"Blues has become an international language in which musicians on all levels can communicate and play together all over the world. All it takes is for instant: „Blues in G, quick change, from the 5, one, two, three…“ and every musician can tell his story!"

Peter Schneider: Blues with No Boundaries

The gifted guitarist Peter Schneider from Munich (Germany) handles the guitar strings with a special finesse and virtuosity. Every note he conjures up from his guitar testifies to his outstanding class and deep understanding of blues music. The Munich guitarist and songwriter made a name for himself as a sideman for Ike Turner, Hans Söllner ́s Bayerman Vibration, Willy Michl, Marius Müller-Westernhagen & Steve "Big Man" Clayton. With his own band The Stimulators he has released 10 albums and played more than 1500 concerts throughout Europe and the USA. His virtuoso and intuitive guitar style combines blues, Latin American rhythms and jazzy playing ala Wes Montgomery. He has also been running the Munich-based independent label United Sounds since 1985 and has released more than 40 LPs and CDs there, where he is often also involved as a producer and musician.                                                (Photo: Peter Schneider, Munich Germany 2023)

Peter Schneider and “Sir" Oliver Mally released their second joint album with the apt title "Almost There" (2024). This release is a musical voyage of discovery into the deepest realms of the blues, inspired by the irresistible magic that John Lee Hooker and Alan Wilson already ignited in Mally & Schneider`s youth. 

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

If you make music with people, you have to work together and harmonize. Sometimes you have to lead and sometimes you have to follow in the right moments. The same is true for life. Travelling with my music to south America and USA and realizing that people like my playing just the same. If you play good in Germany, you play good anywhere and people are gonna like it.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

I’m always trying to express my feelings when I play. The core is the blues, but there are no boundaries of any kind. Whatever I like I try to absorb and try to integrate into my playing.

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Germany?

I think it still has to do with the American Folk & Blues Festival, promoted by two German guys in the 60ties. They brought the best Blues artists from the US to Germany and basically started a revolution, that led to the Greek player Alexis Korner, John Mayall, The Rolling Stones, Ten Years After and… and… and. And this created a deep relation between German musicians and music fans and the Blues.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Hearing Lightnin` Hopkins in a little club in New York in 1980. He was so old then, that they had to lead him to a barstool on stage and close his guitar strap for him. I thought: „ Oh my god, 25 Dollars down the drain, but then within the first song he turned into a young lightning man full of fire and energy. Unbelievable but true. The power of music! Age doesn’t matter.

"Make music you really love and like. Don`t listen to common tastes, fashions, or the latest styles. Cause if the music you make doesn’t mean anything to you, it doesn’t mean anything at all." (Photo: German-based gifted guitarist and songwriter Peter Schneider has deep understanding of blues music)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

35 life clubs in my hometown Munich when I started out in 1978, down to 3 nowadays. That the feature brings only recycled music, with DJs and computers.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Make music you really love and like. Don`t listen to common tastes, fashions, or the latest styles. Cause if the music you make doesn’t mean anything to you, it doesn’t mean anything at all.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

Blues has become an international language in which musicians on all levels can communicate and play together all over the world. All it takes is for instant: „Blues in G, quick change, from the 5, one, two, three…“ and every musician can tell his story! But we shouldn`t preserve the Blues. It is boring when a European guy is imitating a blues musician of the 50ties and reheats his feelings. Of course it is important to know your Hooker, Hopkins, Little Walter, Skip James and… and… and, but you have to tell your own feelings, show your own soul and use the Blues as a platform as Oliver Mally does so brilliantly.

Do you think there is an audience for blues music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

Yes, of course, otherwise „Sir“ Oliver Mally and myself would not play more than 100 concerts in 2024 with our Blues & Songs program and our latest album „Almost There“.

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(Photo: German-based gifted guitarist Peter Schneider)