Looking back at this interview:
Lenny had released the ninth Kingdom Come album, Perpetual the previous year. In 2005 we were selling this CD and Lenny was kind enough to sign several for us. (special thanks to Marko Wolf for helping get everything rolling). Being a huge fan of Kingdom Come and Stone Fury (Lenny’s pre-Kingdom Come band) it was an honor to be able to review some songs and memories. It was also important for us to help get the word out that Kingdom Come never stopped. Yes the classic lineup had long since departed, but Lenny continued to drive the KC ship and put out some great music that many people had not discovered.We sold out of the autographed editions of “Perpetual” very fast. We recently discovered a box of unsigned cds. If you are interested in purchasing one the standard editions of this cd please contact us.
Lenny Wolf (April 2005)
Well you’re currently out on the road again with Kingdom Come. How have the dates been going thus far?
Unfortunately, due to us having to postpone the US tour, we kind of fell into a hole and have not been touring a whole lot yet, but the shows we’ve done so far went very well. Especially St. Petersburg in Russia was another fantastic experience.
What can you tell us about the current lineup?
What can I tell you, a bunch of guys doing the KC thing. In comparison to KC’s early days we now speak German in the band, except when I’m angry. The universal “fu#* this shiiiit” is being used fairly often.
Kingdom Come hit huge straight out of the box when you guys debuted. How did that kind of success impact the band?
Well now, years later I’ve come to realize that a steadily but consisting growth is a healthier route to go, than a sudden jump from nowhere to the top. Of course it’s every band’s dream to hit it big, but not being prepared, in a sense of having grown together as a strong unit like for example Metallica, and at the same time parasite writers looking for any kind of trouble news, can put a major negative drain on a band, which was one of the reason for our early break up. When I speak to James Kottak (original drummer now with the Scorpions), neither of us know what exactly has happened. And then with the Seattle sound taking over heavily, bands from the so called eighties, were facing a very hard time. Although I consider KC’s roots being found more in the seventies feel than the eighties.
After the demise of the initial Kingdom Come lineup you were determined to move forward. How did the breakup change your outlook and approach to Kingdom Come?
From day one I did what I had to do, on a musical level, and did not care very much about what seemed to be trendy or not. Our sound at the beginning seemed to fit the “Industry”. Since then I just continued doing my thing. I belong to the kind of musicians who like to take people to different places, instead of doing the same old expected thing over and over and over again, without denying what KC stands for. There are a lot of advantages today, technically spoken, which I like to experiment with. It’s called “growing”. The Beatles did not write “She loves you” for the next ten years. It is probably not the smartest thing to do from a commercial point of view, but it shows who is into music more than to “maybe” make a few bucks extra.
Many of us first discovered you back in your Stone Fury days when the “Break Down The Walls” video popped into our tv sets. How would you best summarize your Stone Fury period and the differences between the “Burns Like a Star” and “Let Them Talk” albums ?
Stone Fury all together was a well paid learning experience. I hardly spoke English and for the first record was dealing with a very charming alcoholic, sitting behind the mixing console. I loved LA and had a blast.
The second record was a nightmare. I was asked to stay out of the studio to avoid killing someone I had to deal with. I could not express myself very well, and on top of it being a very straight out talker, I did not get along with the “producer” at all. Until today I think there are some great songs on it, but put together very badly! Guidance, when you’re a hot headed young musician is a very important factor, which only works when it fits (musical vision) and with respect for each other. That wasn’t the case. No surprise the record’s success was missing.
Well since we already mentioned a video, Let’s take a jump back into the “Music Video Time Capsule”.
What’s your favorite music video you’ve been in and why?
It may sound strange, but I was never really happy with the outcome of all our videos. Either the story was lame, or my posing requirements sucked. Something bands had to do during that time. “Should I” is pretty cool, and in “What love can be” I like my jeans. I’m not ashamed about what I’ve done in the past, but looking back at it now, makes me either laugh or wanting to hide. Seriously now, I’ve come to realize that although I’m a pretty positive thinking guy, I’m more into the darker, emotionally, at times industrial approach than back then, with a strong disliking regarding clichés and any form of posing. There is a big difference between supporting your song with “your” attitude in a video, and being mislead to make an idiot of yourself. But then again, personality takes many years to develop.
What’s your least favorite music video you’ve been in and why?
Check out my “Q-Tip” hair cut in the second Stone Fury video for “Life is too lonely”, ain’t that cuuuuuute ? Oohh well, no harm meant , but the girls back then loooooved it! Got me constant “home runs” at the “Rainbow-Bar and Grill” on the Sunset strip in LA.
A Few Quick Hits:
First concert you ever saw:
“Augenweide”. A German band. Intellectual bla bla rock with a great drummer. A friend took me. A few days later a “German” Beatles revival band kicked my ass!
Favorite TV shows growing up:
Flipper, Bonanza, Jeannie
The one thing Lenny Wolf is best at is:
Writing KC songs
The one thing Lenny Wolf is worst at is:
Patience
When I was a kid we’d most likely find you:
Sitting in front of a Music Box with my mother in bars and having pretzels and hopefully coke.
The thing most people would be surprised to know about Lenny Wolf is:
He is a nice guy.
What is your guilty pleasure?
What guilt?? I’m just another guy who loves doing earthy necessities. I’m not talking about too much ice cream. You would probably prefer me telling you, that I enjoy to hang girls upside down on a rope outside a window, talking dirty and pouring hot chocolate on her.
Our staff has whittled down a list of some of our favorite tracks you’ve recorded over the years. What thoughts, memories or anecdotes do you have regarding the following songs:
“Tease”
Which version. From ’84 or 2000 ? The earlier version was the beginning of a dream. A young “kraut” entering America from a very pleasant perspective. Thank you! The 2000 version was us trying to improve the song. Whether it worked or not, is your call.
“I Hate To Sleep Alone”
A demo becoming alive. Oh well, I guess it’s a cool shuffle?!
“Let The Time Take Care”
Believe it or not. I was digging the glass-clear guitar sound of a song from Michael Jackson, and wanted to write a song with that sound too. The final production never felt as good as the demo
“Pushin Hard”
Great performance of a cool band called Kingdom Come.
“Living Out of Touch”
KC’s strongest song in Europe. Still have to play it live.
“Who Do You Love”
Worked on new years eve in Tokyo. Kinda U2 meets the Montrose. But I guess I’m the only one feeling that way
“You’re Not The Only..I Know”
Could have been a great song if the production were not so stiff. My first “producer” role.
“Pardon The Difference”
My first classical off road trip. Short but nice. The opener during our first headline tour in Europe in ’93.
“Fake Believer”
Me hammering the industrial sound on a trash can with a red light bulb hidden inside, Very cool. Think I watched Ronnie DIO too often!
“Slow Down”
Still playing it live with a 2005 feel. Kicks ass.
How has your approach to songwriting changed over the years?
You probably noticed that I’m not too excited anymore about our “older” approaches. I think I’ve done a whole lot of growing up in a musical term. I still like many older songs, but can’t really get into the sounds anymore. Mine, and many people’s hearing habits have changed over the years. One day I may just re-record some of my old favorites, to let them see the light of the day again, from my present perspective.
“The Life and Times of Lenny Wolf” is being made into a multi million dollar movie. Who plays Lenny and how does the movie end?
I have not started the audition yet, (Nicholas Cage sounds groovy) and the end can only be figured out when the story is over. And as far as I know, it ain’t over yet!! But thanks for the concept in general.
When did you feel like you finally “Hit the Big Time”?
On my way down. I realized something big just happened and I wasn’t aware of it. A shame in some ways, a necessity in other ways.
With all the ups and downs of being a musician, we’ve all had to have a few “odd jobs” along the way. What was your worst “struggling musician” job?
I never played on weddings or stuff like that. I’d rather drove a truck delivering washing machines, selling fruit on markets, and many other “odd” jobs before going back into my rehearsal room. I could not have raped my guitar or vocal, to do things I would have hated to do. For a more lengthy story please check out the Lenny Wolf “BIO” on our web site.
What’s the greatest life lesson you’ve learned over the years?
We need one another, despite our “cool and irreplaceable” being. Thinking before talking. And not just with your head, also with your heart! Unfortunately, the most important lessons cannot be found by reading about them, we have to live through them, which is a pretty scary conclusion thinking about the future.
So what are your top 5 all time songs to do in live jams “?
Not wanting to put down the fun aspects of jamming along, but I never enjoyed it very much. To me, music needs to be thought and lived out in “detail”. And those everlasting blues or rock events with thousand clichés hitting me over and over again, are not doing it for me anymore, neither the “technical show offs”. Of course, I covered songs from the Beatles to get better and to develop an understanding for harmonies. But I started to create my own songs very early. Sorry for being so damned German.
You have 5 songs (spanning your entire recording career) to put into the “Lenny Wolf Time Capsule”. What 5 songs are in the time capsule?
Not all my favorite songs, but to scan a 5 song history I guess it would have to be: Break down the walls – What love can be – Twilight Cruiser – Mother – Watch the Dragonfly.
What was your “Spinal Tap Moment”?
After sound check some IDIOT moved the speaker-tower forward without letting me know. During the first song, and only little light, being a bit nervous as it is, me doing my running around on stage, I fell right into that open gap between the stage and the speaker tower. It H U R T big time, and people thought: hhuuuii, what a cool “disappearing show effect”.
Anything you’d like to mention or comment on?
Check out our new stuff, and thanks to those KC soldiers who kept holding up the flag.
You have only 5 albums you can listen to for the rest of your life. No greatest hits, live albums, or box sets. What are they?
Only 5 ??L hhmmmmm: Barry White for breakfast, Beatles all together, Rumors from Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC with Bon Scott, Rammstein’s latest record
You get to put together the “Lenny Wolf Dream Band” (Dead, alive or otherwise. As an added bonus no lawyers or agents are involved in the formation of this band) Who is in the band?
That’s a hard question. Soo many great players doing “their own” thing, but putting them together would most likely lead to a disaster. Speaking of “strong personalities” cooking in the same kitchen. Imagine John Bonham with the Beatles, or Ringo Star with Zeppelin. Or the Edge from U2 with AC/DC , or Hendrix with Metallica. Of course, to some of us it may sound quite interesting, but not very realistic. I’m not trying to get my way out of answering your question, but I feel uncomfortable even thinking about naming possibilities. I had to give it a try first to find out, if a so called “dream-band” could work at all.
Our staff loves songs with Cowbells! What are some of your favorite “Cowbell Tunes” ?
Don’t really recall a lot of them. Fooling by Def Leppard, A Leslie West tune who’s title I don’t remember, sorry but at 4 am, I can’t really think of the “cow bells” you have in mind.
Thanks Lenny, Your are another Warrior Keeping the Spirit Alive ! Keep Defending the Faith !
Thanks for your interest and Rock on !!! Thank you!
Artist Update 2019: Lenny Wolf put out five more Kingdom Come albums after this interview culminating in the final release of Outlier in 2013.
That put the KC catalog at 13 releases (11 since the classic line up disbanded). In 2016 there was a brief reunion of Lenny, Danny Stag and Johnny B. Frank (from the classic lineup) for a select show on the Monsters of Rock Cruise.
Wolf retired in 2016 . He posted a letter stating where he was at in his journey Read Lenny Wolf Retirement
As fate would have it, with the 30th anniversary of the debut album from lead to a reunion of the classic Kingdom Come. The remaining classic lineup have reunited. With Lenny still retired, they have added singer Keith St. John (Montrose) to the line up. The band is working on a huge tour to celebrate this anniversary. Lenny has given his full blessing to the celebration. Lenny’s Facebook Post / Kingdom Come
You can keep track of the latest Kingdom Come news at their Official Facebook Page
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