Placebo 20 Anniversary - Interview for
the Middle School fan Stefanie Leßmeister from Germany
by SusanneCk – Placebo
Anyway
 |
| Stefan Malzkorn 2001 |
Placebo Anyway: When
did you first listen to Placebo? Did you
start with the BMM album?
Stefanie Leßmeister:The first time I listened to Placebo
was in january 2001,funny but true on David Bowie´s birthday. If that was not a
sign ;) I really became fan cause of the
BMM. It was something completely different to the other music I listen to.
Placebo Anyway: What
was so special about the band for you to become a fan?
Stefanie Leßmeister: It was the special charisma of the
whole band as much as the music that is so unique and changing from record to
record. It just didn´t let me go again.
For me it is always very important that
not just the music is good I also need a connection/sympathy for the people
behind the music.
 |
| Stefan Malzkorn 2001 |
Placebo Anyway: Which
difference you see in the band between 2000 and 2014?
Stefanie Leßmeister: I think today they are more settled, have
a better private life and seem to be happier people in general (at least most
of the time). Which is a great thing...it still breaks my heart to see certain
older videos with drug addicted band...unhappy and lost.
Placebo Anyway: How
have you lived the years from 2000 on with the band and their music?
Stefanie Leßmeister: I was always a music addicted. Put on
a CD is the first thing after waking up and the last before going to sleep. So
they accompanied me over all that time. It was the only band that I always
could listen too and that became part of my life.
Placebo Anyway: Have
you been to the gigs of the LLL tour 2013? Where have you been and what is your
impresion about the show or shows you have been?
Stefanie Leßmeister: I was in Frankfurt in November.It was
cool to be in the first row. Unfortunately in front of huge boxes, so everytime
Steve played drums it felt like he is kicking in my chest. But it was a good
pain XD. Cause of my position I just saw Stef and Brian. But to see Brian sit
there and smoke and smile while Stef was doing the pantomime thing was
priceless!
And a nice security guy gave my fan
presents to the band (so i hope). The show itself was great as always. Just
that curtain was so annoying. I know what it was meant for...but I had the
impression someone forgot to put it back up between the songs...
 |
| Frankfurt 2013 |
Placebo Anyway: Have
you gone to all the concerts in your country? Some abroad? Which one are your
favourite ones: festivals or venues?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Cause of a travel sickness I can´t
reach all concerts but I saw at least one of each tour to an album. I prefer
venues,t hey are more intimate and the sound is better.
Placebo Anyway: What
about your Placebo CD’s? Do you have all their albums? Any special collection? Vinyls, singles, dvd’s....?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Uhm....I would have to count
everything but I have tons of stuff. Of course all albums, nearly all singles (some
are hard to get after all the years), DVDs, posters, some vinyl and the special
edition of the first album. Also the signed Deluxe Box to BFTS and two Deluxe Editions
of LLL. And all collaborations they or Brian are making. Hotel Persona and
Steve Hewitts new projects as well.
Placebo Anyway: Choose
three songs from the area 2000 to 2014 which makes you feel closer to the band?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Slave to the wage (cause it was the
first one and I love the meaning)
Allergic
Bright lights
Placebo Anyway: Do you see any difference between the fans from 2000 and the
fans from nowadays?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Mh on my first concert in 2003 it was
not that mixed up as it is now I think.
Placebo Anyway: Is
there a stereotypical Placebo fan?
Stefanie Leßmeister: I think not. People are different, so are the
Placebo fans. Would be boring if we were all the same ;)
 |
| Frankfurt 2013 |
Placebo Anyway: What do you think about "Soulmates Never Die". Is
this true?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Definetely. There are people or in that case a
band that you have a special connection with.That is part of your life and if
that part would go missing you wouldn´t be the same person anymore.
Placebo Anyway: In
your opinion, what unifies Placebo fans. What is the glue that puts them
together?
Stefanie Leßmeister: I think it has to do a lot with the
effect the band has on the fans, that puts us together, it really feels like a
big familiar community.
Placebo Anyway: How do you see the evolution of the band on a musical way?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Over the years they tried out a lot which is a
great thing, especially to use all the facets of Brians voice and use different
instruments and tunings.
 |
| Frankfurt 2013 |
Placebo Anyway: Do you think the inclusion of Steve Forrest gave the band
somehting positve?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Of course, he is a sunshine.
Nevertheless, I miss Mr. Hewitt and was not happy to hear he leaves but being
in a band is also like a relationship with the bandmates...so if it doesn´t
work anymore decisions have to be made. Better than a split of the whole
band...
Placebo Anyway: Do you have a Placebo favourite member? Brian, Stef,
Steve…and why?
Stefanie Leßmeister: Of course Brian, he´s got a very interesting personality
and all the changes he made through in all the years. I saw him in 2001 and I
knew that is my favourite singer now!
Placebo Anyway: Which difference do you see in Brian when you look back and
compare it with how he is nowadays?
Stefanie Leßmeister: He seems happier and being a dad is
also a great thing for him. I am just worried about his health at the
moment..he seems to deal with depressive episodes. Hope he will feel better
soon and stop to run himself down according to his lyric writing or whatever. People
change, they develop and they get older.That is normal.
Placebo Anyway: In
3 seconds 3 words about Brian, Stefan and Steve!
Stefanie Leßmeister: Voice, profound, sunshine
Placebo Anyway: 20
Years to go...what is your wish for the next 20 Placebo years?
Stefanie Leßmeister: in general it is good as it is. Just
the actual marketing stuff annoys me and it would be awesome if they also play
smaller venues again.
Thank your for taking part
in this interview! J
Placebo
Anyway with Stefanie Leßmeister from Germany. Interview by
SusanneCk
