JUGLANS REGIA
JUGLANS REGIA : latin name of walnut tree... Some of you might ask which is the relation betwenn the music of the band and the tree. Well, even the band doesn't knows. As for me, I think that their music it has a lot commons with the tree, because each time you listen to it, gows stronger and stronger. If you like progressive metal music to have the power to take you on a mental and spiritual travel, then their music can be the perfect vehicle. Don't expect here extreme show offs, only emotions. After all as they say they are not a circus...

1.YOU STARTED AS A N.W.O.B.H.M. BAND BACK IN 1992 UNDER THE NAME RAISING FEAR. WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED IN 1994 TO CHANGE YOUR NAME AND MUSIC INTO PROGRESSIVE METAL? DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WAY YOU'D BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL OR DOES THIS MUSIC REPRESENT YOU MORE? HOW MANY LINE UP CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED TILL 
YOU REACHED YOUR TODAY'S LINE UP?
    We haven't decided to change music.... I think it was a natural evolution. We hear many kinds of music, and it leaves traces in our compositions. We changed name because back in 1994 we started to sing in Italian too (some songs were in English, others in Italian...). So we were serching for a name neither Italian nor English. Juglans Regia (the latin for walnut tree) was perfect! I think that this way.... we represent Juglans Regia today.... tomorrow... who knows?? And this line up does not exist anymore! Lapo (keyboard) has left the band in April.... at the moment we are playing with a new keyboard player...
2.I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING HERE ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU HAD THE NAME RAISING FEAR DID YOU HAVE IN YOUR LINE UP A MEMBER WITH THE NAME ALBERTO TONIOLO? HAVE YOU LISTENED TO HIS BAND JACKHAMMER? IF YES, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
    No... Alberto Toniolo plays in another band. We have recorded only one demo in 1993 ("The last gate"). Some months after we changed our moniker into Juglans Regia. I have only read about Jackhammer in varoius web-zines....
3.JUGLANS REGIA IS THE LATIN WORD FOR WALNUT TREE. WHY DID YOU PICK THIS SPECIFIC KIND OF TREE FOR YOUR BAND NAME? IS IT ANY WAY CONNECTED TO YOUR LYRICS? WHY DID YOU SELECT SUCH A STRANGE NAME?
    Ahahahaha I don't know.... It was a Simone's idea (Simone was the old guitar player.... he left Juglans Regia in 1999). There is no connection with the lyrics. It's a strange name, I know.... but we like it.
4.BY LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU HAVE MANY INFLUENCES FROM PROGRESSIVE ROCK AND METAL BANDS WITH SOME PSYCHEDELIC TOUCHES IN THE KEYBOARDS. DO YOU AGREE? WHICH BANDS HAVE INFLUENCED YOU AND IN WHICH WAY?
    Yes, I agree. We are influenced by a lot of bands, but - I think... - none in particular... Personally.... I grew up with Iron Maiden, Saxon, Metallica, Agent Steel, Exodus, Helloween, Black Sabbath etc. I'm also a great fan of prog music... bands like Genesis, King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator.... or Marillion, IQ, Flower Kings, .... I appreciate also old italian pop/prog (P.F.M., Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Biglietto per l'Inferno ecc.).... and what can I say? Sometimes I like to hear some Italian singers, or rock bands like Muse/Coldplay... or the history of rock (Jimi Hendrix, Who, Rolling Stones ecc.)... or electronic music ... bands like Massive Attack....Garbage... Depeche Mode.... Some of my favourite bands are Heir Apparent, Decoryah, King's X, Fifth Angel, Sword, Rush, Dark Quarterer.... I think that every kind of music could be interesting. Now I'm hearing Obliveon ("Nemesis"). Do you know them? I think that all the music we hear is an influence for us.
5.ONE OTHER POSITIVE THING, ACCORDING TO ME, IS THOUGH YOU HAVE THE TECHNICAL SKILLS, YOU TRY TO AVOID AS MUCH A SPOSSIBLE SHOWING OFF. YOU ARE MAINLY CONCENTRATED ON THE MUSIC AND THE FEELINGS CREATED THROUGH IT. DON'T YOU THINK THAT MUSIC SHOULD BE EASY AND DIRECT FOR ALL TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT MAKE SOME PEOPLE FEELING LIKE FOOLS?
    Thank you... technical skills? Are you sure ?!?!!  ahahaha .... I like  some technical bands, but the first thing is, for me, to communicate. something... or give emotions. Skills are good... but "skills only" no. It becomes a sort of ... circus! 
6.BEFORE RELEASING "PRISMA" YOU HAD MANY DEMO- TAPES. IS ANY SONG OF THOSE DEMOS INCLUDED IN YOUR CD? IF YES, WHICH ARE THEY AND WHY DID YOU SELECT THEM?
    The CD contains only "new" songs composed by the members that have recorded it.
7.NOW TELL US A FEW THINGS FOR THE "PRISMA" CD. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPOSE THE SONGS AND RECORD THE ALBUM? IN WHICH STUDIO WAS IT RECORDED, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER? DID YOU PLAY AND REOCRD THE SONGS LIVE IN THE STUDIO OR DID YOU FOLLOW THE USUAL PROCEDURE?
    We have composed the 5 songs of "Prisma" during the years 1999-2000-2001. We have recorded it in "Orbit Studio", near Florence. The producer was Alessandro Cinelli, a great guy... with a lot of enthusiasm! We have recorded it track by track....
8.HAVE YOU SENT YOUR DEMO TO ANY OTHER FANZINES AND LABELS? WHICH WERE THE REACTIONS YOU RECEIVED? DID YOU OBTAN ANY INTEREST FROM THE LABELS? HO CAN SOMEBODY ORDER YOUR CD AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
    We have sent "Prisma" to a lot of 'zines and few record labels. The reactions?? Well, the reviews are on our web-site  (www.juglansregia.com) ... At the moment no label has shown interest in signing us. To receive "Prisma"? Just send 8 Euro/$ (p.p.i) to: Massimiliano Dionigi - Via Pacinotti, 4 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI) - Italy - or send an e-mail to: [email protected]. Trades are welcome!
9.YOU SING IN ITALIAN. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS MIGHT PROVE TO BE AN OBSTACLE FOR A WORLDWIDE CAREER?
    Ahahaa what kind of career?!?!? We play for fun... We sing in Italian because our singer... doesn't speak  good English (and I'm not using good English either ahahaha sorry for my bad language!!! ahaha). Perhaps one day.... we try to compose a new song in English... but I'm not sure of it.
10.COULD YOU TELL US SINCE THE LYRICS ARE WRITTEN IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE, WHAT EACH SONG TALKS ABOUT?
    "Pioniere" talks about a boy who dreams to be an astronaut..... and it's the right moment to start!! "Respira" talks about the time... that is passing by quickly... too quickly... we have to go slowly, or we'll  became fools! "L'ombra" ( "The shade") .... when you would be in another person's boots.. for one day only.... well.... some opinions could be different.... perhaps... "Giochi di luce" talks about death.. in a particular way. "Crepe" is so strange.... it's hard to describe.
11.CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR FUTURE PLANS WITH US?
    Future plans? Perhaps a new CD in 2004.
12.HAVE YOU DONE ANY LIVE SHOWS? DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR TOURING OR LIVE APPERANCES IN AND OUT OF ITALY? WHAT SHOULD THE READERS EXPECT TO SEE INA  JUGLANS REGIA LIVE SHOW?
    We have played some concerts... we don't play covers... Out of Italy? It's a dream.. at the moment. When we play live we try to play the best we can.
13.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET A FAMOUS PERSON, WHO WOULD THAT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK 
HIM?
    For example you.... I would ask  everyone ( including the mirror....): "What do you concretely do in order to live better (you and the rest of  world)"??
14.IN WHICH MOVIE SOUNDTRACK WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN PART OR HAVE COMPOSED?
    Soundtracks? uhmmm... I don't know ... do you think our music could be a good soundtrack?
15.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
    Emotion.... it's hard. Uhm....joy of living....and melancholy. Painting... perhaps in the style of Dali...
16.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
    Uhm... no.. that's all! Thank you for the support and thanx to the readers. Be true to yourself!
    Max
Nick  "William_Kidd"  Parastatidis
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