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"A Barbaric - Romantic Movie Of The Mind" - THE VIRGIN
STEELE INTERVIEW - Part II:
And now Josh Block, Edward Pursino & FRANK GILCHRIEST
answer some of Edmund’s Questions ...
 1.
It has been awhile since you were last in Germany. What can we expect
from your performance at the Bang Your Head Festival this summer?
Will there be any special surprises? And what is the feeling like
onstage these days?
Josh’s ANSWER: You can be sure that the performance
at Bang Your Head will be filled with pure energy and power. We
really never play the same set twice. While there are some songs
that we keep in the set, we are always changing and rearranging
others.
Edward’s ANSWER: I`M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
BYH FESTIVAL AND WE`LL PROBABLY DO A NICE COMBINATION OF OLD AND
NEW MATERIAL. I`M NOT QUITE SURE IF THERE WILL BE ANY SURPRISES,
HOWEVER YOU NEVER KNOW. THE FEELING ONSTAGE IS LIKE IT`S ALWAYS
BEEN, INTENSE AND WILD. IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE OUR OLD FRIENDS IN
GERMANY.
2. How does a group like VIRGIN STEELE prepare for such
events?
Josh’s ANSWER: Lots of drugs and alcohol!
No, we generally have a very rigorous rehearsal schedule to prepare
for any concerts that we play. Whether it is just one festival or
a full scale world tour, we are sure to condition ourselves physically
and mentally in order to give our best performance possible.
Edward’s ANSWER: WE REHEARSE QUITE ALOT AND
TRY TO SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE. WE USUALLY PICK THE
BEST SOUNDING SONGS AND RUN WITH THAT.
3. How are things going with the new album? Is it in the
style of HOUSE OF ATREUS, or INVICTUS or what?
 Josh’s
ANSWER: I guess you can say that it takes some elements
from some of the previous albums, but also incorporates a new element
and style of its own. Why would anyone want to do the same thing
twice? People are constantly learning and growing everyday...it
should be the same with music. You can be sure that this album will
be the most over the top album yet.
Edward’s ANSWER: I BELIEVE THE NEW MATERIAL
IS A BIT DIFFERENT, AND DOES TOUCH ON BOTH SIDES. IT`S REALLY JUST
THE NEXT STEP IN VS HISTORY, BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT TO
EXPECT FROM US. I THINK THAT IS WHAT KEEPS IT EXCITING.
4. Can you tell us when it will be issued?
Josh’s ANSWER: Definitely in the not too distant
future. Right now there is a lot of material being selected and
finalized for the album.
Edward’s ANSWER: NO, BUT IT WILL COME OUT
SOMETIME BEFORE 2006.
5. When can we expect a major headlining tour in Europe
of VIRGIN STEELE? What about the USA, any touring plans?
Josh’s ANSWER: All of these plans will be
worked out and arranged, as the album will be released. I am sure
that we will have some major touring plans to support this new release.
We will definitely be hitting all the hot spots in Europe, the US,
outer space ... who knows!?!?
 Edward’s
ANSWER: WE WON`T DO ANY FULL SCALE TOURING UNTIL AFTER
THE NEW RELEASE.
6. What do you remember about the early days, your first
encounter with the Band? How did you come to begin playing together
in the Group? Have you any special stories or memories from that
time?
Josh’s ANSWER: I’ll never forget the
first time I played with the band. It’s been more than 4 years
now. I was only 18 years old (I just turned 23 in these past few
days!!). I was approached by Edward in a local music shop while
jamming on some riffs. I had no Idea that Virgin Steele was without
a bass player for their House of Atreus Act II World Tour. Ed heard
me playing and asked me to learn 6 or 7 songs, which included Invictus
and Through Blood and Fire, and come down and play with the band.
I am guessing that Dave and Frank liked what they heard since I
am still here!!
Edward’s ANSWER: I REMEMBER CLEARLY, JAMMING
WITH DAVID AND MY BROTHER, WHO PLAYS DRUMS, BACK MANY YEARS AGO.
DAVID AND I HAD BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS BEFORE VS, SO AFTER VS1 AND
2, IT WAS JUST TIME TO CREATE THE MAGIC THAT BECAME NOBLE SAVAGE.
IN THE 80`S IT WAS PRETTY WILD THE METAL SCENE WAS BOOMING AND WE
WERE YOUNG AND HORNY MEN WHO LIKED TO DRINK ALL NITE LONG AND HAVE
FUN WITH THE LADIES.
7. What was the inspiration behind your becoming a musician?
What sparked your interest in music, and why did you choose metal
music to be your career?
Josh’s ANSWER: I have been listening to classical
music since I was a baby. It was what inspired me to play the contrabass
in an orchestra for almost 10 years. At the same time I started
playing guitar and there was something about the guitar solos in
heavy metal that made me want to be able to play like that.
Edward’s ANSWER: FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE I LOVED
THE IMAGE OF BEING A GUITARIST IN A ROCK BAND. I LOVED GRAND FUNK,
LED ZEP, QUEEN, AND I FOUND THAT I HAD A SPECIAL GIFT TO PULL IT
OFF.THE WHOLE PERFORMANCE SIDE OF IT WAS AMAZING, AND BACK THEN
THE SHOWS AND RADIO WERE MUCH MORE ROCK INFLUENCED. MY OLDER BROTHER
AND SISTER LISTENED TO MUSIC ALL THE TIME, SO I GREW UP WITH ALL
THE ROCK INFLUENCES. THE METAL SCENE WAS COOL BECAUSE IT WAS GUITAR
ORIENTED AND LOUD!!!
 8.
Hey Josh, The BOOK OF BURNING album is really heavy and great. What
do you remember about those sessions?
Josh’s ANSWER: I really enjoyed those sessions.
Having the opportunity to play guitar on much of that album was
a great experience for me. It was a lot of fun to experiment with
new guitar sounds, and rewrite and rearrange some of the songs with
David. I always enjoy working with David inside and outside the
studio. I am looking forward to the release of the new album, and
eagerly awaiting the Fan’s response to it.
9. And Edward, The NOBLE SAVAGE album is a classic in the
VS Catalogue. What do remember about those days in general, and
more specifically what do you recall about the making of that album?
Edward’s ANSWER: THOSE DAYS WERE REAL SPECIAL,
THE GUYS WERE FUN AS HELL AND THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME WILD SITUATION
HAPPENING.WE DID REHEARSE THE SHIT OUT OF THE MATERIAL AND PLAYED
IT ALL LIVE BEFORE RECORDING A SINGLE NOTE. THE ENGINEER, AL WAS
A BLAST AND I WAS COMPLETELY ON TOP OF MY GAME.
WHEN I LISTEN NOW TO THE ALBUM, I SAY HOLY SHIT, I PLAYED THAT.
WE WERE VERY HUNGRY AND FULL OF ENERGY.THAT ALBUM DID SET THE TONE
FOR LATER YEARS.
 10.
Hail Frank, the INVICTUS album is a VS Classic. What do recall about
those days in general, and more specifically what do you remember
about those sessions?
Frank The Kraken’s ANSWER: The Invictus days
were wild and ferocious. We were on the road constantly and living
the life. The band made a big push into Europe riding the success
of the Invictus album. I believe the Invictus years marked a turning
point in the bands sound both in the studio and live. Dave's vision
of bombastic and beautiful metal weaving around modern and ancient
myths along with incredible orchestrations came down on all of us
like thunder on a warm summer night. Lately I've been listening
to Invictus quite a lot as I set up my drum studio. I've been blasting
it over and over again and having a rip playing along to it. It's
got a pair of balls the size of King Kong's. It's led Dave and I
to throw around the idea of doing a special show were we play that
album straight through as it was recorded. We would be grateful
for any feedback on this idea. Happy New Year to everybody! I look
forward to hanging with everyone this year (You know who you are).
May we all stay Invictus!
Time held me green and dying,
Though I sang in my chains like the sea-Dylan Thomas, "Fern
Hill"
Cheers, The Kraken
Part III ...
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