https://www.facebook.com/thecreepingcandies
From: Germany
Sounds like: Rock
1. What's new with The Creeping Candies?
2025 is the 40th year of the existence of the Candies Gang. We decided to celebrate that we are still here and rocking. So for the first time in our history there will be two abums coming in one year. One called "Celebration - Tracks & Traces of 40 Years" is a compilation with songs from the last years, which is released online on all streaming plattforms over the year on every first friday of the month. When we listened to the old records, we discovered some forgotten gems.
The second album is called "Invincible" and features ten brand new songs. We recorded it in January and we are really thrilled about the positive feedback we get for it. This album is released on vinyl and CD and will not be released digitally till 2026. The vinyl is the first one since our second album, which was released in 1988. It‘s a limited edition of 300 copies with coloured vinyl. Each record looks different. The were pressed by a friend in Augsburg.
There are two books coming, where The Creeping Candies appear. One about the German guitar underground in the 80s and one about our friend, mentor and producer Nikki Sudden, who always said, that we were his favorite band from Germany apart from Can.
And then there is a documentary in four parts about the history of the band on YouTube. Three parts are ready and Part Four will come in September 2025.
So a lot of things are happening right now. Besides that we are trying to play live as much as possible and we get a lot of positive feedback from promoters and the audience.
2. How does the writing process go with the band?
Pulle or Lippe are the ones that come up with ideas, sometimes together. We are working them out together in our rehersal room and when we think, that the arrangement of the new song is OK, we try it on stage in front of people. This is the moment of truth. You can instantly feel if there is work left to do, or if the new baby is ready.
3. What can you tell us about inspiration for the new music?
Because of this special "birthday: year, there are songs like "Don‘t Look Back", where the intention was to tell people that they always should hope for the best to come. The things in the past belong to your life, but you shouldn‘t stick to them.
"Invincible" - the title track is ironic and tells the story of a guy, who was just left by his girlfriend. She took all the good stuff with her and while he sees the red lights of his car (which she took to leave), he is yelling "I‘m invincible" and it‘s clear that he isn‘t.
"Gone but Not Forgotten" is a song for all those guys, who used to be a part of the last 40 year band history. They might be no longer part of the gang, but they are part of the history of this band. And three of these ex-members are dead now. So this song is dedicated to them.
We put short texts about the inspiration for each song on the inlay of the album.
4. What have you been listening to lately?
We discovered some cool new bands via social media, as there are The Midwich Affair and Ric Gordon from GB and we're fans of Wilco and Alabama Shakes.
5. Do you have any pre-show rituals before performing?
Not really. We know That other bands have, but we don‘t. We try to gather and look in each ones eyes and on the stage it goes. What we have, is an after-show ritual: we talk about the reactions of the audience, funny stories and stuff like that.
6. What's one thing you'd change about the local music scene?
In all those years it’s getting harder and harder to find venues to play and it’s getting harder to get money for what you do on stage. It feels like people don‘t think that music is worth something. This might be a result of Spotify, where you can listen to music without paying. We Are happy that we are not dependent on making our living by playing music.
7. What's your favorite show that you've played and why?
Oh we could mention a show at the legendary "Markthalle" in Hamburg, or the shows at other big venues, but what was very special was a show at our homebase "bombig - Bar & Garage". It was recorded on tape and on video. When we gave it a listen, a few days later we heard, that it wasn‘t just a cool live-show, which we already knew from the feeling on stage, we had catched a magic evening on tape. So we decided to put out a live-album. A plan that was with us, since the late 80s. Since it is out as an album now, this must be our favorite show. (laughing)
8. Any plans for any new music videos?
We did a lot of shorts with 30 sec. length and we have plans for every song of the new album. It‘s a matter of time. If we have the time, there will be more coming.
9. What do you wish to accomplish for the rest of the year?
There are some gigs to play and we will do a lot of special shows with other bands and at least two of them in a mixed programm with the author of the book about the German Guitar Underground of the 80s. And we are going to the studio in September to record some stuff. One song is for a Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators) compilation, where we were asked to be part of and maybe we will record the first Candies Christmas song ever? Let‘s see.
