Whiplasher Bernadotte – Deathstars – Interview Exclusive
Written by Tazz Stander
Monday, 05 July 2010 05:30
Deathstars are a Swedish goth metal band – founded in 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden – that broke through to domestic mainstream success in 2009 with their third album, the Top Ten hit ‘Night Electric Night’. Prior to founding Deathstars, Nightmare Industries and Bone W Machine were members of the heavy metal band Swordmaster, founded in 1993.
The band is hugely satirical, mocking the unnerving seriousness and intensity of the black and death metal genres. Sitting with Andreas Bergh aka Whiplasher Bernadotte in a Soho hotel without his standard Nazi style apparel and no make-up, I lean in closer to hear his subsonic voice and this is what followed.
Let’s start off with something that always confuses me – stage names. Do I call you Andreas or do I call you Whiplasher? What do I call you? Who are you?
You can call me your lover.
(Laughing) That’s not really answering what I asked you.
No, but you can call me lover.
Your third studio album ‘Night Electric Night’ came out in 2009. In comparing your three records, I would say that ‘Synthetic Generation’ is not a concept album in the true sense of the word but more an industrial rock trip through the modern day decay of culture. ‘Termination Bliss’ deals with themes of nihilism, war, destruction and morality. How would you describe ‘Night Electric Night?’
I think its three different chapters actually. The first one was more about the culture we have in Sweden. The second one was much more personal and then on ‘Night Electric Night’ it is a lot more of an outgoing album. It is about self destruction, I guess. A lot about self destruction and the kind of life that we have lived in the band, the kind of environment that we act within
because it’s been so hysterical. Instead of writing about themes, it was more about situations. We don’t write about dragons and swords, it’s about our lives. I think ‘Night Electric Night’ closed the chapter of those albums for the new stuff which is going to have a different approach to it.
Excitingly enough, you’re bringing out ‘Night Electric Night – Platinum Edition’ this year with a fantastic opportunity for a lucky fan to be a part of Deathstars. Explain the concept and thought process to me.
I think it’s from Deathstars having that kind of incredible die hard following with people dressing like us and so forth, such an intense loyalty. A lot of people have talent and, of course, it would be great to have them participating on our album. If we get some good material, definitely, we will release it.
Awesome. When does the competition close for it?
It’s not a competition as such. It’s not like, you win really but we have had a lot of stuff sent through. Emile “Nightmare” has been listening to all of it. I haven’t heard any of it yet. All of us are going to sit down and listen to the best tracks.
Exciting! I once read that you had said that “Deathstars is a wake up call to the common man.” Who is the common man and what do they need to wake up from?
It’s what we did on ‘Termination Bliss’ – just to find some pleasure in morality. It’s ok not to do what you’re supposed to do and I think a lot of the albums are saying that it’s ok to be egotistic, it’s ok to look at yourself in a positive way. People get more and more tired the older they get and it’s just about breaking those rules and doing something else, be whoever you want to be. I 
think what we’re doing with Deathstars is trying to break those borders of morality and the generation that my parents came from and their way of thinking. That’s mostly what it was about.
Since forming in 2000, have any of your musical influences and values changed?
Definitely, absolutely, otherwise I would be an idiot. They change all the time.
You wanted to get away from the whole black metal scene because they were lacking in certain values and that is kind of what you did by starting off Deathstars.
When we did the first album we were looking at other bands and trying to find something to experiment with. Then on ‘Termination Bliss’ we decided just to look at ourselves. Of course we’re advocating and it’s all about our lives so of course it would develop. I have no idea whether this is in a negative or a positive way but it has developed.
From the horse’s mouth, who would you most liken Deathstars to musically and then vocally? I keep being told Rammstein but I keep hearing 69 Eyes.
Vocally … actually, I was talking to Till (Lindeman) from Rammstein a few hours ago and he always warms up his voice to Deathstars songs. When I’m really tired, I watch Rammstein videos. But yeah, he always warms up to ‘Cyanide’ and so on.
Musically, as a band collectively, who do you think you sound like?
Of course Rammstein because it’s so heavy, it’s the manic guitars.
I think vocally, you and Jyrki (vox from 69 Eyes) sound so alike.
Yeah?
‘Death Dies Hard’ could be a 69 Eyes song.
Yeah, I know what you mean but they have never been an inspiration of ours. We are close friends of theirs though. Jyrki called me and said, “Hey Andreas, you have to get to LA so you can do some dark vocals on the album” and I said, “I can’t, I have to go to London for a tour.” This was last year and he said, “we have to do this, we have to have your vocals on the album” so I told him to book me flights but to make sure that I got to London in time for our tour to start and then he said, “It’s April Fools day you idiot”. (Both laughing).
I heard a little story minutes before coming into the interview that Kiss came to your gig last week and there are talks of going on a tour with them?
It was great because Kiss was the foundation of Deathstars. Of course it was amazing when they booked a VIP table. We hung out last week in Stockholm several times and we’re in good contact with them.
Any talk of tours?
Yeah.
You’re not going to say anymore?
No, but they really loved Deathstars.
When you release an album, is it even possible to comprehend the way people will interpret what you have done?
No, it’s useless. There is no meaning in trying to look into it. As long as people gain something from it … it’s just music and if it hit some springs emotionally within you, then it’s working and you can’t really do any more than that. I also think that it doesn’t take people to be a part of Mensa to realise that we make fun of metal. I hate people that worship stereotypes and that is 
what metal does – men have swords and woman are like whores and we make fun of that and we turn men into whores and celebrate woman, it’s metro sexual. Metal is stupid. If they were smart, they would worship gay people because it’s totally against Adam and Eve and the bible, it’s super satanic to be gay. Celebrate gay people … they are so stupid so yes, I love to make fun of metal. I grew up listening to metal and I’ve released thrash metal albums, black metal and death metal but in the end, come on, use your brain. What are you going to do? Be 50 and have dragons on your wall and be like a 5 year old listening to Hammerfall?
I couldn’t do an interview and not talk about your subsonic voice that almost causes blunt force trauma. How do you look after it and prepare it for shows? (Andreas does not speak the way he sings. He now puts on his ‘singing’ voice)
I don’t speak like this. (Laughs) I don’t look after it actually, it’s pretty natural. It isn’t really the same voice that was in the beginning of Deathstars as I now do something different. I guess it is a trade mark now. Girls have orgasms to it now. I can give you an orgasm. Do you want it? Do you have a boyfriend?
I do have an amazing boyfriend.
I think we’re pretty much done so any final messages to Über Röck readers?
(Laughing) Yeah, I’m looking forward to the football game tonight (England’s first game of the World Cup). Can I give you my phone number and you can call me whenever you want to. It’s +467822 …. turn off the recorder and I will give you the rest of it.
(Laughing) Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat to me.
Is the recorder off yet?