Steve Testing a Porsche 911

Some of you might have read the interview on the old paradiselost.co.uk website in which Steve was asked about his most favorite car. It´s a Porsche 911. So the creators of the German bandpage paradiselost.de decided to satisfy Steve's heart's desire and asked him, via GUN Records, whether he felt like a small test run. He did.

After short smalltalk with the M.I.B.A. (Most Important Bouncer Alive) it happened: A well rested Steve welcomed the three of us with a friendly "Hi, I´m Steve!" and instantly came across as an absolutely likeable guy without any airs or graces. Just a quick check with the tour manager to see how much time we had– half an hour – and off we went. But before anything else, a question to Steve: Which side would he like to sit on? Left at the steering wheel, or right in the passenger seat? We had expected him to tear the keys wordlessly from our hands and run to the driver's door but he decides, for understandable reasons to choose the passenger seat - He has never driven faster than 120 km/h in his life, not to mention never with the steering wheel on the left side of the car and the gearshift in the right hand. And who likes parking a car, which does not belong to him, into the guard rail and then risk attending today's show in Stuttgart in a cast-corset? A very reasonable man!

Steve sits in a Porsche for the first time in his life. The convoy consisting of Andi (at the steering wheel), Steve (as front seat passenger), Martin (with camera on the rear seat) and Floh (likewise with camera in the support vehicle) starts to move. On the road next to the Longhorn Andi exceeds the speed limit "marginally" for the first time, drawing a broad grin from Mr. Edmondson. He acknowledges the damned loud racing exhaust with a pleasing "sounds good!"

First our way leads us through Stuttgart-Wangen and we´re talking about driving cars – what else? At home Steve drives a Golf, because it is a reliable car. He has no good words to say about driving in Great Britain because the roads are bad and overcrowded. Petrol and cars are rather expensive and the continuous speed camera monitoring does not really contribute to an untroubled drive either.

We leave Stuttgart-Wangen and equal Steve's personal speed record behind scarcely past the town sign.

In the next village Andi nearly notices some red traffic lights and brakes quite violently. Steve comments: "No show tonight!"

The local speed limit of 50 km/h gives us a chance for another lively chat, this time about driving a car abroad (Andi: "If someone drives 200 km/h instead of permitted 90, as a foreigner in France he can keep his license – he only has to pay.").

The next piece of cross-country road keeps Steve firmly in his seat. Although he´s permanently grasping at the door handle, he says that he feels unexpectedly safe with the sport-chassis sticking to the road. Floh, behind us in the AUDI TT (equipped with winter tyres), is very busy with getting in the way of "Extreme-Cornfield-Parking" on several occasions.

With the words of "Are you ready to fly, Steve?" Martin begins the highlight of the test ride, and Andi steps the 911 into second gear on 7000 rpm: we are now on the motorway "A8". Unfortunately, the rush hour traffic is still too strong, so the maximum speed of approx. 300km/h is actually unreachable. Andi tails a Gulf at 200 km/h that is driving in front of us. Steves leg searches for a brake pedal, but there is no pedal to find (Remember: the thing with the steering wheel on the left side in Germany...), and thus he grasps at the door handle even more. Andi later comments: "What´s the problem? There was a distance of nearly three meters to the Gulf."

At long last there´s room on the left lane. Floh, in the TT gives it all, but nevertheless becomes smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror. A BMW changes to the left lane and forces us to brake strongly – there was a van about 700 meters in front of him. Nevertheless Andi can announce: "Steve, if someone asks you for your personal speed record, you can tell him it´s 245 km/h." - Steve: "This is crazy driving."

Time is short: still 22 kilometers away from the Longhorn and only six minutes to go. We leave the "A8" and turn onto the "B10" back to Stuttgart. Floh in the TT reached us again, however speed and style of driving outweighed any photographical activities.

Owing to the speed limit of 120, the colour gradually comes back into Steve's face. We are talking about British cars, which don't do anything for Steve, while Andi and Martin express their unrestrained enthusiasm for the Aston Martin Vanquish B12. Martin: "All you have to do is to sell the next album one million times..." - Steve: "... then I may afford an Aston Martin."

Martin is concerned about shortness of time: "Hope they won't kick you off the band if you get back 5 minutes too late." Steve knows however that he is indispensable to PL: "No no, don't worry."

We pass the Ferrari Stuttgart branch. Martin: "A Ferrari is a bit faster than this 911, but this Porsche sounds better." - Steve: "I prefer Porsche 'cause Ferrari is red." - Martin: "I guess your Golf is black, isn't it?" - Steve: "It IS black!"

We turn into the road to the Longhorn. Martin: "Seems like you've survived." - Steve breathes a sigh of relief: "Oh yes!". Then he is pleased about the stylish appearance. Which rockstar doesn't like to be brought to the show by his driver in a chavvy car?

After a few photos we say good bye and look forward to the actual highlight of the day: Paradise Lost - live at the Longhorn Stuttgart!

Steve, with Martin, Floh and Andi

News and Articles

News Archives

Steve Testing a Porsche 911