Fun-Loving German Veterans Return to Cruise Festival

Frankfurt thrash metal band Tankard have been around the block, raging irreverently since the Eighties in a way that gained them recognition as part of the Teutonic thrash metal movement. This week, they return to perform at 70000Tons of Metal, held on a cruise between Jan. 30, 2025, and Feb. 3, 2025, chartered from Miami to Ocho Rios in Jamaica and back.

Founder and vocalist Andreas Geremia aka Gerre says they last performed aboard 70000Tons of Metal for its second edition in 2012. “Playing at the pool at 4:30 in the morning was very special,” he says. True to their fun-loving, beer-toasting nature, Gerre was wearing a captain’s uniform and even had a television crew from Germany filming them. He adds, “We had a great visit at the Cayman Islands.” On stage, though, their guitarist Andreas Gutjahr’s guitar had to be replaced since it had broken on the flight in. True to the sense of intimacy and friendship that being on a cruise together can bring out, fellow Frankfurt metallers Sapiency’s guitarist Holger Wenck offered up his guitar. “The close contact and partying with the fans was a very great experience as well,” Gerre recalls.

Tankard are back at the festival for more memories and adventures, this time on the back of releasing their 2022 album Pavlov’s Dawgs and bringing a new drummer, Gerd Lücking, into the fold. In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Gerre shares his advice about festival prep, their set and more.

Rolling Stone India: what’s your advice for any bands playing 70000Tons or just playing on a cruise for the first time?

Gerre: It is a great event. They should just enjoy this great experience and should arrive earlier or stay longer to experience the great state of Florida especially Miami Beach and the Florida Keys.

What’s in store for your performances this time around? When you get to perform twice at the same festival, what would you change up from one to the other?

We will definitely play two different sets. We’ve arrived earlier this time to enjoy the sun and take some quality time with my band mates. As we have a new drummer since a few months we will bring gained and new energy and power.

Another thing you’re going to be part of is the Artist Shore Excursion to visit 9 Mile and get a glimpse into the life and times of Bob Marley. Are you guys in the band big fans of Bob Marley or is it also partly driven by touristic curiosity to be a part of this?

A few members really love Bob Marley and are excited to get deeper into the history and legacy of this great and influential artist. We are thrilled to learn more about the life of this genius.

I guess this kind of festival, with the performances, the time spent on board and also the shore excursion in Jamaica gives you all a very different experience as artists and also brings you in much closer proximity to fans, right? What do you think of that?

Yes for sure. We love to be there and have some drinks to party with everybody on board.

Being in sunny Florida and the Caribbean at this time of the year is perhaps also a good escape from the cold winters in Germany! Is everyone looking forward to that kind of escape?

Catching up some [on] Florida and Caribbean sun is a great improvement to the dark and grey German weather.

What plans do you have outside of your performances while you’re onboard? Any other bands you’re looking to catch at 70000Tons?

Yes of course. Andi and myself will see such bands as Candlemass, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Trouble. Frank and Gerd already have a strict schedule to see as much as possible bands like Decapitated, Emperor, Ihsahn, Septicflesh, Symphony X and a lot more.

What else is coming up for Tankard in 2025?

Same procedure as every year. A lot great shows and festivals all over the world, for example, a tour in Finland and some other European countries as well as some festival shows in the U.S.. We will release several re-releases from the AFM era 2002 to 2010. Stay tuned!