Tom Gabriel Fischer: That's a very difficult question. I think the three classic Celtic Frost albums all have components that have stood the test of time. Overall, it's probably To Mega Therion. I think Into the Pandemonium was way ahead of its time. I love to listen to it, but some of the stuff sounds dated now. For example, the electronics. The technology moves ahead so fast, and I'm a million times better as a programmer today that I was 20 years ago, so it sounds slightly dated.
How is your relationship with Martin after being on the road together for a year?
Martin and I have always been able to fix our problems, that's the thing. Martin and I will stand through thick and thin. Whatever comes, we will survive it. We've been friends since we were teenagers. We've had major differences that almost threatened the finishing of Monotheist, but we overcame those, and every time we've done that we feel like our friendship has grown. I think it's stronger than ever before, actually.
With the popularity of digital downloads, you think we will have CDs in a few years?
I'm being told by everybody in the industry that no, we won't. That's very shocking. As somebody who grew up in the 70s with vinyl albums and loved the CD when it came out, it's a difficult thing to accept. I love the format of a booklet with liner notes and art work. On the other hand, I'm a very modern person and I don't live in the past. I'm on the internet daily when I'm at home. I also download songs. I embrace computers. I suppose the computer will take over everything. It's a shame. To me, an album isn't just music. The packaging and the artwork ties in with everything. To lose that would be terrible.
Congratulations on your engagement.
Thank you. We haven't set a date yet. She's from Chicago.
Will you be living in Switzerland?
Yes, that's where the band is based. I cannot relocate even though I would be open to it. I'm bound to Switzerland.
Speaking of your home country, in the past you had not received much respect there as a band. Has that changed?
With the release of Monotheist it has completely turned around. You're right, we've been not only ignored, but even laughed at in the old days. We've been one of the most successful Swiss bands ever, but in Switzerland we were practically nonexistent. Monotheist came out, and Switzerland for some reason woke up and now we are being featured in mainstream magazines like the equivalent of Time magazine and the Wall Street Journal in Switzerland. That's totally astonishing given our past history in Switzerland. It seems very unreal.
What are your feelings about this change in reception to the band among the Swiss media?
To the anger of the rest of the band I treat the Swiss press very badly. I have a hard time forgetting. The rest of the band is always horrified by the way I am toward the Swiss press, but I'm not going to crawl to them now after they tried to ruin my career, laughed at me and put obstacles in my path for 20 years. There are a few people in Switzerland that always believed in us and they are in good positions after 20 years, but by and large the media has been very ignorant.
