Interview: Adrenaline Kings (Written)

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life spoke to dynamic hard rock/arena rock head-bangers, Adrenaline Kings.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

My name is Matthias Schneider – I’m the frontman for the Vienna-based band Adrenaline Kings. We actually founded the band way back in 2002 and have been playing ever since!

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

That’s pretty easy: 80s hard rock! Scorpions, Guns n’ Roses, etc. Some might call it arena rock without the arenas.

3. What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.

We have a new single called “The Grand Tour” – it’s inspired by the “Gran Turismo” video game series and is also a pretty good tune to just plain drive your car to, if we do say so ourselves!

4. What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?

It’s pretty cool finding people who are on your wavelength musically and enjoy making the same kind of music as yourself. Which doesn’t go without saying considering the type of music we play and when we founded the band.

5. Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?

Trying to convince people that your music is viable, especially in what is still a relatively provincial part of the non-classical music world (Vienna, Austria). Social media definitely helps because people can listen to our music from anywhere in the world.

6. How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?

It’s a mixed bag… on one hand that’s a bit of a grind, but on the other hand, at least that’s something artists can do themselves (apart from playing live) because you’re not solely dependent on other people’s time and efforts.

7. What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?

Peter Frampton testified to Congress last year that he made only 3,000 dollars off 56 million streams of “Baby I Love Your Way.” How is that possible? Someone is making money of his music, but it apparently isn’t him. Seems like lawmakers should get involved in that process…

8. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?

Go to Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, etc. and listen to our new single “The Grand Tour” – we won’t get paid for it, but at least you’ll hear our music. If you’re feeling especially charitable, go to Amazon and actually purchase the track!

9. Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?

Traveling is always fun. As is going to the pub! And I actually also host a pub quiz in Vienna on Monday nights, which also keeps my frontman skills sharp.

10. Where can people find you?

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Thank you!