Category Archives: Interviews/Rock Stars

Interviews with established rock artists.

Interview with CHRISTOFER JOHNSSON & THOMAS VIKSTROM (Therion) – 20 December 2013

Kristofer Johnsson, leader and founding member of the Swedish Symphonic Metal giants Therion, is a man who has always been in possession of a clear musical vision – a vision that he has promoted and defended with much passion throughout … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with LEIF JENSEN (Dew-Scented) – 10 December 2013

Lady Luck has not always been on the side of the German Thrash/Death Metal powerhouse Dew-Scented but that never stopped them from pursuing their goal of performing honest and good quality music to their loyal fans. An hour or so … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with LIV KRISTINE (Leaves’ Eyes) – 12 December 2013

Leaves

There are few people who I have thoroughly enjoyed talking to over the years in my capacity as a music journalist, and Liv Kristine, leading member of the Symphonic/Gothic Metal sextet Leave’s Eyes is certainly one of them. Hours prior … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with JIM McCARTY (The Yardbirds) – 3 January 2014

Jim McCarty - The Yardbirds

  January 21st 2014 sees The Yardbirds play their first date of an exhaustive 2014 tour which celebrates 50 years of their existence and the British Blues Invasion that changed the course of rock history. The band initially split in ‘68, … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with MORGAN STEINMEYER HAKANSSON (Marduk) – 5 December 2013

I have spoken with quite a few musicians over the years but few can claim to have been as consistently enjoyable and professional as Marduk’s founding member Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson. Currently on tour performing the “Those Of The Unlight” and … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with DEL BROMHAM (Stray) – 24 December 2013

It’s hard to believe Stray founder member and guitarist Del Bromham recently reflected on his web site that 2013 has been a quiet year for him. This after all is the man who apart from deservedly receiving a ‘British Blues … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with OLA LINDGREN (Grave) – 5 December 2013

Ola Lindgren, Grave

When I decided to become involved in the world of music journalism a good decade ago, I did so with the hope that, in time, I would be given to meet some of my music heroes and get to talk … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with TED LUNDSTROM (Amon Amarth) – 17 November 2013

Ted Lundstrom - Amon Amarth

The Forum is a large London-based venue, a place that many bands dream of selling out but something which only a handful are capable of achieving. This old theatre has been the home of the Swedish Melodic Death Metal band … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with MICHAEL SCHENKER – 15 November 2013

Michael Schenker

If ever there was an example of looking to the past for a catalyst for the future, then ‘Bridge The Gap’ is it. Award winning guitarist Michael Schenker is back with some familiar faces on an album that plays to … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview: JUSTIN FURSTENFELD of BLUE OCTOBER

Blue October has recently released their latest album ‘Sway’ which is one of my albums of the year and from band I had not heard of previously. As the band prepare for their upcoming European tour (including November 17th Birmingham … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN (ex-The Gathering) – 19 October 2013

Meeting an artist whose work over the years has had a profound effect on you on a purely emotional level is like a double-edged sword: a good experience can further enhance your appreciation of them, whereas the opposite can cause … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: JOEY TEMPEST of EUROPE talks about the band and the new album Live At Sweden Rock

Joey Tempest - Europe

  Photo: Simon Dunkerley The Songwriters – Joey Tempest Sunday 20 October 2013, 22:00 GMT This Sunday, David Randall chats to Europe frontman JOEY TEMPEST about the band’s rise and rise, on the eve of the release of the band’s latest … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, NEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rock Stars: Interview with ROINE STOLT (The Flower Kings) – 2 October 2013

Normally, by this time of year, most of you would have made a decision as to which  albums you consider as most important for 2013. Well, I strongly suggest that you postpone this exercise until the end of October, as … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with MATT BARLOW (Ashes Of Ares, ex-Iced Earth) – 27 September 2013

There are not many singers whose contribution to the mid-90s Metal scene has been as instrumental as that of ex-Iced Earth front man Matt Barlow – a man whose unique pipes have blasted classic compositions, such as “Dante’s Inferno” and … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with MAURIZIO IACONO (Ex Deo) – 10 September 2013

When you put a passionate and dedicated student of history (yours truly) in the same room as a very intelligent musician who loves all things related to ancient Rome, the likelihood of the conversation following a pre-planned line of questioning … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with JOHN LEES (Barclay James Harvest) – 17 September 2013

John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest is back with a brand new album called ‘North’. The new CD features 9 new tracks that update the melodic prog rock band’s musical heritage, which is also neatly encapsulated on the accompanying live CD … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with DANIEL CAVANAGH (Anathema/Leafblade) – 25 July 2013

Anathema are currently going through the most productive and commercially successful period of their long and fruitful career and that fact alone is enough to get guitarist and founding member Danny Cavanagh in high spirits. Smiling and accommodating, the forty … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with AYNSLEY LISTER – 29 Aug 2013

Aynsley Lister is back with his first studio album for 4 years. It’s suitably titled ‘Home’, because it’s his debut recording on his own Straight Talkin’ Records label. It also features his current tour band and is overseen by his … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with JON OLIVA (Oliva/Savatage/Trans-Siberian Orchestra) – 15 July 2013

It is not often that one gets to have a conversation with a music legend, especially one as pleasant, humble and down to earth as Jon Oliva – a man whose musical journey has created music of unsurpassable quality under … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with JONNY LANG – 26 June 2013

Jonny Lang is back after a 7 year hiatus with a groundbreaking new album ‘Fight For My Soul’, which falls back on his formative influences of R&B and soul. Judged simply in terms of relentless road work – that is … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with GARY BONER (ROADHOUSE) – 2 August 2013

22 years into their career, the hard gigging Roadhouse release ‘Gods & Highways & Old Guitars’, the best album of their career on Krossborder records. It pays homage to the darker elements of the American south and would fit into … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with bass icon NORMAN WATT-ROY (June 2013)

After a 46 year career that has made him a bass icon, Norman Watt-Roy finally has finally recorded his first ever solo album ‘Faith & Grace’ – cockney rhyming slang for bass. With a career that started with playing American … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with ANDY TILLISON (The Tangent)

Andy Tillison is a man of an mission! Two years after the release of the amazing “COMM”, and with his progressive sensibilities in full swing, the British composer came up with  another mind-blowing album in the form of “Le Sacre … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interview: DROWNING POOL

Drowning Pool

American Heavy Metal band Drowning Pool returned to the UK recently with a new lead singer and a brand new album! The band from Dallas, Texas  shot to fame in 2001 with their smash hit single ‘Bodies’, taken from their … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview: VON HERTZEN BROTHERS

Finnish melodic rock sensation, The Von Hertzen Brothers, are back in the UK to do a few gigs and a bit of promotion for their new album, ‘Nine Lives’,  just released through Spinefarm Records . I managed to catch a few … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment