Maas hysteria: an interview with Timo Maas, Front, 2002

 

Did you think Germans were arrogant? We did too and liked it that way. DJ Timo Maas has spoilt everything.

The most German-looking man in the world used to be Gert Fröbe. He played Colonel Manfred von Holstein, human brass band, in fantastic air-race film Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (1965). Fröbe popped his jackboots in 1988 as acid house swept through clubland, leaving burgeoning DJ Timo Maas to fill the role. Of heavy brow, blond hair, built like a brick shithouse, Timo fitted the bill perfectly.

Timo, 34, is now a world-famous DJ, remixer and maker of funky dance music. He’s not feeling fresh today. Despite a self-imposed drinks ban that has lasted for four days, the Hanover-born electromeister is coming down with flu. Out for pasta in London, he decides a bottle of £34.99 vin rouge would do more good than harm.

Has anyone ever thought you were an Irish DJ called Tim O’Mass?
Now I think of it, no. Ha-ha! I mean, it could be possible. Hmm; timomaas.com, my website, I was fighting for the name of that. A guy from London, he took my name. Solicitors were involved and after seven months I finally got the right to use that as my website address.

Did you have to pay for it?
I had to pay my solicitor. But this guy was offering me the site for $50,000. I said, ‘F*** off.’ I am Timo Maas, I’ve got the copyright, I’m an artist and he wants to make money out of it and this is not allowed. He was never online so everything was against him. My solicitor told me this guy then claimed to be Tim O’Maas from Ireland. It’s no joke! But it was a fake, you know. He tried it every way, this asshole.

Timo Maas is really a double act – tell us about your musical partner.
Martin [Buttrich], my partner in crime. He’s the guy in the background, and at least as involved with the music as I am. I mention him always. By the end, everyone knows him, but nobody knows what he looks like. This is the thing.

Why isn’t he here today?
He’s ill. He’s got a virus and is in bed. He’s got spots everywhere.

It sounds… irksome. By the way, we’re fans of Loud, the new album, at FRONT.
Good. It is not too complicated. I think it is very funky, a little bit sexy as well. We try to explain to people that it is possible to do soulful, funky, grown-up music with just electronic equipment.

What do your mum and dad think about your chosen career path?
I’m not talking to my dad at all. My mum is more than proud. My dad’s an asshole.

Is it a bit of a touchy subject?
No, no, I’m absolutely cool with that. I’m in contact just with my mum and brother. The rest of my family never supported what I’m doing. I was always the black sheep, and they made me feel like the black sheep.

Are your mum and dad divorced?
They split up in ’72, 30 years ago.

Has your mother married again?
No, she lived together with a guy for 15 years. But then they split up and a short time after that he died in an accident. She had a brain tumour nine years ago. She’s OK now but she’s 62 this year and can’t work any more, so I’m looking after her. And there’s my brother, we live in the same house. My friends, my mum, my brother, my lovely girlfriend, they’re the most important people in my life.

Dance music’s been big for 13 years now.
DJs are definitely the rock stars of today. It will not change in the next couple of years.

What, you think it will stay the same?
I think it’s gonna be bigger. All over the world. But the concept of big superclubs, big-name DJs to fill up the club, this concept will die.

Have you ever had to crack someone who’s been mucking about while you were DJing?
I’m one of the most peaceful people you will meet in your life. But when it was 1990, I used to DJ in a commercial club, and it was a countryside club as well. These farmer boys came over and said, ‘Play this, play that, play crappy German schlager [German pop] music, and I was just saying, ‘Oh f*** off!’ At some point, this guy tried to hit me. He was a really proper big farmer. My brother, a bouncer, turned up – he’s huge. I was so f***ed off at this time.

So your brother knows his business?
Shall we say he relaxed the situation. I didn’t feel comfy with my job at this time. I had an unhappy feeling, so it was easy to get on my nerves. But now I feel comfy.

What’s the worst thing a punter can do to a DJ?
Hit the needle, I suppose. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes. When there’s a strange situation you just let the promoters know and they will sort the guys out. It’s not a bad thing, but when they start grabbing, pulling and touching you, then I don’t want it.

Do you think Ibiza has had its day?
Are people saying that?

It’s because of the commercialism – overpriced drinks and club entry. A scam.
It’s up to you if you allow people to rip you off. You don’t have to go to a big club if you don’t want to pay the price. There are plenty of parties that are cheap or free.

Yes, it’s all right for you.
Mmm, I know. It’s always free entry, which is nice. But surely everything that is successful then becomes commercialised. This is just a rule of our lives. There are nice beaches and restaurants, nice people to hang out with and some beautiful clubs, like Pacha or Space.

Us lot at FRONT went to Ibiza for four days last year and it nearly killed us.
It depends. I’m not taking pills or anything like that. We don’t go to the extreme. When I go out to a party I know what I’m going to do.

Germans are known for techno – are you a fan?
As long as the techno is funky and groovy, yes. Guys like Sven Vath. At the moment, he’s really, really funky as well. Being funky, this is the most important thing. I don’t like the DJs who just play rough techno, just for the drugs, to play out all the frustrations that happen. They haven’t had a proper shit in weeks. Hey, guys, smoke a spliff and calm down!

Have you ever been kicked out of a club for the music you’ve played?
For the track ‘LFO’ I was kicked out of two clubs in Germany. Not on the night; after. They kicked me out and said, ‘We can’t stand that kind of music you play. You’re crazy, too weird, you can’t attract people with that. I said, ‘F*** off, I’ll go to the next club.

When was ‘LFO’, ’89?
Around then.

Are you a football fan?
Not at all.

Right, we’ll scrub the next 20 questions.
I like Formula 1. It’s not really a sport.

Do you drive Ferraris?
I’m into Audi. I’ve got two cars at the moment: an A2 that my lady drives; and I drive the A6. Very fast. I’m gonna drive German tomorrow.

On autobahns you can drive as fast as you like.
They want to do a speed limit on this part where I live. I’m thinking about buying a new car. A little faster. Every car I buy is a bit faster and more powerful than the one before. It’s going to be an Audi again, the new A8. It will be something else. Audi is doing great cars. They have a good image. BMW is for guys with a moustache and long hair at the back. Mercedes is for old men with hats.

Do you find the British obsessed by the War?
Maybe the normal British people and German people, maybe they are still fighting against each other. But the people I know are not.

It’s a big rivalry we have. In football, especially. We beat you 5-1, by the way.
Ha-ha-ha! I like the black humour of the English. I never had the feeling that I’m not wanted in this country. So far. Now you’re making me nervous – what do you have in store for me now? Lee Gale