A very insightful interview indeed. I've tried to sum up the main points for those who don't read German. I'm not sure if it's legal to actually translate the text, and it would feel strange, too, so I'll just write up the main points.
Farewell to the Fairground
At the beginning, the interviewer remarks that Mark is slower than ever, and that he has visibly aged. They talk about his health, the new songs and his plans for the future.
Mk explains that the new album took six years to make partly because of the pandemic: he got Covid 3 times, so he struggled playing the guitar and can still feel the effects of that [I'm not sure if he means the effects of covid or the effects of not being able to play].
They go on to talk about "Ahead of the game", which is about live music and being in a band: MK says these days a lot of musicians have to play cover music to survive. He says that in DS days, bands could play clubs and small venues to play their own music, but these days people only want to pay money for superstars, and they don't buy records anymore, so it's hard for young bands. He adds that he hopes to make some money through airplay, since he has quit touring.
Then there is a question about "Tunnel 13", a song about a train robbery: apparently, the redwood for MK's new Boswell guitars comes from the sleepers of that railway line. He explains how that made him think about how something positive and wonderful can actually come out of violence and crime.
About the album title: MK says it's up to the listener to say what it means.
Re touring: MK says that he misses the stage, but sees his physical limits and prefers spending time with his wife and make the best of the time that remains. He says that he has no intention of 'copping it' on some autobahn. [I wonder if he used the German word here]
Apparently, he feels too "rusty" to even play some gigs in London, and it would be just as much hassle as a whole tour. He explains that he simply doesn't want to tour because of his marriage and his health.
He compares touring to riding motorcycles, which he couldn't do today because it's painful in the neck and the wrists. He says he prefers sitting upright these days.
They talk about the guitar auction: MK explains that he sold them because he wasn't using them. [Basically what he said at Christie's]
They talk about the TCT charity single, and why he didn't use those 60 musicians for his album, while they were there: MK says it was a bit like a cavalry attack, he could hardly keep up, and so it didn't occur to him to ask them to do more. He is full of praise for Hank, Bruce, Bonamassa, EC and Jeff Beck.
Finally, asked about about his plans for the future, he says he wants to make a few more albums, instead of moving around on the fairground he's been on for so long.
(Source: Eclipsed Rock Magazin Nr. 259, April 2024)
