ROB ROCK
ROB ROCK except that
released a very good album of melodic heavy metal, he also seems to be
a very "easy going" person and he answered to all our questions willingly
without a rock star attitude. So proceed with the reading of this interview
and we hope that will help you to learn litle bit more about this great
metal singer...
1.YOU HAVE COOPERATED THROUGH THE
YEARS WITH MANY MUSICIANS. WHAT DID YOU "EARN" FROM THAT? WHICH IS THE
MUSICIAN YOU THINK YOU TIE BETTER WITH AND HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST?
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I’ve earned a lot of studio experience
and a lot of friends in the business. In the 90’s I’d say “Impellitteri”
was most helpful and beneficial and in the last 4 years it’s been Roy Z.
2.YOUR ALBUM IS REALLY GUITAR ORIENTED
FOR A SINGER TO COMPOSE. DID YOU HAVE ANY HELP? FROM CHRIS IMPELLITERI
TO BE MORE SPECIFIC...:)
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I had help from my good friend Roy
Z. Roy is an excellent guitar player and songwriter and producer.
3.WHILE YOUR IDEAS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
HEARD AGAIN IN THE PAST, THE WHOLE RESULT DOES NOT SOUND AS A COPY OF ANYTHING!
HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT? IS IT TRUE THAT WHEN YOU COMPOSE THE MUSIC YOU
LOVE AND PLAY IT WITH YOUR HEART, THE RESULT CANNOT BE BAD?
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I think you are enjoying good melodies
and a good melody always sounds like you may have heard it before and that
is why it sticks in your head and is pleasing to your ears. I think music
from the heart is the truest expression of the artist. I think people know
when music is manufactured like disco and when it is poured out from the
heart like great melodic metal.
4.HOW DIFFICULT IS TO COMPOSE TRADITIONAL,
OLD - SCHOOL HEAVY METAL THESE DAYS WITH ALL THOSE INFLUENCES AROUND? IS
IT SOME KIND OF NOSTALGIA OR ARE YOU TRYING TO BRING THE MUSIC TO THE SURFACE
WITH NEW MATERIAL?
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Metal is magic to me. All other influences
may come and go but melody and metal is the only way for me. I try to create
new sounds and better songs without sacrificing all the things I personally
love about metal.
5.MANY TRY TO INCORPORATE NEW ELEMENTS
TO THEIR MUSIC AND MOST OF THE TIMES THE RESULTS ARE BAD. DO YOU THINK
THERE IS ANY KIND OF INNOVATION IN THIS ALBUM, EXCEPT OF COURSE FOR WHAT
TECHNOLOGY HAS TO OFFER TO THE PRODUCTION!
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Besides the technical side, there is
bound to be modern influences somewhere in the songs that have been filtered
through my own personal taste and expectations of what I think a great
song should be. You have to have a great song first.
6.YOUR SINGING OF COURSE IS GREAT!
YOU USE THE GOOD OLD RECIPE OF HUMANLY AND HIGH PITCH VOCALS THAT CHARACTERIZES
MOST OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN POWER METAL ALBUMS! DO YOU THINK THE VOCALS
ARE A LANDMARK FOR THE AMERICAN POWER METAL BRANCH?
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Yes, I believe a band is only as good
as their singer! Hahahaha! Of course I think the singer/guitar player combination
is vital for a great band, but also the best albums will always have great
songs.
7.THERE SEEMS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN
THE AMERICAN AND THE EUROPEAN ELEMENTS. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE
RESULT : MORE AMERICAN OR EUROPEAN?
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I think it is very well balanced. I
am an American as well as the rest of the band so naturally it will have
more American elements. I am also a big fan of the European metal bands
and I like the two guitar attack as well so it is colored by my taste for
European metal.
8.IN THE ALBUMS YOU USE MANY KEYBOARDS
THAT ARE PRETTY CAREFULLY PLACED! DO YOU USE SOME "RULES" OF YOUR OWN WHEN
PUTTING KEYS IN YOUR MUSIC IN ORDER TO MAKE THE RESULT NOT SOUNDING "PLASTIC"
OR LESS POWERFUL?
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There are no rules but I place the
keyboards where I think they belong. They are a great spice and I think
they create great moods in the songs when they are used properly.
9.BY THE WAY THE ALBUM IS REALLY POWERFUL!
A TRUE HEADBANGING ALBUM! WAS IT YOUR INTENTION TO MAKE IT SO STRONG?
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Thank you! Yes, it was my intention
to have a very strong album with great songs. I want to make a record that
I love to listen to myself.
10.DO YOU THINK YOUR COMPATRIOTS WILL
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK? ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF A HEAVY METAL REVIVAL IN THE
U.S.? OF COURSE I DON'T MEAN NU - METAL!
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There is a growing underground for
melodic and power metal here in the States. I see more festivals
and shows every year here and that is very encouraging. Yes, I think metal
fans do appreciate my work because they tell me so.
11.YOU SEEM TO BE SINGING WITH MUCH
PASSION! WHICH EXACTLY ARE THE EMOTIONS YOU WISH TO CAUSE TO THE LISTENER?
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OR FEELING WHILST SINGING? DO YOU FOCUS ON SOMETHING
IN SPECIFIC IN ORDER TO CREATE THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE AND FEELING?
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I want to feel my music and I want
the listener to feel it too. After many recordings, I am very comfortable
to record my voice in a natural way and not worry about all the other things
that go on in the studio. I think this freedom helps me to just perform
well and let the tape roll. Of course, I try to convey the feelings of
the song because I write it from my own experience.
12.IF I ASKED YOU TO PICK OUT ONE ALBUM
OF YOURS THAT YOU THINK YOU INTERPRET THE SONGS BETTER, WHICH WOULD THAT
BE AND WHY?
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That’s a tough question. I try to always
interpret each song the best I can and if I feel I have not reached this
goal then I will record it again until it is right. When it is my solo
albums I make the decision about when it is right. When I am recording
someone else’s song, then they can decide, but I don’t do that very often.
I think Warrior – “The Code Of Life” album was the best interpretation
of a certain “attitude” that was expected from a 3-way songwriting team
(Rob Rock, Joe Floyd, and Warren Croyle the producer). I was singing for
the team when we did that record and I like how it came out.
13.IF WE ARE ALL JUST A WORD IN THE
GREAT BOOK OF CREATION, CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH WORD COULD DESCRIBE YOU BETTER?
CAN YOU ALSO IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF AUTHOR WOULD BE THE CREATOR OF THIS BOOK
AND WHY?
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In my book, God is the Creator. He
describes me as “not guilty” by the blood of the lamb.
14.IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING WHAT IT WOULD SHOW?
15.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR
CARRER?
16.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU 'D LIKE TO MENTION? LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE...
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Check out my newly updated website
www.robrock.com
for monthly updates, vocal tips and news…and thanks for checking out Rage
of Creation and Eyes of Eternity!!!
GEORGE "Volt" TASIS
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