"We misjudged": Kapellmeister Menzl talks about the Bräurosl earthquake - and his future at the Wiesn

Created: 09/30/2022, 04:55

By: Dirk Walter

The Oktoberfest band Josef Menzl from Pentling is no longer allowed to play in the evening because the festival tent visitors want party music.

Menzl spoke to us in an interview.

Munich – Tremors in the Bräurosl: The Oktoberfest band Josef Menzl from Pentling near Regensburg, "known despite radio and television" (self-promotion), is no longer allowed to play in the evening.

The Wiesn guests would rather have a party - brass band music doesn't fit that well.

Lovers of real folk music are appalled.

Josef Menzl takes it easy, as he says in the interview (everything about the Oktoberfest reservations).

Mr. Menzl, how was the mood in the tent over the last few days?

It has gotten significantly better.

A lot of supporters, fans, whole music clubs come, Instagram fan groups have been founded - in this respect the hustle and bustle has its good side.

Even Jonas Kaufmann was there on Sunday, the tenor.

He brought me to his table and gave me a mug.

I could not believe it.

They don't play in the evening anymore, that's "Erwin und die Heckflosse".

Or will it be changed again?

Well, leave it like that now.

That has now proven itself.

I got “Erwin and the Tail Fins”, they are my friends.

We just don't have these typical Wiesn hits in our program.

We have Queen, Abba and Beatles, great stuff.

We also did a medley that we arranged ourselves, that saved us the first weekend.

But people just want "hands to heaven" and "hell, hell, hell".

And "Breathless".

I can't sing Helene Fischer, I'm sorry.

"Layla"?

That simply does not work.

I have nothing against the Liad because I don't give a damn.

The song is made for the Ballermann and the Reeperbahn, it fits there.

I can't sing it, sorry.

I also want to push my lead ned like animals to play some shit.

also read

Virologist Streeck speaks after a visit to the Wiesn and expresses suspicion of virus transmission via beer mugs

This Oktoberfest duck is on everyone's lips: Expensive organic poultry in the Ammer tent causes heated debates

Has the pain threshold been reached?

I'm wrong.

They got me for a new program, a new image.

We all misjudged ourselves, everyone, our landlord, Peter Reichert, the brewery and we too - that's the way it is, you just have to admit it.

Perhaps we also overlooked informing people accordingly.

"But I don't want to be a folk music ayatollah either"

Josef Menzl will be playing in the Bräurosl tent at Oktoberfest 2022.

Here he has himself portrayed in front of and in the tent.

© Achim Schmidt

You rock the tent at the Gäubodenfest in Straubing, but not in Munich – how do you explain that?

In Straubing it was a long process.

The tent is also much smaller - and the landlord has put on a cultural program.

That took time.

And then it was a chain of fortunate circumstances - during the day there was brass band music, in the evening the show bands.

And we were scheduled for the evening - and all the brass bands are with us.

Straubing is also a regional festival, very different from Munich.

Nobody is from the Netherlands.

Is there a now-more than ever mood in your chapel?

Logical.

My people have worked themselves up.

The worst would have been if we had been completely cut off, that would have been a real slap.

We save our face, our attitude.

Now everyone sticks with us, even the show bands, like the Cagey Strings from Hackerzelt.

The kaanntn yes aa sogn: You make all foolish with eira brass band music.

Well, not at all.

As a musician you have to stick together.

Maybe it's a shame that now it's time for Scheppara.

I didn't even know that there could be a scandal when you play brass band music in a Bavarian beer tent.

Believing makes mas ned.

Is folk music discriminated against in Bavaria?

That might be saying too much.

But I think to myself: If I go to a country festival in Nashville/Tennessee – then I'll be interested in the people there.

Her clothes, her music.

And that's how it should be at the Wiesn.

The horse, the costume, the music - otherwise we don't stand out from the Ballermann at all.

Otherwise it's just some fun event.

But I don't want to be a folk music ayatollah either.

We just have our dignity as musicians.

Mr. Menzl, was that your last Wiesn?

Well, I don't think so.

We'll let that sit and then think hard.

The formation was put together especially for the Wiesn, it's not the main band.

But this crisis has welded us together, everyone would share the toothbrush with the other.

I've been making music for 30 years now, but this solidarity is unique.

It would be a shame if it fell apart again.

Interview: Dirk Walter

We deliver all important topics, information and news about the Wiesn in our topic area: Everything about Munich.

Simply register directly in Telegram or Facebook, select a topic and don't miss anything more about Oktoberfest 2022!