Interview with Mike Zotter vocalist from Neverland

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

• First of all, I have to say that I am not mainly a musician, even if I would like to be. But to live unfortunately not enough yet. I came to the music at the age of 15/16 years when my best buddy and I have found that you can impress the girls music.

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

• When it comes to other hobbies I don´t do much, a little sport to keep in shape. There is not much extra time left because of my daily work and that is invested in music.

How long has your band been around?

• The Band exist since 1999, with a few interruptions.

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

• I was born in Stuttgart (South of Germany), lived for a while in from 2010 to 2015 in West Africa on the Cape Verde Islands I don´t think that has influenced my music in any way.

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

• This is the story of our bass player Roland Jost, he should tell it occasionally.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• With Neverland we played at the ProgSol Festival in Switzerland with a very cool audience, but one of my highlights was actually in Cape Verde, where I had musician friends fly in and we played rock classics as headliners at a pretty big festival (10.000 Visitors). We were praised in the media as the Scorpions. It was totally crazy, as exotics.

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

• I think “Wacken” is what everyone in our genre wants. But for me personally the “Cruise of the Edge” would be a highlight.

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

• Dreamtheater

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?

• The important thing is to do what you enjoy. Compromise is a part of life, but if you realize it´s not what you want for yourself and the band, then address it before it becomes a dead end. For me, maybe I should have risked a little more and taken the leap into the music business.

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

• We have a new song called “Rain”. The lyrics are about the current situation we have at the moment, I´m to the war Russia Ukraine. But also to the general interaction with each other nowadays.

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

• We will see when we are back on stage.

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

• I´m actually inspired by a lot of current events or experiences that you make in life. That gives me enough material to write about.

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

• Justice, honesty and above all not allow racism.

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

• Oh yes there are always times, we different creative mindsut there are never serious arguments, we are grown up people. We generally talk it out and usually clarify the points quickly.

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

• At the moment we are busy with the completion of our new album, we are really looking forward to present it live soon. So see you soon at our concerts.