The answer to this question contains many aspects. We think it was the right time, the right situation, the right feelings, the right team. Yes, we as well think it is great to be „BACK" as a team.

Why did BBB leave Coconut Records in 1993 and go to Intercord?

After nine years with Coconut-Records, in which we worked very close and succesful, we thought the time had come to experiment a bit. So we changed to another record company. Now, after 4 years of experimenting, it is very obviously that this team „Bad Boys Blue / Coconut Records" is the best and most succesful one.

"BACK" is an amazing CD. When did you start work on this project, and how long did it take to complete?

Shortly before we resigned with Coconut Records, we worked on some material with David Brandes, John O´Flynn and of course Felix Gauder, who also was involved in our last Album („Bang Bang Bang") at Intercord. So actually it suggested itself to make these talented writers/producers part of this reunion. Because everything was developed in a very natural way within this project, it didn´t even took us that long to complete it.

Do you plan to continue writing and producing with the E-Rotic team for the next CD, as well as the other key producers like Andy Matern, Domenico Labarile, Christoph Schick, and Gary Jones?

Apart from all the fun that we had on working with these guys, we believe „BACK" wouldn´t have been such a „music-flower" without their creativ participation. So, it really makes sence to think and talk about keeping them to work on the next album as well. Time will give us the answers...

It appears that the reunion of Modern Talking has brought the classic German Europop 'sound' back to Europe. If they hadn't reunited and released their #1 CD "Back For Good", would BBB have still returned to Coconut and released "Back"?

Both, the return of Bad Boys Blue to Coconut and the reunion of Modern Talking, are part of a situation in europop-story, which can be described as the 80´s revival. A great acceptance for the „melo-sound" of the 80´s has returned. Like we´ve said before, it was the right time, situation and feelings that carried us back into this team with Coconut-Records.

I know that your BIG hits in the 80's and early 90's were written and produced by Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann ... how much direct involvement did they have on this project?

Both, Tony and Karin, have always been a main part of the engine of the Bad Boys Blue-Project. As long as this is the team, it will always be like this, musical as well as business-wise.

Have BBB signed a new contract(s) with Coconut Records? If so, how many albums are planned?

We´ve signed a new contract for 2 albums.

Do you know when the next brand new album is planned for release?

It will be released in the beginning of 1999 (January or February).

Can your fans expect to hear more of that classic 1985-1989 styled German Eurodance on future releases (as we've heard on "From Heaven To Heartache")?

Yes. This is the Bad Boys Blue style. The sounds are updated, the beats might change a bit, but this „melo" kind of feeling will certainly stay.

Speaking of "From Heaven To Heartache" - who is the female vocalist in the song? She sounds exactly like the one you used on the original version of "Come Back and Stay", which is by far one of the very best BBB tracks.

Yes, you´re absolutely right. Her name is Liane and she was also the lead singer of E-Rotic for a long time.

Let's talk a bit more about the tracks on "Back". It's interesting that the '98 remix of "Lovers In the Sand" is in the Freestyle sound - something still very North American - why did you go with that style on the track?

Because the electro-beat has a great similarity to the groove of the original recording and it is very fashionable in the moment.

Can your fans hope to see any of the '7 brand new smashers' released as maxi-singles in the near future? If so, which ones are being considered?

Yes. We would like to go out there first, do live gigs, get more into each and every song, see what our fans think, before making decisions about the next single. This is a very common way to do these kind of things.

"Don't Break the Heart" is re-done perfectly. This however is an older Chyp-Notic track, who also used to be signed to Coconut at one point. Would you ever consider singing new versions of "I Am Your Believer" and/or "What A Shame" on the next album? These are two Silent Circle songs which are within Coconut's catalogue, and more importantly, two all-time classics which BBB could revive.

Yes, indeed! This is planned for the next album.

I know you tour Russia and Europe quite regularly. But now with this new CD, is there a possibility that you might do a club tour in the US & Canada soon?

At the moment we are very busy with all kinds of promotion activities in Europe. As you may know, „BACK" is in the charts in several european countries, so we will need a bit of time to cope with all the invitations from these countries. We are working on this. This is depending on a release in that area.

Could you please clear up one grey area ... exactly what happened to Trevor Tailor? Why is he no longer part of BBB, and when did he leave?

To be very honest, within the group there has never been no „grey-area" about Trevor´s leaving the Bad Boys. Trevor wanted to go more into reggae-music. Because BBB had its own particular style, which didn´t consist of reggae-music only, he decided to leave BBB to spent more energy on the style of music that he thougt was closer to his heart. A very common process in music-business.

What other music do you guys enjoy, ie. what other groups or artists do you admire?

It really depends in what mood one is. Music is and will always stay a part of live. And live can be a party sometimes, live can be very sad or romatic. There is all kind of music for all kinds of situations. As long as the music is real and honest, it is worth listening.

Have you made any new videos for "Back" yet?

Yes, we shot new videos for „You´re A Woman ´98" and „The Turbo Megamix".

How can your fans get your videos, both new and old?

We plan to release the commercial video selection (including the new videos of "YOU`RE A WOMAN `98" and „The Turbo Megamix").

Do any of you surf on the Internet?

To be honest, due to the fact that we travel a lot and surfing-time is not scheduled for the tour, the only opportunity left is our days off. Now John loves to play golf, so there´s where you´ll find him if he´s not on tour. Andrew is hooked to jazz, that´s his way to relax, playing with his jazz-group. And Mo, as you might know, is also an actor, so that´s how he spent his free-time. The real Internet-Surfer is our dear friend and one of our new producers Andy Matern at Coconut Records – he is our „hot line" in case of „internetting".

Coconut Records will open it`s own internet homepage very soon!! And BAD BOYS BLUE will be available there!!

Many of your loyal fans worldwide will be reading this interview. Can you take a moment to let them know what the future holds for Bad Boys Blue?

We will keep up the music, because it is part of our lives! And we do realize that we can only do this, with the back up of all these loyal fans worldwide. We like to thank all of you out there for making Bad Boys Blue still happen.

Thank you very much! Your 'triumphant' return to Coconut Records & Hendrik/Hartmann has been a dream come true for everyone. Keep up the good work, we all love your music!

Keep up the thrust in yourself and the hope for a better world. We´ll try to help in these efforts by keeping up the good work, by giving you OUR MUSIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Interview by: Troy Matthews.
Thanks to: Andy Matern @ Coconut Records.