1 - The amazing Bernd Steidl, thanks for your time!
My pleasure, dear Jorge!
2 - Please, tell us about your personal history and background for the fans at Mexico.
I graduated High Scool in 1985 in Germany. I was playing guitar and piano since I was a kid. Everybody in the family was playing one or two instruments. No professionals, though. I have a strictly German classical music background. I went to Los Angeles in 1987, where I graduated at G.I.T. in Hollywood in 1988. Meanwhile Mike Varney got in contact with me, put me in "Guitar Player Magazine" and gave me a record deal. I put out my first record in 1992, "Psycho Acoustic Overture". Back then I thought my technique is still lacking and I went to Moscow and Sofia to practice some piano and get more inspiration for my guitar playing. I played a lot live for the German Embassy - they flew me around the world to play for political events. I played for George Bush, other presidents and kings. Right now I'm in Munich, Germany, producing music to pictures as well. With a friend of mine, Helmut Rainer, I produced the latest CD "burnt steel", American release name "Paganiniana". We also produced a video clip on "Cobra" this year. Location was a castle in the center of Munich.
3 - I always figured you could play pretty much any style you wanted, but what do you like to play a lot?
I like to be able to play anything I hear in my soul.
4 - What motivated you to want to learn to play the guitar?
An uncle of mine gave me one. We had a few instruments lying around the house, but the guitar just got the main one.
5 - When you were a kid, did you ever think that you would someday be one of the most talented guitar players of the world?
Music was always something like a fairytale land for me and everything else didn't seem to be so important.
6 - Who are your main influences?
This has changed through the years. First it was German classical music, then romantic virtuosos like Liszt, Chopin or Paganini. Right now I'm working on the Russian repertoire of pianists like Scriabin and Rachmaninow, that seem to influence the next album.
7 - Who is your favorite guitar player?
I don't listen to guitar players any more. In the beginning I liked Paco de Lucia, Sabicas and Al di Meola. But I was in urge to find different techniques to be able to express what I wanted.
8 - What projects are you currently working on?
We are in the process of getting a tour together in Germany. The next album I have in my head already - all I have to do is to record it.
9 - Do you love doing live performances?
That's my favorite. That is, what making music is about.
10 - Let's move on to the "Burnt Steel" record. Was this a particularly challenging album for you to make?
The time before we produced the album, I was in the mood of having only eyes and ears for music. I somewhat lost the feeling for all the daily things - until Helmut came and said "let's do an album, there are some more guys that might like to hear it!". So we did it.
11 - I got your past album, "Psycho Acoustic Overture" its amazing!, but the new album, "Burnt Steel", is something that I have to assume you are very excited about!. Where would you place it next to your previous work?
"Psycho Acoustic Overture" is all nylon string guitar. "Burnt Steel" is all steel string. Different attitudes and a different approach came along with this difference.
12 - Tell me about the "Paganiniana´s " songs (i really love this ones!). What are they about?
Paganini, an Italian violin virtuoso, wrote his 24 caprices in the beginning of the 19th century. They are standing for virtuosity and flashness. I took some themes and made a few variations over them, transcriptions so to speak.
13 - What´s your favorite song from this new record?
"Made in Germany" reminds me of my own country - maybe that's why I like it a little more than the others. It was recorded live in Summer 1999 in Munich, Olympic Stadion.
14 - What are your thoughts on the state of instrumental guitar these days?
I think the past 15 years it was exciting to be in particular a guitar player, because the improvements where so enormous like never before in the history of that instrument. So we somehow lived in an excitement piano players had in the 1830s in Paris.
15 - You have had a respectably long career and have transcended all the popular musical styles that have come and gone. What would you attribute that to?
I think nothing really leaves this earth in a musical sense. Everything gets somehow transcendend and appears renewed. But in a long run everything that seems to be "over-earthy" in a musical sense seems to live forever.
16 - Where is the line between performer and musician for you?
Performing is a whole different art in itself. You have to be able to give them a visual performance that is very important to transfer the culture you are making to the audiences soul. The more it is, that is helping this transfer, the stronger the impact will be. A musician, for example a composer is living very often in his own dreamland and has no need or urge to play in front of the world.
17 - So what do you see happening right now in terms of guitar, and where do you see yourself in a few years?
Referring to question 14. As long as people are in love with that instrument and also have a great earthy support, there will be new doors opened.
18 - O.K. Time for the heady question that I've been wanting to ask. You are easily one of the most influential guitar player on the scene today for kids that are coming up. How does that make you feel?
I think people should take music as a god's gift and should be aware of that. We can do anything with it. We can do the best things and we can abuse it. Everyone of us is just a tool of a greater spirit playing guitar for us!
19 - What will be next for Bernd Steidl?.
I guess there will be a lot of promotion work for the new album and everyone of you guys out there is invited to help me!
20 - And can we expect to see you in Mexico any time soon?
I would love to play in Mexico! Let's hope for the best!
21 - Is there anything else you would like to share with us that i have not asked?
I want to thank you, you all out there for having me kept inspired. All the best to you!
Thanks again for your time, we really appreciated it!, and we hope to see you soon, thank you very much!.
Thanks, dear Jorge.
Jorge Miranda.