Interview with Spacebandit from 2018

 

“Spacebandit” - Taper since 2003

Give us a brief insight explaining why you started to tape concerts?

Did I say that I love "live music"? That started back in 1981 with my first real (outdoor!) concert. Over the years it proved to me right checking out "new" bands with those things called "Bootlegs". Those - back then - rather expensive vinyls or cassettes

- illuminated a different view on bands/artists like Springsteen,

Zappa, Marillion, Santana or BÖC in the early

days until that trading cassettes was popular in the mid80's.

What was the first concert that you taped and how did it go?

Well, I think the first one was maybe COLOSSEUM at AlteWeberei in Gütersloh, Germany, 2003-09-25. On the way to the concert my brother reached over the equipment that we bought togethersome 18 months before with the comment: "It's now up to you!". I think he got bored about doing this or that and he had his - then - new girlfriend with him (sorry, now by sister-in-law).

So...well...I can remember fumbling with the Mini-Disc Recorder and the OKM2R mics sweating out in advance of a pure misfailure. Luckily it was not. The audience at that show was therefor the music, kept quiet without chatting too much and after the first 45 min. set I felt a bit of relief. Done it. The second set was much longer and there were some pearls on my forehead capturing all the show. Maybe I've changed to another minidisc

back then for the encore, but I can't really remember. The recording came out quite well but - if it would hadturned out bad, maybe I'd surely stopped. But maybe...only. Oh, I think there was a MAN show before, May 1st 2003. But those are not taperfriendly anymore (yeah, no Mickey, no Deke anymore),so I maybe forgot about that.

During all the years that you have taped concerts, looking back and comparing with today, what has changed and is there anything you miss in particular from the early days of taping?

Yes, of course, too much Smartphones up there and people telling each other how great their crappy shit is. Poor little stupid souls. I don't miss a thing as I had not taped or neitherbeen born when it all started. But a 1968 Grateful Dead audience recording is...woah!

Do you have a pre-concert ritual? How do you prepare for an upcoming concert?

Never...depends on my mood, the venue and the check before. If it's an unknown venue I like to check out different positions for any possible good sound. And check out on the audience.

I try to avoid a group of people who are known to each other. That might be involve into chatting. Better are two or three people (checking if they are there for the music, even asking)who give me a sideline/backing for the recording. I can't count all those good souls that were quiet besides me during concerts and never got a

credit for that superb support. Those arethe real heroes of taping, not me.

After the concert. What do you usually do with the recording that you have just taped?

Going home. Most likely sleep. If it was fine and it is still early night maybe I'll have a listen.

Which 3 of your recordings would end up in your own “Hall of Fame” and why?

Hahaha...this is the most difficult question to answer. That might be my next 3 recordings...

I don't have a "Hall of Fame" as usually I'm done with them soon after doing this way or the other somewhere.

I've been a Deadhead for most of my life and I really love their music (forever my favourite "band") and it's good with the quote from Jerry Garcia.

Same is with me, as you never know what exceptional mindblowing music will ever come to your mind.

Ok, at least some "cornerstones":

MOTORPSYCHO - Bielefeld, Forum - 14.10.2008 (all done within a little lucid moment)

COLOUR HAZE - Komplex, Schüttorf - 20.04.2012 (lazing on the stage and not being kicked from the stage)

and maybe other concerts I taped from that "Rampensau" location where Mr. Ray White (Zappa) asked me for some german words right into the mic. That was awesome. But happens all that taper life.

Could you tell us when a planned recording didn´t turned out the way it was supposed to?

There are some shows I've seen and screwed up. Most of those are because of dry batteries or a cable break in the system. The early years with that minidisc were tough to do, so you mightmiss something from a show after 79:59 min. But the disc change in pouring rain was rather difficult sometimes.

What would your advice be to someone interested in starting recording and taping concerts?

Well...good gear, good advice from the experienced tapers. Depends too much on the venue/outdoor. Good gear is fine, but it's about position. You may have the best but iof there is a

chatting crowd/Stevie Nicks-like tambourine wailing woman close to you...no chance.

 

When taping what should one not forget? What´s your list of stuff to bring with you?

Nothing. Expect for being ready to TAPE. Got your gear ready? Upfront/Rampensau? Yes...nothing except for the gear. Maybe a spare battery...and.. (they kill me for that)

a NORWEGIAN FLAG...ups, sorry I'm back to my favourite band.

The day you stop taping concerts, what will you miss the most?

The day I stop taping concerts will be my last concert. Sooner or later that day will be. I will not miss it too much, as the general consuming of music has changed at lot from thosedays when I was I lucky to get a new/used album of an unknown band back then. I won't be missing any shit like U-Tube or something else. As I've seen most of my concerts back in thelate 80's there's just too much "information" and too less "surprise" anymore. That sucks.

Which playback-rig do you have when listening back to your recordings?

Nothing. Just the PC.

Talking about venues. Which one´s are your favorites and which one´s do you try to avoid and why so?

Oh, that's a difficult question. I usually like those smaller more "taper-friendly" venues. And the outdoor festivals, too. There's not too much confusion and checking up on any gearyou want to get in. And it's more about the bands who gets a copy of my recording for whatever they want to do with. I'm not into those "big bands" where you pay too much money to get inand end up "on the other side of town". I try to avoid any big venues with screaming chatting audience. As I'm mostly working on a local scene here, there are those:

FORUM, BIELEFELD, GERMANY (best sound) FAUST, HANNOVER, GERMANY (atomsphere!)

RARE GUITAR, MUENSTER, GERMANY (like a living room!)

but the most beautiful - besides PARADISO, AMSTERDAM was...

VICTORIA NASJONAL JAZZSCENE, OSLO, NORWAY.

This venue is just magical. An old cinema place in the heart of Oslo, but still...old style. I wanted to be "nailed" inside of that gorgeous place. So beautiful you can't imagine.

Do you have any stories about any band hearing your recording and their reaction?

Well, the bigger acts usually do not react, but the lesser known are mostly very interested in a positive way. Maybe not all (yeah, Miss WUCAN), but it's always a great pleasure with GRAND ASTORIA,

THE MACHINE, SEVEN THAT SPELLS just to name a few. And if you are called in by your "taper-name" from your favourite band backstage, you're knighted. Cause they appreachiated my "labour of love" and as they get taped anyway, they like it if someone takes real care for a good sound. I'll try my best everytime and, of course, from the mentioned bands I got everything official...vinyl. Fuck CD.

How do you see the “taping scene” in 50 years from now?

Nowhere. There are not too many people interested for this kind of recreational self esteem. You can do whatever you want with your smartphone. But if that breaks all hell gets loose.All people can get everything with their phones, but not at real hot'n'sweaty rockn'roll show. It's just way too cool.

What taping equipment would you like to have that doesn´t already exist and why?

Oh, I don't think there will be much development anymore. For festival shows a "tennis-referee-chair" would be great. To avoid the chatty crowd.

Which taping experience has made you most humble?

Being kicked out by the venue staff at a Wishbone Ash show in Paderborn. They recorded it for themselves and are simply taper-haters. In the age of smartphones a laughable act.

I'll never take another step into that venue, which was - btw - shitty, too. Oh, Wishbone Ash told me that they got nothing to do with it. Yeah, idiots!

Any hilarious taping anecdotes that stands out?

That would be...taking a whole book. Big thanks to meeting all those nice companions from - in some cases - real deep friendships developed as with dear LarsM, SeeTheLight7,

SeeTheFuzz7, Sunhair, Rendel, Rackhir, Lord Die, Propylaen. Would like to meet other guys as well, from different countries. At least I succeeded in "fixing on" both Miro andBlueshacks (members of our "psychedelic roundtable") on taping, which they do very nicely.