LIVE CHAT - 30/03/11 - Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian)

George Goldman: Hansi, Blind Guardian's latest album took on yet another new (amazing) style. Will your next album be similar or will it have a mixture of the old and the new? I personally loved Nightfall in Middle Earth and would love to see more songs of that nature?

Hansi: So we start with George: Next album is not even in the making The orchestral project would be first, most probably.

Ojuzhan Yildirim: Why cut your hair hansi?

Hansi: To Yeldirim: Because it was about time to do so!!!

Christoper Grozos: Hello Hansi! This is Christopher from Gothenburg, remember? Long time since we met now. I saw your shows in Gothenburg and Stockholm last october and wanted to thank you for two superb performances, as always

Hansi: Christopher, good to have you here!

John Yelland: Will the orchestral project be under the Blind Guardian name or something separate?

Hansi: To John: We do not know yet, most probably yes.

Adam JosepHansi: Hansi how will you work with Jon Schaffer if he doesn't get to Europe till November??

Hansi: To Adam: Jon and I will find magical ways. He might be here for festivals...

Gabiel: Hansi when will you make the next album with demons and wizards?

Hansi: To Gabiel: D&W within the next two years, I would guess.

Nahuel Alejandro Oddo: Hansi, I just want to say that you're my idol of my life and you rule, can't wait to meet you here in Argentina!!

Hansi: To Nahuel: Thanks.

Don Bilbo: my question is, if we will hear Battlefield or Curse of Feanor live someday?

Hansi: To Don: Battlefield is very, very difficult!!

Zvonimir Bog Grabic: Will you play again AND THEN THERE WAS SILENCE like 5 years ago?

Hansi: To Zvonimir: Silence is always an option. We are recording a fairly new version at the moment.

Marcel Formela: So... is there a chance to release Forgotten Tales II or something like this?

Hansi: To Marcel: Forgotten Tales, I do not see that, but a possible "Best of" Album.

John Ryan: What sort of Training have you had in your singing (one metal singer asking another)?

Hansi: I have had classical lessons, but I also rehearsed a lot with my favourite songs.

Fabrice: I heard about the making of a movie about the Hobbit, will you take part in the writing of the music?

Hansi: No, we won't take part in doing music for the Hobbit. This time we did not even try.

Milan Zelenka: About the orchestral project. Is it going to concern a single topic like e.g. Nightfall did or are we going to hear tales from more realms?

Hansi: Orchestral album will be a conceptual one. Difficult to explain, now. But we still work on many elements at the same time

Aaron Carstens: Have you ever thought of playing a live show with an actual orchestra?

Hansi: Yes, we have that in mind for a possible next Blind Guardian festival. Orchestras are very expensive

Nahuel Alejandro Oddo: Hey Hansi, I have a question, would you ever do again an acoustic tour like the one on NIME tour? With songs like Theatre Of Pain, To France, and The Wizard?

Hansi: Acoustic tours are pretty fun. We talk about that very often. We may do a sort of club tour after we have finished touring. Then anything is possible.

George Goldman: Hansi, is Blind Guardian currently scouring the shelves of the library for a new source of inspiration? (I would suggest the Temeraire series) Are there any books that you are considering to take on at the moment?

Hansi: No, not really. I count on coincidence. Things will come at the right time. So, no chasing...

Zvonimir Bog Grabic: Is it true you were Extras at LOTR Trilogy? Do you love Warhammer also? One nerd to another

Hansi: André loves Warhammer. No, we were not Extras at LOTR

George Goldman: Would Blind Guardian ever consider a joint project with Rhapsody of Fire (like you had with Iced Earth (Demons and Wizards))?

Hansi: Helloween and Rhapsody would be fun

Mina Vaan: Have you thought making a live performance musical with actors? Maybe LOTR influenced...?

Hansi: Yes, we have considered doing something with actors. Might be an option for the orchestral project.

Önay Geylan: Hansi will you have any extra projects like once Neverland (dreamtone, turkish band)?

Hansi: There are some bands I will work with in the future, but too many to mention now.

Stefan Pepi Stanisic: How do you feel coming back to Serbia after recording a second video and do you remember shows you had earlier here? Looking forward to seeing you again.

Hansi: Serbia is always a blast - Staca and Ivan really rule in doing videos

Irena: Hello Hansi. Every fan of BG knows that your songs have been influenced by lots of books - from fantasy to mystery. How do you feel when a book has been inspired by your music and songs.

Hansi: It is a great honour - I am not sure how many times this has happened so far

Darkgriz: Did you really witness a girls die for Fiddler in the Green? It's a really sad story.

Hansi: Yes, I passed the accident, as well as the one of the boy. I fortunately did not see the accident in both cases.

Ran Hameiri: Why don't you play the song "Battlefield"? It's one of your best songs I think... and also Another Stranger Me!

Hansi: Battlefield is a great song, but difficult to perform. One fine day...

Majesty: Would you be interested in doing a duet with a female singer and if you could choose one, with whom would you like to sing a song together?

Hansi: I am not so interested, since I never really think about what might come next. There are some great female vocalists nonetheless.

Fredrik Von Stöckel: Will BG be playin in Sweden anytime in the future?

Hansi: Sweden is not on the schedule, unfortunately.

Jannik Michaelis: Hansi, how does it feel when you could sing about your favourite books, maybe dreams, I could imagine for myself, this must be unbelievable

Hansi: It is great, as creating something is in general, but sometimes it nonetheless is work

Fabrice: will you play some old songs that you never played in the past?

Hansi: Fabrice: Ride into Obsession

Pavle Milicevic: Have you thought about recording another song with Kai Hansen?

Hansi: Yes, actually we think about it right now

Don Bilbo: I know, that the script for my requiem is one of your favorites. what do you feel, when you sing about the UNholy deeds of the "christian" church?

Hansi: Good question, what do I think about the good deeds the church has done, too?

Philippe: How does it feel if thousands of people sing your songs/stuff (like bard's song)

Hansi: Great feeling. Hard to describe. Amazing. I am very grateful. But you get used to it

Önay Geylan: why don't you write some political lyrics

Hansi: To Önay: Battalions of Fear has been a failure

Lalall tuvieja: I know you worked with Tobias Sammet in Vain Glory Opera. Will you work with Avantasia at some point of your career?

Hansi: No-one knows - it ist the same with duets.

Nahuel Alejandro Oddo: Is going to be a meet & greet for us (Argentina)? Chile is going to have it

Hansi: Argentina is always special, we have no schedule of what activities are planned. Marcelo will take care, I suppose.

Marek Rojewski: What were the inspirations/bands that lead Blind Guardian to write such epic/medieval/power metal songs? Sorry, if the question was already answered somewhere.

Hansi: One thing comes to the other - Maiden music and King/Tolkien literature certainly have had their impact.

George Goldman: Hansi, out of all of the work you did for Blind Guardian, which pieces would you say had the most impact on both your life and the lives of others? Which pieces did you absolutely love to work on?

Hansi: I would say "NIME" - but I know that "IftoS" is also important to people. For me the orchestral album will be on the same level.

Stowner: What was the last album you bought and do you listen to classical music? If so, what's your favourite composer.

Hansi: Yes, I listen to classical music - the last one I bought was "The Planets" by Gustav Holst(?)

John Yelland: I was listening to "The Planets" last week lol, hell yeah

Hansi: To John: Star Wars ?!?

John Yelland: No, Gustav Holst haha! Though Star Wars is really cool too xD

Smaug: When was the last time you toured in Australia and do you plan on goin back?

Hansi: 2007 we toured in Australia and we will be back in 2011 !!!

Zack Schulz: Hansi, gotta run and do this whole college thing. Just wanna say you're doing a great thing here by reaching out to the fans. Your show in Asheville back in december and it was a fantastic experience. Can't wait for the greatness to come. All the best.

Hansi: Thanks, Zach

matej gradisar: your favourite bands or musicians?

Hansi: Queen? Deep Purple? Jethro Tull? and many, many more...

Maja Narrin Slawinska: What is the colour of your toothbrush?

Hansi: Blue

John Yelland: if you have kids, do they listen to and/or like Blind Guardian's music? I know if I heard IFTOS when I was a kid I'd be scared by your vocals haha.

Hansi: My son likes music, so he likes B.G.

Fabrice: will you play live the different language version of harvest of sorrow? Like Frutto del buio

Hansi: Frutto del buio - mean, very mean

Cesar Rojas: Is there going to be a Tolkien-based song in your next orchestral project?

Hansi: No Tolkien based song on the orchestral projects, though it sounds like a mixture of Nime and BG Loth sountrack music at parts