The initiative to invite Paul Speckmann to be part of „Faces of a Scene“ actually came from my friend Steffen, who had told him about it some time ago and piqued his curiosity. With this knowledge in mind, it was up to me to reach out and get in touch with Paul. I took advantage of the Lusatian Grimfest 2023 in Cottbus, where Master was also on the billing. At the time, I handed Paul an envelope with photos I had taken of Master over the years, and we went through these memories together. Later, I seized the opportunity to ask if participating in the project would interest him – Paul responded, essentially: „of course, sure.“

We stuck to the idea that Protzen Open Air 2024 would be a good opportunity, and so it happened.

Already on Friday at the area, I looked around backstage a bit, hoping to find a spot that would not only serve as a suitable background but also offer some seclusion from the hustle behind the main stage and the hangar. I found this tree trunk and deemed it accessible and fitting – so at least one hurdle was cleared.

I knew roughly when Paul would arrive on Saturday and caught him behind the merch stand (although “caught” might be an exaggeration, as Paul in my experience is either there or on stage ). We arranged a time window for the photo shoot and a brief interview. Until then, I had a bit of time left, so I set up my light stand with flashes and modifiers, securing the whole setup with a couple of camping pegs and rubber bands against wind-related mishaps. To calm my nerves, I grabbed a beer with my friends in front of the stage – always keeping an eye on the time.

At the agreed time, I fetched Paul from his merch stand, and we headed to the location for the shoot. I offered Paul his spot on the fallen tree trunk and checked the lighting while Paul started worrying a little about his short pants in the scene. I waved it off, no problem, and showed him the first results on the camera display, which got Paul excited and made me feel a bit calmer.

I kept our interview short, even though it’s always great to chat with him – but I knew I had to stay brief, so Paul could get back to his fans. Paul might be one of the most well-known participants in the series, but anyone who’s ever had contact with him or spoken to him knows that he’s also one of the most easygoing guys in the Metal-Scene. So, it was an honor to have him on board. Thank you.

Paul Speckmann (60) Musician, Fan

When Paul was perhaps six or seven years old, he had his first earworm – caught over the stereo system in his parents‘ house: „Winchester Cathedral,“ a song by the British group The New Vaudeville Band – a light-hearted pop song with a retro sound from the twenties, which he still vividly remembers today, though it didn’t exactly reflect the young Paul’s future musical career

His mother enjoyed listening to music like The Carpenters, and his father was well-entertained by Frank Sinatra, among others – all quite harmless up to this point.

At eleven, Paul attended a concert by the band Chicago with a friend and his friend’s older sister – a rock band that already had several hits („25 or 6 to 4“ or „Saturday in the Park“) and, like Blood, Sweat & Tears, dazzled with cool brass sections.

By the time Paul was about sixteen, his synapses were already so attuned to music that he tried his hand as a singer in a sort of cover band inspired by songs from bands like UFO, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, or Montrose.

However, Paul thought he might also try an instrument and turned to playing the bass. Naturally, Paul still lived with his older brother under his parents’ roof at the time – and they all hated it. The constant droning in the house led to ongoing discussions, which occasionally resulted in scuffles This changed, however, when Paul had the chance to open for Twisted Sister with his first band War Cry in the fall of 1983, with the then still relatively unknown Queensrÿche (!) also on the bill. Paul’s father decided to attend this concert – and all the trouble of the past years evaporated, and the family respected Paul’s musical activities and was proud of him.

Paul’s further journey includes musical stints with Death Strike, Abomination, Speckmann Project, and of course Master – showcasing a dynamic yet determined musician. What his fans probably appreciate most besides the music is his absolute dedication to these people – his fans. Paul, unlike almost anyone else in the scene, is always at the merch stand and is available for every conversation and photo. A guy who is the scene himself.