Matthias „Schenky“ Schenk
How did you get involved in SOE?
On march 28 2019 was virtually the birth of Sons of Eternity when Church contacted me via Facebook and asked if I wanted to set up something musically together with him.
We then met in person, since we live only a few miles away, and immediately realized that the chemistry was right.
What else do you do at SOE?
Besides songwriting and singing, there would be... drinking beer, chatting people up and socializing.
What were your musical activities before SOE?
I started with the band "Dreamhunter" when I was 15 years old. At that time we mainly covered. But I quickly realized that covering wasn't for me at all, so I joined "Red Rose", because they were already into their own music. Quickly we were able to achieve first successes like TV appearances and radio airplay.
We then changed the name from "Red Rose" to "Shylock" and got our first international record deal with our debut album. Over the next few years we released a total of six albums, did numerous interviews, had airplay on big radio stations and supported bands like Gotthard, Bonfire, Axxis, Krokus, U.D.O., Primal Fear, Roger Chapman, Shakra, etc.
The highlight was the performance in Cologne's RheinEnergieStadion with 20,000 spectators on site and 1 million people watching on DSF, a german TV channel.
Finally we did release a benefit single for children suffering from cancer.
Between 2017 and 2019 I did three big rock services with about 1500 visitors. I composed 10 songs in German and published on CD for that. At the 3rd rock service, all earnings from CD sales went as a donation to the Malteser Children's Palliative Team.
After that I decided to return to my musical roots and founded with Church the Sons of Eternity.
How did you get into singing?
My singing career started with a singing ban!
In the 3rd and 4th grade elementary school I was not allowed to sing in music class. My music teacher at the time thought I was just too loud and would stand out too much from the choir....
After that experience, all I really wanted to do was become a guitarist, hovering over the fretboard with light speed. But at some point it was "Schenk, you can do it, why don't you sing?". That's when I was about 16/17 years old.
From that point on, I was a singer.
Who are your idols?
In my youth my idols were e.g. Lenny Wolf from Kingdom Come, Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, David Coverdale from Whitesnake.
What bands and musicians have influenced you?
AC/DC, ZZ Top, Kingdom Come
Your three records for the ages?
ZZ Top – Eliminator
AC/DC – Who made who
Winger – In the Heart of the Young