Exclusive interview
Nicky interviews Dr. Motte
For all those who have not had the privilege;
Matthias Roeingh (alias Dr. Motte) is the founder and driving force behind Berlin’s Loveparade which he brought to life into for the very first time on the 1st of July 1989. The original idea was to create a forum and platform for electronic music and initially the first few parades were registered with the city as a more „Love, Peace and Happiness“ type event, but it grew shortly from 3 little Volkswagen vans to over 50 vehicles and 1.5 million visitors tearing up the asphalt each year. Making the Loveparade, Germany’s largest open air festival. Now world renown through live radio (Radio Fritz) and television broadcasts
Dr. Motte was honored with the „Life Time Achievement Award“ during the most recent DJ convention in Dortmund, Germany and the coveted Bambi, the BZ Kulturpreis and the VIVA Comet awards.
I had the pleasure to run into Dr. Motte / Matthias Roeingh and this is what we talked about;
Enjoy!
Dr. Motte and Nicky
Nicky:
Tell us a little about yourself, Matthias:
When and where were you born, and what is your sign?
Dr. Motte:
I was born in Berlin on July 9, 1960 at 5:30 p.m.
My sign? The Sun is in Cancer, the ascendant is in Sagittarius and the Moon is in Capricorn.
In Chinese, I was born in the sign of the rat with companionship of the rooster and my Indian totem is the woodpecker.
Nicky:
Where can we find you on the web?
Dr. Motte:
www.drmotte.de
myspace.com/doctormotte
Nicky:
And you have to have a favorite quote?
Dr. Motte:
Do onto others what you would have them do onto you
Nicky:
What kind of reading material enjoys Dr. Motte?
Dr. Motte:
The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff
Nicky:
Now let’s talk shop… Who is your favorite female singer?
Dr. Motte:
Madonna
Nicky:
And your favorite male singer?
Dr. Motte:
Manuel Goettsching
Link: www.ashra.com
Nicky:
How about your favorite album? And what about the first one you ever bought?
Dr. Motte:
My absolute favorite album is from Manuel Goettsching called „E2-E4“, a 60 minute poem that has become my personal motto and inspiration.
I also love everything from „Kraftwerk“, with the exception of „Das Model“, since that’s more of a hippie song!
The very first record I ever bought was „Made in Japan“ by Deep Purple which I tried to cover with a friend. We mocked the stage, the instruments and the musicians and played along with the record…that was in 1972.
Nicky:
When you were a kid, what did you want to grow up to be?
Dr. Motte:
First I wanted to be a ships cook. I thought it would be great to see the world while working, but later I wanted to become an architect and build wonderful houses like the ones in Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and modern stuff like you find in Brasilia (capital city of Brasil).
Nicky:
How did you end up with the name Dr. Motte?
Dr. Motte:
When I was a punk they started calling me „Motte“ (moth), and since I played such sick music, while staying totally sober, and filled the dance floor at the 90° Club in Berlin in 1991, I was honored with the title „Doctor“.
In fact, I still have the name tag. It’s engraved.
Nicky:
How did your family react when you became a Punk and how long did the Punk in you last?
Dr. Motte:
My Mom thought it was totally cool and would have loved to walk around like one as well. Mom was one extravagant person! I was a Punker from 1978 until the end of 1981.
Nicky:
Do you have any kids?
Dr. Motte:
No, but I love kids.
I’ve got a lot of respect for the parents. Taking on responsibility and all. I’m really interested in the way kids are raised these days, because the potential is there to make them more environmentally aware. My word to all parents out there… Back to nature!
Nicky:
Nowadays kids who go to Trance and Techno clubs are thought to be druggies. With that in mind, what would you say to those teenagers?
Dr. Motte:
Education is the answer to that. Drug laws have been ineffective in the past at controlling the problem. For example; Here in Berlin/Kreuzberg there is only a single clinic here to help and educate roughly 15.000 kids. The Kids just don’t have a voice in society. That’s why the only suggestion I have is check out the info with anti-drug initiative like: eve-rave.
Link: www.eve-rave.net
Nicky:
How old were you when you discovered your love for music and where was your first DJ gig?
Dr. Motte:
At the age of 4 I conducted jukebox orchestra using a cooking spoon. It wasn’t the music and then Matthias, we were one and the same!
My first DJ gig I had when I was 22. I always had a nice variety of music in my cassette collection, so I started throwing parties. In ’85 a buddy asked me if I wanted to spin records in a little club in Berlin/Kreuzberg on Wednesdays. The rest is history.
Nicky:
How would you describe your Musical style?
Dr. Motte:
The Dr. Motte Sound! I just love all facets of electronic music!
Nicky:
What do you usually do when you get a booking, here or outside the country? Like how much music do you pack up and how long does a typical gig last?
Dr. Motte:
I usually book for 2 hour show and end up packing roughly 200 records for that alone!
I like to spin vinyl, simply because vinyl has much warmer, fatter bass. I’m the ultimate Bass Junkie. Besides vinyl records don’t need to be transcoded like CD’s or MP3’s. You always run into problems with them, besides, for me, they’re not music anyways. I can always find my groove with vinyl. SAVE THE VINYL!
Nicky:
When I look at your schedule, I can see that you travel a lot. You were recently in Seoul. What kind of event was that?
Dr. Motte:
It was the World DJ Festival sponsored by the city of Seoul (South Korea). I played for 10.000 people there. It was a huge event which demonstrated that the electronic music scene is what connects with teenagers around the world. I’m flying back next year and will be introducing some of the local acts as well!
Nicky:
The Loveparade was sold off and is no longer taking place in Berlin, are you connected to this new project?
Dr. Motte:
I announced my resignation from the Loveparade in May of 2006.
Links to that subject:
German: http://blog.drmotte.de
Engl.: http://blog.drmotte.de
I’ve always been interested in the counter culture of electronic music in the form of a open air parade. The current owners is a fitness chain, so the entire thing has become nothing more than a publicity stunt. They’re only interested in Marketing and I believe that a sponsor should not be marketing his wares to benefit big business. The Loveparade is now no more than a huge billboard for a fitness chain.
Nicky:
So… What’s up for the future?
Dr. Motte:
I will soon showcase my debut of PRAXXIZ, my own label.
On PRAXXIZ I will publish mixes I picked, and new acts i find.
Nicky:
Wasn’t there something about an interactive book project. How can fans take part?
Dr. Motte:
I’m putting together a scrapbook of all the insane moments and misadventures that happened during the Loveparade of past years. So send me your tidbits so I can work them in. Of course I’ll also add my favorite story. Simply drop me an email to loveparade@ drmotte.de
Nicky:
Do you have any other hobbies besides music?
Dr. Motte:
I care a lot for spiritual subjects and for any form of artistic expressions!
I also love to meet new people and to party.
Nicky:
What is your favorite travel destination?
Dr. Motte:
Our blue planet Earth.
Nicky:
What is your favorite food and can you cook yourself?
Dr. Motte:
Sashimi
Spaghetti in tomato sauce
(with the best Italian tomatoes from the region between Naples and the Vesuv, the best olive oil, the best spaghetti made in Italy, the best basil and the best original Italian Parmesan cheese, all home made…. after that a cup of Illy Espresso and the world is right)
Yes, I can cook, I taught myself with the help of cook books.
I love the diversity of the Asian cuisine, but my favorite is Italian.
Nicky:
What would you take along to a deserted island?
Dr. Motte:
A doumbek / tonbak. www.rhythmweb.com
Nicky:
Dear Matthias, thank you very much for taking the time out for this interview despite your full calendar. I wish you lots of success with all of your upcoming projects.
Nicky Zimmer
In May 2007
Copyright: Nicky Zimmer + Dr. Motte
Links:
www.myspace.com/frlnicky
http://www.myspace.com/radio_unlimited
Send your Promos, Tracks, Demos, Vinyl, CD’s, Books, Interesting things, News, Infos, Art, Food, Pictures and more to Dr. Motte’s Post-Adress:
Dr. Motte
c/o Club Sound Recordstore
Eberswalder Straße 32
D- 10437 Berlin
Germany
link: http://blog.drmotte.de
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