HAMMERFALL Bassist: GEORGE W. BUSH is 'Like A Cowboy, And Cowboys Work With Cows And Horses'

Alexi Front of FourteenG recently conducted an interview with HAMMERFALL bassist Magnus Rosén. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

FourteenG: When we talk about the dedication fans have to the bands, especially in the case of HAMMERFALL, in places like South America and Europe, you probably see a lot of younger fans at your shows. How I see this situation is that you have become a role model for these people. You become someone these people want to look up to for an example. Does this ever cross your mind?

Magnus: "I think that I have a responsibility for these people because of the position I am in. I try to live my life in a good way, so I think I am a good role model. I don't use drugs, I fight hard for what I want and I understand I can't get everything. In Sweden, I am out at the schools playing bass concerts, talking against drugs and violence. I am interested in this and I think it is necessary and important. I think that young people just as yourself look up to you. There is a lot of bullshit in the schools and people are not being responsible for how they act. Some people don't care.

"There is a lot bullshit on television and like the true reality shows. In these games, if you bullshit and don't care about other people you are a winner. That is not how you should be in real life, because that is an asshole [Laughter]. If you are younger and you look to these programs, you think, 'Ahh, it is okay to act this way.' I think it is really important to go out to the schools and help people become aware of what is going on around them.

"Last October I went to South America by myself on my third bass tour. I paid for my tickets and everything, all costs. All of the money I made down there I gave to the poor people. If you should go to my concert, you can bring either one or two kilos of food and you will get a ticket. The next day I went out with some organizations to the ghettos, right to the poorest people. I gave them food, furniture and these kinds of things. This trip was all paid for from my own pocket. Every sale I made went to the poor people. That is one way to show that it is nice to care and it is interesting to care. I have never been into the ghettos before, so it was really interesting for me to go into these places and look at the people's eyes and see their surroundings. It was amazing for me too. It was a pleasure: it may have cost my money and my time, but it was a pleasure for me. I, of course, love to talk about this because it is really nice and interesting to talk about this."

FourteenG: How many other people do know of that have shown the same initiative to caring and service, aside from yourself?

Magnus: "Not really, but maybe in a different way. I know that Anders [Johansson, HAMMERFALL drummer] has one or two kids in Africa that he gives money to each month. I think Joacim [Cans, HAMMERFALL singer] has something like that also. Nobody does it like I do, but maybe we all do it in different ways. We are all different people and we have different visions about life. I am really interested in this. I would really love to take one year off, go down, and help these people. It is great for me to look into their lives and to see everything. It is good to see the castles but it is also good to see the ghettos. It is good to see everything and learn. Of course, when you do nice things, people are happy and it goes to your heart. Even if it costs money, it gives back in other ways."

FourteenG: When I was in Sweden, one of the first things I was asked was whether I voted for Bush or not. But, once they realized who I was they were very relaxed. I think if I had said I liked Bush, I would have been treated differently than I was treated when I said I did not like Bush. How do people view Americans or people who have not left their country?

Magnus: "What I feel, people have nothing against the American people, but the politics are different. When someone shall decide over the rest of the world what is right and not do it with good ideas, but do it with violence, I think that is the wrong way. Some people call it freedom, others call it dictatorship. I think the Arabic countries are not good to have dictator, I don't like Saddam or anything, but I think it is also wrong to kill many people who have nothing to do with the regime. Innocent people are dying. People from other countries will also die in battle. Now they found Saddam, but the people where responsible for the war have never died. But people who have nothing to do with the politics die. But people see some American politicians as police.

"I think it is good we are different, we have different stories, background and culture, and that is fine, so long as you respect other people. Many countries are involved in the U.N., and that should be the police over the world, not the country that has the most dangerous weapon. I think that it is scary and sad.

"Everybody knows that there are a lot of poor people in the United States, 50% or 60% have it good, but many people also live a hard live that is not shown on TV or in movies. But to put money to send people to the moon instead of to the people who need it. Don't forget your own people. Many people have hard lives, and maybe the politicians should care about that.

"Clinton had a more open mind and cared more about those people. People are scared of Bush because he does not listen to other countries. He is like a cowboy, and cowboys work with cows and horses. It is not the right man to be a ruler. It should be smart politicians. I am sure we can handle things without the biggest weapon and other ways of communication to make other countries change things. It is hard to say no to good help. I am not a politician so I can't say the answer, but it is a wish. If I were powerful, I should not go and take a gun to a person. I would say someone needs a doctor, school, psychological help, or handle the problem from a different direction. Maybe that person would feel better and not do what they did before. All of that was done without a gun. Why is he dangerous? Maybe he had a hard growing up, maybe he had a problem growing up, and maybe he has something wrong in the brain. Maybe if you handle him in a special way, he can be a good person."

Read the entire interview at FourteenG.net.