or even better, I want my ideas in place and my bass playing to be best fitting with the compositions. I also like to have a certain live atmosphere in the studio recordings.
 
If you are speaking of main differences, Dreamtide does not use an outside producer. There are pros and cons regarding outside producers. My main concern is, that you do not precisely know if a producer was the proper choice until you are in the middle of the recording. And then it is often too late for a change. You do not want to change horses in the middle of a race. I am a teamplayer, I prefer teamwork. Working on "Dream And Deliver" I used to listen to my inner voice and to Helge's comments. We just went for the best atmosphere and feeling. I felt very free with my basslines, producing ideas and final mixes.

Regarding musicality Helge's guitar work comes from a quite different approach. And Torsten, our keyboarder, surprised me with my favourite sixties Hammond organ sound with Leslie effect on "Tell Me" and Moog Synthesizer Sounds on other songs. When you are listening to the album you will hear that we have recorded different background vocal sounds, sometime almost gospel alike. I am quite sure that the Scorpions's fans will recognize my bass playing! I also want to mention, that the production of "Dream And Deliver" was on a very very small budget: No big studios, no limousines, no road crew.
   
-Are you now a full time member of Dreamtime, implying that you could play live with them?

I will play live with them when Dreamtide's manager books a tour. But that also depends on the record companies. I would love to play Open Air Festivals next summer! We will see.

-"Dream and Deliver" is already out in Japan. have you got some feedback already and are you happy with it?
Through Dreamtide's myspace site www.myspace.com/dreamtideband I got lots of fantastic feedback already. In the Japan International Album Chart "Dream And Deliver" has just started as new entry on position 14. I am very proud and happy about that!

-Now that you're back on a rock album, do you regret not being part of a band for almost 17 years?

I was almost 20 years part of a band, which already is a very long time compared to the life span of other bands. After such a long time it was good for me to have a break from being on the road. Sometimes you discover that there is a lot more besides recording in the studio, travelling from country to country, from town to town, partying and doing promotion. There are no regrets. It was important to me to look after my family and to care about many other things which I wanted to do as well, within music but also outside of the music business. I like to discover new and different facettes of life.

-You're a proud father of three children. Do you think that Dreamtide is the kind f music your children would listen to, and do you know what they think about their father being a rock musician?
 In my house all doors are open. So my children can hear me playing music in my studio and they enter the room whenever they want, while I am working on recordings. For them my studio is just dad's room. They have just listened to the new Dreamtide recordings and they like the music. My children grew up in a house filled with gold record awards at the walls. They sometimes think, that is normal. Then I tell them, that success needs more than just talent, it is also a lot of hard work and dedication and they understood quickly that this is most definitely not a regular 8 to 4 o'clock job. My children listen to many different styles of rock music. Sometimes they give me records of new young bands and say: "Listen to this, dad, I think you may like it. Great singing, wild guitars..." . That's what I like! Then again they ask me for Jimi Hendrix or Tom Petty albums from my record collection, because they have just discovered that they like that kind of music also.

-What are your plans for the second half of the year 2008?

I have reserved time for the promotion for the  "Dream And Deliver" album.  I will also work on a couple of new ideas in my studio.

-To conclude, feel free to add anything you would like to say.
Thank you very much, Guillaume, I hope to see the french fans pretty soon again!