I was trying to get this interview started for a long time. Initially, it was supposed to be just a retrospective interview. In 2010, the band reformed and played a couple of live shows. Also, a compilation album “Ready to Command” was released (it contains “The Enforcer” and “First Strike”). Apart from a number of rerecorded tracks, this album features two live songs. A year later, WARRANT released a live ep with two other tracks from the Waken Open Air 2011. And then the band went silent. Luckily, it was calm before the storm. In late 2014, WARRANT released a brand new album titled “Metal Brigade.” Andthis is why I need to talk to these guys. All looks good and I am sure it was worth waiting a little. Lads and ladies, the German legend of speed metal WARRANT!

1.Hi Jörg. First, I want to congratulateyouguys on your Metal Brigade. A solid piece of metal music it really is. Are you happy with this one?

Yes , indeed. I am! It was a long hard fight over the last 29 years (smile) and especially the last 4 years I think.

2.Before we start to talk about “Metal Brigade,” let me ask you why you had not been active for 11 years? What had you been up to?

From 1988 up to 1999, our reunion show in Prüm you mean I think. Ok there were no interest in going on with Warrant. Don`t know exactly why. I think I was on a wrong way musically and I had to find myself. We started too early with Warrant. We were too young. We had no experience to bring the band on a professionell way and to keep it this way. We only wanted to have fun. But that`s not enough. Look at bands like “Grave Digger”. They took their chance and built a solid base for their success leading them till now.

3.In 1999, there was the first attempt to reactivate WARRANT. You guys recorded a four track demo and disappeared. What went wrong?

The four track demo was recorded in 1988 I think. It was the beginning of the end. The music wasn`t the style we had in the beginning. It was something of a weird metal style like the American poser “Warrant”. Don`t know why we did this. But Karl Ulrich Walterbach from Noise was shocked as he heard the demo. Maybe this also wasn`t the demo you mean. Don`t know exactly what was going on at that time. We also had a second band. It was mixed up. In 1999 we did our first show after the split of Warrant. It should have been the only show. But the end you can hear on “Metal Bridge” (ha ha).

4. In 2010, you guys reformed the band and played a number of live shows. Also, a compilation album was released. Did you rerecord the tracks or did you get them seriously re-mastered?

I am asking because this stuff sounds different when I listen to its vinyl version… First you must know we played a lot of shows since 1999. We played in Prüm, in Wacken, in Spain, Keep it true, Wacken again and many many more...! Then Pure Steel asked us to do the compilation of „First Strike”, „The Enforcer” and two bonus tracks. We remastered the tracks but not at that time. In 1999 Noise Records released our two official publications. For this we did the remastering. It was a little mistake. First i thought the sound is better. But after listening several times i had to determine that the sound wasn`t so good like in 1985, the vinyl version. The naturality was gone, a little bit. Nobody is perfect.

5. It took a long time to have a new WARRANT album released. Can you please tell us a bit more about how it was created? Does this stuff contain brand new tracks, or did you use old tracks from your archives?

All the stuff is brand new (except Enforcer and Ordeal of death). When i say brand new I mean the last 4 years. In Warrant time spoken (you have to see the long road of 29 years waiting for a new album, ha ha) it`s a blink! I started writing the songs in my holiday. I think 2011. Sitting there with my guitar and my voice. Don`t knew what i had to expect. I wanted to have the same feeling like in 1984. Songs coming easy from the heart. They had to fit to the Warrant sound of the past but also i had the claim to bring this fact together with my experiences of being a musician tha last 30 years. Not that easy! I recorded the songs on my I Phone. Then I`m playing the songs many times till I think it`s finished and there is a flow and a good hookline and a good first arrangement. But the next step is to fix the songs with the band at the rehearsals. It´s extremely important to play the songs live to check if they will work. If we do a next record I promise, we don`t wait 29 years again. Ha ha.

6. These days, same as in the past, you`re a three-piece band. Many people think that three-piece bands seem most favorable. Just take a good look at MOTORHEAD, VENOM, BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, BACKWATER, SODOM, RUSH, DESTRUCTION, CORONER or WARRANT. Is it correct? What is the reason, in your opinion?

Yes. I like it too. It´s something special. When the band is able to play the sound in a three-piece band it`s fantastic. It´s clear that the songs will work in a different way than in a four or five piece band. The songs are more voice orientated and straight. I love it! But i must also say that i was thinking about a second guitar player. Dirk also said he isn`t unwilling to think about it. So lets see what the future brings. After we did „First Strike” in 1984 we decided to search a second guitar player. Don`t understand me wrong. „The Enforcer” was a great album and it was good to have Oliver in this band. But it wasn´t the same than in the beginning. The songs were great on it but the feeling was some kind of different.... the split of Warrant started creeping.

7. The “Metal Brigade” album was recorded by WARRANT as a three-piece band. Unfortunately, Lothar Wieners and Thomas Klein did not participate. Were these old timers not interested in reactivating WARRANT? Couldyoupleaseintroduce the new WARRANT musicians?

Dirk I know from the rehearsal rooms in Düsseldorf where all the known (Warlock, Warrant, Assassin…. ) and unknown bands played since the early eighties. He helped me when Oliver left the band in 2011. He became a big and important part of Warrant more and more over the last years. He is the sound master and he filled the sound of Warrant with more trash elements. It fits together in a very special way. It builds a contrast. So there is more dynamic in the songs. Thomas is a young and wild drummer. Arno left the band because of his work. So I asked Christian Sommer (drummer of my second band), if he knows a good drummer. He is a drum teacher now. And he gave me the number of Thomas. Thomas is a great guy, a drummer with passion and a great technician. And the best thing: he plays extremely brutal. Unfortunately there is no contact to Lothar. He was a good friend but we lost our common ways. Thomas I still know and he is one of my best friends. But there are reasons that he could not be in the band in 2015. I`m sorry about this fact. But that`s the way it goes sometimes.

8. The “Metal Bridge” album is one of very few examples when a band was right in notfollowing the trends. You guys released an album which all devoted fans waited for years for. It`s classic heavy/speed stuff, ok. What, in your opinion, is the reason for so many a classic band to musically “castrate” themselves, and abide by contemporary trends at all costs? Instead of following their distinct styles, they get rid of their natural power. Your opinion? Have they lost faith in themselves?

Maybe they have lost the faith. Maybe they have changed their taste of music. Maybe they want to be or to sound like bands, that doesn`t fit to their personality. I did this mistake. It was a process of learning that for example my voice and my status in a band is perfect how it was in 1983-1985. This was authentic me. All the things we did, fit together in a simple way. It felt great and it was easy to write emotional songs coming from the heart. But if you leave this way first you feel free. But look at the reactions of the fans. They are sensitive. Look at your process of being creative. If it`s boring and complicate to fix new ideas it`s the wrong way. Maybe everyone has one chance to fix his ambitions in a professionell way. Don`t leave your way if you found it!

9. Your new stuff is out through Pure Steel Records from Germany. Why did you choose this label? Did you get any other offers? Are you guys happy with this label?

Yes, it`s OK. Volker, our booker, is also working for Pure Steel Records. So it was normal that we first spoke with them about the next release. They accompanied us since 2010. They are „Metal fans” from the heart. They believed in us. It`s a little label but working with power. They started a cooperation with the marketing company „Soul Food”. A good decision I think.

10. If you don’t mind, let us get back to the early 80s, when WARRANT did not exist. Can you remember how you got obsessed with metal music? I am eager to know about the first band you ever got to listen to. What made you start listening to metal music and most importantly play metal music, eh?

The first band in rock music i ever listened to was „The Sweet”. A great band. The hard rock time of Sweet i love til`now. There are three big big LP`S. „Desolation Boulevard”, Give us a wink” and „Off the record”. Great stuff. This is one of my most influences. For me it was the best school to write compact songs and songs sounding as a cast. But then it all was mixed up. Listening to Accept, Judas Priest, Saxon, Iron Maiden. All the roots of the NWOBHM. I was like a sponge. But i also loved and love „The Police” (Three-piece band). Rainbow. Deep Purple. Acid. later Metallica, Alan Parsons Project. It was a great time. There weren`t too many bands. It was exciting to discover new bands. We had a challenge. Thomas, Volker (our hangman) and me wanted to have all the LP´s of the new bands. Two years i think we managed it. Today.... no chance! There are too many bands, sure being great musicians, but the personality disappeard. One of my favourite bands that time was „Demon” . Oh man i loved the song „Night of the demon”. My first band named Poison, covered this song with me on vocals and bass. Maybe Warrant was born in 1983. Three friends from school, Thomas, Lothar and me started with a band in the cellar of my parents house. My parents were fucked up. It was extremely loud with a bad sound. The friend of my sister said, that we were playing wrong. He was an asshole... absolutely. But he was right (ha ha). The first steps.

11. You guys got WARRANT formed in 1983. How did y`all get together?
At first, you were a four-piece band. However, when “The Enforcer” was out, Oliver left the band. What was the reason for his leaving?

First we were a three-piece band. We were three friends from school like I told before. Thomas Klein, Lothar Wieners and me. We were extremely creative based on our early influences. We wanted to be more extreme than bands like Judas Priest for example. We wanted to be more fast. After recording “First Strike” we thought that the sound of Warrant need a second guitar. So Oliver entered the stage. He was a great musician but something changed. The songs of “The Enforcer” were fixed before he came into the band. We went to the studio in Berlin. He played his parts and of course, he played some great solos. But the problem started with him and Thomas. I thought Oliver can transport the sound of Warrant. First big mistake. It´s absolute normal that a new guitarist brings in his own wishes and style. Absolutely correct. My mistake was to let this rule. Warrant has created their own style. There was a platform to go on. But we couldn`t recognize this fact. I thought that we have to change our style and Oliver is the right one. Yes, he was. But it wasn`t my style. I decided to throw away the bass and I wanted to be a solo singer. What the fuck was that. A big big mistake. Warrant lost his trademark. Game over. Noise Records couldn`t believe it. We presented a demo sounding like “Dokken” or something like that. That wasn`t what they expected from us. Thomas left the band and we went on as a four-piece band with a solo Jörg. This was the end.

12. Early 80s is the metal`s golden age. This is when a number of classic metal bands were formed. How would you describe that period of time and how would you compare it to present times?

The most classic Metal Bands of that time are the big ones of the present times. What more can I say. It´s unbelievable hard to stay alive as a band today. The quality has risen extremely high. But the personality, the unique style of a musician and a band has fallen.

13. When I think about your early records, I simply don’t understand why you did not become an A-league band. You guys had it all. You were playingawesome music, you were known to be an excellent live band, and you were signed to a big record label. What went wrong? Weren’t you determined enough or what?


Thank you very much for this statement. But look at this what I wrote before. I could be sad. But I´m not. I`m a positive man. It´s our fate. Maybe in my mind I wasn`t professionell enough to realize the potential of “Warrant”. We had all the chances…… When you want to be successful in what you are doing you have to be professionell in all areas of your business. It´s not enough to be a good musician or a good songwriter.

14. Your stuffed toy has always been Tormentor. It first appeared during the photo session for ready to command and on the “Metal Brigade” cover. I am curious to know how you came up with this idea, which, I do think, matches your music perfectly.

The idea was born in 1984. We were looking for a mascot to have a unique identity. Thomas Klein always was a good painter. So we created the ”Enforcer” based on the idea of recording the “First Strike”! After 29 years he has not lost his effect. Yes, of course, he matches perfectly. Many song themes based on the concept of killing, for example, the minds of bad people like dictators. It´s the job of “The Enforcer”. Sometimes Volker, also still my friend from school and the only really “True Metal Fan” on Earth is playing the role on stage. It´s a great fun. The fans love it.

15. In 2011 you played live at one of the largest metal festivals: the WAKEN OPEN AIR. How was it? How would you compare this show to the ones from the beginning of your career? A big change, eh? Did you not miss anything?

It was great to play there. In 2011 we played the second time at Wacken. First we played at Wacken in 1999. Half a year after our “one and only” reunion show. (ha ha). But I love playing all shows. It´s not normal for Warrant to play at Wacken. I think Holger Hübner, one of the organizers and Kai Hansen from Gamma Ray, wanted us to play in 1999. Thanks again so much. It was a great experience. But the club shows I also like. If there is only one fan who likes our songs and I can see and feel it, then it`s OK. You must know. We never did many shows in the beginning of our career in the early 80ìes. We stopped to early with the original Warrant band. The time of 1983 til 1985 was to short. We stopped abrupt. So today we are hungry enough to give the best at every show. Doesn`t matter if it`s Wacken or a little club show.

16. As WARRANT is again able to play live, well, I want to know when you gentlemen plan to visit Poland and remind polish fans of your existence. Have you ever been to Poland, eh?
We`ve got beautiful women and delicious beer here.

First I will visit Poland this year. Coming as a tourist. My father was born in your country. Here are my roots. I remember bands like TSA from your country. My cousin sent me this LP and I gave him stuff from Germany. I will love it to play shows in Poland. So we have to say our booker to fix some shows in your country. Maybe we can play some festivals. Hope so. You can invite us (smile)! Need your beer, absolutely. But I have my wife. No chance for, mmhh of course, your beautiful and delicious woman (yeah)!

17. Let`s talk aboutPoland, shall we?. What do you know about our country? Do you know any bands from this country?

I know “Chrystal Viper” and like I mentioned before “TSA”. Don`t know if they still exist. Chrystal Viper is a great band I think. But I´m sorry. Please give me a lession about your bands. Maybe you can sent me a list with your favorite bands. Don`t be too angry with me.!!!!

18.. I know that „Metal Brigade” has been released quite recently, but I am interested in your plans for the imminent future.

We have just released “Metal Bridge” on Vinyl. Great to hold it in your hands. It´s like in the early 80 ies. I was collecting LP`s. Loving them so much. And now… it`s fantastic to have this LP. It was worth to wait for so long. The cover is looking great. But this was not your question. Sorry. OK. The future. At this moment we have a big misfortune. Thomas our drummer is extremely ill and we don`t know when he can play again. Now we are waiting for him. Maybe we have to look for a short time drummer. I had to cancel many shows. That`s not good but that´s the reality this moment. Also Dirk was ill the last 3 month. We all were shocked because he had to survive a hard operation. But now he is completely well.

19. Ok, I think it`s time to wrap up. I would like to thank you very much for this interview. All the best with WARRANT. May you succeed with the band and I do hope WARRANT releases a number of albums as greatas “Metal Brigade.” Hope you are going to play live in land fairly soon! If you want to say anything to Old school Metal Maniac readers, well, the floor is yours. When you die hard then you have to live fast!!!! (smile)

! Thank you so much for your interest for Warrant. Hope to play in Poland. Maybe I will find out something about my roots. “Walk the Metal Bridge” Jörg

Die Hard Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki