Mike: Hi Andy, could you say something about yourself? As I know you were born in Bavaria (Germany), do you still live there?

Andy: Yes, finally I moved back to Munich eight weeks ago. I lived in the near of Cologne for the last seven years, now I'm back in Bavaria. I lived in Munich ten years ago, now the time was right to come home. So I took my girlfriend and my studio and did it :-) It's so great - most of my friends still live here, I know everything, all places. What else could I say... I'm still working as a producer for different companies all over the world, I'm still working with old friends like Doug Laurent from Culture Beat. The latest changes in my work-life are productions for Audiobooks. I'm composing the soundtrack and atmospheres for different audiobooks now, that's big fun because I don't have to look into the charts, can make what I want. That's great!

Mike: How did you start working with Bad Boys Blue? Did you work at Coconut Records before Bad Boys Blue came back to the company in 1998?

Andy: I've started work with Coconut Records in 1996. I did some remixes for Tony and Karin, in the end of 1996 they asked me to be keyboarder in their studios. So I've worked till then together with Christoph Schick and many others in the Coconut Studios for Hendrik/Hartmann, did productions and remixes for Haddaway, Soultans and all the other projects from Coconut Records in this time. In 1998 came Bad Boys Blue - everything else is history ;-)

Mike: Who decided about the release of "The Turbo Megamix" and "The Turbo Megamix vol.2"? I have to tell you that they are produced very well, my congratulations.

Andy: Thank you very much! But I really like them, too! It was much work, because I've really re-done each track, played new keyboards, added new vocals and instruments. It really took a while to arrange and mix those tracks, the computers five years ago were much slower than today, also the software was not so comfortable like Logic or Cubase actually are. We did the decision for the first mix together with Tony and Karin. After this CD Karin decided to go with a second one (the first one was very successful - but with over 20 minutes too long for a evaluation for the single charts). First I thought it's impossible, because all the big hits were in number one. So we've decided to take those five tracks, but it was hard to do the mix, because the tempo of each track was so different to the other songs. First I've re-programmed all tracks on the basis-track from my "L.O.V.E. In My Car" remix. It was cool, but it was not the typical Bad Boys Blue sound. After this try I've re-done the original-tracks, speeded up the slower tracks, and "The Turbo Megamix vol.2" was born. Everyone at Coconut Records liked this version, so it was the next single release.

Mike: These megamixes contain a lot of tracks with special rap parts. Why these rap versions were not put on the albums?

Andy: Most of the Remixes are based on the original playbacks. I had the opportunity to take the original parts from the 24 track mixes, so it was possible to mix the old, original tracks with my new drums, bass, effects and keyboards. So it was possible to add the new vocals and rap parts. Especially for the "The Turbo Megamix" I've really re-done each track. "Lovers In The Sand" was a special remix - only done "The Turbo Megamix" and so on. As I told you, it took over one month to finish those 20 minutes. We did the rap versions most of the time only for the single releases. The fans were always 50/50 about the rap thing - one half of the fans liked it very much, the other half hated us for those mixes. It was always hard to decide what we could make.

Mike: I also have some question about "You're A Woman'98" clip. Who is Mc Base, which appeared in this video? Was he only an actor for the clip?

Andy: Yes, he was only an actor for the clip.

Mike: On Maxi-CD of "You're A Woman'98" we can find two rap versions (video edit and extended remix) and so called Original Remix 1998. These versions contain the voice of Trevor Taylor, but Original Remix 1998 placed on "Back" contains John's lead vocal. Why Trevor's voice was used only on the single?

Andy: As I did "You're A Woman'98" it wasn't sure that the Boys will re-unite. I only found this version with Trevor's voice in our archives, so I took his vocals. After the big success of the single Bad Boys Blue made a new contract with Coconut Records, so I had the chance to re-record the vocals for the album. I also did a new mix of the track, because I didn't liked the sound of the first one (that's always the same - you'll always do it different, when it's already released).

Mike: This question is similar to the last one - some original vocal parts of Trevor Taylor were also used in "I Wanna Hear Your Heartbeat'98", "Pretty Young Girl'98" and "Kisses And Tears (My One And Only)'98". Why John didn't re-record it?

Andy: It's pretty much the same, as I did the production for "Back" the Boys were always on stage all over the world. So I had to take some of the old vocal tracks, because it was impossible to get Bad Boys Blue to the studio in time (we were running out of time for the release-deadline). I know that it was pretty confusing for the fans, but for the later albums we've tried to get Bad Boys Blue more often into the studio (when it was possible for them).

Mike: If it's not a secret, can you tell me whether John re-recorded his vocal parts for some remixes produced in 1998 and 1999?

Andy: Yes, some of the tracks are re-sung by Bad Boys Blue, but I have no idea which tracks it are. We have done a re-recording whenever it was possible for our schedules.

Mike: Another question concerns a track called "Back To The Future". As I know it was planned to be released as a single, but actually it wasn't. Can you remeber some details about its remixes?

Andy: When you're doing an album, you're always looking for three or four single-tracks. After this decision we've always done the whole package (7", 12" and most of the time two remixes). Since the late 90's it's really hard to sell single CD's, so it's really better to go with an whole album. The level 2 remix was a bit harder like the others, it was a bit in the Pulsedriver direction of today. I always did more progressive mixes for the singles.

Mike: Did you have plans to make the 2nd part of "Megamix" from "Back"?

Andy: Yes, but then there was "The Turbo Megamix" idea. I think that this was the reason for the cancellation of the following "Megamix" issues.

Mike: Did you also produce so called disco stomp remix of "I Wanna Hear Your Heartbeat (Sunday Girl)'98"? It is done very well, has a totally new arrangement and sounds pretty cool.

Andy: Yes, thank you very much. Actually it was planned as the second single, so I did an 12" Mix and two different remixes. But then we've heard "From Heaven To Heartache" and the company decided to go with this great track on the A-Side. I think it was the right decision, because the song was really cool!

Mike: Are there any unreleased songs or remixes which you've done for Bad Boys Blue?

Andy: A few tracks and mixes are unreleased.

Mike: Have you ever met Trevor Taylor or Trevor Bannister?

Andy: No, sorry.

Mike: Are you in touch with Bad Boys Blue nowadays?

Andy: I've met John last year in August for the last time.

Mike: Would you like to work with the guys in the future?

Andy: Absolutely! It was a great time for me, we always had so much fun in the studio.

Mike: Would you like to say something to the BBB fans?

Andy: It's so great to see that the people still remember my name. It's true when I'm saying, that the Bad Boys Blue fans are the truest fans I know. I still have contact to many fans from all over the world, especially in eastern Europe - that's really great. I only can say what I'm always saying, but it's true: thanks for your support of the last years! Thanks for everything :-)) And I'm sure that the fans will get a great, new Bad Boys Blue album in August from David and his crew! I really like the idea of making two remixes of the new single by Pulsedriver and Novaspace - sounds like it could rock the clubs, too! So please support the group as you did in the last years - Bad Boys Blue needs you, and I'm sure they know this, too!!!

Mike: I'd like to thank you for giving this interview, hope to hear from you soon!

Andy: It was great to give this interview. Thank you very much. All the best, keep up the good work!

© www.badboysblue.eu | www.badboysblue.info | www.badboysblue.pl

<< INTERVIEWS >>