MEM VON STEIN

EXUMER is a German Thrash Metal band, They are since long disbanded but in the mid to late eighties it looked like Exumer was going to be the next big name in German thrash. They released Possessed by Fire and Rising from the Sea in '86 and '87. Today we're catching up with Mem Von Stein, the bands legendary front man.

Hello Mem, it´s an honour to interview you. With the growing interest of thrash metal, and a whole new generation of thrash metal fans (and a lot of old fans). I felt that an interview with the mighty singer and bass-player of Exumer would be great. Can you do a brief introduction of yourself for the readers?

Yes, my name is Mem and I was originally born in Istanbul, Turkey. My parents moved to Germany when I was two years old and that is where I spent most of my youth and adolescent life. I grew up speaking three languages, Turkish, German and English. The English was due to my family connection in the U.S.A and to my many American friends who used to live where I grew up in Germany. I started to get into music when I was around 10-11 yars old and by the way I was born in 1968. When I was 12 years old, I already had a vast collection of styles of music which ranged from Punk/Hardcore to Rock/Hardrock to Frank Zappa. Then I was totally drawn to Metal and I became fully involved by the time I was 13. Motörhead, Venom, Maiden, Priest you name it. By the time I was 16 I decided to form a thrash metal band and when I was 17 I formed Exumer with my friend Ray.

How was it to play Wacken with Exumer after all this ears ?

It was really killer to play Wacken and to see how many people are still interested in Exumer.

What was the reason for you guys to reunite Exumer ?

I was invited to come along to Wacken by my friends from Rock Hard mag in 2000. There, a lot of people from record companies and mags were totally pleased to see me and after a while started to ask me if I could consider to do one more show with Exumer. I agreed to ask the other guys to whom I still had a strong connection (Ray&Bernie) and we decided to do it one more time for our old fans and friends. At that time I already had moved to New York and we decided to plan the show for one year ahead.

What was the reason for you to leave Exumer after the Possessed By fire album? This question is certainly not new to you, but anyway?

I was 18, I was hot headed and extremely confident. I thought I was a rock star and that I don't need anyone. Then we had personal differences and I quit the band by impulse.

I always thought that Possessed By Fire did not have that typical "German thrash-sound", more sounding like American thrash, is that anything you agree with?

I totally agree and that was the thing with us anyway. We wanted to sound like the American bands we loved, up most: Exodus - Bonded By Blood, era.

What are the other members of Exumer doing these days, are they still into metal like you ?

The other guys have a rock band called September but I know that Ray and Bernie still love the old stuff from back in the day.

What's the highlight of your career?

To be in Exumer,Phobic Instinct, Of Rytes, Humungous Fungus and Sun Descends.

What do you think of the new re-release cd of Possessed by fire? It has been very hard to find Possessed by Fire a couple of years now on CD. Were you involved in this re-release?

Yes, the re-release idea was born in Wacken 2000. Oliver Klemm, who is a friend of mine for almost 20 years, asked me if he could do the re-releases on his label, High Vaultage. I was totally for it because I knew that he does a killer job and that was exactly what happened.

Possessed By Fire (1986)

Have you heard that a lot of old thrash metal bands are reunited, bands like ASSASSIN, DESTRUCTION, CELTIC FROST, DEATH ANGEL, DARK ANGEL, etc. What do you think of this ? Do you have any contact with these bands ?

I hear that all those bands are back together but I could not do another Exumer reunion for more than a Wacken show. We had offers from very big metal labels to record a new Exumer album but I declined. I don't believe that we can re-create the spirit of 1986 but if those other bands want to push it, more power to them. I have my own thrash metal band: Sun Descends.

What does the die-hard Exumer fans say about Sun Descends?, Do they like it? I did, awesome music!

I think they like it for the most part because it is true, original thrash from guys who used to be around back when it was happening. The music is very old school without trying to be, you know what I mean? We are/live/lived this music!!!

I heard that Sun Descends has a new line-up. Why, and what was the reason for this ?

When we recorded our demo in May 2001,we played with a more less session drummer. Then we decided in 2002 that we need a strong permanent drummer and wanted to expand on the guitar front as well. Our producer, His Eminence (ex- Hemlock,Terror of the Trees), joined the band playing guitar and he brought in his friend Josh Thunder (real name) playing bass so I can totally concentrate on singing (I played bass on the demo). We do have a killer drummer now who used to play in many New York underground metal and hardcore bands.

What is your plans for the future?, will there be an official album released with Sun Descends? Are you negotiating with any record company right now ?

We will record a new demo with the new line-up by the Summer of 2003 and then start to look for a deal. The new material is so much more complex and heavy and I'm sure a lot of people will be surprized by the new stuff.

What bands are you influenced by when creating music ?

Myself and anything that is from the old days but also anything that displays real emotions, I mean Miles Davis can be just as heavy and intense as old Slayer.

What do you think of the thrash metal scene today? And what do think of the new generation of thrash metal?

I think it is great that bands with old school roots still get attention from younger guys and that metal is not only made up of new metal bands. I live in the U.S. and it really is difficult to find good music on T.V. or radio but it is out there and I do run into new good music every now and then.

Any good advice for youngsters that want to start a band?

Stay real and always do what you believe is the right thing to play at the moment, even if it is new metal.

And the question all the Exumer fans are holding their breath for: is there any chance at all of Exumer reuniting again someday?

Maybe when we are 50. NOOOOOO!!!!

Any last words to our readers ?

Thanks for being interested and keep up the good work. Stay true to yourself and thrash hard whenever you can!!!

Good luck with Sun Descends, and thank YOU for taking time to do this small interview for Ruuth's Inn - Thrash Metal page !

Thanks!!!

By/ Mr.Thrash

(17-02-2003)