You might know German drummer Bodo Schopf from the sheer amount of studio projects and live work…

’I have played several tours around the world, many great stages like Wembley Arena. Many big open air festivals around Europe as well as in the USA, Japan and Canada. I played in bands supporting Rush, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne and Bon Jovi’…..

Or you might know him from his work on McAuley Schenker albums ‘Perfect Timing’ in 1987 and ‘Save Yourself’ 1989…

‘In 1985 I played on the Rock Me Amadeus tour for Austrian star Falco. Then I got an invitation to go to London and audition for Michael Schenker. I was drummer number 64, and two weeks later I was in the rehearsal room with Michael Schenker.

I played for five years with his band. We recorded the albums and made music videos for songs like Love is Not a Game, Anytime and This is My Heart.

After that I joined the German prog rock band Eloy in 1994, three albums and many tours followed. In 2007 I played again with Michael Schenker, then back with Eloy until 2013.

In 2014 I founded with vocalist David Readman the band Pendulum of Fortune. We are currently doing promotion for our album Searching for the God Inside and then we are preparing for our upcoming live shows’.

Pendulum of Fortune are David Readman – lead vocals
Bodo Schopf – drums, Vladimir Shevyakov – guitar
Franky R. – bass

How did you get involved in playing music and who were your influences ?

‘I’ve played music since I was five and I remember years later when I was playing with my senior school band our bassist said ‘It would be great if we could be professional musicians’.

I always remembered this statement and two years later at the age of 17 I became a professional musician.

When I was a teenager I was listening to Grand Funk Railroad Live album, then came Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath and recent stuff from Creed’.

When did you start playing gigs and what venues did you play ?

‘At 17 I played in an American club band, we played the clubs of the American army barracks in Germany, doing up to 29 shows a month. I did that for three years, that was my school of music, my education.

Afterwards I played in a band called Wolfhound then for three years in the back up band for Ike and Tina Turner that took me through the ’70s.

I also worked with the band Juicy Lucy, then played three years with UK band The Sweet, followed by a tour with the German rock star and composer Udo Lindenberg’.

Have you recorded any TV appearances or filmed any music videos ?

’Yes I was in many TV shows with full playback and also played live. I done MTV, a live German TV show called Ohne Filter, even played in a movie called Cold Fever.

Of course we filmed many videos with the McAuley Schenker Group and recorded a live video with The Sweet. There was also videos with Eloy, and now of course with Pendulum of Fortune’.

What were your experiences of recording ?

‘I’ve played on over 300 albums and well over a thousand jingles and commercials. I played for artists like Chris Thompson, Eric Burdon, Hazel O’Connor, Gotthardt, Michael Schenker, Eloy, The Sweet and many others.

I’ve recorded in the Record Plant and One on One studios both in L.A. The Puk studio in Denmark, Musicland of Munich and so many others.

In the early days it was great to work in the studios, with all the musicians, producers and engineers, sadly today this is no longer the case.

The studio cost’s were then very high, up to $2000 a day. Today I record drums in my own studio which is on the island of Sardinia.

I work on my own and record the drums for artists around the whole world, it all goes through the internet. If you need drums check out my website http://www.sardegnaproductionmusic.com’.

Where do the ideas come for your songs ?

’If I knew this, I would know where the creator lives. Somebody sends me these ideas in my head. Mostly when I sit down with my guitar and record I have the whole song already in my mind. Other times I create a song when I sit down and just play’.

Have you any funny stories ?

‘Oh yes, there would be hundreds of stories but one story I have to tell, because I love the British humour.

We were with MSG on tour with Def Leppard. The drummer Rick Allen, who had only one arm after his car accident, asked me if I would go out with him to have a beer.

So we went to a pub and drank more than one beer. Rick stared constantly at my jacket, on it I had a drummer made from foam material with a safety pin attaching it to the jacket. It was a gift from a fan.

Rick said ‘Bodo there is something wrong with your jacket’ . I looked at my jacket and asked what is wrong.

Rick said ‘Can I have a closer look at the little drummer on your jacket ? I replied yes why not.

So he tore the drummer’s arm off and said with a grin… ‘Now it’s right’.

Are there any other musicians/bands who you admire ?

’I admire every musician who stays healthy as they get older. Also to live and create music that can inspire listeners’.

What has music given you ? ‘Joy, love and understanding’.

Interview by Gary Alikivi October 2017.