by Mark Kadzielawa

Master is considered as one of the forefathers of speed/death metal. The band got together in the early 80s (in Chicago,) and quickly developed a style for which they are praised to this day. Their influence is immense and well documented. The original trio (Speckmann, Mittelbrun, Schmidt) is long gone, but Speckmann continues to fly the Master flag high as the sole surviving member.
Paul Speckmann now resides in Czech Republic, and sports a very impressive beard. Speckmann releases new records and tours on regular yearly basis. He is a well respected figure in the metal community, and will forever be known as one of the originators. His quest and hunger for arts is still fresh and genuine. Don’t expect this metal warrior to hang up his bullet belt any time soon.
Master is on the verge of releasing a brand new record. It will be called The Human Machine. Speckmann is very optimistic regarding this new release, promotion, and the tour that will follow.
Paul Speckmann speaks about the present and the past, and shares his impressions on life abroad.

It’s been a while since we spoke, so bring me up to date.
Paul Speckmann: I’ve been working as a tour manager and merchandiser for a company in Germany called Kraft Evention. In between the Master tours which I’m doing every year I work with them. So, I get to work with people like Six Feet Under, or Jungle Rot, or Vital Remains. I do their merchandise or I manage the tour. It depends. I work in Europe. Master is probably doing 70-75 dates a year in Europe. We’re busy doing tours in spring, and in the fall. Last years I came to U.S. for a short run, and this time I’m doing it again. I’m happy to be back.
You took a long break from touring U.S. Did you notice any visible changes?
Actually what changed is that people are coming to the shows. Ten years ago I was lucky to get 20 people, and the last Chicago shows had around 300 on a Tuesday night. San Francisco had 80 people on a Monday. So that was good. In the old days, I couldn’t even get a Monday show. So I’m happy. We do a lot of shows in Texas, and a festival in California. I was happy to be back, and that’s why I’m here again. I figured we’ll try a second time. I had such a great time. It was great to see all of my old friends again. I haven’t seen everybody in so many years. It’s nice.
Since the original line up dissolved, there were many incarnations of Master. How did the music evolve over the years?
It’s faster. There are more changes. It’s still has the same flavor of the original stuff. I’m still singing the same way, and the riffing and the style is still really the same. The only exception is that it is little harder to play for me.
What is it about Master when it comes to the music? It only takes a few seconds to recognize it is Master.
What you’re saying is true. It is because it is called the style. Some of the people are saying that I do the same thing over and over again. In fact, they call me Same Riff Speckmann here in Chicago. The point is that if you listen to a Motorhead record or a Slayer record; they are playing the same riff too. It’s written in a new way, and it’s called style. These guys don’t understand what that means. Master ha s a style, this is why 25 years later I’m still at it.
You sure did build a legacy with your music.
It’s hard work. And you know what? I won’t quit. It’s called perseverance. I enjoy doing this stuff. Obviously it’s not about money. If it was about money I would’ve quit a long time ago. I still enjoy it, and I make enough money to survive.
When you recorded your first record back in 1985, it’s a shame it never came out. You would’ve been in the forefront of the speed metal movement. It took many years to get your music out in the open.
There were a lot of mistakes with the original line up. Everybody knows the story. We got a good contract back in 1985 from Combat. Bill (Schimdt) who was the original drummer of Master rewrote the contract with his mother. Combat read the contract and threw it in the garbage can. And it took me few years to figure it out that I can do it on my own. At that time Bill was the unofficial leader of the band. He was the driving force at that time. He wrote the first three songs. Chris (Mittelbrun) and I wrote the rest of the killer songs. It took me a while to realize that I don’t need this guy anymore. We split up. I started Death Strike with Chris, and I realized I can do this on my own as well. If I would’ve been smarter I would’ve just got another drummer and continue with Chris as Master. But at that time I didn’t have strength in my own mind to do that. Once I realized I can do this on my own we got Master together again. We played for a while, we broke up again. My other band, Abomination, got the deal in 1989. And Master got singed two weeks later. I got the guys together again. The day after the recording of the record Bill was still difficult to work with and I left again. I put together a new line up, and I’m still doing it today. The guy was a legend, don’t get me wrong, his drumming was very unique, but like many people say he’s still living in the past. It’s too bad, he never did anything else. If he was such a great intellectual guy he would’ve started another band. He could could’ve called Schimdt, or call it Master. Who knows, maybe I would’ve changed the name then. Point is that he didn’t have what it took, and I do feel sorry for him. That’s all you can do.
But the original 1985 recording finally did see the light of day.
It came out in 2003. Displeased Records released the original demo recording with my permission. They also reissued the first record, On The Seventh Day, and most recently they reissued Collection Of Souls. Those reissues included DVDs of shows from Europe. I’m happy to be finally seeing some money from those releases. There is resurgence, and people are buying these records again all over the world, unlike in the past.

You yourself went through a big change as well. For over a decade you live in the Czech Republic. Tell me about your life there.
It’s great. I bought a house there. I have a wife, and I’m very happy. I just bought a new dog. I’m living my life in my little 70s style American house. It looks like a house from let’s say Wisconsin. It is made of wood and brick. I walked into this house and I felt like I was back in the U.S.A. That’s why I bought it. It’s like this neighborhood of like 10 houses made from the same material. They are finished houses, but the idea is obviously from America or vice versa because it looks like an old American house. I love it there, of course. I put together a line up there, and we’ve been touring ever since.
Any cultural differences you come across?
Everything is slower there. We’re making wine and Slivovica (an outstanding vodka) with my father in law. I get fresh eggs every week. I get a great life there. It’s very slow, and I like it. You’re playing all these big cities, and you just want to go back there and relax. It’s very quiet there. Sometimes you hear a train, but it’s very relaxing.
So coming back to Chicago again must be special for you.
Of course it is. I grew up here, and I like it here. I’m always a little apprehensive when I get here because in every city that you come from you have your friends and enemies. And you have to watch your back. For the most past like the show last year all my friends were there. There were bikers from different biker clubs, and people from all over the city that I haven’t seen in years. There really wasn’t enough time to spend with people. You know, everybody wants to talk to you. I don’t want to shout, and save my voice for the concert. You know I’m not 21 anymore.
With so many bad rumors spread about you one thing is certain. It is you who is consistent when it comes to releasing records and touring. And you really put your money where your mouth is in response.
Of course, I got records, and I’m on tour, and they are still here in Chicago. I tour every year. I’ve been all over the world, and I love it.
How long do you envision doing it?
Hmm…until I’m finished, until I’m dead. I just signed a new contract with Pulverized Records in Singapore. I got a great deal of money for the first time. We have a real contract and serious support. They got a distribution all over the world. I got a great artist from Israel to work on the next album. He did the last cover for Destruction and Testament. He is a real professional. This will be the first time I’ll do an album with a professional artist to do the cover. For the last several years the people liked the records but they hated the covers. So this time, the record company said we’ll pay for an artist. I do have a rough drawing of what it will be, and it’s looking great. The new album is called The Human Machine.
As for the lyrical topics, what are you fighting against these days?
I’m fighting against the governments of all countries. People are loosing their freedom, every time more and more. Pretty soon you’re not gonna be able to do anything. I find more freedom now in Czech Republic and Europe in general than I ever had in the United States. Especially in the last 12 years I see more freedom there, and more control here. That terrifies me. People are asking me why I don’t have any kids. The reason for that is I don’t want to bring any kids into this crappy world. That’s just my opinion. I have nothing against people who have kids.
After 25 years of involvement in the underground do you foresee any highlights to come?
I think it’s still to come. I think the highlights are on the horizon with this new record deal. It’s the biggest contract we’ve had since 1990. That was a long time ago. This company just knows what they are doing. They are doing great promotion, and I’m really happy about being part of that. There are a lot of things that Master missed over the years. I always had to do all the promotions by myself, and it’s complicated.
Paul, you are one of the icons of the speed metal scene. How does it feel to be so influential?
It feels good to know that I was part of the beginning. I’m not an arrogant prick or anything; maybe I was when I was younger like 21. But you live and you learn. I’m just happy to be a part of it still. I’m happy that people are interested in coming to the shows and buying the records. It’s great that I can still tour Europe every year successfully. I do have a lot of free time on my hands, and I have to say the computer age is a good time for me. I’m constantly finding new festivals, new tours. Without the computer it would be very difficult now.

So in a way it looks like you were imprisoned in Chicago during your time here.
Yeah, I had to leave to get any respect.

Links:
http://master-speckmetal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/masterspeckmann