Interview with Benny Hilleke, vocalist of the band Neaera

Heavymetal.lu: Hello Benny, nice to have you here. Starting with a very easy question, is this your first playing in Luxembourg.

Benny: Yes indeed. Even though I even lived here in Luxembourg in Hollerich. But yes, this is the first time we play here.

Heavymetal.lu: What about you playing in such small rooms like here tonight? Or do you normally play in bigger halls?

Benny: It depends, normally we play in that kind of halls. Yesterday, we played in Oberhausen before 350 people. It was great.

Heavymetal.lu: Benny, when you started playing music?

Benny: Actually, I started being into music when I begin with Neaera. Actually I cannot play any instrument. I never learnt it.

Heavymetal.lu: What are your musical inspirations? Who helps you to create some songs?

Benny: I love vocalists like Bruce Dickinson and I like too the band Katatonia. I think Black Dahlia Murders helps me for creation too.

Heavymetal.lu: What was until now the biggest amount of people before which you had the opportunity to play?

Benny: Oh , I got two concerts in mind, the first one was in Wacken, that was before 11.000 people. That was huge. And of course, the Summer breeze, that was even bigger, 15.000 people, quite amazing when you are on such a stage, and as far as you see the hall, only people before the stage.

Heavymetal.lu: What is the biggest collaboration with another artist for you until now?

Benny: I used to work together with Heaven Shall Burn and with Kataclysm. But I think the biggest one is of course, with As I Lay Dying, during a whole tour, I use to be a guest artist, and in this tour, there was one concert in Wacken before 40.000 people. That was enormous.

Heavymetal.lu: You are in a jury who has to determinate which rock or metal band is the best of all times. You as president of the jury got the right to choose. Now the cameras of the whole world are beaming on you. And you say that the winner is:

Benny: Iron Maiden (without any doubt)