Wish I could take a photo of his looking handsome (yes, he is, but this photo is just funny…..)
タグ: English
CC-ROCK – E-mail interview with Peter & Anssi (2006) (English)
*New AOR project from Sweden!*
A new AOR project from Sweden, CC-ROCK with Peter Lundin and Anssi Alatalo. They come from the same town as T’BELL guys and finished The EP with 4 tracks with help from Patrik Tibell and Roger Ljunggren for T’BELL. They’re looking for a label to have a contract. Not only fans of AOR and T’BELL, but also melodic HR fans will love their music! S-ROCK had an e-mail interview with the guys.
(added in February 2007)
The tracks on CC-ROCK – s/t which was out on the 21st of February 2007 will not be on their full album in the future or other CDs, if you’re interested in their materials, please buy the mini album!
S-ROCK: First of all, what does the band name “CC-ROCK” mean?
Peter: Actually it came from my own internet domain, which I had for my own use. We thought it sounded cool, so we decided to use it as a working name, and it’s still there.. There are no thoughts behind the name except it did sound pretty cool and fresh.
Anssi: It just don´t mean anything, we just took the website name that Peter owned, thought it sounds cool..
S-ROCK: Would you introduce each of the tracks on the EP? Which track is your favorite?
Peter: When we started the project our main purpose was to create a record that had the melodic power of the eighties but with more energy, and a new and more modern production. The energy in the songs was important for the whole project, and now, with the EP in our hands we’re more then thrilled, by the way it turned out.
Wanna Feel Like The First Time:
This track has the strongest AOR feeling in it, with a magnificent chours and a wonderful melody that brings back memories from the early eighties.
The Best I Can:
This is the track that actually got us going with the project. It is a track that has a lot of energy and a pure rock’ n’ roll feeling with aggressive guitars and straight ahead melody.
Angel:
This is a fantastic song, it gives me goose pimples. This track sticks out a little bit from the other tracks, with a refrain that absolutely blow your mind of.
My Special Lady:
Energy, pure energy, and more energy. I love the guitars in this track and it is just a perfect finishing track of the EP. When the track has ended you just want more…could it be better.
When it comes to pick a favourite it’s hard for me. When I listen to a track it’s my favourite at the moment, and when the next track plays that’s my favourite. I have really tried to pick a favourite, but I can’t…
Anssi Alatalo (G)
Anssi: The songs have a little bit different style, to cover as many listners as possible, my favorite track is “My Special Lady”. But every song has is own good parts.
S-ROCK: What inspires you to have ideas of creating music?
CC-ROCK: Our insperation do we get from the world and friends around us. It is sometimes very hard and stressful, but it is also filled with a lot of pleasent moments. We’re trying to catch those small moments in the life.
S-ROCK: Any intersting story during the recording?
Peter: All the laugh, we had together. There are a few crazy stories but this isn’t the right place…
Anssi: We were always amazed how Patrik bringing the little extra and listen to us how we wanted it to sound.
S-ROCK: Would you describe your partner for CC-ROCK? How about yourself?
Peter: Anssi is the calm and safe person of us. I have known Anssi since the early childhood and we grew up together under the eighties with one big interest..the music. We went to see all the shows and got crazy together. He has always been one of my absolutely best friends in life.
Myself??? I’m the crazy one I think. I like to have fun all the time, and love to see people laugh.
Anssi: I have known Peter since the early -80th i always thought he is crazy rock dude and good friend, he always been the mad and funny guy.
My self:I have always been the quiet background guy who always going my own way.
S-ROCK: How did you get to know Patrik and Roger? How do you describe each of the guys?
Peter: I meet Patrik when we we’re planning to do this project, I have only heard ‘bout him before. To describe Patrik for me would be something like this: A guy who is a extremely talented musician, and a hell of a producer, and who could catch the feeling in the sound we we’re looking for.
Roger and I got to be really good friends also through this project. We have always had mutual friends. Roger is one hell of a guitarist, songwriter and inspiration for me. Everything he do is made by perfection and he has that little fingertip feeling when it comes to create music. Besides that he is a very very good friend.
Anssi: Patrik I known since the time he played with TRACE. Patrik is very funny guy, who says what he want.
Roger have I known since the mid-80th as musician, but also as a friend. Roger is Mr.Perfect him self and he is always on time, and one hell of a guitarist.
Peter Lundin (G)
S-ROCK: What is your goal as a musician? How about as yourself?
Peter: My goal as a musician has always been to have fun and share a mutual interest with my friends. The feeling of being a part of creating something that effects other people and bring them joy is a strong driving force for me. This is one of my goals in life to, try to look on the bright side of life and hopefully bring that feeling to others.
Anssi: Nr.1 is always to play for fun.
S-ROCK: Let us know your favourite musicians and bands.
Peter: This one is a tough one..I love to listen to music that get me outlet for my feelings. I listen to everything from CHICAGO to MOTORHEAD. But at the most it is music such as JOURNEY, TNT, and a lot of the 80’s heavy metal scene.
As an musician I love great guitar heroes, and a lot of Blues guitarists. Blues players have always been a great influence for me.
Anssi: To many but here is some: Brent Mason, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Morse, KANSAS, Jay Graydon, DREAM THEATER, A.C.T, MOTORHEAD, Shania Twain.
S-ROCK: Would you give your message to your fans who read this interview?
Peter: I really really hope that you will like, love and find the happiness in this EP. And of course have a great time listening to it. Have all the best…
Anssi: I hope you love the songs as much as we already do..hope to see ya one day.
(Discography)
CC-ROCK – s/t (MICP-10641)
SPEEDY GONZALES – Interview with Thomas Vikström (Vo) (2005) (English)
*The legendary band comes back*
The legendary band SPEEDY GONZALES which left a demo tape with 8 tracks and “disappeared” finally comes back! The singer Thomas Vikström and guitar player Tommy Denander who both ever work for many bands and projects, they have Marcel Jacob (B) and Daniel Flores (Ds) this time and recorded previous songs again,
added some new songs. Their album “ELECTRIC STALKER” was out in Japan from GENCROSS/ATTIC ARCADE on the 23rd of November 2005. In Europe it’ll be out from AOR HEAVEN in January 2006.
This time we had an interview with Thomas Vikström through MSN Messenger.
S-ROCK: How did the band start?
Thomas V: Okey…It started right after TALK OF THE TOWN splitted. Me and my old friend Tommy Denander started to write songs together and it went of so well so we said: Let’s start a band!! We later on had Mats “Dalton” Dahlberg on the drums, Thomas Ahlstrand keyboards and Staffan Linder on the bass. So most of the songs on the album were written back then!
S-ROCK: According to GENCROSS, The band name “SPEEDY GONZALES” came from a Warner Bros. cartoon. Who brought the idea?
Thomas V: Ha ha good question…At that time Tommy was a little bit chubby and over weight and he’s not so tall. We putted a mexican poncho on him and he looked exactly like Speedy Gonzales!! I like the name!! I remember he came up with it when he looked in the mirror!
S-ROCK: The band stopped activities in 1992, it’s just because you joined CANDLEMASS?
Thomas V: No! We did not get along too well at that time. There were a lot of personal problems in speedy at that time unfortunately! So I got tired of it and when CANDLEMASS asked me to join I jumped aboard at once!! But today we are grown up men!! Well…a little bit!!
S-ROCK: How do you describe each song from the album?
Thomas V: Desires Of The Flesh: One of the new tracks. It’s a straight forward heavy metal song. It’s about those sick people in Austria. One of the guys announced after a guy who had a desire to be eaten up alive. And he got an answer, they met and ate him bit for bit until he died. The story is true happened last year I think! There is a lot of twistwed minds out there.
Dominator: Fast and agressive with a lot of inspiration from RAINBOW’s “Spotlight kid”. Wrote the lyrics together with Anders Tegner. It’s About a Bombplane (WWII) named The Dominator and it’s pilot. One of my favourites!!
Men With Medals: A Theatrical ballad. Originally called The Death Row. Anders Tegner Changed it to Men With Medals. Because of the war in Iraq that was goin’ on back then.
Spit In The Hand That Feeds You: A song that is new. A lot of old TALISMAN sound in it I think. It’s about my ex-wife who constantly asked for things and money while she was notoriously unfaithful behind my back!! A lot of anger in that one! Even if it’s very commercial and melodic song! You can spit in the hand that feeds you..that is what she did!
S-ROCK: Sorry to hear what happened to you.
Thomas V: Yes, but it’s over now.
Lust And Desire: A fast typically eightes song with a very eighties lyric…A good live song!
Elecric Stalker: A new track which I wanted to sing in falsetto style because it’s so fun and suited the song well. It’s about that feeling you can have sometimes that something or someone watching you but nothing is there. I like it!!
Make Love In Red: Is about a lady I once met (way back) That had worked for the old KGB in Russia……Very childish lyrics, but we were childish at this time and the eighties and the early ninetees was like this! But… Even though i’m older today I’m still a little childish …Good punchy chorus!!
Free Like An Eagle: Well the song speaks for itself. Re-recorded TALK OF THE TOWN song. I wanted to try to sing it the way I sang back then! Not as easy as I thought!
In Stockholm, June 2005.
S-ROCK: Really? You did a very good job for the song.
Thomas V: Thank you!!!!
Shock The Nation: *laughing* I remember Tommy came up with that riff and we started to write. And the song just never ended…A typical album track!!
Flash Of The Blade: A very cool song in my opinion. The riff Tommy came up with is a killer! Originally we had rap in the verse parts. But it sounded very crappy so I went into the studio now and just improvised around the words. I like the lyrics!!
Do You Know Where The Kids Go: A song that has been around like forever. We did it with TALK OF THE TOWN but we changed the title to “Is It All That You’re Good For”, But we took the original lyrics back. It’s about look after your children and take care about them!!
Trial By Fire: A song that I had a hard time to write melody and lyrics around. and I like easy work so this is the poorest song on the album in my opinion. But it’s not bad!
S-ROCK: Any plan to do some gigs with the band? And any future plans?
Thomas V: Yes!!! We really want to do gigs everyone of us! It’s only about if someone asks us!! We will be there!!
S-ROCK: You should come to Japan as well.
Thomas V: I am soon the only one in this business that hasn’t been to Japan! I would love it!! But I know I have people over there that like my work!
S-ROCK: How do you describe other members in the band?
Thomas V: Okay!!
Tommy Denander: A guy I can sit and laugh together with on the phone for hours (And I’m not a phone guy) And the most talented guitar player I ever met. A great songwriter also. And a very good keyboard player!! A guy with a BIG heart!!!
Marcel Jacob: I was touring with him in Talisman. I had a lot of respect for him back then and I still have!! But I’m not afraid of him anymore…His bass ability is magic. And he is my opposite: “Think first then do”. I am more of “Do first then think”. Opposites attract and we are a good combination. A very good friend!
Our little drummer boy Daniel Flores: A great guy and a great drummer with roots in Chile, South America. Very easy to work with, very humble guy that will stand up for his friends whatever happens!! He is also the one in the band that every girl wanna go after!! (he is not free sorry!) It’s time for me to leave the crown to someone else!!!
S-ROCK: And yourself?
Thomas V: Okay!!! Its very hard to describe myself, but I give it a try. I love to sing that’s why I’m still doin it. I started to play the drums but I got to little attention. I’m a very kind guy that cries when I see E.T for example or the LION KING.. I’m always stressed on my way somewhere. I’m always late(but I’m working on it) According to the stress I forget stuff all the time. My friends and Particularely my girlfriend think I’m disorganized. Probably true!! I’m almost never angry, Live together with a girl and her two daghters an my kids and two dogs so….PLEASE BUY THE RECORD!!! I NEED THE MONEY….
S-ROCK: A question about yourself. What are you doing these days? We’re looking forward to your 2nd solo album!
Thomas V: As you know I sing a lot of other stuff that is far from rock and heavy metal. I’m doing a lot of Christmas shows these days. I still writing on my solo album. Like I said before I’m never in time, but I will show up. And the album will be out!!!
S-ROCK: Would you give a message to your fans?
Thomas V: Please please let me come to Japan once!!! I have heard so much about you!! And I will sing for hours for you!!!!! I love you all!! Yours, Thomas V
(Discography)
ELECTRIC STALKER
Japan: GENCROSS/ATTIC ARCADE, November, 2005
Europe: METAL HEAVEN, January 2006
Thomas Vikström – STORMWIND (2005) (English)
Thomas Vikström has been working so hard on tour during the break of this STORMWIND break. He’s also working for his awaited 2nd album, SPEEDY GONZALES and as a backing/guest singer for many bands. The 2nd solo album was expected this summer, he should work more for it and the release date is not yet confirmed.
Patril Tibell – T’BELL (2005) (English)
Patrik has been very busy as a producer and an engineer at studio. 5 years have passed as he’s been too busy to have time for T’BELL. Now they’re planning to record a new song to release. Patrik and Roger have been involved with the Swedish idol project FAME FACTORY.
WIG WAM – Sporty (Ds) (2005) (English)
Sporty is described as a funny guy in the band. It seems he jokes a lot, unfortunately we don’t understand when he says something in Norwegian. When I gave him a letter, he said “A Christmas present?”
He is another guy who loves Sushi in the band. He, Glam and their tour manager are united as “Sushi Union”. I hope to go to Sushi restaurants with you guys when you come to Japan, Sporty!
Sporty prepares perfectly, brings his luggage with him when he comes downstairs to have breakfast – when Glam has to finish his breakfast quickly to pack his luggages!
I’ve seldom seen Sporty online at the official forums before, hope to see him there!
Sporty always noticed that I was going to take a photo of the band. Tusen takk!
You see the sun still shines a bit on the photo, it’s midnight sun in summer in Scandinavia…..it was around 11pm!
Thomas wolf – STORMWIND (2005) (English)
STORMWIND has been having a break for a while. Thomas Wolf has been working for TV materials these days and says “The time is not for melodic HR these days”. Hopefully the band will be together again next year…..?
Diesel Dahl (Ds) – TNT (2005) (English)
Dag Selboskar (key) – EIDSIVATING, DA VINCI (2005) (English)
Dag Ingebrigtsen (Vo) (2005) (English)
We never had a chance to meet him even when we know the same people like Diesel. He’s a really nice person before he is a famous rock star in Norway. He’s working really hard for his next solo album and let us listen to some songs from the album. We really love the songs and hope he continues singing AOR-style music.
DAG INGEBRIGTSEN OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://www.dagingebrigtsen.no/