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Rob Rock sodi v ligo najimenitnejših pevcev heavy metala in hard rocka! Preden se je odločil za solo kariero je opravljal "tlako" prvega pevca izvajalcev kot so Joshua Band, Angelica, Impellitteri, Axel Rudi Pell, Warrior. Med drugim je denimo njegov vokal vodilni na super projektu M.A.R.S. (MacAlpine, Aldridge, Rock, Sarzo), ki je izdal ploščo "Project: Driver". To je torej visoko cenjeni pevec, bogatih izkušenj, ki se odlično znajde tudi na polju eksekucije hard rocka, vselej obdan z glasbeno spremljavo vrhunskih instrumentalistov.
RockLine: Pozdravljen Rob in hvala, da si si vzel čas za tale klepet. Še vedno po vseh teh letih osupneš z vokalnimi sposobnostmi. Prav zahvaljujoč temu si pridobil mnogo oboževalcev po svetu. Kako ti uspeva ohranjati vokal v tako dobri kondiciji preko svoje dolgoletne kariere?
Rob: Izogibam se škodljivim navadam. Ognem se hladnih napitkov kolikor je mogoče. Prav tako vokala ne izkoriščam za vsako ceno. Menim, da se je moj vokal izboljšal danes zato, ker zveni "debelejše", v primerjavi z mojimi začetki. Vse to je povezano z določenimi tehnikami, ki sem jih razvil skozi leta v studiu in na koncertih. Vzdrževanje vokala v dobti kondiciji postane tako tvoj življenjski slog. Včasih je treba žrtvovati nekatere stvari, da bi zaščitil in ohranil svoj vokal. Resnično pazim, da ne pijem alkohola, ne kadim, da ne kričim ter v splošnem ne počnem stvari, ki bi poškodovale moj vokal. Prav tako ne pojem kadar imam vneto grlo. Na vajah prav tako ne pojem na polno. Ko pa moraš zasijati v studiu ali na odru, potem pa seveda vzamem poln zalet in se ne zadržujem.
RockLine: Vrniva se skozi čas v preteklost. Kariero si prčel kot bobnar, kako se je zgodilo da si postal pevec, za povrhu zelo dober pevec?
Rob: Ko sem bobnal, sem istočasno tudi pel spremljevalne vokale. Tako sem vseskozi pel in menim, da zato, ker sem istočasno bobnal, mi je to pomagalo razviti občutek za tempiranje, naglaševanje in ritem za vokalno melodijo in njeno izvajanje.
RockLine: Tvoja prva zasedba so bili Vice. Zatem superskupina M.A.R.S. Kako si se znašel v obeh zasedbah, kaj je šlo narobe, da niste izvedli nikoli nobene turneje?
Rob: Poklical me je Mike Varney, ki je produciral album. Potem sem odletel z letalom v Los Angeles, kjer sem opravil avdicijo s skupino. Do turneje ni nikoli prišlo, ker sta Rudy (Rudy Sarzo, bas kitara, op.p.) in Tommy (Tommy Aldridge, bobni, op.p.) sprejela ponudbo Davida Coverdalea in se odločila, da se priključita Whitesnake turneji.
RockLine: Potem si srečal Chrisa Impellitterija leta 1987. Kako je prišlo do tega sodelovanja in kako ste se znova združili leta 1992?
Rob: Chris in jaz sva bila del skupine, ki je preigravala priredbe. To je bil leta 1985 v Novi Angliji. V tej skupini sva bila kako leto. Ohranila sva stik in ko je on potreboval vokalista - imel je pripravljene demo posnetke, sem se mu pridružil. Napisal in posnel sem ducat pesmi z njim, ki so končale na EPju. Jaz sem se zatem pridružil zasedbi Joshua Band, ki je imela pogodbo z založbo RCA Records, Chris pa je dobil pogodbo z Relativity Records. Leta 1992 me je znova poklical. Bil je vezan z pogodbo za Japonski trg in moral je posneti album. Zelo dobro sva sodelovala takrat, pa tudi na Japonskem nama je šlo zelo dobro.
RockLine: Skozi leta si prispeval vokal na številnih odličnih albumih izvajalcev, kot: Joshua, Angelica, Driver, Axel Rudi Pell. Kateri trenutek bi označil za vrhunec kariere in kako je bilo na evropski turneji leta 2000, ko si odpiral koncerte pred Axel Rudi Pellom? Če se prav spominjam si prispeval vokale za Axlov album "Nasty Reputation" v tem obdobju, na turnejo pa se mu nisi mogel pridružiti. Zakaj? Ste s skupinama Joshua in Angelica kdaj izvedli turneje?
Rob: Eden mojih vrhuncev kariere so bile javne avdicije s skupino Driver pred mnogimi založniškimi hišami. Kako veličasten bend je to bil! Žal pa nas nobena od založb ni hotela, saj je vso pobudo na radijskih postajah prevzemal takrat "grunge". Temu so se v ZDA prilagajale tudi založbe in pričele iskati mnoge nove izvajalce, s katerimi so sklepale pogodbe. Ko sem posnel album z Axel Rudi Pellom, je šlo v mojem primeru bolj ali manj za nekakšen studijski nastop, ko pa je Axel Rudi Pell načrtoval turnejo za promocijo albuma, pa sem se pred tem že znova priključil k Impellitteri, zato se žal nisem mogel priključiti "Nasty Reputation" turneji. Ko je moja skupina odpirala koncerte po Evropi leta 2000, kot predskupina Axla Rudija Pella, je bila to zame nepozabna izkušnja. V Evropi je nekaj čudovitih ljudi v glasbenem poslu in Axel je eden izmed takšnih. Ta skupna turneja je bila zelo uspešna in vsi smo bili zelo zadovoljni ob njenem zaključku. S skupinama Joshua in Angelica nisem nikoli bil vključen v koncertne turneje.
RockLine: Kje si spoznal Roy Z-ja? Skupaj sta obnovila Driver, napisala skupaj nekaj pesmi, vendar do izdaje albuma ni prišlo. Skupaj veliko sodelujeta, napisala sta tudi skladbo Change Of Heart, ki jo je spopulariziral Iron Maiden vokalist Bruce Dickinson, ko jo je vključil na svoj album "Balls To Picasso" leta 1994. No leta 2008 pa je le izšel tudi Driver album "Sons Of Thunder"....
Rob: Roya sem spoznal potem, ko sem zapustil Joshua Band. Ko smo ustanavljali Driver, mi je Joshua Band kolega basist Emil Lech priskočil na pomoč in predstavil Roya, ki ga je osebno poznal. Povabili smo Roya k meni domov in debatirali o zadevah. Kasneje smo posneli profesionalni demo šestih skladb in ga razposlali naokrog različnim založbam. V obdobju enega leta, ko smo čakali, da se razpletejo za nas stvari ugodno v zvezi z iskanjem ustrezne založbe, smo ustvarjali nove skladbe in nove demo posnetke. Odpravili smo se na Vzhodno obalo in skušali dobiti pogodbo s kako založbo iz New Yorka. Skoraj bi nam uspelo z Atlantic Records, a so nas na koncu znova odslovili, saj je glasbena industrija iskala skupine z "Seattle zvokom". Veliko skladb sva ustvarila v dveh letih in odigrala tudi nekaj skupnih koncertov po vzhodni obali ZDA. Skladbo Change Of Heart sva prav tako napisala v tem obdobju ter kasneje posnela še enkrat za album "Sons Of Thunder". V obdobju ko sva skušala z Royem zagnati Driver je demo posnetek s skladbo Change Of Heart slišal tudi Bruce Dickinson in bila mu je zelo všeč. Delno jo je predelal in jo vključil na njegov samostojni studijski album. Trenutno delamo na tem, da se lotimo snemanja novega Driver albuma v letošnjem letu. Znova zbiramo spisek založb, ki bi bile za nas aktualne in bi lahko album izšel po celem svetu. Uradno bomo v kratkem objavili naše načrte v zvezi s tem.
RockLine: V devetdesetih si bil znova zaposlen z Impellitteri, koncertirali ste izdatno predvsem na Japonskem. Zaradi katerega vzroka vas ni bilo nikoli v Evropo?
Rob: Japonska je bila zelo naklonjena do nas. Tam smo posneli veliko albumov in izvedli veliko turnej. Albumi pa niso bili nikoli uradno izdani tudi za Evropski trg, zato menim da je to verjetni razlog, da tudi v Evropi nikdar nismo nastopali. Vselej smo si prizadevali pridobiti ameriško založbo, a te so bile vselej zainteresirane zgolj za trende oziroma zadnje modne krike. Vrhunci sodelovanja z Impellitteri so zame vedno bile koncertne turneje. Na Japonskem so nas resnično vselej prekrasno sprejemali.
RockLine: Kako pišeta skupaj pesmi s Chrisem?
Rob: Vedno ustvariva pesmi tako, da je pred tem že ustvarjena podlaga s kitarskimi frazami. Samo napišem verze za te riffe ter preko osnove nadgradim z melodijami. Med nama vlada resnično vselej dobra kemija kadar ustvarjava skladbe.
RockLine: Kako je nastal tvoj prvi samostojni studijski album, na so sodelovali tudi nekateri zvezdniki, denimo Ozzyjev kitarist Jackie E. Lee?
Rob: Za moj prvi album sva spravila vse skupaj Roy Z in jaz. Bobne je odigral za moj prvi album Driver bobnar Butch Carlson. Mi trije smo bili bazična struktura skupine, ki je snemala album. Z Royem sva imela prirpavljenih ogromno idej, ki so se nakopičile skozi leta. Tu sva začela in iz teh idej spisala nekaj zares odličnih skladb za album. Zavedala sva se da imava v rokavu izredno močan album, saj so vse te skladbe prestale preizkus časa. So vsebinsko zelo močne, saj so se razvijale preko več let. Ta album je zapustil močan vtis in zato je pomenil odlično odskočnico zame v nadaljevanju samostojne kariere. Z Royem poznava dobrega kokega Chrisa Leibengut-a, ki je poznal Jake E. Lee-a. Tako sva vprašala Jakea, če bi prispeval kakšno solažo za album. Privolil je in bil sem zelo presenečen. Njegova prisotnost je pritegnila še več pozornosti in še več zanimanja med ljudmi.
RockLine: Kakšna pa je prihodnost za tvojo samostojno kariero? Preteklo je kar nekaj časa od tvoje zadnje studijske plošče...
Rob: Potem ko sem posnel svoj album "Garden of Chaos", pa "Sons of Thunder" z Driver in za njima še "Wicked Maiden" za Impellitteri, sem si želel za nekaj časa čim dlje od studiev. Tako smo posneli Rob Rock koncert na festivalu Progpower v Atlanti. Ta koncertni album je tako postal peta izdaja moje Rob Rock kariere, po studijskih albumih "Rage of Creation", "Eyes of Eternity", "Holy Hell" in "Garden of Chaos". Koncertni posnetek je izšel tudi v obliki DVDja. Zelo sem zadovoljen z rezultati in z odzivi oboževalcev. Neadvbna sem gostoval na nekaj albumih mojih prijateljev in veselim se naslednjega Rob Rock albuma, vendar pa ti trenutno še ne morem dati kakršnihkoli bolj konkretnih informacij in podrobnosti v zvezi s tem.
RockLine: Z Impellitteri si izdal tudi njihov zadnji album "Wicked Maiden" ki je bil zelo dobro sprejet, prav tako ste izvedli nekaj koncertov na festivalih po Evropi, kakšni so načrti za prihodnje za Imellitteri?
Rob: Chris si je želel, da bi posnel album, s katerim bi ujel originalni Impellitteri zvok, ki sva ga ujela z EPjem "Black". Poklical me je in povprašal, če sem slučajno zainteresiran, da bi posnela skupaj novi Impellitteri album in ponudbo sem sprejel. Pogrešal sem tudi sam Impellitteri zvok in energijo, zato sem bil zelo navdušen nad to ponujeno priložnostjo, da napiševa skupaj s Chrisem nov album, saj so le ti vselej nekaj posebnega, predvsem zaradi specifik, ki jih pooseblja značilna tehnika in pristop Chrisovega igranja kitare. Pravkar se ubadava s tem, da bi spravila skupaj nekaj koncertnih datumov za Evropo in ZDA. Ko bo "Wicked Maiden" izdan tudi v ZDA, bomo tudi tam opravili nekaj dodatnih promocijskih koncertov.
RockLine: Kako to da je prišlo do odpovedi skupne turneje Rob Rock s Primal Fear po Evropi leta 2004?
Rob: Resnično sem si želel na to skupno turnejo s Primal Fear za promocijo mojega "Eyes Of Eternity" albuma leta 2004, a se žal načrti niso izšli, tako kot smo si vsi želeli.
RockLine: Rob, hvala za tvoj dragoceni čas, želim ti mnogo uspeha v nadaljevanju vseh aktivnosti.
Rob: Hvala za tvojo in vašo podporo. Upam, da bom lahko za vse vas čim prej zapel na odrih. Prav tako si želim, da bi lahko v kratkem nastopil v Sloveniji.
vprašanja pripravil: Jani Mihevc Cah
besedilo prevedel in uredil: Aleš Podbrežnik
fotografije: Aleš Podbrežnik
Na fotografijah: Rob Rock med nastopom s skupino Driver, dne 27.06.2009, na fesstivalu Bang Your Head!!! v nemškem Balingenu - RockLine koncertna reportaža TUKAJ (RockLine fotoarhiv 2006-2011, vse pravice pridržane)
english version:
RockLine: How do you keep your vocals in such strong and good shape over the years?
Rob: I just stay away from harmful habits and avoid colds as much as possible. I try not to abuse my voice in any way and hope for the best. I think it gets better because it is sounding thicker now, compared to when I first started out. That has to do with some techniques I've developed over the years of studio and live performances.
RockLine: Let's go little back in time. I know you've started as a drummer...
Rob: When I was drumming I was also singing backing vocals. So I was always singing and I think because I was drumming at the same time, it helps develop timing, phrasing, and rythym for vocal melody and performances.
RockLine: Your first band was Vice. After Vice you continued in supergroup M.A.R.S. How did you join them?
Rob: I got a call from Mike Varney who was producing the album. Then I flew out to L.A. To do a live, on the spot, audition with the band. We ended up not touring because Rudy and Tommy went on tour with Whitesnake instead.
RockLine: Then you met Chris Impelliettri and record an EP back in 1987. You've joined forces again in 1992. Can you tell me a litlle more how you guys meet and start the whole thing?
Rob: Chris and I were in a cover band for about a year in 1985 in New England. Since then we kept in touch and when he needed a singer for his demos, I stepped in and wrote and recorded a dozen songs with him to make the EP. Then I joined Joshua Band on RCA Records and he later ended up getting a deal with Relativity Records. In 1992 he called me again because he had a new Japanese deal and needed to make another album. We work so well together that we decided to join forces once again and conquer Japan.
RockLine: Over the years you worked as a band member in bands such as Joshua, Angelica, Driver, Axel Rudi Pell.... You were opening band in 2004 for European tour with Axel Rudi Pell. What was your personal highlight of your musical career?
Rob: One of my highlights in Los Angeles was showcasing for many record labels with my band Driver. What a great band! Unfortunately we did not get signed then as „grunge" was taking over radio in the States and the labels were moving in that direction for new artist signings. When I did the A.R.P. Album, it was a studio gig for me, and when it came time for the release and tour, I was already back with Impellitteri so I did not go on the Nasty Reputation tour. When my solo band played on tour with Axel in 2000, it was a great bill and a great experience. There are some wonderful people in this business and Axel is one of them. We had a succesful tour and everyone had a great time doing it. I did not tour with Joshua or Angelica.
RockLine: Where did you find Roy Z? You and him started band Driver, and wrote a few songs. Among them is also Change of heart, which come popular when Bruce Dickinson released his solo album "Balls To Picasso"? Finally, you've released also a Driver album in 2008.
Rob: I met Roy Z when I left the Joshua Band. Emil, the bassist of Joshua, knew Roy Z and as we were putting Driver together, we asked Roy to come over my house and discuss things. We recorded a six song professional demo and shopped that around to the record labels for a year, as we continued to demo more and more songs on a 4 track recorder. We then went to the East Coast to try and get signed in New York. We came very close with Atlantic Records but in the end they passed because the music scene was looking at Seattle for bands and a new sound. We wrote a lot of songs together over a two year period and played some dates on the East Coast as well. We wrote „Change of Heart" during that time and then re-recorded it for the „Sons of Thunder" CD. Bruce heard the original demo in between time and liked the song so he re-wrote some of it for his own solo album. We are looking to record a new Driver album in 2011 and once we line up a few labels for a worldwide release, we will officially announce our plans.
RockLine: In 90's you where fully occupied with Impellitteri. Band mostly recorded and toured over the years in Japan. What was a reason, that you guys never came to Europe?
Rob: Japan was very good for us as we released many albums and did many tours there. The CD's were not officially released in Europe so I suppose that is why we didn't tour there. We were always seeking a US label but the US was only interested in the latest trends. The tours were the highlight for me. We got the royal treatment over there and the fans were always so nice and so crazy about the band. We always wrote the songs based on the guitar riffs and then I would write my lyrics and melodies over that foundation. We have a really good chemistry when it comes to songwriting so it works out well for us.
RockLine: Tell us something more about your first solo release "Rage Of Creation" (2000).
Rob: For my first solo album, it was Roy and I putting it all together. I also asked Butch Carlson from Driver to play the drums for me and that was the basic structure of the band for recording. Roy and I had a lot of song ideas together over the years so we started with that, and then wrote more songs to make a great album. The songs we picked all stand the test of time, so we knew we had a very strong album for a strong first impression for my solo career.
We have a good friend Chris Leibengut who knew Jake E Lee. And we asked Jake to contribute to the album for us. I was very happy and surprised when he agreed, and his presence on the album made even more people interested in hearing it.
RockLine: What is a future goal for Rob Rock as a band? It's been a while since your last Rob Rock studio release.
Rob: After recording Garden of Chaos, then Sons of Thunder, then Wicked Maiden, I was ready for a break from the studio. So we recorded the „live" Rob Rock set at the Progpower festival in Atlanta. That recording became my fifth RR release after Rage of Creation, Eyes of Eternity, Holy Hell and Garden of Chaos. I am really happy to have a live album and DVD now, and I am very happy with the result and response from the fans. I have guested on a few albums recently for my friends and I am looking forward to my next RR release, but to this day, I don't have any specific details to announce yet.
RockLine: Are you going to record another Impellitteri album, after release of critically acclaimed "Wicked Maiden" in 2008?
Rob: Chris wanted to go back to the original Impellitteri sound we captured on the Black EP. He called me up and asked if I was interested in doing another Impellitteri album and I agreed. I miss the Impellitteri sound and energy and I was eager to write another great album with Chris and his special style of guitar. Right now we are seeking to put together some tour dates for 2011 in Europe and the USA. We are looking to do some more live shows to promote Wicked Maiden as it gets released in the USA.
RockLine: In 2004 you were forced to cancel European tour as a support for German power metallers Primal Fear.
Rob: I really wish I could have toured with Primal Fear with my Eyes of Eternity album in 2004 but it didn't work out then.
RockLine: Thank you for your precious time and wish you all the best in future.
Rob: Thank you for your support and I look forward to singing for you as soon as possible! I hope to get the chance to play in Slovenia very soon.
interview conducted by: Jani Mihevc Cah
text edited by: Aleš Podbrežnik
photogallery: Aleš Podbrežnik
On the pictures: Rob Rock during gig with Driver, on 27th of June 2009 (venue: Bang Your Head!!! festival, Balingen, Germany) - RockLine concert report HERE!
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