written by Marko Jakob [04.06.2021]
Pix666: Hey Freddy. Thanks for your time. How are you doing these days, are you alive and well? How are the other guys of Chthonic?
Freddy: I’m a member of Parliament in Taiwan, so I have been quite busy since the Covid epidemic in Taiwan is getting stronger again. We are busy reviewing anti-epidemic-related bills and budgets for bailouts.
Dani Wang, the drummer, is busy managing his music schools, Doris Yeh, the bassist is helping out at some live events, and Jesse Liu, the guitarist and CJ Kao, the keyboard player are producing other bands’ music. We are all well!
Pix666: Among other things, you have already performed at very famous events in Germany – for example at the Wacken Open Air in 2007 and almost exactly 10 years ago at the Wave Gotik Treffen. What memories do you still have of these gigs in Germany?
Freddy: As I can remember, the last time we played in Germany was 2014, and we toured about 20 cities and played Wacken main stage that year. Wow, that was 7 years ago!
We all enjoyed playing in Germany very much, the venues were clean with good facilities, and the events were always well organized. And fans there always responded energetically all together. We really could feel the energy from the audience!
Pix666: You headlined the Megaport Festival during Pandemic in March 2021 in front of almost 100,000 people. Describe that feeling when you’re on stage at such a huge event and the rest of the world almost stands still. You can imagine that the fans here are greedy for such well organized events.
Freddy: Lives in Taiwan have been carefully brought back to a more normal state of affairs since last summer. People could go to the movies, baseball games, exhibitions, concerts, traditional festivals etc., but we also know that the pandemic has been very serious in most of the countries.
So I felt very excited and grateful when I stood on the stage, I cherrished the connections between the crowds and me, and I also wanted to cheer up the people around the world who watched the show through the live broadcast. Although Taiwan’s epidemic situation has been a bit intense recently, I believe that Taiwan and the rest of the world will get through this soon!
Pix666: I read that the fans can buy your performance as an album bundle. Where is it available and what is included in this bundle?
Freddy: People can buy on our official online shop via this page: https://bit.ly/3pdHkhs
We call the bundle “Chthonic’s anti-epidemic gear set”. It’s designed on the base of the “Tai (台)” character. The set contains a Chthonic Black Armor Mask, a Chthonic Multi-colored Mask, a mask chain, a mask storage folder, a portable mask storage box, and a spray can. The “Tai (台)” pattern derives from the “Tai (台)” logo that evolved along with Chthonic’s concerts, from 2012 “Mass Battle”, 2015 “‘Defend the Nation”, 2019 “Taiwan Victory” to 2021 “MEGAPORT”. It has become an important totem of Chthonic.
Pix666: Are there any plans for more concerts in 2021?
Freddy: No plans for now. But we do hope that when the borders are open, we can play some overseas festivals again, of course it has to be in the off-session of Parliament.
Pix666: Your last studio album was released in 2018. Have you been working on new material in the meantime? Will there be a follow-up to ‘Battlefields of Asura’ soon?
Freddy: Since my schedule is too tight, although we have some materials in our pockets, we‘ve had no time to arrange and develop them yet.
Pix666: Freddy, you are politically very active, you were even chairman of Amnesty International in your home country Taiwan and now you‘re a member of parliament. Which three things would you like to change first in your home country? And which things can you immediately think of that, globally speaking, should be changed or improved most urgently?
Freddy: On a national level, to improve the aboriginal rights, to proceed with transitional justice, and to reform the constitution. These are three things that we have to work on continuously.
On an international level, to reform the international organizations to avoid them being manipulated by authoritarian countries and improve the wellbeing of mankind.
Pix666: What is the current situation in Taiwan and especially the mood among the people?
Freddy: Although Taiwan is facing oppression from China on the front line of the free World, we still firmly defend our democracy and freedom and of course we also unite in the fight against the epidemic.
Pix666: What do you do in your free time when you want to get your mind off things – are there any interesting hobbies that you pursue?
Freddy: Working out. Or watching cartoons with my daughter!
Pix666: Do you have any other news, that you would like to share with the fans?
Freddy: Since I’ve been elected to the Parliament, CHTHONIC has almost ceased its international tour. So if we cannot meet the fans and metalheads in Germany in the near future, please come to Taiwan when the borders are open!
Pix666: Thank you very much for the interesting answers – Good luck for the future and stay healthy!!!
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photos © Chthonic
