TimesSquare.com's Cecily Van Horn has issued a Q&A; with DORO leader Doro Pesch. An excerpt follows:

Q: What inspired you to play heavy metal rock?

A: "I was inspired from a very early age and when I had my first show at 15. Then I got into a band, SNAKEBITE. [A few years later] I had a new band WARLOCK. We were at the right place at the right time... It was the beginning of the heavy metal scene."

Q: If you weren't a musician, what else could you imagine yourself doing?

A: "Doing music is what I love the most, but I do love to paint, so I would say painter... And I was also a graphic artist back in the day. I did logos and posters for our shows. But every day I love music more and more and want to do it to my very last day."

Q: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

A: "It's between rock music and metal. It has lots of powerful ballads which are very touching to the heart and soul. It's very energetic, very passionate, very soulful and very positive. When I started my first band, we didn't know we were doing heavy metal it was just that we did whatever felt great. To me metal meant freedom to do whatever you wanted to do."

Read the full Q&A; at this location.

In 2008, Doro Pesch celebrated her 25th anniversary concert at the ISS Dome in her hometown of Dusseldorf, Germany. With over 8,500 people in attendance, the magical, full-documented performance included guest appearances by OVERKILL’s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, GRAVE DIGGER’s Chris Boltendahl, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, SCORPIONS’ Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, Liv Kristine (LEAVES’ EYES), Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER), Axel Rudi Pell and many others. The set was recorded in its entirety and resulted in the mammoth 25 Years In Rock two-DVD/CD set which includes the once-in-a-lifetime concert as well as out-takes from Doro's 2,500th concert and more. 25 Years In Rock will finally be available to North American fans on September 13th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Check out the newly-released trailer below:

In conjunction with the Stateside release, Doro will perform two special shows — her previously announced appearance in New York City on September 9th and an additional show in Chicago on September 11th. Both nights will include clips from the DVD, limited edition merchandise and an autograph session followed by a performance by the metal queen herself. Tickets are on sale now through all local ticket outlets.

Doro Pesch 25 Years In Rock US Release Shows:

September

9 - Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
11 - Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL

Sweden's SISTER SIN will release their special cover of MOTÖRHEAD's classic track, 'Rock N Roll', as a single on September 13th.

The track features guest vocals from Doro Pesch. It will be available on all digital platforms worldwide via Victory Records. Produced by Chris Snyder at Standstraight Studios and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London.