(Original on ba.no, Text backup here)
Kaizers Orchestra are ready for their only concert in Norway for a long time. It will take place at the benefit concert in Arenum on Saturday. After that, it's recording time in Bergen.- This is our way to give some support in this exceptional situation, guitar player Terje Vinterstø says.
The popular rock band is busy right now because of the upcoming album recordings, but they had a free slot on Saturday. They use this to take part in the benefit concert in Arenum.
- First we talked to the Garage in Oslo, but we couldn't take part at that date. We are under some time pressure. That's why I'm glad we could take part in Bergen, Vinterstø says.
Only concert
At the moment, the band is practicing hard for the recording which starts in Duper studio in Bergen in the middle of January. But there is no doubt that the flood disaster in South-East Asia overshadows everything.- Everybody is touched emotionally by something like this. We also believe that the organizers in Bergen can collect several million Kroner. That's why we take part.
- The band also has strong connections to Bergen?
- Yes, it feels natural to go to Bergen. But most of us live in Oslo now, so it would have been easier to do it there, Vinterstø admits.
Kaizers Orchestra got many inquiries to take part in benefit concerts. Singer Janove Ottesen recorded a local "Band Aid"-song in Stavanger yesterday. Apart from that, the group doesn't have any time.
- We got the inquiry on Monday, but at those times everybody must be flexible. Both band and crew will work together up until Saturday. And many drive themselves to keep it as cheap as possible.
- Will that be the only concert in Norway?
- Yes, for a long time. We won't play in Norway again before spring, at the earliest. Of course we hope that this can be a reason for people to shop up and sign the condolence lists, Vinterstø says.
New album this year
Because of the big amount of artists in Arenum, it will only be a mini concert for the guys this time.- We will only play the best-known songs. We'd like that the new stuff settles down a little. Because there are so many that tape our concerts. And of course we don't want that bad versions go around.
- Are you on schedule for the album recording?
- Yes. Now we cut down the number of songs. And we are practicing intensively in order to reduce the recording time. We needed only six days to record "Ompa til du dør". The seventh day we celebrated.
- We'll probably need a little more time this time, as we have more things to play around with. But we are best when everything happens fast, Vinterstø says.
The recording in Bergen, with Jørgen Træen at the levers, will be the third record for the band. And the first after they signed an international record deal with Universal Music in Germany. According to the plan, it will come out in September.