| Rockin' News for June 15 ,2009, p.2 |
Doro Pesch talks about new album and her place as "The Queen of Metal"
Doro Pesch recently released her new studio album Fear No Evil, and Sleaze Roxx's Ruben Mosqueda
had a chance to talk to her prior to leaving for a tour of China. Below are excerpts from the
interview where Doro talked about Fear No Evil, her 25 years in the music business and her status
as the reigning 'Queen of Metal'.
Sleaze Roxx: What can you tell us about the new album Fear No Evil? I love the album, some of my
favorites songs on it are "The Night of the Warlock," "Running from the Devil," and "Walking with
Angels."
Doro Pesch: Well thank you, I tried to do an album that was like old school Doro, like back in the
Warlock days. There are modern elements that people have come to expect from my most recent
albums, but I think you can hear that I went for anthems, intros and big choruses like the 80's.
"The Night of the Warlock" is inspired by the 80's big chorus that you can sing along to and I like
"Celebrate" with many guests singing background vocals, we have Biff from Saxon and ladies ranging
from Angela of Arch Enemy to Veronica of Benedictum to Liv of Sister Sin. I was so honored to
have them singing on the track, it made it even more special for me. I'm happy with Fear No Evil.
Doro Pesch recently released her new studio album Fear No Evil, and Sleaze Roxx's Ruben Mosqueda
had a chance to talk to her prior to leaving for a tour of China. Below are excerpts from the
interview where Doro talked about Fear No Evil, her 25 years in the music business and her status
as the reigning 'Queen of Metal'.
Sleaze Roxx: What can you tell us about the new album Fear No Evil? I love the album, some of my
favorites songs on it are "The Night of the Warlock," "Running from the Devil," and "Walking with
Angels."
Doro Pesch: Well thank you, I tried to do an album that was like old school Doro, like back in the
Warlock days. There are modern elements that people have come to expect from my most recent
albums, but I think you can hear that I went for anthems, intros and big choruses like the 80's.
"The Night of the Warlock" is inspired by the 80's big chorus that you can sing along to and I like
"Celebrate" with many guests singing background vocals, we have Biff from Saxon and ladies ranging
from Angela of Arch Enemy to Veronica of Benedictum to Liv of Sister Sin. I was so honored to
have them singing on the track, it made it even more special for me. I'm happy with Fear No Evil.
Can you believe that "Celebrate" was in the top ten in Spain? I have never had a single that has charted that high. I was so surprised and
excited, I know as metal musicians we don't make music to get into the mainstream, but if and when it happens it's exciting. I can't wait to
hear what the U.S. fans think of the album.
Sleaze Roxx: Being that you are one of the top female metal musicians of this generation, how do you feel the metal scene treated women in
the past?
Doro Pesch: I think for some women it was a struggle getting the same kind of respect in the music business as men. However I found it not
so difficult getting respect, from not only from the guys who I played with in WARLOCK, but other musicians at the time. If that helped, well
then I'm glad.
Sleaze Roxx: Do you think your work in particular paved the way for more women into metal?
Doro Pesch: I have been told this before by many women, but also from many men as well. If my music has encouraged other women to get
into music then form or become part of a band then good for them and that makes me happy. You know people come up to me after the shows
and give me their demos and ask me to listen to them and let them know what I think. There are some great musicians out there and if I
have influenced them then that is great!
Sleaze Roxx: Do you considered yourself a metal icon? Rob Halford has embraced the term Metal God in recent years.
Doro Pesch: (Pauses) Well, I think it's a great compliment but I don't consider myself to be better than anyone else. I do listen to what the
fans have to say and I thank them for the compliment. I'm honored that people think that. I remember back in the early 80's the Canadian
singer Lee Aaron was the Metal Queen, I thought she was great.
Sleaze Roxx: How long will you continue in the music business? What would you like to do once you retire from music?
Doro Pesch: Well, to tell you the truth I don't believe in retirement. I think I can do this for another 25 years! I think I will be on stage
until the very end. I think I will die on stage; it's what I love to do. As long as people come out to the shows I will continue to perform. It
doesn't matter if it is five people or five thousand. I have a lot of inspiration from my idols like Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD, Rob Halford and
Ronnie Dio. They are still on stage, night after night, putting on a good show for the fans. I was amazed; on the tour with Ronnie (Dio) I'd
still get off stage, get changed, and run back in time to see Ronnie's performance each night. It was just amazing how much energy he has
and how he still puts on a great performance. I want to be like that. I'd also like to do some film work, not more acting, but maybe helping
score stuff for movies. That would be fun.
Sleaze Roxx: Do you think that online music services like iTunes will eventually replace the CD?
Doro Pesch: Well, I personally like the CD, I love having something physical, I love opening a new CD, I love looking at the artwork and
reading the lyrics. I think it's old school, they have taken our vinyl away, though there are selected pressings these days. I understand that
not all fans have access to music CDs and that's why there are such services. I too think that part of it is the current generation, I think
people in their 30s or older have a different view than kids that are fifteen to twenty-five years old. I know there are fans starved for
metal, I have heard this when we finally made it to Russia. I have heard this from the fans in China too. If the Internet is the only way to
get the music I'd be doing the same thing. I hope it doesn't replace the CD though; that would be sad.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net from an article featured at sleazeroxx.com)
excited, I know as metal musicians we don't make music to get into the mainstream, but if and when it happens it's exciting. I can't wait to
hear what the U.S. fans think of the album.
Sleaze Roxx: Being that you are one of the top female metal musicians of this generation, how do you feel the metal scene treated women in
the past?
Doro Pesch: I think for some women it was a struggle getting the same kind of respect in the music business as men. However I found it not
so difficult getting respect, from not only from the guys who I played with in WARLOCK, but other musicians at the time. If that helped, well
then I'm glad.
Sleaze Roxx: Do you think your work in particular paved the way for more women into metal?
Doro Pesch: I have been told this before by many women, but also from many men as well. If my music has encouraged other women to get
into music then form or become part of a band then good for them and that makes me happy. You know people come up to me after the shows
and give me their demos and ask me to listen to them and let them know what I think. There are some great musicians out there and if I
have influenced them then that is great!
Sleaze Roxx: Do you considered yourself a metal icon? Rob Halford has embraced the term Metal God in recent years.
Doro Pesch: (Pauses) Well, I think it's a great compliment but I don't consider myself to be better than anyone else. I do listen to what the
fans have to say and I thank them for the compliment. I'm honored that people think that. I remember back in the early 80's the Canadian
singer Lee Aaron was the Metal Queen, I thought she was great.
Sleaze Roxx: How long will you continue in the music business? What would you like to do once you retire from music?
Doro Pesch: Well, to tell you the truth I don't believe in retirement. I think I can do this for another 25 years! I think I will be on stage
until the very end. I think I will die on stage; it's what I love to do. As long as people come out to the shows I will continue to perform. It
doesn't matter if it is five people or five thousand. I have a lot of inspiration from my idols like Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD, Rob Halford and
Ronnie Dio. They are still on stage, night after night, putting on a good show for the fans. I was amazed; on the tour with Ronnie (Dio) I'd
still get off stage, get changed, and run back in time to see Ronnie's performance each night. It was just amazing how much energy he has
and how he still puts on a great performance. I want to be like that. I'd also like to do some film work, not more acting, but maybe helping
score stuff for movies. That would be fun.
Sleaze Roxx: Do you think that online music services like iTunes will eventually replace the CD?
Doro Pesch: Well, I personally like the CD, I love having something physical, I love opening a new CD, I love looking at the artwork and
reading the lyrics. I think it's old school, they have taken our vinyl away, though there are selected pressings these days. I understand that
not all fans have access to music CDs and that's why there are such services. I too think that part of it is the current generation, I think
people in their 30s or older have a different view than kids that are fifteen to twenty-five years old. I know there are fans starved for
metal, I have heard this when we finally made it to Russia. I have heard this from the fans in China too. If the Internet is the only way to
get the music I'd be doing the same thing. I hope it doesn't replace the CD though; that would be sad.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net from an article featured at sleazeroxx.com)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Priest's Glenn Tipton discusses revisiting British Steel
Powerline A.D.: British Steel seemed to be the perfect album to usher in the 1980s. It was
an exciting time because it felt like something special was happening in hard rock music,
especially in the breakthrough of heavy metal. Did you feel the same way?
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, I think British Steel is certainly a landmark album in terms of the
PRIEST catalog. It's got such a strong character with tracks like "Metal Gods", "Breaking
the Law", "Grinder", "Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise"... There's a definite attitude in
the album. It will be a great album to perform live from start to finish.
Powerline A.D.: The name British Steel was also a perfect representation for a heavy metal
band from an industrial town like Birmingham, England.
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, well, I actually used to work for British Steel (the major British steel
producer). So I'm very familiar with the the dirt and the grime (laughs) ... I think it sums
up the attitude the band's got, you know, particularly from that era anyway, and it's just
got a great strength of character.
Powerline A.D.: British Steel seemed to be the perfect album to usher in the 1980s. It was
an exciting time because it felt like something special was happening in hard rock music,
especially in the breakthrough of heavy metal. Did you feel the same way?
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, I think British Steel is certainly a landmark album in terms of the
PRIEST catalog. It's got such a strong character with tracks like "Metal Gods", "Breaking
the Law", "Grinder", "Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise"... There's a definite attitude in
the album. It will be a great album to perform live from start to finish.
Powerline A.D.: The name British Steel was also a perfect representation for a heavy metal
band from an industrial town like Birmingham, England.
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, well, I actually used to work for British Steel (the major British steel
producer). So I'm very familiar with the the dirt and the grime (laughs) ... I think it sums
up the attitude the band's got, you know, particularly from that era anyway, and it's just
got a great strength of character.
Powerline A.D.: And British Steel is now considered one of the all-time classic heavy metal albums. Did you see yourselves as heavy metal
back then? I mean, the term was really in its infancy.
Glenn Tipton: We've always felt that we were a heavy metal band and we've always been proud of that tag. I think a lot of bands dropped it
when they thought it wasn't fashionable but we've always been proud to play heavy metal — we always loved to play heavy metal —
particularly JUDAS PRIEST-style heavy metal. It's a movement of music that we've been proud to be a part of and we helped to pave the
way in many aspects of it.
Powerline A.D.: In the documentary "Heavy: The Story of Metal", Scott Ian of ANTHRAX said that British Steel was the album that defined
heavy metal at that time. You think it opened up opportunities not just for JUDAS PRIEST but for heavy metal bands in general?
Glenn Tipton: I think in the sense that, you know, not just British Steel but a lot of PRIEST albums, really. You've always tried to push the
margins wider apart on what people considered to be heavy metal. You don't feel like there have been any rules, or if there are rules,
they're rules that can be broken ... you know, to give a greater strength of character to metal and to give everybody more room to maneuver
and that's what we've always tried to do — and particularly (with) British Steel.
Powerline A.D.: You think many memories of the original British Steel tour in 1980 will come rushing back as you're playing the album in its
entirety now?
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, I think that's the idea, you know. The idea is to recreate the '80s and to go out there and do very nostalgic concerts
for everyone to get involved.
Powerline A.D.: Well, as a fan, I've waited a long time just to hear "Dissident Aggressor" live — all through the 80s it was a dream of mine
to hear that song live, and out of nowhere you guys just picked it for last tour. So I'm trying to envision some songs like that for this tour as
well ..whenever I've seen PRIEST tour, the band always had a strict set list that was played from. Night after night the band never strayed
from that set list. Besides the entirety of British Steel, is the band going to mix up the choice of songs a little on this tour?
Glenn Tipton: We usually stick pretty much to our set because the production size of things, you know. We've been doing this for thirty to
forty years, but guys on the crew haven't, so... when you do production of a PRIEST show you got to think about safety ... and there are
places you shouldn't be at certain points during the set, and once you start mixing things up it's a recipe for disaster. We've had a few bike
accidents in the past so... once we decide on a set, we pretty much tend to keep it the same. With the odd exception. There are nights when
we play extra long encores, or we might throw a different song in for a special occasion.
Powerline A.D.: I heard there will be a replica of the British Steel stage from the 1980 tour?
Glenn Tipton: It will be very reminiscent of the 80s. That's the whole point. To capture the nostalgia. To just recreate that era. (pause) I
got my red trousers back (laughs).
Powerline A.D.: Will you continue to release any solo stuff in the years to come?
Glenn Tipton: I did the solo albums (Baptizm of Fire and Edge of the World) when there was no active JUDAS PRIEST. I mean, it was a
great experience. It was fantastic to work with Cozy (Powell) and John (Entwistle), and of course Billy Sheehan and all the guys, all the young
guns from the States, were fantastic to work with and so talented. And I never would have gotten to do that if PRIEST hadn't split up so ...
And also it's great to do solo stuff, because you get music off your chest that isn't totally appropriate for PRIEST. It turned out for the
best in a way, and I'm proud of those albums. And in some point in the future, who knows ... I've got one or two more solo albums in me, I
don't know. I'm sure there will be more. But, of course, my priority and first love will always be JUDAS PRIEST.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net from an article featured at powerlinead.com; interview by Patrick Prince)
back then? I mean, the term was really in its infancy.
Glenn Tipton: We've always felt that we were a heavy metal band and we've always been proud of that tag. I think a lot of bands dropped it
when they thought it wasn't fashionable but we've always been proud to play heavy metal — we always loved to play heavy metal —
particularly JUDAS PRIEST-style heavy metal. It's a movement of music that we've been proud to be a part of and we helped to pave the
way in many aspects of it.
Powerline A.D.: In the documentary "Heavy: The Story of Metal", Scott Ian of ANTHRAX said that British Steel was the album that defined
heavy metal at that time. You think it opened up opportunities not just for JUDAS PRIEST but for heavy metal bands in general?
Glenn Tipton: I think in the sense that, you know, not just British Steel but a lot of PRIEST albums, really. You've always tried to push the
margins wider apart on what people considered to be heavy metal. You don't feel like there have been any rules, or if there are rules,
they're rules that can be broken ... you know, to give a greater strength of character to metal and to give everybody more room to maneuver
and that's what we've always tried to do — and particularly (with) British Steel.
Powerline A.D.: You think many memories of the original British Steel tour in 1980 will come rushing back as you're playing the album in its
entirety now?
Glenn Tipton: Yeah, I think that's the idea, you know. The idea is to recreate the '80s and to go out there and do very nostalgic concerts
for everyone to get involved.
Powerline A.D.: Well, as a fan, I've waited a long time just to hear "Dissident Aggressor" live — all through the 80s it was a dream of mine
to hear that song live, and out of nowhere you guys just picked it for last tour. So I'm trying to envision some songs like that for this tour as
well ..whenever I've seen PRIEST tour, the band always had a strict set list that was played from. Night after night the band never strayed
from that set list. Besides the entirety of British Steel, is the band going to mix up the choice of songs a little on this tour?
Glenn Tipton: We usually stick pretty much to our set because the production size of things, you know. We've been doing this for thirty to
forty years, but guys on the crew haven't, so... when you do production of a PRIEST show you got to think about safety ... and there are
places you shouldn't be at certain points during the set, and once you start mixing things up it's a recipe for disaster. We've had a few bike
accidents in the past so... once we decide on a set, we pretty much tend to keep it the same. With the odd exception. There are nights when
we play extra long encores, or we might throw a different song in for a special occasion.
Powerline A.D.: I heard there will be a replica of the British Steel stage from the 1980 tour?
Glenn Tipton: It will be very reminiscent of the 80s. That's the whole point. To capture the nostalgia. To just recreate that era. (pause) I
got my red trousers back (laughs).
Powerline A.D.: Will you continue to release any solo stuff in the years to come?
Glenn Tipton: I did the solo albums (Baptizm of Fire and Edge of the World) when there was no active JUDAS PRIEST. I mean, it was a
great experience. It was fantastic to work with Cozy (Powell) and John (Entwistle), and of course Billy Sheehan and all the guys, all the young
guns from the States, were fantastic to work with and so talented. And I never would have gotten to do that if PRIEST hadn't split up so ...
And also it's great to do solo stuff, because you get music off your chest that isn't totally appropriate for PRIEST. It turned out for the
best in a way, and I'm proud of those albums. And in some point in the future, who knows ... I've got one or two more solo albums in me, I
don't know. I'm sure there will be more. But, of course, my priority and first love will always be JUDAS PRIEST.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net from an article featured at powerlinead.com; interview by Patrick Prince)