Mike Heß (Tales of Mike) Interview

A few time ago, I unexpectedly met a musician on social media: Mike Heß (pronounced as “Hess”). He has his solo project under the name Tales of Mike and he has recently released a single, “Human Masquerade” (which I had the pleasure of reviewing in this zine), in advance of his upcoming album that will be out in 2025. Something made me feel curious about his music and also about himself, and as I wanted to know, I did an interview with him. Hope you’ll find interesting what he had to say.

Hi Mike, thank you for doing this, and congrats for your new single “Human Masquerade”. How happy are you with this release?

Mike: Hi Sílvia, thank you very much for letting me answer your questions. I, or rather we, are very happy with the release of ‘Human Masquerade’. Looking back, it feels like the perfect summary of the challenges and the performances I’ve experienced or observed in many aspects of my life.

How are things going with your upcoming album? Have you finished all the songs yet? And have you found a label to work with?

Mike: I finished my part of the songs before my shoulder injury. Gonzalo’s vocals and Henrik’s guitar solos are still missing.

We are currently working on the third song and hope to finish it by the end of the year. The album ‘Human’ will have seven songs.

I’ve had talks about releasing the album, but nothing is official yet. The most important thing at the moment is that we concentrate on the album. The second single will probably be released in spring, which I’m really looking forward to.

We’d like to know more about your project Tales of Mike, as it’s quite new and a special one. You started it two years ago in honor of your brother Markus, who lost his battle against cancer in 2010. How did you come up with the idea of putting music to your grief?

Mike: Tales of Mike was created for a very personal reason, to process my grief and honor my brother Markus. Before starting Tales of Mike, I made a tribute page for him with all the songs and videos he recorded with his bands Ametropie and Inui. Henrik Schaller even did a cover there. But something still felt missing.

One day, after getting some sad news, I picked up my guitar and played the opening melody of ‘RIP’. That moment marked the start of Tales of Mike, it felt like it was meant to be…

The song you dedicated to your brother, “RIP (Landscape of Sorrow)” is really emotional and full of pain, of course it’s very personal. Besides the honest and brutal lyrics (written by your daughter if I’m not wrong), you count on Gonzalo Civita (Heléh, Tribal) doing vocals, both harsh and clean. I think his voice reflects perfectly all the feelings contained in the song. How was it that Gonzalo did this collaboration, did you know him before?

Mike: Yes exactly, my daughter Shannon writes the lyrics because she just loves to write. Here’s a little anecdote: when Shannon was eight years old and in primary school, she was featured in the regional newspaper for a fantastic story she wrote. Writing stories comes naturally to her, not just for Tales of Mike but in general, so it felt like the most logical next step. And she knows exactly what I mean when I tell her what the song is about.

Gonzalo is an incredible singer. I didn’t know him personally before, but I was familiar with HELÉH´s amazing debut album. I sent him the demo for ‘RIP’ and asked if he’d be interested in singing on it. And because Tales of Mike combines different styles, Gonzalo is the perfect singer for Tales of Mike. He can sing everything and I’m glad that he and Henrik are going on this journey with me.

Then, after a few months you released an EP named “Landscape of Sorrow” that includes three songs (five, in the version that almost one year after did Fetzner Death Records), with the collaboration of Gonzalo Civita at vocals, Henrik Schaller at guitars, and also Alphatraz at piano in “Requiescat in pace”. How proud are you of your work? Was it hard to put all the pieces together?

Mike: It was personally challenging because I was processing so much emotionally, something I didn’t fully realize until after the EP was released.

It wasn’t easy to bring back my childhood in the orphanage, as I had repressed these memories for so long.. But this dark chapter was also part of our lives, otherwise I wouldn’t have been honest with myself if I had left this part out.

Exactly, there are five songs on the recently released cassette edition of Fetzner Death Records. Chris Martin from Alphatraz surprised me with a piano version of ‘RIP (Landscape of Sorrow)’, a tribute to my brother. I found ‘Requiescat in Pace’ so moving that I knew it had to be included as a bonus on the physical release.

Did you play music with your brother in the past? Were you involved in other bands, projects… before starting Tales of Mike?

Mike: My brother and I often played together when we visited each other. He was the only person who ever taught me anything on the guitar, and his style had a big influence on me. At one point, he asked if I’d like to join his band, Inui, as a rhythm guitarist, but sadly, he fell ill before that could happen. I haven’t been in any other bands, and Tales of Mike will remain my only project, even though I’ve received a few offers.

Talking about the loss of a relative… Considering that everyone will survive some (or a lot) of our loved ones, do you think that pain and grief should be treated as natural things in our lives? Because I see so many times that it’s considered taboo… People are not used to talk about death, maybe because it’s an unknown and scary topic?

Mike: I personally believe that it is better to deal openly with the subject of death. Talking about it makes it easier to deal with the pain and grief. I spoke openly with my brother about his death and I think that helped both me and our family to deal with his death.

About nowadays society, where people seem more concerned about futile things than about important ones; how do you see the future of the human race (if you see any)? Will there come a (n even more) dehumanized era? And because of all the wars, pandemics, hatred between equals… going on around the world, do you think that we will extinguish by ourselves?

Mike: The future of humanity depends on whether we focus on important values like respect, protecting the planet, and working together. If we keep fighting and hurting each other, we could face serious problems. But if we make a change and start cooperating, there’s still hope for a better future.

Now, going back in time to the youngest you. Which were the bands or the artists you started listening to, and the ones you felt most attracted to? Is there any musician you loved when you were a teenager that you still love and listen to today?

Mike: It all started with bands like Kiss and Accept. These two were my gateway into the world of rock and metal. But soon, I found myself drawn to heavier sounds, Metallica and Slayer were the next to capture my attention. Later, I discovered Helloween, Destruction, Kreator, and Sodom etc. These bands shaped my musical taste back then. Nowadays, I don’t listen to their newer albums as much, but my passion for exploring the underground scene and finding exciting new bands hasn’t changed. It was the same in the ’80s as it is now.

Two moments, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. The first was the day I heard Michael Kiske sing on ‘Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I’ for the first time. I was 14 years old, sitting in front of my stereo system, curious about how he’d sound since I already knew Walls of Jericho. The moment I played the record, his voice completely floored me. It was breathtaking. Even today, all these years later, Kiske still sings with the same brilliance that left me speechless back then.

The second moment was discovering the album ‘Into the Mirror Black’ by Sanctuary. Although Nevermore and Warrel Dane eventually became my absolute favorites, Dane’s performance on this album is still, to me, the best I’ve ever heard. His voice, so rich and full of emotion, with incredible range and depth, made a huge impression on me.

How was the Metal scene in your country in those golden years? Do you miss the tape trading with your buddies, the excitement about a new album that you could only listen to in physical format once it was released?

Mike: It’s an unforgettable time for me when I started with metal in 1983. Witnessing the rise of metal in our area was something special. We looked forward to every new release and it seemed like there was only metal – everything revolved around this music! We had an older guy in the gang and he was already working while the rest of us were still at school. He always had vinyl. There’s a funny story about that. He had just bought the Metallica ‘Masters of Puppets’ album. The problem was that he always had vinyl records lying around on the floor! I asked him if I could take the record home with me and transfer it to cassette. He agreed and when I put the needle on the vinyl at home I thought “Oh, that crackles like Accept Fast as a Shark!” hahaha. I heard more crackling than music. I was shocked and returned the record without copying it! Then I knew I had to take care of my collection. We were always proud when we got new music on tape from someone. The solidarity was really extraordinary.

Which is the band you’ve seen playing live that you’ve enjoyed the most?

Mike: The best live performance I’ve seen was Blind Guardian in 1992 during their Somewhere Far Beyond tour. The energy they brought to the stage was impressive, and I saw them twice on that tour. Hansi Kürsch was still playing bass at the time, and we had the chance to talk with the band afterward. It was a memorable experience.

Is there any band or musician you can consider a big influence in your music?

Mike: I think you’re influenced by the music you listen to, even if you don’t realize it. Tales of Mike is a mix of everything I’ve heard over the last 40 years and my brother’s aggressive style, which has had the biggest impact on me

How do you see the underground Metal scene nowadays? In these times when everything is just a click away, do you think this plays in favor of the most unknown musicians, who anyone can “find” and listen to anything from the comfort of their homes?

Mike: I think it’s definitely easier for unknown bands to get noticed these days. I was really happy when I saw how many reviews and mentions The Landscape of Sorrow EP received. I reached out to everyone and asked for reviews and mentions, and the reactions showed me that the underground scene is alive and well.

To be honest, I didn’t expect anything less. If I had any doubts, I wouldn’t have contacted them myself.

What do you think about digital platforms? Do you think they are good for the bands, considering the little profit musicians make from them?

Mike: I think the platforms are great because they at least give you the chance to be heard. Personally, I listen to new stuff on Spotify first. If I like what I hear, I’m happy to buy physical copies to support the band.

Times have changed. I used to go to the record shop and buy albums without listening to them first. Back then, I relied on friends or reviews in magazines like Metal Hammer or Rock Hard. But that was a long time ago.

Do you have any advice for the musicians that want to start a band nowadays?

Mike: I can only speak from my own experience: I followed my gut feeling, didn’t let negative people drag me down, and surrounded myself with positive influences. I also didn’t fall for fake promises from people who just wanted my money, like those who claimed they wanted to write the story about my brother and me growing up in the orphanage.

My advice: Stay true to yourselves.

Is there any song with a special meaning to you, maybe because it’s highly emotional? Which albums do you play when you have a low day?

Mike: In fact, when I have a bad day, I’ve been listening to The Sorrowed Man by Nevermore for many years. It’s beautifully melancholic, yet at the same time, it conveys a sense of hope.

Would you say that you are in a good moment in your life? Are you worried about the future?

Mike: In terms of health, it hasn’t been a good year for me, as I’m struggling with a shoulder injury and still have massive problems after an operation.

But I’ve experienced worse and I always think positively.

I have a great family and get to make music with great friends, so I’m looking to the future without worry.

What does Metal music mean to you in your life?

Mike: After my family, music is the most important thing in my life and has helped me a lot. I remember when I was 11, people said, ‘It’s just a phase,’ haha. Now, at 52, I can’t imagine not listening to metal. The underground scene keeps bringing out great new bands, and that’s what makes it so exciting.

It’s been a pleasure having you in our zine, Mike. Is there anything you want to add?

Mike: First of all, thank you Sílvia, for the great interview and the interesting questions. I also admire your passion for metal.

I just want to say to all the readers: “Get ready for Tales of Mike’s return in 2025 with the first full album Human.”

It’s going to be epic!

Interview by Sílvia

Check out Tales of Mike and be ready for an emotional journey, and don’t forget to support the band and the artists behind it if you enjoy what you hear. Support the underground.