WHEN GUITAR SPEAKS...

PAUL NELSON

THIS TIME I WILL NOT SPEAK ABOUT MUSIC IN MY PROLOGUE. THE FEW LAST WEEKS A WAR IS GOING ON THE PLANET. A WAR IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM. THAT'S THE BIGGEST LIE I EVER HEARD. IN MY OPINION MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED (FROM BOTH SIDES), JUST BECAUSE SOME STUPID POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMAN DECIDED TO EARN SOME MORE MONEY. ONE THING I LEARNED FROM HISTORY IS THAT SIMPLE PEOPLE (EVERYWHERE IN THE WOLRD) ARE THE ONLY LOSERS OF THE WAR. I WROTE THIS LINES CAUSE OF THE INTRESTING ANSWER THAT PAUL GAVE ME TO THE QUESTION 13 OF THIS INTERVIEW. FOR ME PAUL NELSON EXCEPT OF AN EXCELLENT GUITARIST, IS ALSO A BRIGHT SPIRIT. I ALWAYS APRECIATED ARTISTS THAT HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE,EVEN IF I DON'T AGRRE WITH THEM. HEAVY METAL NEEDS MUSICIANS WITH PERSONALITY, NOT ONLY GOOD INSTRUMENT PLAYERS AND VOCALISTS...

1. HELLO PAUL! HOPE YOU ARE WELL! FIRST OF ALL TELL ME A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR NEW SOLO ALBUM. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPOSE THE SONGS AND WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS EACH ONE EXPRESSES?

Well, it's actually something I've wanted to do for quite some time now even as far back as my days with Metal blade records. It's an instrumental recording in the vein of what might be called Progressive or Fusion. Writing the songs didn't take to long. Let's just say that the overall concept was to compose music that would encompass many own musical emotions that would be free to be interpreted by listeners any way they chose. You can pick up my "LOOK" CD by visiting www.paulnelsonguitar.com

2. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO COMPOSE AN INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM AND NOT USE A SINGER? AFTER ALL YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH TALENTED SINGERS IN THE PAST. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT FOR MOST PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO AN ENTIRELY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM?

That was the exact reason! From working with singers so much I thought it was time to let the guitar do a little more of the singing. I'm never to worried about instrumental works and especially today where I think people are very open-minded to new ideas. And judging by the responses from the press and fans I couldn't be more pleased that I chose this path.

3. IN THE CREATION OF THIS ALBUM YOU HAVE CO-OPERATED WITH SOME MUSICIANS. CAN YOU NAME THEM AND GIVE US SOME GENERAL INFO ABOUT THEM? ARE ALL THE COMPOSITIONS IN THIS ALBUM YOURS OR HAVE ANY OTHER PEOPLE CONTRIBUTED AS WELL?

They are all top session musicians that I've met along the way and I kept in touch with knowing I'd use them down the line for this project on a later date. Their names are Jim Vali- drums Dean Vali-Bass and Mike Mancinni - Keys. The compositions are all mine I even played bass on the track Full Blast.

4.WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE THE PRODUCTION ON YOUR OWN? IS IT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE AND YOU WANTED TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF YOUR IDEAS AND INSPIRATION? DID YOU WANT IT TO BE 100% A PAUL NELSON WORK?

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better.

5. MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THE METALHEADS, KNOW YOU AS A METAL MUSICIAN. NOW, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS YOU HAVE PLAYED AND COMPOSED A VARIETY OF SONGS THAT NOT NECESSARILY BELONG TO HEAVY METAL MUSIC AND YOU HAD QUITE A SUCCESS. SO, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT PLACE DOES HEAVY METAL HAVE IN YOUR HEART? ARE THERE STILL TIMES THAT YOU FEEL NOSTALGIC AND YOU WANT TO TURN BACK TIME AND LIVE ONCE AGAIN IN THE '80S?

Sure, Those were fun times and so were the 90's I learned a long time ago to adapt as music has changed. Part of it comes from the hard work of studying early on through the instruction of Steve Vai, Steve Khan, Mike Stern and my day at Berklee College of music. I still have metal in my veins and always will.

6. LIEGE LORD WERE QUITE AN INFLUENTIAL BAND FOR THE HEAVY METAL. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW LISTENING TO NEW BANDS SOUNDING CLOSE TO LIEGE LORD OR ADOPTING YOUR WAYS AND YOUR MELODIC STRUCTURES?

It's very flattering and believe me I hear a lot of similarities especially in European bands.

7.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT LIEGE LORD HAVE MANY FANS HERE IN GREECE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE YOU FOR A LIVE SHOW HERE OR HAS THE LIEGE LORD CHAPTER CLOSED ONCE AND FOR ALL?

I'm very aware of the bands fan base in Greece because of www.liegelord.com and fan mail and have may friends form there who have helped us over the years. You never know only time will tell I will saw that our reunion show at the Wacken Open Air Festival with Joe (Joe Comeau vocalist for Annihilator) in Germany. It's was a great feeling! An estimated 40,000 + attended the fest and afterwards an interview along with some live footage I did was included on a VHS/DVD documentary released this year by Nuclear Blast/Warner called Wacken 2000-"Special Report." Joe and I actually recorded the track "Too Scared too Run" right after that for a soon to be released Century Media Tribute to Uriah Heep entitled return to fantasy.

8.NOW, LET'S GO TO SOMETHING ELSE. YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A JASON BECKER TRIBUTE ALBUM. WHICH SONG HAVE YOU SELECTED AND WHY? CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IMPORTANT IS JASON BECKER TO YOU AS A MUSICIAN AND AS A PERSONALITY? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TRIBUTE ALBUMS IN GENERAL?

Jason's playing on all his projects has been very inspiring and what better way to repay an artist than to pay compliment through the interpretation of one of their works. I recorded his song "Blue" from his perspectives CD feeling that it fit my style best. Tributes are great side projects they give you the chance to mix it up with many other talented artists I'm very pleased that this one in particular does much more in that all the profits go to Jason and the fight against ALS.

9.WHICH ARE THE "VIRTUES" THAT A GUITARIST MUST HAVE TO BECOME VERY GOOD ON HIS INSTRUMENT?

A good musical foundation is a must! You basically have to learn it all scales, chords, theory. Oh yes and then there's the blinded determination. :)

10.HOW CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GUITAR? IS IT A PASSION THING, A MENTAL BONDAGE OR NEITHER OF THESE?

Actually it's both! As well as being a profession it's how I make my living

11. MANY GUITARISTS WHEN THEY RELEASE A SOLO ALBUM, THEY CHOOSE TO PLAY NEOCLASSICAL MUSIC. YOU ON THE CONTRARY SELECTED TO PLAY IN A MORE U.S. TRADITIONAL MUSIC ORIENTED DIRECTION. WHY?

It's funny I had been mentioning my thoughts about going in the fusion direction at a time when people thought it was crazy. Now as you notice everyone is doing it and even the Neoclassical labels have Fusion artists or even Neo's crossing over on their artist rosters. Fusion was the only style that hadn't caught on to the retro scene. I knew like everything else it was only a matter of time.

12. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE TO PLAY IN OR FORM A HEAVY METAL BAND AND WHICH ARE YOUR MUSICAL SCHEDULES FOR THE FUTURE?

There's a strong possibility of that and you'll know when. Recently my career took an unexpected turn (as it always does). Through details to long to mention I ended up playing as part of Guitar legend Johnny Winter's band and if that wasn't all he has picked up 3 of my songs for his new CD as well as inviting me to lay down guitar tracks on his Virgin records release do out this year. Needless to say I was very excited. Negotiations have been taking place for me to join him on tour.

13.THE U.S. IS ABOUT TO GO TO WAR AGAINST IRAQ. I FOUND OUT FROM THE T.V. THAT SIMPLE U.S. PEOPLE ARE SCARED, TERRIFIED FROM A POSSIBLE NEW TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST THE U.S. BESIDES THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THIS WAR. CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU SEE THINGS IN YOUR COUNTRY AND WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THIS WAR?

My feelings are mixed about the war everyone knows that it's hard to link Saddam with Bin Ladden in regard to the 9/11 tragedy. But at the same time we understand that old school barbarism doesn't have a place anymore in this new world. Unfortunately the US always ends up looking like the bully of nations whenever it's time to take a stand. We know full well that this is how we are viewed, we can't win either we help to late, to soon, or start things by ourselves in the name of freedom. Any one who knows the actual people in America would know what a good caring and friendly society we really are. I think our Governments priorities are messed up especially whenever there isn't a Democratic President in office. It's a very confusing situation and a very sad state the world is in right now. I have recorded a cover of Queensrych's "Speak" with vocalist PV, www.pvpage.com for the up coming Now and Then/Frontier Records 9/11 charity CD entitled "United-We all stand together" featuring a host of the industries top rock artists and I'm very proud to be a part of it.

14. IF YOU COULD BE A HISTORICAL CHARACTER FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AND WHICH PERIOD OF HIS/HER LIFE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

I'd would have loved to be Elvis! hahahahah.... That would be cool don't you think?

15. IS THERE A STRANGE AND OR WILD STORY YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ?

I remember when our good friends Candlemass of Sweden came over to join us for their first big US tour, they didn't speak a word of English. Absolutely nothing! Soon after finishing up with us they were to head over to meet the people at Metal Blade Records for the first time in person. So you know how whenever you try to teach someone a new language you always show them the bad words first. That's what I did! Only told them that when they got into Brian Slagel's office (head of Metal Blade Records) to call me up and place me on speaker phone, and when he walks in and I say "Go" that I want the whole band to give him a huge US compliment by reciting a certain little saying together. After the tour finished a few days went by and I received a call from Messiah (singer of Candlemass) from the California office. I said "are you ready?" and he says, (with a thick accent) "Yes Paul" And sure enough when the heads of the company walked in, I yelled "Go" and the whole band chanted "White trash piece of S**T." I'm not sure but I heard that this visit was regarding the signing of their new record deal?...

16.YOU ARE MANY YEARS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO THE NEW METALLERS THAT WANT TO START A BAND AND BECOME FAMOUS? WHAT SHOULD THEY BE WARY OF?

Promotion, Promotion, Promotion! And a good Lawyer and Manager! Then if the music and band character strong enough things will happen.

17. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

No just thanks for the great questions. You really did your research. To the Fans thanks for all your support! Paul Nelson

NIKOS "William_Kidd" PARASTATIDIS

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