Vampire pilots Stuka Squadron are hungry for more fresh blood
In the dark dank depths of London town, Stuka Squadron can be found, not content with being a meagre traditional heavy metal band, they are an elite flying force of heavy metal vampire pilots, relentlessly taking their music to the masses under their own command, the Squadron drink blood and you have to be careful if your out in the dark with these gents. Apart from a heavily themed image, the squadron are taken seriously as a traditional heavy metal entity in themselves. Last year saw the self-release of the ‘We Drink Blood’ EP, and this has been met with rapturous glee from all concerned. But not content with this, their live shows are a magical affair. If you want the stagecraft and fantasy of Dio or the blood horror of Alice Cooper, these guys provide it without compromising their musical talent. I took the opportunity to speak to the squadron whilst during a short period of leave from the duties and before what was to become another memorable stage show.
How did Stuka Squadron form?
We started the band in 1936 in the Reich as was, we were all friends and with the Italian air force, hence our guitarist, and this gentleman here (the mad scientist drummer) was working on a death ray experiment but then the project got closed down and so he was drafted into the Stuka Squadron.
What about the band name?
Well we were a flying force during the war, an elite squadron, a formation of flying tactics, hence Stuka Squadron.
Has the bands image caused any problems?
The preconception, conceptions of mere mortals are of no consequence to us. We have been alive for a few hundred years and we find the thing deeply insignificant.
How has the ‘We Drink Blood’ EP sold overseas?
We sold quite a few in Australia funnily enough (vocalist James Fang’s native territory), USA, Japan, Norway and Sweden, German all over really. We were very happy with it.
You have 2 new bands members, how did they come to join?
People don’t join the Squadron they are drafted. Our oldest member on guitars has not played a gig in over 1000 years and as you know one of our previous guitar players fell into a fiery pit for his love for vodka, and a second ex-guitarist went down with a malfunction (and also fell into a fiery pit). The young price Nick, the mad scientist; we borrowed him from a Frenchman (PM: actually UK doom band De Profundis). No one falls into the fiery pit on purpose; it’s just a coincidence it happens. Of course when you have “The Gravedigger” in the band (on guitar also), its wonder why people fall for the pit.
You have a new EP ready to record, ‘Tales of the Ost’, is that correct?
Well that is the title track of the EP. One of the other songs is called ‘On the Volga Bridge’ and we shall be showcasing that tonight. This one is about the Gravedigger Cox here (guitars).
What about tours and live shows, you have put a lot of the shows on yourself, is there any extensive touring planned?
That is being planned, but then if we find some record company that has the will to take us out on tour great, or even a band that has the balls to take us the Germany (laughs!). That would be interesting.
Describe Stuka Squadron in one sentence?
Blood, fire, iron, water and heavy metal!
The lights went down and the live event started, thanks so much to Stuka Squadron for taking time out of their schedule whilst on leave. Let the metal commence!
James 'Fang' Begley (Vocals)
