Interview with Adrenaline Kings

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I don’t think any of us has every considered that because all of us have been obsessed with music since we were children!

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I (Matthias, lead singer) run a pub quiz – it requires a lot of creativity coming up with 21 different questions every week!

How long has your band been around?

We’re in our 21st year – founded in 2002 and celebrated our 20th anniversary last year.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We are based in Vienna, Austria, and frankly it hasn’t influenced our music at all. We play 80s-style hard rock and aren’t really phased by local influences.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

We wanted a name that exuded energy on the one hand and confidence on the other, and that’s how we came up with Adrenaline Kings.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

We once played a festival held in a junkyard that put on heavy machinery exhibitions between the sets. That was quite memorable!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

The sadly now departed Planet Music in Vienna, previously known as the Rockhaus. A venue that oozed character and rock and roll, and was torn down to make way for an apartment complex.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

I’d probably want the Scorpions from about 1985. The other guys in the band would likely choose 80s Motley Crue or Guns n Roses from about 1992.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Practice and rehearse as much as possible. Work on your singing from an early age so that you’re never dependent on finding a decent singer and can start playing live and recording as soon as possible.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Don’t eat yellow snow.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Gloria Estefan once said each song is like your own child, and it tears you apart once a producer gets his hands on them and starts rearranging them. I feel the same way about my own songs. I love them all!

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

My favorite to play is probably a song written by our drummer Florian entitled “Prince of Perversia” which has a very exotic feel to it. The most requested song is our “anthem” – a song called “Kings of Adrenaline” that remains popular almost 20 years after its release.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Our songs are almost exclusively written by me (Matthias, lead singer) or Florian (drummer). We don’t really work together – each of us writes full songs with music and lyrics, and we choose the best ones to play with the band. I’m inspired by anything that happens to be on my mind at a given time. I don’t understand bands that write solely about one topic (usually love, like Whitesnake).

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Don’t be a jerk – that’s good life advice in general!

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Constantly, but I find that just getting older relaxes people and makes it easier to smooth over whatever disagreements we have.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Keep on making music! That’s easier than ever nowadays with all the new technology. We have a new single called “The Grand Tour” that is inspired by the video game “Gran Turismo” and is available from all the streaming services. We also have a rock cover of a song by a famous boy band that is next in the pipeline. But check out “The Grand Tour” for the time being!