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There are few artists who embody the spirit of heavy metal like Doro Pesch. After setting the Sweden Rock stage on fire with her signature power, we had the chance to catch up with the incredibly kind and truly legendary Metal Queen herself. In our conversation, she reflected on the highs and lows of her four-decade-long journey in metal, spoke about her relentless passion for the genre, and shared what’s in store for the year ahead, from new music and special releases to a heartfelt tribute honoring Lemmy’s legacy.
Text: Daniella Kiss – Photo: Merlin Morzeck, archives
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Your latest album, Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud, is such a powerful statement. What inspired the title and the themes behind it?
„Actually, the inspiration started with the album cover. I got it from my favorite painter, Geoffrey Gillespie, who has painted all our records since Triumph and Agony. I told him I was working on a new album and asked if he’d like to create the cover. He said, “You know what, Doro? I already did something.” When he sent it over, I saw he had picked one of my favorite photos and turned it into this amazing piece of art.
He’d also added little details like slogans and names, and one of them was Conquistador. I thought it sounded awesome, but I realized not everyone might be familiar with the word, especially since it’s Spanish. For English- and German-speaking fans, we wanted something a bit clearer. So we thought about Conqueror, and then came up with the female version Conqueress. It’s definitely unusual, but still understandable, and when I saw the painting, it fit perfectly. That’s how Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud came together. I wanted it to be a statement because I’ve been doing this for such a long time, through all the ups and downs, and I’m still here. I’ve conquered a lot.
Back in the early days, metal wasn’t really accepted. People looked down on metalheads. In the ’80s, if you walked into a restaurant with long hair and a bullet belt, they’d throw you out. They thought you were going to destroy the place or something. (laughs) It’s not like that anymore, but back then it was a real struggle. You had to fight for your music, your band, your record deal. You had to be all in. I never thought of giving up, but I know some people around me said, “No way, this is too much.”
You’ve recently celebrated 40 years in metal. How does that milestone feel when you look back? Did you ever imagine, back in the early Warlock days, that you’d still be rocking stages and releasing albums 40+ years later?
„No, not at all. After we released our second album, Hellbound — which is now 40 years old — I had a total burnout. That word didn’t even exist back then, but that’s exactly what it was. I didn’t think I could make another record. It was so demanding, so stressful.
We honestly thought the band might last five or six years at most. But here we are 40 years later and still going strong. That old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” really does hold true. If you want it badly enough, you can do it. You can push through the pain and keep going.
I actually made up my mind really early. I was three years old when I knew I wanted to do music for the rest of my life. I had my first band when I was 15. At the beginning, you don’t even know how magical that connection with fans can be. You just rehearse all day, but when you finally get on stage and see how people feel your music — how it gives them power and good energy — that’s when you realize how rewarding and sacred that connection really is. It’s the best feeling for sure.
Of course, we faced setbacks. We even lost the rights to the name Warlock for a while. Some people around us — people we trusted and thought were friends — ended up stealing things from us, including the name. Once a little bit of success came, they totally lost their minds. I actually spent 20 years fighting to get the rights back. During that time, people started leaving the band. Our bass player was the first to go. He just said, “I’ve had enough.” I don’t think he ever picked up the bass again, he was just completely fed up, but I always knew I wanted to keep going.”
Speaking of challenges, you were one of the very few women in the heavy metal scene back then. Do you feel you had to fight harder than your male counterparts to be taken seriously, especially starting out so young?
„I was so young, I didn’t even realize I was one of the only women in the scene. My idols were all men — Rob Halford, David Coverdale, Lemmy, Ronnie James Dio — and it didn’t matter to me at all. Later on, the press started pointing it out, like saying I was the first woman to play Monsters of Rock Festival. But for me, it never felt different. I was always a team player.
The real fight was always for the music, for your band, and for metal in general, especially at a time when it wasn’t so common or accepted. We were the underdogs, the outlaws. Later, I actually thought not being part of the mainstream was pretty cool. Record companies always said pop acts sold way more records. But we were a metal band, so you can’t even compare that. It was a completely different world.
As a woman, though, I always felt comfortable and respected. On our first tour with Judas Priest, and then later with W.A.S.P. and Ronnie James Dio, I was treated so well. We also toured with the Scorpions, Motörhead, Saxon and I always felt supported, especially by Lemmy and Dio, but everyone had my back. We even did our first shows with Metallica, and they were all super kind, we were like buddies. I never felt like I was second best for being a woman. It was always cool.”
Over the years you’ve toured and worked with many legendary bands. Are there any moments you still look back on with a smile or just can’t forget?
„Yes, definitely. You know my best friend was Lemmy. My first-ever duet was with him in 2000. We recorded two tracks together for my Calling the Wild album, and we spent day and night in the studio, and Lemmy never wanted to sleep! (laughs) We’d go driving around all night with him sitting next to me, smoking cigarettes and singing along to songs. He showed me all his favorite records; we had a CD player in the car, and we just cruised around listening to them. We spent two full weeks together like that. It was amazing. He was the coolest person I’ve ever met.”
Is it true that you’re putting together a Lemmy tribute album?
„Yes, that’s true, but it’s still kind of a secret! We’ve been throwing some ideas around, and we want to do something really special, kind of a tribute with Motörhead songs, coordinated with everyone involved. There are other artists on board — people we all know and love — but I probably shouldn’t spill too much yet. I think they want to announce it properly when the time comes.”
It’s been a while since you played in Budapest. Can your Hungarian fans expect a Doro show there anytime soon?
„Yes, yes, absolutely! I’m not sure when exactly, but definitely soon. I love playing in Hungary. I have some of the best memories from there. One that stands out was when it was absolutely freezing outside. I was in the tour bus, looked out the window and saw metalheads already lined up in front of the venue, even though it was only 10 or 11 in the morning. They had headphones on and were headbanging, full-on rocking out. At one point, I could even tell what song they were listening to; I think it was Hellbound. And then, when we played the show at 10 in the evening, I saw the exact same fans in the front row. It was incredible, so intense and so heartwarming. It’s one of my greatest memories, I even filmed it and have it on my phone. So, we definitely want to come back soon.”
Lastly, what’s next for you—new music, tours, or any surprises?
„We just did our first Metal Queen Cruise a few days ago, and we’re planning to do it again next June. I even wrote a special song for it called “Warriors of the Sea,” and we’re planning to release a limited-edition vinyl filled with liquid to make it extra special. The cruise was a huge success — I had no idea it would be, but people came from all over: the U.S., England, France. It was amazing. We sailed the Rhine River in Germany, surrounded by all the old castles.
We’re also working on a massive edition of the 40th anniversary show I did at Wacken, featuring a Blu-ray, CD, vinyl, and a photo book, all coming early next year. There were so many incredible guests on stage, like Joey Belladonna, Mille Petrozza, Alissa White-Gluz, and Angela Gossow, and everyone was rocking out. It was really great. We’re putting all of that together now, and then probably a new album next year. That’s the plan. I love working, and I know I can do it. I just want to make the fans happy and give them positive energy — especially in this day and age, when it’s more important than ever.”
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