Van Roy, of caustic burning music matter that is Suicide Commando? Maybe that last thing does not spring to our minds instantly in the alternative scene, as “See you in hell” just refers a trip to Belgium. Being one of the founders of Dependant Records before it’s reopening in 2009, and an array of record releases, Suicide commando has integrated itself as a cornerstone of the electronic aggrotech and Industrial genre. Whilst the Saturday afternoon of Amphi Festival 2011 warms up in the Staatenhaus; with the roar of Grendel kicking-off beneath us. Johan places himself down on a new leather couch. Downing a shot of Jura whiskey to loosen his vocal chords, with a smile he directs his voice to the mic resting on the table and acquaints Neuwelt music readers with his past and future.


You have existed for about 25 years, how did it all start off?
We really have to go back to the 80s I was still young considering now (laughs), just listening to lots of music and growing with the new wave and cold wave movements with bands such as ‘The Cure’ and ‘Joy Division’. More or less incidentally I bumped into bands such as ‘Depeche Mode’ and later bands like ‘Front 242’ and ‘Klinik’. These band had such a large impact on me, that they influenced me to start my own project, or at least try to make music. It was 86 when I bought my first synthesiser, I tried to copy my big heroes to begin with and then later I concentrated on my own stuff.

For what Suicide Commando sound is known for now what was it like back in the early days for you?
Very Minimal compared to now. I only had one synthesiser and a drum machine and compared to now and that was about it. A song was usually two or three tracks put together with two drums and two synthesizers, so compared to now it is totally different.

Is there any memorable year that you see as being the current peak of suicide commando that you thought was maybe it’s at an epiphany?
I think the ‘Mindstrip’ album in 2000 changed us quiet a lot with songs such as ‘Hellraiser’ and ‘Love Breeds Suicide’. They became really big club hits, because until then some people still compared me with ‘See You in Hell’, which was my first kind of club hit actually only in 2000, Suicide commando now became really big in the scene.

Within people that may contribute, who would they be? Would they be Co-workers of yours different artists, or is more family based?
All the music and writing I’m doing myself, so it’s not really people but if it is it’s indirectly, I’m more influenced by what’s happening around me.

For your live shows, how much do you see that as feedback on your work?
Well obviously our live shows are very important, because it’s our connection with the fans. Because when your release CDs you get interaction over the internet, but it’s not the same as if you were playing live, because you have this direct connection with the crowd.

Do you prefer playing festivals or the dedicated shows to your work?
I like doing both actually; of course festivals are obviously a bit different as you are reaching new people who may not come to your concert.

With your most recent album Implements of Hell can we see a future album release coming soon; will it be the same sound this time round? Or well what’s happening?
Well we just released the suicide sessions, that’s not really new material more rereleases from the first three albums. It was released just yesterday before Amphi, so now I need to start working on new material. At the moment it’s a very slow process as I became a father two years ago, so it’s a bit difficult to find the necessary time to write music. It’s a bit early to say how my next album will sound like. I’m having a few ideas at the moment but nothing has really worked out, I can’t say in what direction it will go but I think it will be different from the last albums. As rereleasing these old albums made me realise that maybe my old stuff that was way more minimal and not so danceable, makes me feel I want to do more stuff like this again. It may be less dance accessible for the crowd, though in the first place I’m still doing the music for myself.

With personal and work life, how is the mixture for you and do you have any other career than producing and performing?
I still am working part-time in my normal job, then there’s my music work and then my family life, so at the moment there are three big parts, which I could with an extra 48 hours a day for, but that’s a bit of a difficulty. I think when my little one gets a bit older there should be a bit more time again, at least I’m hoping so!

So what is your zombie plan?
Hmm, I think I would film, as I think it would make a cool zombie apocalypse video for my live shows. Would I run away? Maybe at first but anything is possible

Are there any expectations that you have for today as it was 2008 the last time you played at Amphi?
Well for us it is always fun to play at these festivals, as Germany is really the only country where you have so many people into this kind of music, your reaching so many more people than usual.

How has the music label ‘Out of Line’ been for you?
It was different as for so many years when I was with ‘Dependant’, so for 15 years. We had a different connection with ‘Dependant’; it was more like a family. Of course sometimes I hated it, though this happens in every family. With ‘Out of Line’ it is more like a business. The connection is different and I’m still trying to get used to it, as working for so many years in a certain way it’s not so easy to change.

What would the feasibility be like to play Ireland?
I would love to but I think the scene isn’t that big there, so it’s a bit of a problem. We have similar problems for France though if it’s like the UK crowd we would love to come.