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Here you have an interview of Bernhard that I made for the French FC fanzine in february 2001. You can use it for whatever you like (fanzines,
websites...) but please just mention the origin : Streetside Romeos.

Special note : of course you have to know that this interview was made before we even know the release of the remixes album Forever Pop
and the Live DVD.

Thanks,

Christian (SSR)

Hi Christian

thanks a lot for the interview...here are the answers

Thank you for supporting the popes

see U soon

Bernhard Lloyd

+0:-)

The Atlantic Popes

What's exactly the project Atlantic Popes ? Is it the beginning of the end of your contribution to Alphaville ?

AtlanticPopes has got nothing to do with my contribution to Alphaville. I´m working with Max since 11 years now. When I met him first at
the atlantic coast in southwest of France, we just had fun making music...working on his songs...and talking about the world in general. In
2000 we finally decided to release an Album cause we were still very convinced about the songs and our work. And we thought it would be
the perfect intoduction for this new project. But this says actually not very much about our very special relationship.....11 years is a long
time!

Is the name Atlantic in relation with the place where Ricky lives ( in France, near the Atlantic Ocean ) ?

Yes Ricky moved to that place in 1995. He loved it as much as we do.

Why Popes ? What's the meaning of this name ? Is there a hidden message behind it ?

We like the idea that everybody is a pope...and thats for sure very different from what THE pope thinks....well we have quiet different
opinions about life in general. And it contains the word POP.

And that is what our music is about. And these popes at the beach are funny. aren´t they?

How did you choose the singer ?

Well see above, I didn´t choose him. Life choose to bring us together!

In Hamburg you said to us that you like his voice ( like a mix between Frank Sinatra's and Bryan Ferry's voices). Could you

explain this ?

Hard to explain, I think those comparisms say everything about it. You have to hear it!

Do you prefer Marian or Max voice ?

I like both of them. I never thought about it like that. The voices are too different to compare.

This is a personal project, but you're not alone. Did you once thought to a solo carrier, or a solo album ?

Yes I thought about it and I will do it one day....but without vocals ;-)

Alphaville :

The past :

Could you tell us how you met Marian and Frank ? How did it gave birth to alphaville ? Were you close friends or just musicians playing
together ?

I knew Frank from school but never talked to him. He called me one day, and said that he had heard that I got synths....not very common at
that time...we got together and started to make music...we were pure amateurs...when we realized, that we needed a singer, I called Marian,
whome I had met in berlin in 1979 for the first time, and asked him if he would like to come and try things out with us....he came... and the
first song we wrote together was Forever young.

Who chose the name ?

All together. We choose the name after seeing the movie on TV.

We have the feeling that Ricky was already part of the Alphaville project during the recordings of the "Forever young" album (Neuhaus
mentionned as 'comfort' ). What was he really doing ?

He was a friend of us, helping us in some way, but not during the production. How did you decide (you and Marian) to ask to Ricky
(Wolfgang ?) to take the place of Frank after he suddenly left the band ?

It was an obvious choice.

What was exactly the project Moon Office, was it just an office for the relations with the fans or something else ? Why did it disappear ?
What became the members (Marion and the others ?).

Yes it was exactly that. Not more or less. Marion now works in the managment of Ramstein.

Another band worked with the Moon office : the Other Ones that most of the AV fans appreciate. Did you like their music. Are you still in
contact with some of its members ?

Yes, sure I liked their music. There is some contact, but not very close.

Were there other bands at the Moon Office ?

NO.

It seems you had your own studio in Berlin called Lunapark.

That´s right. From 1986 till 1995. A quiet big ordinary midsized recording studio. Something you don´t need anymore these days.

How was Alphaville involved in the Lunapark and Moon Office projects ?

Alphaville owned the studio, and i was the studiomanager. moon office was basically marion taking care of the fans.

We believe you don't own this studio anymore. Is it due to the commercial failure of "Breathtaking blue" ?

It´s because we are working with macs and protools nowadays. We don´t need a lot of space anymore.

We read an interview on the french magazine "best" in 1986 where you were supposed to prepare live appearances, something like the
international aquarian opera in front of the people. What made this project fail ?

Ask Marian about this. I don´t like to play live.

The present :

You seem to be a free electron in alphaville, where you do what you want. Are you just a 'studio man' that Marian and Martin call for
recordings and mixes ?

I do what I want. Yes that´s right. Marian and me , we have our phases when we work together....and phases when we don´t work together.
Martin is a hired studio and live musician. He is brilliant.

Do you consider yourself as a full permanent member of the band, or just a passenger ?

What a question, I founded Alphaville.

Can we consider that Martin is the third member of the band, the guy who replaced Ricky ?

No. Maybe you should read the booklets of Salvation and Dreamscapes.

How do you intervene in alphaville compositions ? Do you sometimes bring some melodies or pieces of lyrics, or is it always something
coming from Marian ?

When we are working together it´s a collaboration...you can´t really tell.

How do you work with Marian (everyone alone, or always together). How do you agree with him for the choice of the songs ?

All kinds of, depends. The choice has to be obvious. otherwise it doesn´t make sense.

Is there an alphaville song that you composed yourself completely, that Marian just had to sing ?

No.

With all the songs from Dreamscapes, alphaville could have released 2 or more original albums. Why did you choose to release this
anthology instead?

We never thought like that. All these songs were old, and never made it to an album. But they fit into the DS-concept.

Were you afraid that it could not become a success ?

To be honest: Yes.

Did you work on the tracks of Dreamscapes 9ne currently offered through Moonbase ?

NO.

There was a terrible rumour a few weeks ago (maybe due to the Atlantic Popes project) : Bernhard Lloyd is no longer member of
Alphaville ! Please put our minds at ease !

Who said that? KP? No wonder. As far as I know he is no longer manager of Alphaville.

Perhaps this rumour was also due to the fact that your name is mentionned nowhere on 'Stark naked' cd. Does it mean that you played on
none of those tracks ? Was it your choice not to have your name on this recording ?

Ask KP about that. I wasn´t on the tour....maybe it´s because of that. I don´t care about that.

In your opinion what is missing to boost your carrier in France ? Is there a bad choice of distributer (not motivated enough - Wagram
currently), a lack of promotion, a 'has been' reputation or the common belief that alphaville is no longer alive ?

All of it probably.

Do you need our help (French fans and FC) ? What could we do to help you in our country ? We already contacted many show promoters,
tv's, radios ... but nothing yet. What do you think is missing in our behaviour ?

Yes we need you (AtlanticPopes need you as well ;-) and I don´t think there is something missing in your behaviour. Would you help me
contacting french radiostations and distributors to promote our website? I would really appreciate that.

What do you think about the internet web sites about alphaville, the mp3 files (and music hacking), of the internet in general. Is it a good
tool for you ?

What can I say ....I love it. except the mp3files , as a musician who lives from making music it´s no good.

The future :

We know that you are currently working on a new alphaville album. Could you say something about it, compare it to the previous albums
(return to the source, a tendancy album ...).

Be surprised...

Is Ricky departure changing something for alphaville in the future?

Not really. That´s years ago....1996?

Do you believe that the fact that KP stopped working with the band and the coming of Judith Braun will bring something really new,
something positive for the band's career ?

Yes i believe that.....The best decision since years.

It seems KP spent a lot of his time for the band. What do you owe him ? What do you think he forgot : our belief is that he forgot France ! :-
)))

What do we owe him? You are kidding. Oh god this man really ...... no I won´t say it.....but he for sure not only forgot France.

We heard that a new alphaville best of is about to be released. We hope that you will release the videos with it (although Marian seems
not very proud of them) and why not a live video. Is there such a plan ?

Yes ther will be something, but not a video.

Marian Gold :

What do think about his solo albums "so long celeste" and "united" ?

I liked them both, the first one better than the second one.

Is it easy to work with him (tyrannic or very friendly person ) ?

It depends. We are not living in a pink world......and it´s also not black and white.....it´s basically grey ...all kinds of grey.

But "easy" is defenitely wrong ...I would say ;-)

What is your opinion about his voice ? Do you like it ? Do you think it perfectly fits to the songs you compose ?

A big YES!

There is one thing that sounds weird to some of us : on the 'Stark naked' album, there is the track "Cosmopolitician" , not an alphaville
song. I guess it was Marian's choice as he's allowed to sing his own compositions on scene - of course. Don't you think this wonderful song
could have been an alphaville song ? Why ?

It was written for his soloalbum, so it couldn´t be on an AV-Album.....very simple.

The tribute album :

You said on the list that your #236 was a 'close friend' since you got it at Hamburg the 9th of december. It's a dream came true, as said also
Marian. What do you think about such an idea.

You mean the whole Idea of tribute album. It´s fantastic. I said it all....That was our idea from the beginning....everybody should make music.

Did you believe that alphaville - one day - would have its tribute album ? Made by fans !

Never, not even dreamt of.

What is your opinion about the International Fan Clubs involvment in this project, the way they created and gave birth (RJ, Lorenzo and
Joachim), promote and how they are selling this album.

I think everybody is doing a great job. As far as I can see....I mean it´s there, I have it in my hands.

We are very proud that a french guy (Yves is a great artist !) made the design of the booklet. We do believe that he should continue this
way. Do you think he could make something for the Popes or Alphaville in the future ?

Absolutely!! I liked the artwork a lot.

The covers now : what are your favorites there ? The ones that give you a special kind of feeling ? What feeling ?

Sorry but I will keep my opinions with me .....All covers are great, cause I can feel the love and energy behind it....and i don´t want to make
any differences...

I apreciate a lot the fact that there are professional (Moonbeam, Artwork, AA project, Delphia...) and non professional (Avil, Kaké &
Kris...) bands and singers on this tribute. For me the fact that some of the songs are umperfect is what makes it so charming.

I completely agree.

How was the party in Hamburg ? Did you had a good time. How did you feel to meet all these fans from all over the world ?

It was a great evening....not long enough to talk to everybody.

Personal questions :

You and your tastes :

We believe that you have a special connection with our country. Is it true ? Do you know the French language ? Is there a place where
you love to spend your holidays (if you have some) or to work ?

Southwest of France

Do you consider yourself as a musician or a studio technician ?

Engineer? I don´t know.

Can we imagine you singing a song one day ? Did it already came to your mind ? Did someone asked you to sing on alphaville previous
albums ?

NO.NO.NO.

What is your favourite alphaville album ? Your favourite alphaville song ?

Salvation. Ain´t it strange.

Is there an alphaville song you would have love to sing in the place of Marian ?

What is the most beautiful (non av) song ever written ?

Careless Whisper, Hunting high and low

What music do you like to listen to ?

Enya

If you would have to cover a song : which one would you choose ?

"Sounds of silence" Simon and Garfunkel

Do you know french music ? Do you like some french singers or bands ?

Jean-Michel Jarre

You and live shows :

Do you think that alphaville doesn't play enough in France (only one show the 19th of may 1999) Probably not.

Do you expect to play again live with alphaville ?

NO.

We can consider that the fans who had the honour to meet you are very lucky, because you don't join them on the scene so often. Marian
says that you don't really like to play live, can you say more to us ?

I just don´t like it to be on stage

Do you feel anyway some pleasure on scene or is it a real fatigue ?

Sometimes it´s fun

How do you personally choose the towns where you join alphaville live ?

I got nothing to do with it.

Please don't feel offended by the coming question : do you really play when you're on the scene ? Do you have small parts to play, or are
you just staying there for the fan's eyes pleasure ?

That depends. Sometimes we have been doing half-playbackshows, because of tech/money reasons.

It seems that you leave Martin Lister play nearly all synths and piano. I particularly remember the Forever young played with piano at
Nauchatel (1st august 1998) where only Marian and Martin were on the scene. I was so deceived that it was not you playing piano,
because for me (and for maybe all of us) alphaville is Marian and Bernhard.

I´m not an excellent keyboard player....for sure not as good as Martin. I´m a programmer, engineer and producer. My place is the studio.

Speaking again about Neuchatel (I'm sorry it's the only show I had the chance to see... you know I was the guy who drove 800 kms
specially from France...). During this show, you took pictures of the band, of the audience. Was it a game, something for you personal
album, or just a defiance to the public who was always flashing the band, to make them feel how embarrasing it was for the musicians.

It was a game. It was fun.

The fans who met you always apreciated your kindness and your simplicity : a non-star attitude. Marian also gives the same feeling, but
he's not so shy. Are you really a shy person (certainly less than Frank if we consider what Marian said about him) or is just because you
prefer to stay far from the cameras and leave the first place to Marian.

I like to leave it to Marian....he is doing a better job there.

A few years ago, you produced with Jimbo Barton a band called SO 36. Did you work with other bands or other projects, other
productions or perhaps you played with other bands (This is also important to know that for the collectors who look for everything
related to alphaville).

I produced a single for Blind Passengers and for Isi.

What do you think of the new career of Frank Mertens (Maelström). Did you stay friends although he left alphaville in 1985 ? What was
your feeling when you met him again in 1998 : happy ?

Would you be able to work with him for one or two tracks if he asks you ?

It´s ok. Exactly what I expected from him.

No we didn´t stay friends.....until 1998 when I decided to visit him.

I thought I should give it a try after all these years.

And it was a good decision...he didn´t change much.

Yes...but he probably won´t ask me...his music is quiet different from mine.

Last question (personal) : did you like the winning picture of the Cifa contest ? This is just because the kid on this photograph is my son :-
)

Great! Nice kid you have....how old? My son is 8 now.

Thanks a lot Mr Lloyd for this interview. We hope that you can come and meet us in France soon, for an alphaville show or for a party, why
not ?

...hhmm over now ...already...next time I really come to france to do it live.....I hate typing ;-)

Christian (for the Streetside Romeos)