Robert Carrithers

Berlin Portraits: Oliver Schütz

I had to go to Berlin to film a series of interviews for the Australian film director Richard Lowenstein for his documentary about Rowland Howard. I really enjoyed doing it and as a result I met some really interesting people. Oliver Schütz was the first interview that I did in Berlin. The interview went well and I learned some things about him and from him. We had probably crossed paths many times a long time ago in Berlin. I first went to Berlin in the late '80's and I enjoyed going to two particular clubs back then called Dschungel and Ex und Pop. Oliver was very much involved with working and being active at these clubs. We must have spoken back then, but then again these clubs were very dark and if we met it was probably in a daze at four in the morning. He escaped from that madness for awhile and spent time in New York, Canada and France. He played in the infamous Berlin band Die Haut (Die Haut was an instrumental band with "guest singers", such as Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch, Kid Congo, etc. Oliver was one of the regular guest singers, the only German singer (ever) that made that line-up. ) and was the lead singer in the other Berlin bands Sexorzisten and Boothill ( A short lived 90s formation including Bryan Colechin and Ash Wednesday on bass.) Oliver has been a music journalist writing for well-known music magazines such as Spex. Spex was founded in Cologne and at that was the time Oliver collaborated on their request. He founded the on-line music magazine Dorfdisco and he presently continues to write and organize articles for them. Oliver came up with the name from a party series that he was involved with in Berlin. It ended in the '90s. It introduced a new style of multi-genre Djing with a focus on the new emerging Berlin bands singing and playing real instruments (after techno), all very John Peel inspired. Oliver still makes his presence known in Berlin and will make a new presence from september here: http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/index.php?k=loka&itemid=10490&detailid=737747 , where he will start a weekly event thing.

The New York Dolls live in Berlin at the C-Club 25-4-2010

I have been backed up with all my photo posting on this website. Too much work and time to catch up! These photos go all the way back to April 25th in Berlin. I was in Berlin filming a series of interviews for the Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein for his documentary about Rowland Howard. One of the first people that I had to interview was Oliver Schutz. After the interview, one thing led to another and Oliver asked me if I would like to photograph The New York Dolls for his on-line music magazine Dorfdisco. I have not seen the New York Dolls since I was a kid in New York and I quickly said yes. When I was first introduced to the Doll's music nothing seemed the same after that.The New York Dolls burst on to the scene and shook up the mainstream and I loved it. I was curious about the reformed Dolls even though the only original members are David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain.

I went to the concert and I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. Of course they are much older now, but they still loved what they were doing and the other new band members Steve Conte on guitar, Sami Yaffa on bass and Brian Delaney on drums were really good. It was just kind of sad that the place was not really as full as it should have been. And I was a bit frustrated. After arriving, I was told that the photographers had to go to the front of the stage. We had to go around some special erected barrier directly in front of the stage with out much space to move and we were told that we could photograph as much as we want, but only for the first three songs. We were then strongly told that after those songs, we had to stop, leave the barricade area, go back to the rest of the crowd and not take any other photos or we would be forced to leave the concert hall. Nice. I felt really limited and under pressure. I was not satisfied with the results. The band was just warming up with their first three songs and did not really start getting into it till around the fifth song. Well, I did the best I could and these are the results. If you like the New York Dolls, I hope you like something of this. I tried.

 

In the photo above is the guitarist Steve Conte. He is playing guitar for the New York Dolls, but is also is the lead singer of the band The Contes, along with his brother John Conte, both formerly members of the band Crown Jewels. He also plays guitar in Hanoi Rocks singer Michael Monroe's new band, The Michael Monroe Band -- along with fellow New York Doll and bassist Sami Yaffa, and guitarist Ginger of The Wildhearts and he currently fronts his latest band, Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth. Below is an after show photo of Steve with friend and Rudi Protrudi and Lana Loveland from the band the Fuzztones. I went to the concert with Rudi and Lana. I am always happy to promote and support whatever they do. Please click on the highlighted names of bands and people if you want further information about them.