Herman Rarebell, known by fans as ‘Herman Ze German’, is a rock star with staying power—enduring fifty years of rock band business. He made his mark, not only as a drummer in the popular heavy metal band, The Scorpions, but also as a prolific songwriter of classics like Another Piece of Meat, Falling in Love and Passion Rules the Game, and as the lead lyricist for Rock You Like a Hurricane, Make it Real, Blackout, Dynamite and Tease Me Please Me.
Rarebell not only played drums but his songwriting skills were one of the band’s key ingredients that helped their music soar up the charts world-wide, making the Scorpions a leading Rock ‘n Roll band. Rarebell’s fluency in English was an asset to the German band as he penned memorable lyrics in English. Fans love singing along during their concerts.
The Scorpions rose to rock and roll royalty from relative obscurity in Hannover, West Germany during the late 1970s, and early 1980s. At this time, they already had a strong following overseas, gaining more popularity in the United States. 
In a recent interview with Rarebell, I learned about his career, experiences and his new autobiography, And Speaking of Scorpions.
Scorpions in History
The Scorpions’ Winds of Change is considered by some to be the unofficial “theme song” for the end of the Cold war and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The wall was torn down in 1989. The following year the Scorpions performed a concert in Potsdamer Platz in the “no-man’s-land” between the East and West Walls. The band was featured in Roger Water’s production, The Wall. “That was a big highlight for me,” Rarebell said proudly. The concert was broadcasted globally and approximately 250,000 tickets sold for the concert.
In 1991 the band was invited to the Kremlin to meet Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet head of state and party leader. Just like in the movies, two black limos picked them up and they walked in on a red carpet, spending some eight hours with the former Russian leader. “Mr. Gorbachev was funny as he joked with the band and took the time to explain to us that real ‘Heavy Metal’ was when former Premiere Khrushchev pounded his shoe on the table at the United Nations in 1960.”
Herman related stories about Russia enthusiastically. “We were invited to play in a Rock Festival, everyone was there, and they were very warm to us. We played in Moscow at Lenin Stadium and they had about 260,000 Soviet rock fans cheering us on. The people hung on to every word during our concert as they thirsted for knowledge. We were simply trying to give something back to our fans who lived inside the Soviet Union. It was a mind blowing experience.”
Rarebell says his biggest reward is playing in a stadium or arena and seeing the eyes of happy people. He loves performing. “I am going to die doing this; I am still full of energy. I am blessed to be able to make a life of music and have great success; very happy with the path that I chose. We had to kick the doors down to get attention by ourselves.” As we conversed, Herman also spoke from his heart about his late parents, “I will always be thankful for their love and support and how they allowed me to pound on those pots and pans many years ago.”
The 1983 San Bernardino Festival was another Rarebell highlight. “We played for over a half a million people.” The band was flown in by helicopters because of the large crowds, “At that time the song ‘No One like You’ became a huge hit.”
Speaking of Rarebell’s autobiography, And Speaking of Scorpions, Pleasanton’s Michael Krikorian of HAMAK Productions, an audio-video company, co-authored and published the book. Krikorian toured with Rarebell on a whirlwind West Coast spin, which included a book signing event at Blackhawk’s READ Booksellers, and VH1’s “That Metal Show.”
Krikorian and Rarebell met through Rock and Roll Remembers, a fund-raising organization to help industry musicians who have fallen on hard times. Rarebell generously offered to help Krikorian and the new book was born.
Written for his fans, the book offers a true and humorous look at the Scorpions when they were at the top of their game, and how heavy metal conquered America. “No, not just fans in North America, as it’s already portrayed in the media because it’s written in English. It is for all fans. And since, it is for you, once you open this book, be prepared to have the most fun you can legally have anywhere in the literary world while you immerse in the Scorpion’s story. It is my gift to say thank you for all you have given me.”
Herman began his journey with the Scorpions in 1971, realizing his dream to become a real Rock Star. Born Herman Erbel in Saarbrucken, Germany on November 18, 1949, he studied piano and drums from age 12 after his earlier years of practice, banging on pots, pans and chairs. His father insisted on studying music at the academy with the hopes of playing in the orchestra, but Herman could only dream of being a rock musician. At a family event he played the drums during a break and told his father, “This is for me!”
During the 1965 flower-power period, he drummed for the Mastermen and in ‘68 played with FUGGS Blues. Hoping to get into a heavy metal band, he went to London in 1971 and lived there for six years. Michael Schenker introduced him to the Scorpions at London’s Marquee Club, joining them on May 18, 1977, remaining with the Scorpions as drummer-songwriter-composer for over 20 years.
I asked how music has changed and what he sees for his future. “The business of music has changed. Youth is fickle; they want a one-hit wonder and then move on. There is no staying power. It is like the X-Factor; they leave a job, sing on the stage, a flash, and then go back to the job. People buy one song on iTunes — they don’t want albums any more. If I sell a song on iTunes, I make all the money; I don’t pay the label anymore. It is no longer the label, it is the song.”
Knowing that he is a prolific songwriter and an avid Led Zeppelin fan, I inquired about his writing process. He explained that, “The lyric comes first. I play the piano and record the idea, then I give it to my producer and we share ideas for the final song. The producer is the glue.”
Herman co-created a Monaco Records partnership with Prince Albert of Monaco. When I asked about what he learned, he answered philosophically, “The biggest thing about owning a record label is that there is a lot of money to be gained and there is a lot of money to lose.”
Herman released his first solo album in 1982; Nip in the Bud. He was the only Scorpions band member to do a solo project while still remaining a full member of the band. When he left the Scorpions in 1996, he had already made eight studio albums, selling over 32 million—78 Gold Records, 30 Platinum and received the ECHO Award and World of Music Award. He was with the same label for 32 years.
In 1984, the Scorpions were named the first German hard rock band to play three successive gigs in front of 60,000 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York. As the band performed live, arenas and stadiums exploded with energy as the heavy metal music reverberated on their world tours. Their album Love at First Sting became one of the most successful albums in rock history with songs; Rock you like a Hurricane, Bad Boys Running Wild, and Still Loving You, which became an international Rock Anthem. The single sold 1.7 million copies in France alone.
The Age of Hard Rock Metal ended in the mid-90s, forcing Herman to do something new, and he reinvented a fresh format after the Scorpions days. His new band, Herman Ze German and Band released their Take it as it Comes album in 2010. His songwriter-actress wife Claudia Raab, former Seven Sins saxophone player, plays in his band and is a top songwriter. They currently live in England. Rarebell also tours with Michael Schenker, Temple of Rock and in May he will tour Europe. Slowing down isn’t in the cards for this vibrant rocker.
Herman performed live for The Art Meets the Music Project, featuring dancers and original paintings by Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood and artist Ronald Muri. As he tells it, this was an enriching experience for Rarebell as it was a lot more than just a normal rock ‘n roll event.
And the beat goes on, as Rarebell studies the music market shrewdly, taking clues about hot trends in music. In discovering that there is not much rock-metal on the present scene, Rarebell states that, “Rock musicians are not forgotten, they just reinvent themselves to fresh audiences.”
For more information or for a copy of his book, visit Hermanrarebell.com. The book is also available at amazon.com
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