EMQ’s With DARK SKY
EMQ’s With DARK SKY
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with German Melodic Metallers, Dark Sky. Huge thanks to their Vocalist, Frank Breuninger, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hello, my name is Frank Breuninger, I am the singer of the band DARK SKY. The band was founded as a school band and has experienced many changes over the years. Of course, there have also been many line-up changes in the band and before the release of the current album “Signs Of The Time” the band was completely renewed. Over the years the band had to overcome some ups and downs but in the end the journey always continued.
How did you come up with your band name?
That was sometime in the early days when we started making music. The guitarist at the time was a very virtuoso musician and came to rehearsal with the new band name – and nobody dared to contradict it, ha, ha, ha.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are coming from southern Germany and the Metal and Rock scene has always been pretty good here since the 80s. But now, like everywhere else, it’s not so easy to motivate people to go to rock concerts and to buy CDs.
What is your latest release?
The last album is “Signs Of The Time”, with a total of four singles and music videos. However, we have released a new single with a music video for the current summer festivals with the song “You Spin Me Round”, which has already received a great response.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Wow, that’s a difficult question because there have been many influences over the years and the musicians in the band also have very different influences on the sound and style that ultimately leads to DARK SKY. I think it was bands like Judas Priest, Scorpions and Europe that inspired DARK SKY. Today there are also bands from the genres Power Metal and Symphonic Metal such as Powerwolf or Beast in Black.
What first got you into music?
I first sang in the school choir, then played the trumpet for a few years, until I started playing guitar at the age of 14. From there it was only a small step to my first rock band, which we called “Life”, and a year later I was playing second guitar in DARK SKY 😉
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Well, it would be cool to tour with someone like Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Scorpions or even Rammstein and then have the opportunity to learn something from these stars. But I know from experience that such musicians need peace and quiet on tour and therefore allow little contact with people outside of their confidants, which I can understand.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
In Europe I would obviously choose Wacken because it is simply iconic. And worldwide I would say Rock in Rio because it brings to mind all the great rock bands that have played there in front of so many people.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Oh, I don’t want to be indiscreet about that. But as a band we are always happy to receive nice letters and gifts from fans.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Listen to our songs, watch our music videos and attend our concerts to have a good time.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
For me it would be Freddy Mercury, although he would be almost 80 years old now. But he will always remain a legend for me, with his unique way of using his voice as a musical instrument.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
That’s an easy question, ha, ha, ha. I love playing and singing DARK SKY’s music, both in rehearsals and live in front of audiences. I also love composing and recording new songs – but that’s not just fun, it’s work. What I hate as a musician is traveling and spending time just on the road – although it can be pretty fun to tour with the guys sometimes.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Well, I don’t know if there is much that could be changed. Labels, distributors, agencies, promoters, PA rental companies, they all only work if they can earn something from it. Bands, on the other hand, play a lot of concerts and CD recordings, especially at the beginning of their careers, without really making any significant profit at the end. For the music industry, music is a business and for musicians it is and remains a passion.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Oh, it’s very difficult to choose a single album. There are so many great albums that I remember. Can I please name at least a few of them?
UFO – Strangers In The Night
AC/DC – Highway To Hell
EUROPE – The Final Countdown
PRETTY MAIDS – Pantemonium
DARK SKY – Signs Of The Time
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Downloads/mp3 in the car and when travelling, CDs and vinyl at home.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Aside from the many good concerts I have been to so far, my personal highlight was definitely the performance in the sold-out amphitheater in Colmar/France as support for the Scorpions. The fans were so incredibly enthusiastic that you had the feeling of being the headliner of the evening 🙂
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I would have tried to become a competitive athlete and professional years ago, or I would have studied and become an engineer so that I could support my family 😉
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
You mean apart from my family? 😉 So Jon Bon Jovi, Joey Tempest, Nikki Sixx, Clint Eastwood and Jan Ullrich, although I have at least had dinner with Jan 😉 That would be an exciting discussion for me.
What’s next for the band?
There will be a few more concerts, but at the same time we are already busy composing new songs and we are already planning for the next festival season in 2025, where there are actually some really exciting events waiting for us.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
We are on facebook, instagram, youtube and the www. Here is the linktree: linktr.ee/darkskyband
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Wow, that’s a tough question, ha, ha, ha! I haven’t been to the UK for a while, but isn’t it similar there to Germany, in that the term for a bread roll varies greatly from region to region? So I’m a bit at a loss as to which term is common throughout Great Britain. I suspect everyone understands roll, but the other terms should also be used in the UK. But I’d be happy to hear your answer!!!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for all the questions and especially after the last question, I hope that we can come to the UK with DARK SKY as soon as possible, not only to perform musically but also to learn something about British culinary customs 😉
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