DIRTSHAKES

(February 2003)

1. Jenz, why do you call yourself Jenz if your name is actually Jens?

Jenz: It's the old Clark Kent/Superman-, Bruce Wayne/Batman- or Peter Parker/Spiderman-thing, on the one side we've got the average-day-loser and on the opposite the rock 'n' rolling comic book hero with a cool guitar in his hands. Well, just kidding, I probably thought Jenz would me more international.

2. Jenz and Jörg, you guys are brothers. When you were kids, did you get into fights with each other a lot and who won most of the time?

Jenz: We fighted a lot of times, but luckily not too often with our fists. And we still argue a lot. But we've also got a very special kind of groove: the Stuhldreier-rhythm, which is hard to get for everyone who's not a Stuhldreier.

3. Tough Timo of the Backwood Creatures used to drum in The Dirtshakes. Why did he leave?

Jenz: Well, he became too popular and always wanted his own backstage room(s) and a big black limo, and it was totally annoying with all those groupies around him all the time. Thank god, he left the band! To be honest, he simply didn't have the time for a second band, but he will be a Dirtshake for ever.

4. Angry Samoans or Radio Birdman?

Jenz: Angry Birdman.

5. Jörg and Öli play(ed) in a surf band called the Cave 4 too. Are they still around?

Jenz: The Cave 4 are still around and they are getting still better after ten years of surfing down the Wupper (local river). They just recorded a fantastic new longplayer for Swindlebra Records, to come out in the next two months, including great instrumental tunes, but also great vocal-punk-rock-stuff with a strong 60s-influence. Check them out when they come into your town.

6. Jenz, do you miss your old band the Jet Bumpers sometimes?

Jenz: Sure, I miss the Bumpers sometimes. We had a great time nearly all the time, but the Jet Bumpers-mission was completed. Actually a friend and me just prepared a Jet Bumpers webpage, where you can download for free all the songs the Bumpers ever released (more than 50 tracks plus videos). Check out www.jetbumpers.com which should be online soon.

7. You guys toured with the New Bomb Turks. How was that?

Jenz: How is it to be on tour with your favourite band? It was just great to play in front of lots of people, seeing the Turks later the same night and hang out and party with those guys. And also it's a Rock 'N' Roll High School.

8. How would you describe Giuseppe, your new Italian drummer?

Jenz: He's a fun guy who’s into art stuff (he paints quite a lot). He loves weird music and drums like Keith Moon’s bastard son. It’s fun to hang out with him and we’re always talking about playing in his home-village in Sicilia one day.

9. Please describe the Dirtshake Boogie and what is your favourite dance?

Jenz: The Dirtshakes-Boogie is a wild, sexual dance which doesn't work out with magnetic shoes on a metal-floor. It's a mix of the classic 77-up-and-down-pogo and the boogaloo (the pogaloo?, but you can also do it in your very own style, as long it's wild and sexual. My favourite dance is the 'hashpotato'.

10. Hey Jenz tell us something about your 'One Man Orchestra'. What kind of show is it?

It's a "I talk too much" kinda ego-thing: I'm playing my favourite songs (covers, Jet Bumpers, Dirtshakes,
new stuff) on guitar, tambourine and fuzz-voice and in between the songs I explain the world and what
happened to me the same day at 9.45am. I just stopped playing shows for few months now to have an enormous comeback in the summer of 2003 and earn enough money to stop for another 5 years. Check out the "Jenz-Bumper-One-Man-Orchestra" when I come to your town and just grab my guitar if you want to.