Some accolades are thrown around casually, but there is no question that Doro Pesch is the Metal Queen. Simply known as Doro, the German singer-songwriter has been going strong for decades now, in fact, she is celebrating her forty anniversary in music in 2023. An amazing, inspiring feat, Doro first got her start with her band Warlock, but the latter part of the ’80s would go out solo. Going onto release album after album and build herself as one of the most respected names in Heavy Metal.
Now in 2023, she returns with new studio album Conqueress Forever Strong and Proud. Marking her first in five years, and fourteenth overall solo studio effort, the energized Doro shows no signs of slowing down as she seeks to continue on for years to come. Always full of positivity and giving off good energy, Doro recently sat down to reflect on the last forty years, the work put into Conqueress Forever Strong and Proud, plus a whole lot more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been quite busy in recent years. Nothing less than prolific, you have released a lot of music and done many different things creatively. How would you describe the last decade of your career?
Doro – I tell you, it has been nonstop touring, nonstop festivals, recording new music. This latest album, Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud, took about three years to record, mix, and write. Before that we did Warlock – Triumph and Agony Live album, DVD, and Blu-ray (released in 2021). We also did a little tour, because I love Triumph and Agony (1987) so much. We did lots of stuff in America, Sweden, and Spain. Actually, the DVD is purely out of Sweden; because it was the first time that we did Triumph and Agony live, and I think it was somehow the best sound quality. The excitement of doing something for the first time is really unbeatable. Before that we did a best of album, it was called Magic Diamonds (2020), and it had 52 songs on it. We recorded some older songs, we remixed, and did some special versions.
Then before that, it was the Forever Warriors, Forever United album that came out in 2018. It took two and a half to three years to record. That was my first double album and I always wanted to do a double album, and that one had 25 songs on it. The Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud Digi-book has 20 songs and the regular CD has 15 songs. I love them all; I think the bonus tracks are all the same level of quality as the other songs.
The new album has three duets on it, which I’m so proud of. One duet is with the German Singer Sammy Amara from a band called Broilers. They’re a big band in Germany. I think in other countries, they’re probably not so well known, but they are more like Punk Rock. We met last year in December; they invited me to be a guest at their concerts. We hit it off right away and we said, “Hey, we’ll write a song for this new album.” That was the last song which was written for this album.
The last song which was recorded for this new album was the duet with Rob Halford for “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” That was released as a video and single on the 27th of October when the album came out. When I saw the first cut for the music video, I thought it looked awesome. Rob looks great with a black long coat on. My very first tour was with Judas Priest in 1986. So, it means so much to me that he did two duets on this new album with me and that we’re still friends. It’s a big honor and I’m very grateful. I love Rob Halford, he was one of my biggest inspirations, along with Ronnie James Dio, David Coverdale and Lemmy. It was really special to do two songs with Rob.
Cryptic Rock – That is great. As stated, you have really done so much in recent years. Sometimes we all have periods where we do not feel inspired. How do you consistently find inspiration to keep moving forward like you do?
Doro – That’s an easy answer for me… because it is the fans. They give me all the motivation and inspiration… they always have. I love to make people happy, to give them power, good energy, something they can feel… something meaningful. It’s fun. I like the whole human spectrum from super heavy hardcore to super sensitive, soulful and meaningful.
The inspiration always comes from the fans. I’m always on fire for the fans. I have millions of ideas. I don’t have to sit down and think, “I have to write a song.” It just comes out naturally. It comes out, not in my sleep, but before I go to sleep and before I wake up; it’s like the mind is in a good state of mind. It’s clearer then, I think the soul is wide open, and then I usually have the best ideas coming out. Then I went to a longtime friend and songwriting partner Andreas Bruhn, he lives in Hamburg. He’s the ex-guitar player of Sisters of Mercy. When I have an idea which I feel strongly about, I always put it on my cell phone and I send it to him. When Andreas says, “I like it, let’s work on it,” then we take it from there.
On this album, I wrote “Bond Unending” with Sammy Amara, which is a song about deep friendship. With my guitar player, Bill Hudson, we wrote “Fire in the Sky.” With my bass player, Stefan Herkenhoff, we wrote “Children of the Dawn” and “I Will Prevail.” A music video for “Children of the Dawn” came out recently and the same people from the “Time for Justice” video are playing in it. They call them the Wasteland Warriors. “Time for Justice” I think looked really like a little Mad Max movie. The growl vocals in “Children of the Dawn” came from Stefan; he has a really good voice and I think that’s pretty cool.
All the songs we recorded over the last few years worldwide – Miami, Hamburg, New York and in England. Actually, Andy Sneap, the guitar player and producer of Judas Priest, worked on “Total Eclipse of the Heart” as well. Andreas Bruhn worked on the song as well. Rob and I gave our two cents to see that the mix would come out nice, plus deciding which parts to pick and choose.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like it was a great experience. It seems like your inspiration comes from people. That is a positive thing and you feed off the positive energy. On Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud there are a lot of ideas about finding the light in the darkness; because it seems like we are living through a time of darkness. It seems like all hope is lost. These songs are saying, we need to be positive and bring positivity through friendship, being together, sticking together, and unity. That is what this album is about.
Doro – Yes, absolutely, and giving our own strengths to survive. I think that times were never as tough as now; and I’m living on this planet for quite a while. When we started in the ’80s there weren’t any problems. The big problem was when MTV wouldn’t play your video! Now, compared to what’s happening in the world, I felt the last couple of years that I need to give extra strength. I felt I needed to stay extra positive to give people good energy. I never felt it that extreme before.
I always wanted to make a good record and give it my all for the fans. But in the last couple of years, I thought I need to take it up tennotches, to give people something they would feel good about. Yeah, it’s definitely so chaotic in the world and dark times. I definitely want to be a more positive light than ever to unite people and to give them good vibes, power, strength, hope, and love.
Cryptic Rock – Certainly, and you have done that throughout your career too. You have always done things in a positive light. You can really feel that with Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud boldly. To your point, negativity feeds negativity, so we need that positivity. You feel uplifted listening to this record… which is really nice.
You mentioned a little bit about the collaborations on this record. Amidst the original songs, there is some really cool covers such as your cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Judas Priest’s “Living After Midnight.” You fit perfectly for “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” So, what led to the decision to put these tracks on the album?
Doro – I met Rob Halford last year in France at Hellfest. It’s a big festival. We played on the same day and then we were hanging out backstage talking a little bit. We always have had a great relationship and friendship. We always see each other at different festivals. Anyway, we were talking backstage and Rob asked me what I’m doing. I said, “next year is my 40-year anniversary and we’re finishing the new album.” Then we both smiled at each other and I said, “Rob, are you thinking the same? Should we do something together?” He said, “Yes, let’s do it. It’s about time!” We’ve been friends for such a long time. So, he said, “What would you like to do? Do you have any idea?” Right away, I said, “Oh, Rob, I would love to do “Living after Midnight,” because I sang it in the ’80s many times when we played little club tours with some other bands. On the last day, usually you do something together and we always say, “What shall we do?” We always said, either “Breaking the law” or “Living After Midnight.” I actually did a duet of “Breaking the Law,” with Udo Dirkschneider and with the orchestra already.
So, I told Rob that I would love to do “Living After Midnight” if possible. He said, “Yes, sure. Let’s do it.” I was so happy when he said yes. He said, “I have a song I always wanted to do with you. I wanted to do that with you for a long time.” I said, “Really, what is it?” He said, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” I couldn’t believe it. It was Rob’s choice. So, we did both. I think “Living After Midnight” came out great, but “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is really special. The video came out recently, and I think that came out great. When I see it and hear it, it always gives me shivers. I think it’s really cool, and to do a duet with Rob Halford on two songs, I never could have even imagined that… it’s really awesome.
I think in my life I have been really blessed with doing so many songs, touring, festivals with all the bands and people I loved, such as those who were a big inspiration to me, like Motörhead and Dio. Gene Simmons produced one of our records, and I was a big KISS fan. Now doing a duet with Rob Halford… it’s almost like coming full circle to ‘86 and the first tour. We couldn’t even speak English back then, so our conversations were pretty limited. It’s cool that you can have some really good talks now. It brings back great memories.
The first tour was really important. One day which changed my life was the legendary Monsters of Rock festivals in ‘86 – two in Germany, one in England in Castle Donington. I had no idea that it was such a big festival. When we got there with our tour bus, we couldn’t believe it… it was like 100,000 people. I was walking towards the stage, and I was so nervous. I had no idea that it was so big. All the record companies and booking agencies were there. I felt we were this little band, we had some club tours before, but it was never a big thing. I was on my way to the stage, and then I ran into Lemmy, he said, “Hey Doro, have a good show.” Then he said, “Man, are you shaking?” I said, “Lemmy, I’m so nervous.” I was shaking because I had so much stage fright. Lemmy took me in his arms, gave me a kiss on my forehead, and then I went on stage empowered. We did a killer show; the fans were singing along banging heads. After I came back from the stage, everybody said, “Hey, you guys did a good show. We want to get you a worldwide record release.” That happened with True as Steel (1986). Then they said, “Hey, you can go on tour with Judas Priest.” I almost dropped dead. I thought, wow, with my favorite band! Then a couple of weeks later, we were on tour with Judas Priest. That was the biggest day in my life. Monsters of Rock changed everything.
I then came to America for my first promotion tour after we did the Judas Priest tour. I spent three days in New York promoting the True as Steel album. After two days, I fell in love with New York and America. I always wanted to go to America. After two days I told everybody that I’m staying, and everybody thought, “Yeah, she’s crazy.” I stayed, and then we did Triumph and Agony (1987)… which was one of our biggest records. It was the best timing for having this album and MTV had “All We Are” on heavy rotation.
Cryptic Rock – Wow. It’s amazing you have all these fond memories of how things picked up and started for you in the band. With that said, everyone gauges success differently. Whether it be record sales, playing in front of thousands of people, or something even deeper. Success is doing what you love. Does that sound right?
Doro – Absolutely. It doesn’t have to be a big festival; I can be as happy in the smallest club when everybody’s having a good time. I actually love it the same. Record sales and big crowds… it doesn’t mean as much as when you feel somebody really loves your music gets something out of it. That to me is the best part. When I see happy faces, that’s cool.
It always goes up and down. So. when it goes down you have to fight through times which are maybe not so good. When Grunge was so big, it was actually very difficult to keep it going. We did many records which didn’t actually get a release because it didn’t sound like Grunge. We could still tour and do great stuff in Europe, but in America, they wouldn’t want to release the records anymore. It was really hard, but then I thought, we still had enough fans who were supporting us. You have to get used to not being a big stadium band, playing smaller clubs, but I had the same fun.
In 2000, it started picking up again. I got the first phone calls, and we hopped on tour with Ronnie James Dio. It was my first big tour in The States again, and I gave one of my life insurances to do the tour. Everybody said, “You’re totally crazy. What are you doing?” I wanted to do this tour. I tell you what, it was one of my greatest touring experiences. All the places were sold out, and it was one of the best tours I ever did. We became great friends. In ’87 we toured with Ronnie James Dio, it was after Triumph and Agony album, we didn’t have so much contact. There was a day where the headliner was still the headliner; you didn’t have so much time to sit down and talk or spend all night chatting or cracking jokes. In 2000, that was totally different. We were hanging out every day, going out to dinner. Ronnie always loved Indian food. We had great days and nights where we talked, ate, and had fun. We became great friends on that tour and that meant the world to me. Sometimes you have to know it’s always going up and down. You still have to hold on and do what you love.
Cryptic Rock – And here we are today, all these years later, which is amazing. That is life – ups and downs. In the last decade, there has been an influx of female Rock and Metal bands. Not just female lead singers, you are also seeing female bass players, drummers, etc. How do you feel about this as someone who has stood fast all these decades as a lady in Metal?
Doro – That’s awesome! Usually we’re all connected, friends, and we support each other. Back in the ’80s, there were just a handful of women. I just remember Lita Ford, Lee Aaron, Joan Jett, Girl School, and that was it. Now there are so many fantastic women and I love it. In the ’80s, there were tons of women in the MTV videos; every band had almost naked girls dancing around. Now, I think it’s so great that everybody respects women because they are doing a really great job. There are very talented guitar players, for example, like Nita Strauss. I love all these great bands like Crypta and Arch Enemy; there are so many fantastic women. Also, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm… I’m a big fan of hers.
I think they are all very talented. They get respected, and that makes women feel really good. For young girls, it’s very important to have great role models. It’s very powerful, respectful, meaningful, and I think they still look great. Everybody still looks sexy, but now the respect is there. We are all great friends, and that’s the best part. I did something together with Lita Ford. We were always friends and we did something together a couple of years ago; I hope this will come out soon. I always see all the girls in Girlschool, and they are still going strong. People from the ’80s are still going strong! There are also so many new bands with female musicians, female singers. That makes me feel really good, and gives more power to them!
When I told you about the Monsters of Rock Festival in ’86, the audience, I think there were 99% Guys… there weren’t any women. Now it’s almost 50/50. That makes me feel really good. Seeing talented women is awesome and I’m really proud of it.
Cryptic Rock – That is positive progress. It is good, because it shows younger girls you can do this too. You see all the different women involved in Rock and Metal bands. It is hard to understand the ideology that Metal was a man’s thing. You do not always want to listen to a man sing. You should want diversity!
Doro – Absolutely. Back in the day my role models were all guys. I wasn’t conscious about it. Now it’s much better for women; you can definitely have inspiration from so many cool ladies. It’s great.
One singer which inspired me was Ann Wilson of Heart; I loved her. When I came to America, that was the first time that I experienced Janis Joplin. When I came to America I was working with Joey Balin on the Triumph and Agony album; he was the producer and he played guitar. We were talking and I told him about the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which I was heavily influenced by. He told me about his influences and showed me all kinds of videos. I saw Janis Joplin and thought – wow, I missed out on that! I was blown away.
Now we are in good shape with all the great ladies. Many ladies celebrated with me in my hometown of Düsseldorf for the second big anniversary concert. Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy flew down from Canada, Tarja Turunen (ex-singer of Nightwish) flew in, and Jennifer Haben, of the newer band Beyond the Black, came too.
Cryptic Rock – That sounds like an amazing show. Well, people have not done so already, they should pick up Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud.
Doro – Yes. What I think it’s great is that I see vinyl is coming back in a big way. That makes me feel good. The new album is coming out in many editions; like a box set with so many goodies including jewelry, there are axes in there and splattered double vinyl. We have a picture disc as well for record collectors. I’m a big record collector. We have all kinds of limited editions. I was fighting hard to get that because everybody says that digital is most important. I thought, our fans love records and the real stuff. I hope that vinyl will still be around… because I’m planning on doing 20 more records!
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