Sven Lüdke, guitarist for German Power Metal band Mob Rules. 
Mob Rules Interview
1. How was it recording Mob Rules latest album Cannibal Nation?
It was fun. We had some kind of a different approach to this album. Most of the songs were written in my studio and we wanted to give the songs a more spontaneous, live-like feel. Like: When it sounds right and it feels right let’s keep it like it is. Not over thinking every note and arrangement again and again. All the guitar tracks are laid down in my studio as well. So recording was fun because the studio is in my house and I can work there whenever I want.
2. Where did the ideas and concepts for this album come from?
Usually I come up with an idea. Maybe a guitar riff, a melody or even complete parts and arrangements. Then we work on them with the entire band so everybody within the band has the chance to bring in his ideas and creativity. While we work on the vocal lines Matthias develops the ideas for the lyrics.
3.Any tours coming up in support of this Mob Rules album?
We’re going to play as much shows as possible to support this album. Besides that we all love to be on stage. There’s no tour booked right now but we are trying to get a tour along.
4. What do you think of promo videos nowadays with everything going on YouTube?
Shooting videos are a fun thing to do and I think they are very important. Before YouTube you could not be sure that anybody would play your video on TV. But today you use YouTube and all the social network thing to have the people watching your video.
5. What do you think of the music industry today and where it is going?
It’s tough. With all the illegal download thing it is hard for most of the bands to finance the production of there CD’s. I think the quality of the productions suffer from that fact. And the kids listening to lousy YouTube mp3 files forget how properly produced music sound like. I think it is an overall lack of quality going along with the fact that record labels try to balance their losses by putting any record on the market that is recorded.
6. would you say the health of the Power Metal scene is becoming stronger?
To be honest, I don’t know. I’m not following the power metal scene. Actually I’m not following any scene.
7. What were your earliest influences?
I guess that was Queen. Especially Brian May playing guitar. I love this very melodic type of playing. Then it was AC/DC and Kiss and then Iron Maiden. I am influenced by these bands when I was a kid. But the older I got the more I listen to these bands again.
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
At home most of the time I listen to vinyl. Because I was born in the seventies most of my records are from the late seventies to the late eighties. So I own almost any relevant record from that important period of time when metal came up and became very big. Interesting because it is hard to find is the soundtrack to a movie from the eighties called trick or treat by Fastway. Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons played in this movie.
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
Sleeping, drinking coffee and waiting for Showtime. Besides that sex and drugs and rock’n’roll, of course…;-)
10. Without Social Media could bands today manage to survive?
Social Media became a very important tool to promote your band and album. You have to use these media especially when you are a metal band ‘cause in Europe metal doesn’t take place on TV or radio.
Extra Questions for Mob Rules Guitarist Sven Ludke
Life without music would be : unimaginable for me
Favorite movie : dawn of the dead
Favorite sport : fitness
Favorite food : potato soup
Favorite drink : Cuba libre
Favorite saying : I told you so…
Favorite car : Audi A8
Favorite book : The Talisman by Stephen King
Favorite band : Rainbow
Star Wars or Star Trek : Star Wars
PC or Mac : PC
Cheers, Sven (lead guitar player)
Related Power Metal Interviews
- Gus G Interview: FIREWIND Immortals album : January 2017
- Timo Kotipelto Interview Stratovarius
- Tarja Turunen Interview | Singer talks Act I : Live in Rosario
- Ralf Scheepers Interview PRIMAL FEAR Frontman