Voices From The War

Interview with Skew Siskin's Nina C. Alice & the Metal Mining Company L.A. and Jim Voxx MB: How did you first get interested in music? NA: When I was born, I heard All Day And All Of The Night and decided to grow up fast and sing. JV: When I was a kid, I found an olf record from the Who with the song My Generation. At that time played in a band already, andwe deided to play that song live, because of the wild finish. And because we did it so well, we got lots of offers for gigs around our hometown, and I never had to pay at the door when I wanted to go out to clubs. I was relieved to find out that you don't have to be Eddie Van Halen Number 2 to become famous. MB: What was it that made you decide that music is really what you wanted to pursue in life? NA: Really? ... When I heard that stars have their own teachers when they are on tour, I was 9 then, I decided I wanted to be a musician. JV: My very first tour, as an amateur musician, was supporting AC/DC on their first German club tour, about 500 - 700 people per gig. Being around them, especially Bon Scott and Malcom Yound, and listening to them night after night and learning from them made my decision. I had never heard about AC/DC before, but they impressed me a lot. And Bon Scott encouraged me to keep going. MB: How was it that Skew Siskin came together? NA: We never came together ... haha! No, seriously, I think it was the damned normal way ... Seeing each other play, and asking to jam together, and maybe have a band later. JV: During 1988/89, I lived in New York playing with American Bands on the usual club circuit. After a while, I wanted to form my own band. A real Rock-n-Roll band. But I couldn't find a singer. And during one of my visits to Berlin, I met Nina. The rest was easy. MB: Where did the name come from? NA: From a dream. I love birds. And in the sixties, they had a lot of birds - Yardbirds, Eagles, Hawkwind, etc. MB: When you first started Skew Siskin, did you have a clear vision of where you wanted to take the band? NA: I had a clear vision about the sound! And I knew what kind of personalities I wanted around me. And I had an attitude. But because things develop differently from what you think, I let it take us where it went. But still standing behind the wheel. JV: That's right. The most important thing is to have that certain attitude. Everything else will follow. Perfect playing is not my goal. MB: Have things kind of gone as you expected? NA: No, I never expect anything. I always hope for the best, and have a lot of ideas and ideals, but as I said, things are different in reality. I live with it and act fast, or leave it. Too many dreams worry my mind, or disappoint me. If only half of my plans come true, I am queen of the world! JV: I really didn't know what to wxpect. When I thought things worked one way, they've always worked the other. Even our road crew says that with Skew Siskin they live through situations you normally only read about, including desasters. It became normal to me, that with Skew Siskin, you have to expect the unexpected. MB: What do you think is the most important lesson that you've learned through your experiences so far? NA: Never trust anybody until they prove their loyalty! JV: Make as much noise as you can. Give a shit about perfection. Never follow any musical trends! MB: You have had the fortune of hooking up with Motrheads Lemmy Kilmister, who has taken a real interest in the band. How important has that relationship beento you? NA: Very important indeed. Lemmy writes lyrics with and for me, and on top of that, he is a friend in good and bad times! That is more than I ever asked for. Something I never expected. JV: Lemmy once said to me, Only one person can stop you. And that's yourself. That's one reason why Skew Siskin is still together. Nobody from the outside can stop us. During some bad times, I always remebered that sentence. MB: What is the most important thing that you've learned from Lemmy? NA: *sings* To always look on the bright side of life ... *whistle* ... English humor! JV: Don't lose your humo