Kiedy w 1986 r., wraz z Andi Derisem zakładał zespół Pink Cream'69 z pewnością nie przypuszczał, że wraz z ta grupą utrzyma się na metalowym rynku ładnych kilka lat, a już na pewno nie mógł przypuszczać, że po trzech albumach grupę opuści Deris, a drogi obu panów zejdą się dopiero po prawie 10 latach. Panie i Panowie, "niemiecki" Grek, perkusista a przede wszystkim manager Helloween - Kosta Zafiriou !!!!!

When the "Bottom Row Promotion" was founded and who started it?

KZ: Bottom Row Promotion was started in 1991 by our manager Jan Bayati. Jan wanted to work for other acts next to Pink Cream 69 as well and started BRP with two more partners.

How did the manager cooperation between your company and the Helloween start? Did your acquaintance with Andi has any influence on it?

KZ: Not really because of me, but still out of the Pink Cream camp: Andi contacted my partner Jan (PC 69 manager from the beginning on) because of private reasons. After many years they met again and talked besides private things also about music.

Do you know what was the main reason that Helloween stopped working with the previous management - "Sanctuary" ?

KZ: Not really, you have to ask the band directly. I think in general the differences of such a huge company like Sanctuary compared to small one like us are more in a more personal treatment of the artists. If they need some information or want to discuss an idea they call us and we talk about it. In a big company you first have to decide if this is a subject to the legal affairs, the creative department, the accounters, personal management or the agent...

How looks like your cooperation with the band so far? Are you satisfied?

KZ: Yes, it´s really enjoyable to work with the guys. I was with them most of the summer festivals and it was a very enjoyable time. But I have to point out that I knew all members from the past, including Stefan and Sascha - this sure helped a lot to create a friendly and easy atmosphere for everybody involved.

What are your nearest plans as one team called Helloween? We know that the band has started working on its new DVD "Hellish Video", and it's going to record new album in October - could you tell something about it?

KZ: Andi was involved in the making of the Video compilation and did a great job. Nevertheless, the main target for the whole band is to write a killer new album!

What is the atmosphere in the band like? Are they satisfied that they have full line-up at least and they feel good with each other, or maybe is there a little disappointment in not good reception of the "Rabbit" record?

KZ: The feeling is great in the team - especially Andi, Michael and Markus are absolute happy with the new bandmembers and the new management team around the band.

Before you became a band manager, did you know well others guys in the band?

KZ: As I said above, I knew tzhe other members already since years. I met Sascha a few times during his time with Freedom call, Stefan I know much longer, back in the days where he played with Accept and UDO.

Kosta, do you remember the moment when you met Andi Deris? When was it and how it happened?

KZ: Sure, this was back in 1986: Andi and the guitar player of his current band visited my band in our rehearsal room. We jammed a bit and had a good talk - I was impressed by Andi´s voice and how professional the whole band was. A few weeks later they asked me to join this band. I stayed about a year in this band and finally asked Andi if we shouldn't better leave this band and start our own thing: This was the birth of Pink Cream 69.

How did you found Pink Cream '69, who's idea was it and who gave the name of it?

KZ: As I said above, the idea was mine, although Andi was not happy either in the situation we both were back then. The idea for the name -if I remember right- was Andi´s.

The name of your first album was just "Pink Cream'69" and was released in 1989. I (Przemo) have the first release of this LP on vinyl record and there, on the B side as third one, is a song called "Hit Bottom Row"! Tell me, has the name of your manager company something to do with it?

KZ: Sure. Jan Bayati was looking for a name of his new company, and somebody in the band said: "Why don´t you call it Bottom Row?" Simple as that!

On this record cover there were two sexy, fully body-painted girls... Were you personally playing... body painters ? ;)

KZ: Unfortunately not... do you want me to blow your dreams? They came about a year later to one of our shows, but without the paint the did not look very attractive.

On your record Special Edition EP - "49°/8°" there is very original song "White Men Do No Reggae". Whos idea was it? I must say that I like it very much.

KZ: Dennis Ward wrote and recorded a playback version of the song. The first couple years in the band, this was always the final encore of every PC 69 show: We all would come up front to the stage and sing live, while a ghetto blaster was playing the music... it was very funny!

Kosta, your origin is Greek, you were born in Switzerland, and now you live and work in Germany for many years. Don't you think it's a little complicated?

KZ: Sorry, I can´t help it :) Actually, Switzerland is just the country I was born in, there is no special feeling inside of mine. I live in Germany and like this country, but in my heart I will always feel 100% Greek!

You play drums in "Pink Cream '69" since 1987 (from the very beginning in fact). Tell us what you felt when Andi decided to leave your group and sing in Helloween?

KZ: WHAT AN ASSHOLE...... :]

Did you keep any contact after he left? Or maybe you have "hoovered" your friendship not long ago?

KZ: Exactly as you say it: We did not have any contact for 10 years. The first meeting was in Germany/Ludwigsburg at a jam session Christmas 2003. It was a bit strange in first place, but Andi and I talked for a long time about what happened in the past. Besides this -working together or not- we both felt it was about time to talk to each other. I said in interviews 5 years ago that Andi did the best for himself, we are very happy with David Readman so there is no poit to be mad to each other anymore.

Besides you changed the vocalist and put second guitar player to your band, you play in the same line-up since many years, it's really amazing! Do you have any special receipt for it? Maybe you could give any advice to your "under-care guys" from Helloween?

KZ: I think a lot of it is also luck. As I said, Andi and I left the band we were in, but we knew we want to have Koffl on the guitar (both, Andi and I were playing in a band with him before). We were absolutely happy to meet Dennis as the first bass player to audition for the band, David was the 2nd singer to be checked (out of over 400 tapes) and Uwe was recommended by somebody we know - we met him once and it was clear he fits the band! I think to keep a line-up that steady, respecting each other is the biggest point.

Is it easy for you to reconcile the work in a band and as manager? After all you have many well-known music groups in your firm (among others: Helloween, Axis, Pink Cream '69, DC Cooper, Krokus and many others) - do you have enough time and energy for these all ?

KZ: Sometimes it is very hard, for example the last tour with Axxis, Pink Cream and as an opener Crystal Ball. Playing the shows and soundcheck, plus as a tourmanager being responsible for 27 persons, finances and all aspects is very tiring - especially when this tour takes 5 weeks through Europe.

Being around "just" as a tourmanager I enjoy a lot. As a musician I have a lot of background a normal tourmanager doesn´t have, so I can work better for our artists than other guys doing my job, and usually I´ll have a very good relationship to the bands. Touring with bands like Helloween, Krokus or Axxis is really enjoyable, especially since I meanwhile know all the guys and we have a great time together and work very professional.

That's all from us. Thank you very much for this "interview"! The last words to Helloween polish fans (and fans of Pink Cream '69 who also visit our website) are yours:

KZ: It´s been quite a while for me to come to your beautiful country, nevertheless I know there is a lot of Hardrock and Metalfans out there - keep it up!!!

Best regards! Przemo i Miro.