...We had Tactical Sekt doing music in a similar vein to us, and then the more atmospheric industrial of Interlace made for a really interesting and complimentary combination. The tour went really well.

CC// Do you enjoy touring?

J// Well, it’s exhausting. But no, it was a great tour actually, in fact it was the best tour we ever did.

CC// You’ve always encouraged new talent from your demo-collecting days [Johan used to collect new bands’ demos] to your up and coming compilation ‘Decoder v.2.0’ . I think a lot of people would be surprised that you support bands that mimic and maybe even copy you.. What drives you to do it?

J// I have no problems with bands that sound like Suicide Commando and in fact I’m really flattered that they’d want to sound like us. Most of the bands I know myself personally, so I see no reason why I shouldn’t support them. After all, this is the kind of music I like otherwise I wouldn’t make it! When I started out I was compared to Klinik and Dive and for me it was an honour to be compared with those people. They were my heroes and so maybe I fill that role now I don’t know.. (he quietly chuckles to himself the last comment is said completely without ego, there is a wonder in his voice, like he can’t quite believe that people could see him that way)

CC// What do you listen to when you’re at home?

J// 99% Pure Electronic Music. I get sent lots of new stuff by new bands and such like, and the other 1% would be what is playing on the radio or whatever. I listen to some more guitar-orientated stuff, like Marilyn Manson or NIN, but yeah, 99% would be the music I like and I play.. Electronic Music.

CC// What inspires your creativity? What inspires your music and lyrics for Suicide Commando?

J// Lyrically, I would say just switch on your television, you can see where I get all the topics that I sing about (cue cynical laughter..). Be it in the evening news or CNN or whatever. Musically I just do my thing. No real inspiration behind that. I just get behind my gear and whatever comes, comes. If it’s not coming, then it doesn’t come as well, so.. As long as I enjoy it, that’s the main thing. Of course, it’s nice if you can sell records and get better with every record but the main important thing for me is that I enjoy it, otherwise I would stop.

CC// A lot of bands now are embarking on side-projects now, has the idea of a side-project appealed to you?

J// I had a few side projects back in the old days.. but they kind of petered out.

CC// So we can’t expect a future-pop side project from you then?

J// (long, shocked and pregnant pause..) NO! (his face crack into a maniacal grin) Not really my style.. The main problem in the past was finding the time to do the side-projects. So maybe now with the extra time I have it’s time to look into the possibility of doing side-projects again. I would love to actually. On the one side, I love working alone, but on the other hand it’s completely different working with different people, it’s really fun...now when I think of it, I would love to do a new project, if time allows! [note: you heard it here first kids, pitch your ideas for a side-project to Johan now!]

CC// So what can we expect from Suicide Commando in the coming months?

J// We will be concentrating on doing some more remix work for bands. And since it is nearly a year since I released "Axis Of Evil", I really ought to start working on some new material (continues on next page)