Thanks so much to Arne for the interview! I wrote about the Hamburg band The Purelove some time ago. The band released one album, “King Pop”, that was packed with lots of great pop songs. Later on, the band recorded a second album but never saw the light of day. There was very little info about them on the web so it was a great opportunity to learn more about the band, their city, their music, and the band members too! Hope you enjoy this interview!

Also do check some rare photos of the band Arne shared with all! (1, 2, 3, 4)

++ Hi Arne! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

Hi. Well, if I have the time I happily share it.
I am fine and still involved with music but in a very different way than with The Purelove back then.

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

My very first memory (music wise) is me sitting on an electric rocking horse in a shopping mall and somebody is advertising AC/DC and handing over a 7‘‘ Vinyl single. And my first instrument was of course a flute, when I was in elementary school. I hardly had what you can call a musical taste before being 14 when I was introduced to the music of The Jam, The Clash and The Who. This was THE turning point in my life. Its impact is still strong today and Paul Weller just like Joe Strummer are my untouched and invulnerable heroes. And Quadrophenia is one of my all time favourite records.

++ Had you been in other bands before The Purelove? If so, how did all of these bands sound? Are there any recordings?

I was in a school band doing some kind of experimental gothic stuff. Mainly instrumental with story telling through some strange effect filters. But that was only for one school gig.

++ What about the other members?

No idea.

++ Where were you from originally?

I was born and raised in Hamburg but live in a very rural area nowadays. With kids, dogs, other animals.

++ How was Hamburg at the time of The Purelove? Were there any bands that you liked? Were there any good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

We had a wonderful time and didn’t even know how great it actually was. We regularly raided the local record store for new records and bands and the guys who ran that one knew us and advised us when there were new releases. They thought we were brothers as we dressed and styled alike. We knew most Hamburg bands personally back then and of course had our favourite clubs and venues. Most of them are closed now but one is still open. It’s the „kir hamburg“. We played, drank, danced and deejayed there as well back then.

++ During your time there were many great German bands, so I wonder if you have any recommendations for obscure bands that didn’t get a chance to make it?

Absolutely. There are some artists hat are still doing music today. Try „Bernd Begemann“ and „Dirk Darmstaedter of The Jeremy Days“. A lot of bands didn’t make it but I forgot the names.

++ How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?

Fidel and I met at high school the year before I graduated. We decided to form a band for the graduation party together with three other guys. But we soon split except Fidel and me who stayed the only constant members. We had guest guitar players now and then but they never became proper band members.

++ Why did Jörg Fiedler go under the name Fidel?

Isn’t that obvious? It’s his nickname derived from his family name. Nobody calls him Jörg except when it’s meant as a joke.

++ Also let me ask about your style! I’ve seen photos of you and you were always wearing a white shirt and a suit (no tie though), and very similar haircuts. Was that on purpose? Was the image of The Purelove and important part of the look and feel of the band?

Well, our haircuts were like that before we met. And we always liked the same clothes and music. That glued us together – besides being very close friends.
Of course we dressed like we dressed on purpose. We knew about the impact it had on a certain gender… And we loved playing with this image. We have other pictures in Jeans and leather jackets as well – but always with quiffs and shirts. We were good looking, mad, young, cool, well known in the Hamburg music scene…
By the way – on concerts I sometimes wore a suit combined with jump boots.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

We usually met and recorded in Fidels apartment or occasionally in a rehearsal room before concerts. I wrote lyrics all the time. Whenever something came to my mind. Even at night. Wake up, write down, sleep. Fidel wrote songs all the time. And we checked the songs and lyrics to find the matching stuff. We usually worked separately and matched the output later. Or we talked about a topic for a new song and worked separately on the components until they fit.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

Originally we called the band „Pure“ – after a song from „The Lightning Seeds“. Sadly there was a horrible German band called „Pur“ – and one day we were asked if we were connected to them in a way. We immediately changed the name by simply adding „love“.

++ Who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?

The main influence in the sound was New Order although Marsh-Marigold didn’t want us to sound like them. Pat Fish contributed wonderful guitar tracks but they were nearly muted. We wanted to sound like New Order or Human League with guitars.

++ You only released as far as I know one album, “King Pop”, in 1997. I always find a bit strange that a band’s first release is an album. Were there demo tapes released previously?

We didn’t release any demo tapes except sending them to record companies. Marsh-Marigold wanted to do a full album and we had enough songs to do so.

++ The album was released by Marsh-Marigold, maybe the best label to come out from Hamburg. How did you end up working with them? How was the relationship?

I will not say much because I don’t want any bad blood. I guess we were all happy after the recordings and tour were done. We were young, wild, untamed – Parties, drinking. Not at all what Marsh-Marigold was about. That’s why the second record was never released there.

++ The album has an interesting art, in blue tints, we see a woman (naked?) laying down and a crown. Who came up with this idea?

++ The record was recorded and mixed by Clemens Kinder. In which studio was it recorded? And how was working with him? Any anecdotes you can share?

Clemens had a mobile studio and we recorded in Marsh-Marigold Home’s basement.
He is a very calm and quiet guy with a very nice humor. Not much to say except I found the „Mark Hollis“ record in his rack at home. Great recording…
Clemens also did the recordings for the Butcher’s „Glorious & Idiotic“ (that we organised).

++ The album was released on CD back then. These days everyone seems to be reissuing their records on vinyl. I won’t ask if you have plans for this, but would that be something that you’d like to happen eventually? What do you think of this vinyl revival?

We thought of releasing a 25th anniversary edition as a booklet with demos and the „Bullet Record“ but skipped the plan. I know alot of people loving vinyls. I don’t have the time to turn records. I prefer FLAC and a proper bluetooth boombox or headphones. So I have no feelings whatsoever concerning the vinyl revival.  

++ One amazing thing is that Pat Fish played acoustic guitar in the album. How did he end up contributing in the record? Were you friends already?

We met Pat after a Jazz Butcher concert in Hamburg and became friends. We used to do cover versions of Butcher songs for fun and it became a ritual to give him a tape each time he was in Hamburg. He offered to help us with the guitars if we have a record deal or want to do demos – and he did. He played other guitars as well, but Marsh-M., well…

++ Sadly we’ve all heard the news of Pat Fish, and I was very sad about it. I wonder for you, that knew him much more, even touring Germany with him. What are some of the best memories that you can share?

Honestly… It hurts very much…Very much! I knew he was about to die and know more than many others maybe. I know his disease. If you buy the booklet due in November (4 CD set) you will find my name in the credits.
– I was guest in Fishy-Home just before the record deal to finish some demos. I woke up one morning and heard Fishy rehearsing and playing „Partytime“. I lay in my bed listening to Pat playing a concert in his home just for me. Cannot be beaten! I know people who would kill for witnessing this moment.
– Easter egg:  If you listen close to „Two faces“ you will hear Pat singing. Just one word… „Beware“.
While we recorded the songs we went to a bar near. Those who had the day off… And we never came home sober. Pat stumbled into the studio (very drunk) and we had the idea that he should sing this particular word. He did and didn’t remember it the next day.
– We organised the concert that later became the „Glorious & Idiotic“ release. It was a mad night with Pat wearing Fidel’s T-Shirt later the night. Have no idea how that happened.

++ I read somewhere that you were working on a second album. That there was even a song called “Bullet for a Rainy Day”. Is that so? What happened to this album? Why was it never released?

There is a song called „Ballet for a rainy day“ by XTC. And this title so incredibly ridiculous that I changed it into „Bullet…“ which is MUCH more powerful. And the lyrics were what I mentioned before… Wake up, write down, sleep. They appeared one night out of nothing.
„…hold fast to the gun with a bullet for a rainy day…“ about murder and suicide.
The album is finished and ready for release. Actually Shinkansen Records (run by former members of The Field Mice) wanted to release it but we simply didn’t manage to play live in London – no one would let us play. So we never met, they didn’t hear us playing live – no contract. That was it.
The Record is called „The Bullet Record“ with 9 rounds (or songs).

++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “Little Devil”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

To quote Pat „It’s a classic Rock and Roll theme“ about desires… And the fact that teen girls nowadays look like women but you better don’t touch them if you don’t want to go to jail.

++ If you were to choose your favorite The Purelove song, which one would that be and why?

It will be a surprise because it’s a difficult song. „Grey Day“ always was and always will. I love the lyrics and I love songs that refuse to be easy.
„Grey days never end – grey days only start…“ plus one unreleased song „Bottom of the Glass“.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

No. I never liked playing live very much and I had the urgent desire to withhold what the audience wanted. We played Pop but we were untamed and fierce live.

++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

Halle (Town in Germany)! Perfect weather, perfect amount of alcohol to be funny, not silly. Wonderful girls waiting for us and chatting with us. Perfect sound, cheap drinks. Which again caused trouble with Marsh-M., the non-alcoholic company that called us anti-social… which lead to a running gag that Pat and we did all the time „Anti-social’s what we are from triple Jägis (Jägermeister – a herbal hard booze shot) at the bar…“ Fish took this quote and played it live in one of his songs later.

++ And were there any bad ones?

Oh yes… Berlin… I was close to beat up the guy who was responsible for the sound and actually threw the mic-stand into the audience (…untamed, fierce). We had two guitar-players. One turned off his guitar because of the poor sound. Our background singer sounded like a witch being burned.

++ When and why did The Purelove stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?

It was a process. We needed a break and Fidel did some soundscapes, I wrote a little story of my life so far and started a Manchester cover band „Madchester United“ – Oasis, Stone Roses, New Order… We were Good (!) – even better than the original Stone Roses if you ask me. The last gig was pure fun and success and the audience wouldn’t let us leave the stage. We played twice the estimated time and had the next gig set. Then suddenly the band broke up for no reason I understood. That was the moment I quit singing for good. Until today.
I am involved in a few other bands still – but more as a manager or support or doing artwork.
I ran a blog for 10 years „This Is Indie“ but stopped it last year. It was quite successful.

++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands afterwards?

You already investigated quite well – some sound-projects from Fidel.

++ Has there been any The Purelove reunions?

There was a plan to do so this year (25th anniversary of recording the album) but we don’t see the point. So it is buried for good.

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

Yes and no – we do have contacts but especially I am not interested. I don’t like being asked stupid questions by people who know nothing.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

Oh yes – I still have a lot of newspaper articles. They were very kind, even called us „Concert of the Day“.

++ What about fanzines?

From everywhere – Blogs are the new fanzines now but back then we got a lot of attention, mainly from Europe.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

There was no particular moment. To see the progress from a schoolband to a band fully received and accepted by the Hamburg music scene with all the contacts that still work today because people know your reliability which opens doors literally around the world. That’s very fascinating. We had a grant time without knowing how privileged we were. Not from a morally point of view. We worked this out all on our own. And we enjoyed this. The mad going girls, free drinks, possibilities. The fact of enjoying this in an incredible way was the overall highlight.

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

Hardly any anymore. I love to read. Gardening. Beer. A house in Sweden. Silence and peace.

++ Been to Hamburg thrice, and really liked it but I would ask a native about it, what are your recommendations. I want to know what would you suggest them doing here, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Surprisingly a difficult question. Have a tuna steak with green pepper at „Sagres“, take a walk at „Landungsbrücken“, do a harbour tour, have a Mojito at „Aurel“, see a concert in the „Mojo Club“, go dancing and drinking in the „kir“.

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Listen to Andy Pawlak „One Word of Truth Outweighs the World“.
Listen to The Jazz Butcher „Time“.