Interview with vocalist Doro Pesch
Interview conducted by Luxi Lahtinen
Date online: August 31, 2024
Dorothee Pesch, or simply Doro, is a well-known female metal figure all around the world. She got her start in the band Warlock 
from 1982 to 1988, appearing on four studio albums that have all, more or less, become classics in the metal community over the years. Warlock took part in many great tours in the late '80s, appearing in Europe with Judas Priest in 1986, with Dio in 1987, a tour with Megadeth and Sanctuary in 1988, etc.
In 1989, she started her solo career using her own name Doro. She has released 14 studio albums and toured all over the planet and played at some of the most significant and biggest metal festivals, strengthening her status as a "true metal queen" among the fans, deservedly so.
Doro's 14th studio album, titled Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud, came out on Nuclear Blast Records in October 2023 and, as the album's title suggests, this lady really deserves to be proud of herself, right folks?
The Metal Crypt managed to sit down and talk briefly with the always smiling and good-natured Metal Queen herself at the Hellsinki Metal Festival in Helsinki, Finland, after the band's headlining show on the main stage on August 10, 2024, having the following conversation with her...
Hallo Doro, und willkommen wieder in Finnland! ... and, of course, thanks for the nice and very well-received show this evening here at the Hellsinki Metal Festival!
Doro: Oh, thank you so much. Danke schön. Kiitos.
I'm happy with the show we did this evening. I'm very happy. It was awesome. We had so much fun. There was so much energy in the crowd. That always pumps me up.
As you only had one hour to pull off your whole set, was it easy to decide which songs would be a part of tonight's set, and which ones should be dropped off?
Doro: Oh, yes, man. It's always hard since we have so many records. I think now we have 22, I think 22 studio records and many more other EPs, so it's very hard to choose a set list. Usually, I always try to pick the best songs off each album. Yes, 60 minutes means 12 songs, so it's really hard. We have, I guess, about 400 songs. Of course, "All We Are" will always be in the set and stuff off the Triumph and Agony album. We did three songs from the new album, Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud. I picked my favorites like "Children of the Dawn." That's my favorite song off this new album.
Yes, it's my favorite song off that album, too, so it was good to notice you started your set with it.
Doro: It's a really nice song. That's the reason it's the opener, because I love it so much. I like "Fire in the Sky." I actually like a lot of songs off this new album. Today, I think we just played two. Then, of course, "Raise Your Fist" and "Revenge" I always like. "Für Immer," that's the only ballad, but it always makes people feel so good. I see many fans who have tears in their eyes because they get so touched. It's a song which I love to play. "Burning the Witches" is important 
too because everything started with the first album, which came out in '84. Then some metal songs like "Metal Racer."
How did you like the audience here? At least we Finns can be loud, especially when we get a little bit drunk and into the party mood so to speak, ha!
Doro: [*laughter*] Oh, yes. I think they sang really loud, and everybody was totally into it. Of course, "All We Are," is always the highlight. So many people screaming their lungs out.
PAST MEMORIES FROM FINLAND
I bet you have many memories from Finland over the years. What's the one that knocked you off your feet?
Doro: My first touring experiences. Actually, the first time I played in Finland was actually with Judas Priest. I think it was '86.
Yes, and the location was actually this Ice Hall where we are doing this interview right now.
Doro: It was this place? Oh, wow... It looked a little bit familiar, but I wasn't sure because we played outside.
I must say, to me, that's the most amazing memory. I was a big Priest fan, and we stayed friends all these years. I'm so grateful because we did two duets together on this new album, on the Conqueress. My choice was "Living After Midnight" because I was born and raised with the British Steel album. Rob Halford said, "There's one song I always want to do with you, 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'". I thought, "Wow, this is so unusual." Then we did two, and he did this nice video with me on "Total Eclipse of the Heart." That means so much to me, you have no idea. It started here in '86.
Oh, wow. I'm so glad you remember that. Helsinki Ice Hall. Wow...! That was the beginning of something really great. That tour with Judas Priest opened so many doors. That's one of the reasons we have gone on for such a long time. I'm planning to go on for another 40 
years, if that's possible.
THE METAL QUEEN NO. 1
Rob Halford is considered "The Metal God" and many people consider you "The Metal Queen" because you have had such a long career, from Warlock to your solo thing, Doro. How does such recognition feel?
Doro: Sometimes it's a little bit overwhelming, because I'm just like, I'm a metalhead, I'm doing it for the fans. I'm so happy that I have been able to do it for such a long time. I feel we're always doing something together. When I'm on stage, I always feel the fans, they are like the most important member of the band. Sometimes it's like, wow. When people say something positive, it's always very nice. It doesn't have to be the metal queen. It always makes me feel so good and I always have to give my best to empower people, to lift people up, because they think so many nice things of me. It's nice. It's nice to have so many fans. Everybody has different tastes, of course, but it's nice when people have something nice to say about me, of course.
You have been such an inspiration and pioneer for female metal vocalist through the decades. When you look back to the 1980s, would you have guessed there eventually there would be so many popular bands where women are such a fundamental part of the bands' success?
Doro: I tell you, no. I was just doing what I love doing. I didn't have a plan. Nothing. We just formed a band. Actually, I had my first band in the '80s. It was called Snakebite, then Peace, then Attack, and then Warlock in '82. Actually, we were at the right time, the right place, and then things started to happen. We did some great gigs with Metallica. I still remember the first festivals and 
gigs. I still remember Cliff Burton. That was so awesome. It was like the beginning of something really big.
I love metal, so I just always tried to do my best, but I had no idea that people would feel inspired. That's so nice. I must say, I think it's not a big deal being a woman. I always felt it was a bigger fight for the music, like a bigger fight for metal, because in the early '80s metal wasn't so accepted. You really had to fight for your band, for your style of music, for metal. Now, it's like everybody loves it, everybody knows about it. In the early '80s, they didn't accept it like they do now.
It was the same with punk. Metal and punk we were always a little bit like the outlaws, which I thought was cool. Being a woman in the metal world was always great. I always got treated so well. People were very supportive, like Judas Priest or Motörhead or Saxon or Dio. I could tour with all these great bands, and everybody was very, very kind and supportive. I never felt that I was different. I was just the singer of the band.
THE FANS COME FIRST
What's your driving force nowadays that keeps you going and making new music and touring around the world?
Doro: The fans... The fans really.
It's like they are always eager to see you performing, to get some new music from you and one could say they are always there for you, during good and bad times...
Doro: Yes. I love the fans more than anything in this world. That's why I do it and that's why I can do it full force. There's a lot of love, a lot of metal love. The fans, they're my world. They are the best and I want to do it for many, many, many more years. That's my main inspiration and motivation.
ANIMALS NEED ALL OF OUR PROTECTION
Is there anything that you'd like to achieve in your career, even though you have achieved quite a lot already?
Doro: I love animals, and I want to be a voice for the animals. I'm connected with many, many groups who take animals 
from bad situations and stuff. I want to do more for the animals, and that's the reason I'm vegan. I became vegan, I think, seven, eight years ago, and all my stage clothes, everything is fake leather. I want to be a voice for the voiceless. On this new album, I wrote a song for the animals. It's called "Heavenly Creatures." That's what is very important to me, besides doing music.
Actually, I wasn't conscious about it in the '80s, but many, many years ago, I found out how cruel it is, like the production of leather. I grew up with dogs and horses and stuff. Actually, my former manager had a pig and he said, "Doro, they're so intelligent." I said, "Really?" He said, "Man, that little pig, his name was Hansi. Hansi is more intelligent than my dog." I said, "Really?" I had no idea in the '80s. Then it grew on me. I want to protect animals, and there's a long way to go. It's a very sensitive subject because many people don't understand or they don't get it, but I want to be a force.
Alright, my time seems to be up, so thank you so much for your time, Doro. It was really a pleasure to see you and have this nice conversation with you.
Doro: Thanks so much. It's awesome to talk to you. And, of course, all the best to all the fans out there. I love you with all my heart.
| Other information about Doro on this site |
| Review: Fight |
| Review: Classic Diamonds |
| Review: Fear No Evil |
| Review: Forever Warriors, Forever United |
| Review: Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud |
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