Oct 2010 (phone)
German vocalist & songwriter Doro Pesch found fame fronting Warlock in the 1980's. Line-up changes left her the only original member, which morphed into a solo career that would explore a range of metal styles over the ensuing decades. She would become known worldwide as the Queen of Heavy Metal, or just the Metal Queen. During the grunge era her albums had limited release in America. This would change with the release of Calling The Wild in 2000, which led to her first U.S. tour in a decade. In 2020 she became the first heavy metal artist to perform a drive-in concert during the Covid-19 lockdown. She is known for choosing not to get married or have a family, as she is totally committed to metal music & the metal community. As a woman in music she has also shied away from glamour & sexual self-exploitation, never posturing as a sex symbol but always putting the music first. She has gained much respect for this approach & called a pioneer for female metal fans & musicians.
For many years I was planning to write the biography of guitarist Al Pitrelli of Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Trans-Siberian Orchestra & many other outings, as I thought he had an interesting story worthy of being shared. That book project was retired incomplete, but parts I transformed into the first history of Danger Danger, as Al was an original member, published in 2019 as Drivin' Sideways: The Story Of The Band Danger Danger. In my research I did many interviews with musicians who had worked with him. Doro was one of these, so the focus of this interview is on Al's contribution to Calling The Wild. The hour long interview, edited down, would be broadcast as part of a bi-monthly interview podcast I had recently started. I actually had never heard of Doro before delving into Al's career. One thing that came out of my research was my introduction to countless musicians I might not have heard of otherwise, Danger Danger & Trans-Siberian Orchestra included. This interview mentions her visiting me where I worked. I thought this was just her being nice, but a few months later she came in just before we closed. Photo posted here. Ironically, I had stayed late, just talking to my boss. I didn't recognize her, but my boss was tapping me on the arm thinking it was her before she spoke, as he knew I had interviewed her. She was so very sweet & showed me a proof of her new DVD. Everyone who talks with her, so I've heard, has said how sincere & open & friendly she is, & you come away feeling like you had a bonding moment with a wonderful woman. Later she performed in Manhattan at the intimate Webster Hall for a few hundred. I waited in the front afterwards with many fans to greet her, but she went out the backdoor to much disappointment. The concert featured guitarist Chris Caffery guesting, Al's bandmate & who had recorded & toured with Doro, but it was a sad spectacle. When she announced him there was no applause, like they didn't know him or didn't care or didn't like him. Even trying to pump the audience, as he's known to do in Trans-Siberian Orchestra, got a feeble response. On the few songs he played things got worse. I was no more than 20 feet from center stage for the entire show. He may have had moniters, but not a thing came out of the speakers. For his credit he visually played his heart out even if nobody heard him, while it was obvious he knew something was wrong.
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AJ: Not just has Al had a great career & is a great musician, but he's worked with all these great musicians, like yourself, & many of them don't have the credit I think they deserve.
DORO: That is very true & I'm so happy you thought to take care of him.
AJ: Part of my research includes looking at your album Calling The Wild. My work is about Al, but its also about your career in the context around that album. I just wanted to talk with you & get some questions answered that I haven't found in other interviews you've done.
DORO: Excellent. I'm all yours.
AJ: You don't know how appreciative I am to talk with you. Doro, I want to start by going back in time. I mean, before your band WARLOCK.
DORO: Oh, really back!
AJ: Yes, really back. Can you tell me about what inspired you to record a demo & become a singer?
DORO: Actually, my 1st inspiration I got from Little Richard & the single was "Lucille". I was like 3 yrs old. I could just barely handle the record player. I fell in love with this song. My parents got worried because their little girl just wanted to hear music & especially that song. That was the 1st time that I can remember that I was really hooked to music. That got me attracted to it for my whole life. When I grew up, like when I was 6, 7, 8 yrs old ALICE COOPER was pretty huge.
AJ: I love Alice. He's great.
DORO: Isn't he great? Now I've met Alice a couple of times & its been so great, because he was definitely one of my heroes in childhood. & glam rock with T REX & Marc Bolan I loved. I think the wish to become a singer was actually growing from a very early age, since I was 3.
AJ: Did you ever have a deliberate intention to become a musician, or did you think you'd do it as a hobby, or not at all?
DORO: I loved music so much & I played a little bit of piano, but I loved school & I wanted to become a graphic artist. Then I was working & somehow I thought something didn't feel right. I lost so much weight. Which for a girl sometimes, you know, its a compliment & guys say it looks good. But, I was getting less & less. Actually, I went to the doctor's & I went to a hospital & nobody knew what was wrong. Nothing was wrong, but maybe it was because I was a teenager or something, they said, & I should get a new job. In just half a year I was in the hospital again. I found out I had a really really terrible illness [note: tuberculosis] that almost killed me. For awhile I was in the hospital. When you're a teenager you want to go out & hang out, whatever, doing stuff. Then I thought if I ever made it out there alive I would do something with my life with music. 2 weeks after I left the hospital I had my 1st band. That band was called SNAKEBITE. We didn't even know that we were doing metal. I think we just did what we felt. Later on some fans came into our rehearsal & they asked, 'Are you guys a metal band?' We thought that sounded cool & said, 'I guess we are.' Within time things started [for the metal scene in Germany] & later on we realized we were a part of a big growing metal scene. It was very emotional. But, that was actually the reason why I started a band. Maybe if I hadn't been sick I wouldn't have, you know?
AJ: Maybe become a graphic artist or something?
DORO: Yes, I still love doing it & it comes in handy to do all the album covers, logos & posters.
AJ: You hinted on something I wanted to ask about. When you were with SNAKEBITE & then WARLOCK can you tell me what the German metal scene was at that time?
DORO: Of course, you know, we went to all the metal concerts & sometimes some bands came to Germany, especially the British New Wave Of Heavy Metal. It was very influential. I grew up with JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON, IRON MAIDEN, Ronnie James Dio, ACCEPT. My 1st concert was 1980 with WHITESNAKE. That was awesome. Then my 2nd concert was JUDAS PRIEST & ACCEPT. I was a big PRIEST fan. Actually, that was the last day of working in my normal job. You couldn't get any personal phone calls, but you smile at the boss &, you know, he was okay about it. I got a phone call. He said, 'I hope its important.' I said, 'It's very important.' My band manager said, 'Do you want to quit your job?' I asked why. He said, 'You guys can go on tour with your favorite band JUDAS PRIEST.' Then I went to my boss & told him we could go on tour with JUDAS PRIEST & he said, 'What is that?' He had no idea. Of course, he wasn't a metalhead. So, he said, 'Girl, you're crazy, but I wish you all the best & good luck & never come back here, okay?' I said I would definitely give it my all. That was kinda what the scene was like in Germany.
AJ: I've been reading a bio of Ritchie Blackmore & he talks about DEEP PURPLE with David Coverdale coming to Germany. He loved Germany & the Germans also loved the music.
DORO: Totally. I think Germany is definitely, even to this day, I think its a big metal & hard rock market. Because, usually everything is pretty serious in Germany. Actually, that was the reason I always wanted to go to America. In 1987 I went to America for a 3 day promotion tour. After the 2nd day I wanted to stay. Everyone said I couldn't do that, but I thought I would try. Then we did one of our most successful records in N.Y. at the Power Station Studio. Then I could stay. I'm a proud Green Card holder since 1991. I think eventually I want to become an American citizen.
AJ: Doro, my great-grandmother came from Germany.
DORO: What city is she from?
AJ: I don't know. She came to N.Y. in 1900 as a teenager. The story is that she didn't want to speak German & wanted to be an American. She had 10 kids & none of them learned German. American musicians often talk about the differences between American audiences & German or European audiences. As a European musician can you tell me the differences you see between the 2 groups? Is there a difference?
DORO: I think, maybe, little tiny differences. Actually, every city is different. When we tour every place is different. In Germany in the south they are maybe a little bit more outgoing & the north maybe a little bit cooler, but yet metal is in their heart. Metal is worldwide. I think its just little mentality things. Like in South America they have so much passion & fire in their blood. They're so wild. In the north, like in Norway, Finland & Sweden, they're as passionate, but they don't show it as much. Maybe they're a little bit, you know, serious, but they love it just as much. I feel it all. Of course, I love it wild & headbanging & stage diving, but when I feel that they're not so outgoing but they still love it, that's great, too. Every country is a little bit different. A different vibe. For example, what I just told you about the north of Germany, actually the people there are a little bit more serious & a little bit more dry, we would say, but they have the biggest metal festival with Wacken. That's like the wildest festival in the world. So, it all depends. I think people who are into metal & who are supporting metal, like the promoters who do great promotion with total heart & soul in it, that I can definitely feel. It means the people are happy. The people make all the difference. It doesn't matter which country you are in.
AJ: I'll tell you, I am not a journalist. I'm a fan. I'm a metal fan. It's about the music. It's great music. There's nothing else like it.
DORO: I think so, too. I think it definitely can bring people together. I think that's the true form when you want to make peace in the world. Music can have a big effect & a total healing effect. It definitely makes people happy or give them hope. A couple months ago we had a concert. Between songs somebody came up to me, there wasn't a barrier, & he said, "If I can just tell you something. I just want to tell you, I've survived only because of your music." I asked, "What way do you mean that?" He said, "I just got out of jail. 20 years in jail. I wouldn't have survived without the music." I didn't know what he did, but that touched me so much. He was just sitting in his cell listening to the music everyday & it gave him hope & positive energy to survive there. It was hell, but there was something to look forward to.
AJ: I've read interviews with you where people often call you an icon, or I think something I saw was a 'metal goddess.' What when someone gives you that title & they call you this icon, this woman role model, what's going through your head?
DORO: I'm much more like a shy & humble person, so when someone says that it's like do they mean me? I just want people to say something positive about me. Then I'm so happy. If they say I'm a metal queen, you know when its meant well its so nice. It means that you did something good for people. You gave them inspiration or motivation. It's a very nice feeling, but, like I said before, I'm a metalhead, too, & a total fan. I love music & I love people. If I feel I can make them happy, even for song or a concert or for just a couple of minutes I'm so grateful & so happy. So, if I have to be the metal queen at least its something nice.
AJ: Well, you definitely don't sound anything like the the leather wearing singer on stage. You sound much more humble & normal than in the image you put out there.
DORO: On stage its a different avenue. I'm a very warm person, but the stage gets the animal in me.
AJ: It's like Alice Cooper. There's Alice & then there's Vincent. We have Doro & then we have Dorothee.
DORO: Exactly. That's a good example. When I met Alice I thought he was such a polite gentleman & super nice. I remember when I was growing up, the snake & the make-up, that was cool. But, you could always sense he was a super nice person.
AJ: Speaking of Alice, its a good moment to ask you about Al Pitrelli, since he used to be Alice's guitarist. Let's talk about your album Calling The Wild. I know before then you hadn't released an album in America in awhile. You were doing all this music but you couldn't break into the American scene like you had wanted to. What was going through your head at the time, if you can remember?
DORO: I think we did really well in the '80's. That was great. Like '87 to '89. Then in the '90's when grunge took over it was so hard & especially in America. Every time I made a record the record company would say, "That isn't grunge." "No, it's not grunge, but I think it's beautiful. It has great songs." They said, "No, if its not grunge than we can't release it." It was record after record, then I peaked in 1999. Somehow people liked metal bands again & metal was kinda like coming back. We couldn't believe. I was doing this record in 1999. Then I talked to my friend in America & he said, "Can I do something?" I said, "Do whatever you feel is right. Do whatever in your heart you feel you can do." Within 2 weeks he had 4 record companies on the table. I thought no way. They said, "People are interested & metal is coming back a little bit." So, I went over to the record companies. The first one was Koch. I got in the door & they had a great guy working there & he loved the demos. The record wasn't done yet. He said, "Oh, man, it sounds great. We're just opening up a new metal department." That was my 1st record in years. Then we went on tour with Ronnie James Dio. From then on it was like metal was growing & it is here again. The 1980's were so great, but in the '90's all our heads were hanging low. It was definitely tough. People still did touring festivals. I think the 1st Wacken festival was in '90 & we played in '93. There was some metal around, but it was not as big.
AJ: It wasn't the same.
DORO: It was so hard for so long. I think the fans were still there, but the industry didn't support us. Yeah, that was the record that Al Pitrelli played on. He played 2 songs. In Germany we had a little studio in Dusseldorf. Actually, my home town. I co-owned a studio with another band from Dusseldorf [note: DIE KRUPPS], but they were more electronica. With our album we needed somebody who played brilliant guitar. Al plays meaningful, like powerful with high energy, & is a wonderful person. There are people who play on the records & they're good players, but they're strange & difficult. I definitely like people who like to have a good time or have a good vibe, & they put their good energy into the record. Al was so great. He was wonderful & so nice. I remember one very special thing about him. About that time my dad died. While we were recording I got some phone calls from my mom & she said that my dad was not doing well, & I should come home. Al said, "You should go. I'll do my best here. Just take care of your dad." He was so totally understanding & sympathizing. He was definitely feeling for me. It was so so nice. He made me feel so good & gave me big hugs. That is one thing I remember about Al. It totally blew my mind & he was so helpful for me at the time.
AJ: Did you know his music before? How did you find him?
DORO: I remembered him from SAVATAGE & I met them there. I still love to go to concerts & I went to a concert. I don't even know where it was, but I saw them in concert. Al played so great & he looked so great up on stage. He was totally putting his heart & soul into his playing & performance. I thought I would love to get in touch. Then a couple of years later we had this record & I got his number & asked him if he'd play. He said sure. He came to the studio. It was fantastic all the way.
AJ: When did you do this? Was this 1999? I know the record came out here in 2000.
DORO: Actually, the whole record we recorded in one & a half years. I did it all over the world, like in Hamburg, then N.Y.C., then Germany.
AJ: I was looking at this thinking that Al was in MEGADETH in 2000.
DORO: He made it just before.
AJ: I thought so, too. I have a quote about your song "I Give My Blood (Dedication)". This is from a fan I found online. They said: ""Dedication" is the hardest, loudest & fastest stuff Doro has ever released."
DORO: The song "Dedication"? That's so great.
AJ: I found many reviews of this album that said this is a great song. Just a really really great song.
DORO: That's so nice to hear. Why do I not read these nice things? I always loved that song. I think I want to put it in our setlist again. There's so many records. Its so hard to pick & choose, but this one. Yeah, I will put it in.
AJ: What inspired it?
DORO: Actually, the chorus is like for peace & freedom. I dedicate my life to do something positive. I will give my blood to do something good & fight for peace & freedom. That's the message of the song. But, I don't want to call it 'Hope & Freedom.' That sounds much too corny.
AJ: 'I Give My Blood' sounds very metal, too.
DORO: Yes. Sometimes you have to make it sound cool.
AJ: You have a couple other guests on this album. Lemmy, Bruce Kulick, Slash. You have some great folks here. Ironically, I work in a record store here on St. Mark's Place.
DORO: St. Mark's Place! I always go to Trash & Vaudeville clothing store down the block every time I'm in Manhattan.
AJ: I work on the other end of the block at a place called Rockit Scientist Records [note: it closed a year after this interview]. You have to stop by next time you're on the block.
DORO: That would be great. I'm always in New York City. I lived in Manhattan, but now I live in Long Beach. I'm always there when we're not on tour, but we're on tour through the end of the year & next year.
AJ: I work with a guy in the record store, Joey Barbosa, who used to play rhythm guitar with Bruce Kulick in a band, but before Bruce played with KISS. They were in the ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION together, the disco band. You have all these great guitar players you've worked with, & there's others over the years, so how do you decide who's going to play on what song?
DORO: Intuition & by feel. Actually, the songs we did with Lemmy we did in L.A.. It was so cool. We had Bob Kulick there & he played all the guitars, with Joe Taylor. Eric Singer was on drums. Lemmy played guitar, too. It was so great to have him play some guitars & he played a distorted bass solo. It was killer. My dad died on that production. I was totally devasted. Before that, I remember I sent Lemmy a letter through the management. I was in Europe & saw him on MTV, so I wrote him, "Lemmy, it's Doro, I don't know if you remember me, but we're now label mates." There's a photo of Lemmy & me on one of the MOTORHEAD records. I put the photo in & sent the letter. I never expected to hear a thing. Then my dad died & one day later I had to go with my mom to pick up some black clothes. I was totally devastated. I thought I wanted to die myself. I got a phone call & I didn't want to pick it up. But, then I thought, 'Let me see who this is.' It was an L.A. number. I thought it was strange. I picked up the phone & it was Lemmy. I let him know what happened, then I said, "I don't even know if I still want to do something." He said, "You sound so so sad. Let's do something. I think that will bring back good energy to you & maybe you forget a little bit about the heaviness of the situation." I said, "I don't know." He said, "No, come on over to L.A. & let's do something nice." So, I went over to L.A. a couple of weeks later. He was actually an angel to me. He was so nice & we had the greatest time. It was 2 weeks in the studio with Eric, Bob & Joe. It was awesome & a great time, even though I was sad. In my heart I was really hurting, but life could go on.
AJ: Doing your art is a good outlet.
DORO: Totally, totally. I also had so many fans who said something nice & were really looking forward to the next record. I realized some other people have much heavier lives. In a time of tragedy, I thought, I'm really sad, but I have to go on to do something good & give other people hope. So, that was definitely a tough time, but on the other hand, feeling the love from Al & Lemmy & all the people that worked in the studio, there was so much gentle & good energy. It was so great. It was really hardcore. It was awesome & I think the record came out fairly nice, too.
AJ: Its a great record. I have the American version, cause I know its different than the European one. There was another thing you did. You were the co-producer.
DORO: Always. For like 10 yrs. Maybe, Aaron, I didn't understand the question.
AJ: I thought this was your first producing credit?
DORO: Actually, I was always involved, but not putting my name as producer.
AJ: Ok.
DORO: Then the record company couldn't say their producer or something. Usually I always did it on some level.
AJ: So you've always been involved on that end, then?
DORO: Yes, but on Calling The Wild that was actually the first one that was for real. Usually, I'm a good team player. Whoever has a good handle on the song. If somebody has more to offer that I can imagine, that's cool. I produce all the stuff.
AJ: They gave you the spotlight this time.
DORO: Yeah, yeah. I didn't even remember it was on the record. I don't care about that stuff. I just want the fans to be happy & say, 'There's a great song that means something to me.' Then I take the spotlight. But, everything else, I don't even know what credits are on the albums.
AJ: I've read that you had a very successful tour with DIO after. With this album you got back on the American market just as metal was coming back to the mainstream. How has your career been here in America since then, compared to what it was before or during grunge?
DORO: Actually, during the last 10 years its doing pretty well. I think its getting better & better. Its maybe not as big as it was in the '80's, like '87 to '89 when 'All We Are' had heavy rotation on MTV. I guess that won't happen anymore.
AJ: No, not anymore.
DORO: We're still working on it & I think its doing really good. I'm happy that I still have the same band members from Calling The Wild. Bassist Nick Douglas has been with us now for 21 years. Johnny Dee, our drummer, has been with us since 1993. We're still a good team. Now, the world is so much bigger. Tomorrow I go to Russia with them & last week we were just in Japan. Before we were in China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic & all these places that were nearly impossible to tour in the '80's. Now its possible & that's great. Touring gets at least a year after each album. We're still working on it. It's not as big as it was, but I'm pretty happy. I will say it, all the traveling back & forth, I love the States. I love America. Actually, I did my best records in America. Its definitely where I want to live & work & grow old, though usually I'm in the tour bus.
AJ: Is there anything you've not done musically that you want to do?
DORO: Actually, I would like to play to the metal fans where its not possible right now. Especially being a girl, its difficult in some countries. You know, metal is even forbidden. For a woman to sing or like scream its very difficult. So, I would hope I would go to countries where its not possible now, but I will try. I always like to play where its risky. Now we have been to China a couple of times. It felt impossible, but now it almost feels like home. So, I hope, in countries like Iran & Iraq, where I know there are many many metalheads & metal fans. For a woman its impossible. Its very difficult to be able to go there & play for people there who would love it. For the rest of my life I don't have any other wishes. You know, I'm dedicated to metal or married to metal & the fans. So, whatever it takes to make great shows & great records & great tours. Actually, one of my dreams came true to write a music score for a great movie. The 1st movie was called Anuk - The Path Of The Warrior. Now they are planning a second part. I'm playing the main female role in it & writing the music for it, again. That was always a dream. Its like an independent film. Not Hollywood, not glossy, but its very cool. It actually won an award in the New York Film Festival.
AJ: Your manager told me that you have a new DVD/CD boxset out [25 Years In Rock ... & Still Going Strong].
DORO: It's coming out. There was a 25th anniversary celebration with great friends. Everybody was there from the metal scene who did something for us or who we toured with or were friends with. The SCORPIONS came to celebrate. Bobby Blitz of OVERKILL. Warrel Dane of NEVERMORE. All the best ladies of metal were there. My old WARLOCK band members were there. It was the longest concert we ever did, like over 3 hours. It's a nice DVD, with all the highlights of last year's tour. I think its a killer DVD. Some beautiful artwork.
AJ: Do you have any plans to tour in America? When will you be back this way, Doro?
DORO: I just finished a tour like 2 weeks ago.
AJ: I know. I found out after the fact. I would have loved to have seen you in person.
DORO: You didn't see a show?
AJ: No. I didn't know you were here until after the fact.
DORO: That's ashame. Through the end of this year we do a tour of Europe. We tour with MOTORHEAD. I'm so happy to do a tour together. Next year we are coming back to America.
AJ: I'll keep my eyes open this time. Doro, I have nothing more to ask you. You have been a delight to talk to.
DORO: It was so nice to get to know you & talk to you. I would love to visit you in the record store.
AJ: Its a little little store. We sell mostly vinyl these days.
DORO: Aaron, this DVD is coming out on vinyl, cause I did a live record as well. It will come out as vinyl as a picture disc.
AJ: We sell a lot of that. We're actually expanding our metal section, cause metal fans still buy & don't download. The metal community, we're a very supportive community.
DORO: Totally. That's the reason I could always do it. It was always the metalheads. They were always there for me. I know what you mean. I always try to create something that looks expensive & is worthwhile to buy & that they want to buy. Aaron, when you see the DVD you'll love it. I think its one of the best things we have done. Its not out yet, just some youtube trailers.
AJ: That's such a great resource to hear & discover so much music.
DORO: In countries where its illegal to listen to metal or to start a metal band, they can still listen to it through youtube. I love that. Like we just played in Turkey. So many people they came over from Iran & Iraq. They put their lives on the line to be at this festival & to see the bands. It was awesome. That would be the biggest dream if we could come to their country. I would love it, but it's very tricky.
AJ: Maybe someday. The world is changing.
DORO: Hopefully. But, I tell you, they were exactly the same metalheads, like you & me. At first I didn't know where they were from. They looked metal. They had the metal t-shirts. Then we talked & found out. It was great to see them.
AJ: Doro, its a delight talking to you. Thank you for talking time out of your schedule to talk about the past with me.
DORO: It was actually perfect. Between Japan & Russia I just have a couple of days in Germany.
AJ: I'm going to let you go now. I'm sure you have plenty to do.
DORO: Just pack for Russia. Its so cold there. I have to see what kind of stuff I have.
AJ: The fun never ends.
DORO: Never. It could be 24 hours of metal & that still wouldn't be enough. The fans in Russia are great. The last couple of years they became very open & kinda westernized. At first it was strange. Everybody with machine guns. Now its pretty normal & fun to go there.
AJ: How long are you in Russia for?
DORO: One week.
AJ: Are you moving constantly or do you have any time to be a tourist?
DORO: Not so much. In Japan I was so sick. We had a couple of days, but I had a fever & had to stay in the hotel to get prepared for the show. In the end it always works. When you have to do it, it works, but sometimes its painful.
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