Mothers Pride comes from Luzern in Switzerland. Composed of Tobi Gmür (vocals, guitar), Sämi Gallati (guitar, vocals), Kuno Studer (bass), and Domi Meyer (drums).
After "Live" in 1993, "Jesus On A Saturday Night" in 1994, "Burn Baby Burn" in 1995, "Halfpastheartach" in 1999, and "Tommy Drives Me Home" in 2001, they release their sixth album "Mothers Pride".


Interview with Tobi Gmür, singer of Mothers Pride:

S: Where is the name of the band coming from?

T: Our first band-name was "les vilains canards" but we soon changed into "the pride". At that time we didn't know that there was already a band existing with the same name in Switzerland. So we had to change it again, but already had some demotapes done. Our bassplayer then brought a pack of toastbread from his holidays in Scotland, the name of the bread was "mothers pride"... now all we had to do was adding some letters to our old name: MOtheRS pride!

S: How and when did all begin with music?

T: It all began in 1988 when Sämi and me had listened to a lot of our parent's Beatles-records. We grew up in the same house and decided to buy ourselfes electric guitars and to start with a band. To impress the girls...

S: What are the positive and negative sides of being a musician in Switzerland?

T: Switzerland still is a comfortable place to live. I mean it's expensive but the jobs are payed well. So it's easier for a lot of musicians not to risk too much with their musical interests. There's really a lot of bands in Switzerland, but quality is rare. Maybe it has something to do with the fact, that a lot of projects and clubs are getting money from the state, which makes the bands getting used to cash in. Noone (or almost noone) is willing to go all the hard way from deep below. 

S: Do you feel anxious before a show?

T: Oh yes!! I've been playing up to 500 gigs so far but still I'm feeling anxious before every show. But I think this is how it's got to be!
 
S: What musicians or artists had an influence in your life and in your work?

T: The Beatles, The Cardigans, Tom Petty, The Stray Cats, The Georgia Satellites, Del Amitri, Crowded House... the Manics as well, when I knew that I was going to be a dad soon, I've been listening to "The Everlasting" at least a thousand times! There's a swiss band called "Züri West" singing in Swiss German, they're also a big influence to me.

S: Do you remember what was the first CD you bought?


T: I remember the first album, it was "Reconstruction Time Again" by Depeche Mode.


S: Do you think the emotion is different between a song in English and in German?

T: To me, Rock and roll was English from the first time I've heard rockandroll music. I've never been thinking about writing or singing in German. I can't really tell how it feels to sing in German.

S: How "could you define yourselves" ?

T: Mother's Pride is more than the half of Sämi's and my life. We started by the age of 15 and now we're 34. We've had a break to do other musical projects but soon we missed our band a lot. We're a good team. And we write and play songs because we have to.
So "we're ment to do" this.

S: And how could you define the music of Mothers Pride?

T: I think it's the sum of all our influences and our lifes. It's basicly rockmusic with a lot of melody. Straight from the heart.."real music from real people for real people.." 

S: Do you agree with Victor Hugo who said :"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad" ?

T: Oh yes, I do! But the older I get the better the feeling when melancholy is fading out!

S: When you write a song you follow your heart, your brain or your hand?

T: My heart and a bit of my brain. I'm not sitting down telling myself:"I'm writing a song now". Most ideas I get when I'm walking.
i can rely on the fact, that sooner or later a song (or a part of a song) comes knocking on my shoulder. Then the work begins. I'm a lucky man!

S: What is your favourite song of Mothers Pride and why?

T: My current favourite is "Not Worth The Fame". Because it's quite a happy song and it came very easy. It works out with the band and it works out when I play it alone. The words just dropped in within 10 minutes. And I like Sämi's gretsch a loooot!

S: As musicians, what are your feelings about internet?

T: Uh...mixed! It's a lot of new possibilies to get your music to other people. But there is sooo much music on the Internet, you'll never get an overlook! But then again it's great, you found us via worldwideweb!!

S: Can you describe what is a typical Mothers Pride's day ?

T: I'm very lucky to work as a producer and engineer in my own studio. Which is also our band's headquarters. So, when I'm not busy recording or mixing I've got time to write songs, rehearse with the band, record demoversions, do interviews and business-stuff.
I love my mothers pride-life!

S: What are your hobbies aside music?

T: Three of us are daddies..time for hobbies is rare. I like football a lot, whenever possible I go and see the games of our FC Luzern.
But I'm the only bandmember with that interest..which is a bit a shame!
 
S: Are you venturesome and "reckless" persons?

T: Not at all!! But sometimes I wish we were just a little bit more reckless. We're not easy, but uncomplicated.

S: Where would you like to play in the future, is there a place in the world you would love to visit ?

T: We'd love to go back to Australia where we had a six-week-tour in 1995. It was great! We haven't conquered Switzerland yet, there's the french-speaking part where we want to play more. And from there, it's not very far to France...

S: What "is your only option for tonight" ?

T: Tonight I'm going to watch the Champions League's quarter-finals. Yeah! 

S: Are there any things, which you are afraid of? Do you have any fears? 

T: My constant fear is not to have enough money to pay all my bills...this fear is with me for the las 15 years so I should get used to it. I'm also afraid of something could happen to my son.

S: What is the best moment and the best place to listen to your music?

T: When your heart is broken and you need to get hope. When the party is over and you need to calm down. When your friends are out and forgot to invite you. When you're down, when you're high. I think it works out for everyone who's not looking away from people and life.

S: As my website is dedicated to Manic Street Preachers maybe can you say some words about them?

T: As I mentioned before "The Everlasting" is an important and very special song in my life. I'm a proud owner of "Everything Must Go", "Lifeblood", "This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours" and "Gold Against The Soul". "From Despair To Where" is one of my all-time-favourites.
I always loved (and still do love) the character(s) of this band, mr Bradfield's voice, the lyrics and their artwork. And they're real, no posers. I really believe them, that they do it for the music. They're great, I've got a lot of respect for what they do and how they are. And it's an honour to appear on their official French website!

S: I know its a difficult question, but if you would have to keep just one album from your CD collection what album would it be?

T: ...I think I'd keep the Beatles "Revolver". But indeed, this is a very difficult question.


S: What was the last song you listened to before the interview? And, if you know, which one will be the next?

T: I've been listening to a new Mothers Pride-song called "go and get me love", which will be released as a single this summer in Switzerland. I just did a demoversion and now I'm working on a cleverer arrangement. The next song will be "The Everlasting", to get me a flashback of 1999!

S: Can you tell me the name of one French song, or singer, or band?

T: Telephone, Noir Desire, Jonny Haliday, Les Negresses Vertes. Mademoiselle k..I've been listening to their album just yesterday,I love it!

S: And say something in French ?

T: il y a plus de 15 ans que j'avais des léssons francaises à l'école... c'est dure.. mais la france, ca me plait vraiment bien, et on a joué la music dans les rues au côte d'azur pour deux semaines en 1991. Et on veux enregistrer notre prochaine album en france: si vous connaissez des studio bien,laisser nous savoir!!

S: What are your plans for the nearest future?

T: Uh..glad to switch to English again :) we have some fine festivals to play this summer in Switzerland, we're rehearsing new songs for the next album we want to record in winter. We have a lot of good things coming up to do!

S: And finally, whats the most important thing in life for you?

T: My son Rian, who now is 9 years old, and my music.



MANY thanks to Mothers Pride and their manager Guido Röösli for the interview!

More informations about Mothers Pride:

- on their site:
http://www.motherspride.ch/

- or on their Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/mymotherspride