Waterboys boss Mike Scott is what you call a real type: an indestructible loner, idealist, romantic and do-gooder. One who doesn't care about commercial success, who does everything to be unpredictable. But also one who possesses great entertainer qualities and enjoys a high reputation among his colleagues. Now he presents his 13th band album - and enthuses about Bootlegs, Burg Herzberg and The Clash.

Scott Walker is dead. Is that even possible? Isn't he one of those legendary figures, known only from the Bible or medieval verses, who rise again and again after each death? A musical phoenix of modern times? The Austrian-Israeli writer Max Brod wrote that death was a temporary state of weakness. With Scott Walker, this seems to be true in more ways than one.

FOREQUARTERS Scott Walker is dead. Is that even possible? Isn't he one of those legendary figures, known only from the Bible or medieval verses, who rise again and again after each death? A musical phoenix of modern times? The Austrian-Israeli writer Max Brod wrote that death was a temporary state of weakness. With Scott Walker, this seems to be true in more ways than one.

Okta Logue, first released nine years ago with an album release, is now an institution in the German rock scene. Their catchy, wonderfully arranged songs bridge the gap between folk, indie and progressive psychedelic pop. On their fourth album "Runway Markings", the quartet has further honed their sound with the help of producer Johann Scheerer.

Philip Meloi is in Italy right now when we get him on the phone to talk to him about his group's new record. Probably also because, but above all because he knows that Okta Logue have recorded a wonderful album with "Runway Markings" - the first on the indie label Clouds Hill - the guitarist and songwriter of the south Hessian band seems extremely relaxed.

eclipsed: You've always been with a major label. What kind of changes did changing to an indie bring to you?

It took ten years for "Jesus Christ The Exorcist" to see the light of day. No wonder, because mammoth projects with the Flying Colors, Transatlantic and the Neal Morse Band drove the music-obsessed just as much around as solo tours.

eclipsed: What was the trigger to start working on such an epic?

Neal Morse: [The music manager] Michael Caplan called me one day and suggested that I should write some kind of new version of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Apparently he and a friend had listened to the original version from the 70s. We talked about how to write something like a gospel-based rock opera. I started with the first draft in 2008.

eclipsed: Then what happened?

Most managers talk about "clients" or "artists." Mike Kappus, on the other hand, speaks of his "friend". Because the relationship the 68-year-old now had with J.J. Cale was unique. "He was a real unicum," says the San Francisco-based manager and producer, who has also worked with John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison. "It was often not easy to run his business, because he had no telephone and could hardly be reached. But I consider myself lucky to have known him."

Electronic pop is a red rag for many progheads - especially when remixes come into play. Daniel Tompkins, as the singer of TesseracT one of the most important protagonists of the modern prog scene, was not prevented from steering in exactly this direction with his first solo album "Castles".

eclipsed: When did you decide you wanted to record a solo album?

Daniel Tompkins: I started writing "Castles" with my producer Eddie Head almost four years ago. But when the album was finished, I always postponed the release and also had a full tour calendar with TesseracT. It was in a folder on my computer for four years, including artwork. Only recently did I feel ready for this chapter. When I had signed with Kscope, I took it out again and reworked everything again.

eclipsed: "Castles" is stylistically very different from your previous projects. How did you determine the musical route?

"Louisiana's Finest" Kenny Wayne Shepherd has been one of the established ones for several years now. The former blues guitar wonder child was something like the superstar of the blues rock scene in the nineties and noughties. Even when these times are long gone, Forty-Something still has a loyal audience and likes to play live. The new record "The Traveler" is a mature work of the fivefold father, which he presents as headliner and special guest of Beth Hart in Germany from the end of June.

eclipsed: Your way from guitar hero to songwriter, who also gains more and more stature vocally, continues on "The Traveler".