DORO PESCH Says Heavy Metal Keeps Her Young: 'I'm More Healthy Now Than I Was In The '80s'

In a new interview with Kati Rausch of Music Interview Corner, German metal queen Doro Pesch was asked if there is a moment, when she looks back at her four-and-a-half-decade career, that she would like to travel back in time to in order to see herself perform but from the eyes of a fan. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, actually, well, I think I always try to make the best out of each situation, and sometimes we played in little clubs — no stage — and I'm pretty small, I'm pretty petite, and all these fans, they were so tall. And sometimes people were crashing the stage. And when I started, there was no security, nothing, there was no gap, so you could just really stage dive and then stay on stage. And I always wanted to make people happy."

She continued: "I'm a big fan of many bands too, and I still go to concerts. And it always inspires me. And one moment, it was Ronnie James Dio. I went to his concert, and then the curtain opened, and I almost fell on my knees, fell to my knees because I was so touched. And I thought if I could ever do the same to the fans, then that would be good. So I could learn from the best. And I'm still a big fan, so, to me, the fans and the band, we are one. And, yeah, I think that's the secret of doing it for such a long time. It's the deep relationship with the fans. And I'm still a fan of many bands."

Asked if she thinks heavy metal keeps her young, Doro said: "Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, totally. When you do what you love, there's nothing, nothing better than that. No cream. Nothing. I went vegan. That's another thing which I think it really helps the body. I think I'm more healthy [now] than I was in the '80s. I started chain-smoking when I was 11. So I gave up smoking, and I turned vegan, yeah, maybe 10 years ago. Before I was, yeah, a vegetarian. And, yeah, I think vegan is good for your body, and I do it for the animals. But I think the skin, everything, yeah… But I think it's a good thing. It's a good thing."

This past July, Doro told Dawn Osborne of TotalRock that she is currently working on a new EP, tentatively titled "Wild At Heart", for a possible November/December 2026 release.

Last fall, Doro released "Warriors Of The Sea" via her own label Rare Diamonds Production, distributed by Edel. Besides the strictly limited liquid-filled vinyl version, it was also made available as CD digipak and picture disc vinyl.

The idea for this special release emerged following two sold-out "Metal Queen Metal Cruises" that were a huge success with fans in late May 2025 and early June 2025. Along with a third cruise which took place in June 2026, these events created demand for more music.

The album's title track was written by Doro specifically as an anthem for the cruise and immediately became an absolute fan favorite at summer festivals worldwide. The remaining nine tracks were a carefully curated selection by Doro focusing on "Warriors" and "Cruise" themes. All were rarities perfect for fans, collectors, and metal enthusiasts. Side A featured rare studio recordings, while Side B delivered live tracks recorded during Doro's completely sold-out 2024/2025 tour.

In March 2025, Doro received a lifetime achievement award in her former hometown of Düsseldorf. The award was presented to the singer in a grand, ceremonial setting by Klaus Meine, frontman of the legendary rock band SCORPIONS. The award honored Pesch's groundbreaking career, which began in the 1980s with her band WARLOCK. As one of the first women to break into the male-dominated heavy metal scene, she established herself as a lasting force in the international music industry. With over ten million albums sold and more than 3,500 concerts across 60 countries, the Düsseldorf native is among the most successful female rock musicians of all time.

Doro's latest album, "Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud", was released in October 2023 via Nuclear Blast.