TRADITIONAL HEAVY METAL

DREAM EVIL

GUS G IS BECOMING VERY FAMOUS AND MANY GREAT MUSICIANS OF METAL SCENE HAVE COOPERATED WITH HIM. THE OTHER THING IS THAT HE I GREEK, SO I THINK IS TIME THE GREEK METAL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS GUITAR VIRTUOSO...

1.FIRST OF ALL TELL SOMETHINGS ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO PLAY GUITAR?

I started playing guitar when I was 10 after I had heard Peter Frampton's "talking" guitar on Frampton come Alive LP and after I had seen Al di Meola perform live on TV.I asked my father to buy me a guitar and when I was 14 I got my first electric guitar.I started practicing heavily.I got to a point where I didn't leave my practice room for a year and a half!!!

2.DREAM EVIL IS A PROJECT BAND? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE WITH DREAM EVIL? WOULD YOU TOUR WITH THE BAND?

Dream Evil is a REAL band.We have signed for 4 albums with C.Media so you'll be hearing from us in the future.We want to reach as much people as possible with our music......Most likely there will be a tour.We are already confirmed to play Sweden Rock and Wacken Festivals and we have already played 2000 Decibel festival.In september we will do a mini tour of Sweden supporting Blind Guardian and after that we hope to tour the rest of Eurpe and the world......

3.THE ALBUM I THINK IT IS A CONCEPT. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATIONS ABOUT THE STORY?

Sure.We have a King that's deadly wounded by a dragon and we have our hero that sets out to find and kill the dragon so he can bring the dragon's heart to the king to make him well again.It's your typical epic fantasy story.We thought if we're gonna do a true metal album, we should go all the way with it,so we created this story. And every song is a little story on its own.For instance,on H.M.J,our hero meets the Heavy Metal Jesus and he gets blessed by his Flying V guitar hahaha!!!

4.WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS FREDRIK NORDSTROM?DID HE GIVE YOU FREE SPACE TO COMPOSE MUSIC FOR DREAM EVIL OR HE IS THE BOSS?

Fredrik is one of my best friends and has helped me a lot.All of us in the band write the music and lyrics and sure,a lot of riifs are mine and lyrics also.I have learned a lot from Fredrik in regards to songwriting,arranging and even lead guitar playing!!

5.I ALSO THINK THAT YOU CO-OPERATE WITH CHASTAIN?IS IT TRUE? WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WOULD YOU PLAY?HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU PLAY NEXT TO SUCH A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER?

Yes,it's true that David Chastain has produced my album with my other band,FIREWIND.That band is a melodic metal band,but more guitar oriented and heavier.It feels great to work with David,as I have always been a fan of his playing and his music!!I have signed with his label, Leviathan Records and David really understands my musical vision and supports me in every way.Our debut album will be released in Europe late June thru Massacre Records.

6.CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATIONS ABOUT THE OTHER 2 BANDS YOU PLAY? I MEAN MYSTIC PROPHECY AND NIGHTRAGE...

Mystic Prophecy has released an album so far and did very well.We have already recorded the second album and it should be out at the end of the year or something.It's titled "Blood Omen". Nightrage is more Mario's musical vision and I help him out with all sorts of things such as songriting,arranging,etc.He is a close friend and I really enjoy making music with him.We hope to record our debut soon.

7.REALLY,HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO PLAY TO SUCH MANY BANDS? ISN'T IT A LITTLE BIT TIRING?

No, I don't think so,actually it's a lot of fun to work with all these people!!!I learn a lot from everyone and so far,I have all the time of the world to play in all these bands.

8.IF IN FUTURE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE TO PLAY TO ONLY ONE BAND WHICH WOULD BE THAT?

I cannot really say right now,as I love all of the bands that I play with.Of course,in FIREWIND I write everything and I have control of most things,but I also enjoy writing and co-operating with other people as well.You know, I have developed great friendships with all my bandmates,so it's very hard to imagine leaving any of my bands!!!

9.HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT HERE IN GREECE YOU WEREN'T VERY FAMOUS AND NOW THAT YOU ARE TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO COOPERATE WITH GREAT MUSICIANS? ISN'T IT A LITTLE BIT UNFEAR?

I don't really feel I'm famous,first of all and especially in my country!!I am trying very hard for my career in music,but I don't know if it's unfair or fair......I guess everyone decides the best for themselves and moves on.I chose to come to Sweden and start a band here, instead of Greece,I really don't know what would have happened if I had stayed there......maybe nothing.......but maybe nothing would have happened even if I'm here!!!It all depends on how you see things,how smart you think and what moves you make.

10.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE GREEK METAL SCENE? WHICH ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE TO CONFRONT?

I don't know what's really happening,it's strange in Greece,cause I think that we have great bands and great musicians with a lot of passion,but you know that's not enough in order to make it in music. There's more to it.....you have to give up everything:your job,your girlfriend,your family,even your country in my case!!You have to be willing to go all the way with it,and I don't know how willing are Greek bands/musicians.......They also say that people don't buy CDs from Greekbands,just because they are Greek.Maybe it's true,but maybe we also have a lot of low-quality bands in Greece with the exception of a few of course......I don't know,but I really hope that things will get better for the Greek scene,cause we have a lot of talented musicians!!!

12.MANY METAL MUSICIANS ACCUSE POP STARS FOR THEIR LIFE STYLE, YET WE SEE SUCH BEHAVIOURS IN THE METAL SCENE AS WELL (BANDS PAYING TO MAKE A COVER FOR SUCCESFUL MAGAZINES, HAVING A GOOD REVIEW, METAL LABELS PROMOTING SPECIFIC BANDS AND GENRES EACH EPOCH,ETC).IS IT MAYBE AFTER ALL TRUE THAT THE METAL INDUSTRY DOESN'T DIFFER FROM THE POP? WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

Music industry is the same all over the world,no matter what style you play!!!Wannabes,people that are into the business for the money,fame, chicks,front covers,etc. exist in all styles of music.....there are NO EXCEPTIONS!!!I am in the music business for a couple of years now and I am experiencing a lot of crap and a lot of good things at the same time. However,I wouldn't mind if my label buys a front cover from a magazine featuring me in it,cause this will only get my music heard to more people,so that's a good thing.On the other hand,I believe that record labels release a lot of crap constantly and the metal scene is dying that way......But at least I can speak for myself and I can say that I'm definitely not into this business for the money or fame or to get more girls!!!!I just want to make music,cause my existence is centered around that!

13.WHAT QUESTION HASN'T ANYBODY DONE SO FAR TO YOU AND YOU'D LIKE TO BE ASKED? ANSWER IT AS WELL.

Now,that's a great question!!!I believe that your interview has been quite different from all the others that i've done and I think your questions are very clever!I can say that I've never been asked questions with political content and actually I'm glad for that,as I don't want to take place politically.......I like to talk more about music and feelings.....so,I don't really have a question in mind that hasn't been asked to me.

14.WHICH IS THE MOST IRRITATING QUESTION SOMEONE HAS DONE TO YOU?

I think all journalists I have done interviews with, have been quite nice to me and haven't made any questions that will upset me.....so far, so good hahaha!!!In private life,it's a different story of course.....

15.THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW.SEND A MSG TO BEHIND THE VEIL READERS...

Thanks a lot for your support Christina!!Thanks to each and everyone for supporting DREAM EVIL and for bying our album Dragonslayer!!!We really hope to come and play in Greece soon,and this of course means a lot to me,cause I AM GREEK!!! STAY COOL AND HEAVY METAL IN THE NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

CHRISTINE PARASTATIDOY

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