ANDREAS GEREMIA

TANKARD

In the next part of „X Commandments“ I would like to introduce you Andreas Geremia- mostly known as Gerre, a founding member and vocalist of German thrash metal outfit TANKARD. Beer, football and music are definitely the most important things for him (in no particular order). When it comes to music, Gerre has a very specific taste. He grew up listening to hard rock, heavy metal and speed metal bands. Most of his 10 favorite albums were released in the 80's...

I. AC/DC "If You Want Blood"
The live version of "Let there be rock" was the really first hard rock song I ever heard. In 1978, our bass player Frank recorded it from radio on tape and gave it to me. It really blewed me away but we didn`t know the band's name. A couple of months later Frank bought the "If you want blood" album because of the friendly cover and he recognized the song he recorded from radio. Of course I had to buy this album too, this was really my first hard rock album and changed totally from Smokie to this kind of musik. a drug which I will never get rid of...

II. SAXON "Wheels Of Steel"
My very first metal concert in 81: Saxon and picture, the whole concert hall were provided with chairs. So we were standing on the chairs, watching Saxon and felt down a hunderd times because of extreme headbanging! I really think that the second album is their best, traditional heavy metal at ìt`s best!




III. RIOT "Fire Down Under"
Another great metal singer: Guy Speranza (R.I.P)! I`m really sad that I never saw this guy live! I think "Fire Down Under" is the best Riot album ever, my favorite song is "Outlaw"! Really great metal stuff, very diversified and self-contained. I think every true metal fans should have this classic album!




IV. VENOM "Welcome To Hell"
I really thought that my record player was broken, when I heard this album for the very first time! Hell ya, I never believed that a band can put such extreme noise on a record. In that time Venom was the most extreme metal band on this planet and I still love this album. And I will never forget when I slept at Abbadon's place when i was 17, the leader of the Venoms Legions Germany and me were visiting Venom in Newcastle, very funny...



V. ANVIL "Metal On Metal"
What should I say! In 1982 I really thought that Anvil will be really a big band, I can`t really understand what happened, that they never got the big success, anyway this is a great album with an outstanding drumming. I saw them a couple o times live, I still love this band and keep all their albums!!!





VI. METALLICA "Kill Em All"
What a guitar sound, what killer songs, ubelieveable! This was the very first speed metal album I ever heard and I think it is still one of the best!!! Bang that head that doesn`t bang, what more to say?????????????






VII. EXCITER "Heavy Metal Maniac"
Together with Metallica's "Kill Em All", this is the best speed album ever! I work as a metal dj once in a month and the song "Heavy Metal Maniac" is always on my set list! I saw them live in 1985 supporting Accept for the very first time, it was really a killer! "Violence And Force" and "Long Live The Loud" were good albums too but later on Exciter went down. The new stuff since "Blood Of The Tyrants" is much better again! Holy shit, I missed them on the last Rock Hard Festival, would love to play together with my old idols..

VIII. OMEN "Battle Cry"
I think that J.D. Kimball (r.i.p.) was one of the best metal singers ever. This album includes (besides the great vocals) 10 masterpieces of classic metal songs. After 20 years I still really love to listen to that timeless shit!






IX. EXODUS "Bonded By Blood"
Opening with the mind-blowing power of title track, the band immediately pummels through a number of astounding thrashers. One of the most important thrash albums ever, what do I have more to say?????






X. OVERKILL "The Years Of Decay"
Overkill is one of my absolute fave bands. I think the concert in Frankfurt (Years Of Decay Tour) was one of the best live gigs I ever saw, amazing! I think Overkill has quite a few great albums, but I choose this one, because it reminds me on that tour. And "Time To Kill" is a great killer-song!






CV:
Real Name: Andreas Geremia
Stage name: Gerre
Born: 13.05.1967 in Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt
Function: vocals
Associated: TANKARD, TANKWART, X-MASS PROJECT