I think it’s really interesting too how you guys are like this quintessential heavy metal band, but you started before there really was heavy metal. And I remember, for example, the first time I heard Gary Moore, right? It was some of his solo stuff, and I though THAT was heavy metal. But then I read in an interview with him and he said “You know, I’m happy that heavy metal fans like this but I don’t really consider it heavy metal, it’s just whatever it is.” Then I remember reading an interview with Rob Halford and he said “Yes this IS heavy metal. We really embrace this” And then he really had a lot to do with the fashion and I think that’s so cool.
Yes, I’d definitely say that. Well let me just first say that Gary Moore – I totally just love him. I was a big fan right from the first two albums that he made with a band called Skid Row- a three piece from Ireland there.
With Sebastian Bach! (Laughter)
Well, that was later, now everyone thinks ‘Skid Row.’
I KNEW that! In fact, I remember ‘Skid Row’ came out with Sebastian Bach. I thought ‘Can they even use this name?! That’s Gary Moore’s first band!’
Let me tell you the story. Gary Moore was seventeen years old when he did the first record with the band Skid Row and he was already notorious for being the ‘fastest guitar player’ that there was, and I’m sure that he probably was. So those first two records, I played them to death. And the second album is called ‘Thirty Six Hours,’ ‘cause they made it in thirty six hours (laughter).
Oh my god. That’s crazy.
Which is killer. And I actually was fortunate enough to see that original three piece band with Gary Moore, it was absolutely full on.
Whoa!! Where?
It was in a place called Dudley, in England. Uh…the very original…well, it wasn’t actually the original JB’s- there’s still a JB’s there now- which is a nice club, holds a lot of people. But there was a club there called JB’s before that. Judas Priest played the JB’s before the JB’s I’m talking about now, which was actually at the Rugby Club in Dudley, but anyway…That was sometime before electricity I think…. (Laughter)…. Those were the days when you used to have to get in the van- I’d have to get in the van and drive down the road and try and park in a quiet place, tune my guitar. You know because you were playing in a noisy club, there was no electronic tuners and there was nowhere to actually be able to tune your guitar.
Things were very different back then…
No dressing rooms. It was so noisy! And then, so, it was freezing cold. Then you go in and it was all a waste of time because then it heats up and then you just have to tune it by ear anyway. So it was in those crazy days. I’m sure we could talk forever and ever about all those goings on, ya know.
Yeah, touring’s gotten better. I mean, now we have cell phones, internet, e-mail.
Yep. We even travel on the bus and we’ve got satellite, internet, which not always works good, but you know…
It’s made it so much better.
You can imagine in the days gone by when bands like ourselves used to go to America and play a hundred thirty eight shows on one tour, you know? So the phone calls home…it was horrendous. You would spend all you’re per diems (daily allowance) just calling home.
Or the truck stops. I remember the truck stops.
They pay phones, yeah.
…waiting for the pay phones. There’d be this big line, everybody’s waiting, one guys on the phone fighting with his girlfriend, everyone else is getting upset…
No one would ever hold down a decent relationship!
Exactly!
Six thousand miles away? It was not good. I mean literally, I would literally leave home for six or seven months and come back. And my girlfriend, bless her, would say “Sweetheart, have you been loyal to me?’
And what do you say?
I’d go…I’d go… (In loud exaggerated voice); “OF COURSE! OF COURSE!” (Laughter). “ I joined a rock band to become a celibate monk!” (More laughter, high fives). In all fairness, you know, it was a tough sell. You’d have to do the credible thing sometimes and just, you know, as much as you love somebody you’d have to aks yourself you know, am I gonna do this? Or am I gonna settle down and cut the ties with…what I am and who I am?
Well there’s also the matter of honesty in relationships.
And we probably shouldn’t get into that, we’ll get into a whole lot of trouble (laughter).
Yeah, that’s a whole other thing! But you know, listen, I know a lot of people that are touring musicians and in relationships. Some guys can keep their vows or whatever, some, we’re just human, whatever. And I know girls that understand that, they say ‘He’s a musician, I don’t want to know what goes on out there, I just want him to be safe, use protection, and as long as he’s not gonna replace me, I’m fine with that.”
I’ve got to say that it definitely did change my life, and I was told it was gonna change my life when I fist went to like, the United States in particular to tour. You’ve heard the song ‘American Woman stay away from me’ right? It didn’t happen! (Laughter). Well you know, for me being a young, you know, English guy travelling around to all those wonderful places.
And I think it’s like that when you’re American and you travel to other places. There’s this mystique.
It’s one of those things. But anyway, let’s get into safer territory! I’m going to say this now, I think it’s so commendable that you are going to work with the guys from the band in Iraq and definitely keep me updated on that.
They’re huge fans of yours by the way.
And I would just say this: we actually went to Istanbul for the first time, Judas Priest, for the first time last year and I was absolutely blown away, knocked out. And I’m going to tell you why: ‘cause we’ve never ever been there, and there were ten thousand metal maniacs there. Just for one band! We actually had a DJ- that probably sounds bad ‘A DJ!,’ but he was playing all metal- before us. And I knew it was going to be a great night.
He wasn’t playing, like, The Chemical Brothers or The Prodigy, right? (Laughter).
Nah, no, no no! It was full on metal, he was just playing metal tracks. And I knew the way those guys were singing along to those songs that it was going to be a great night. And it was extremely memorable. But I specifically remember seeing some flags in the audience, uh…from Syria and Iraq! Because some of the fans had made it over, you know, boats and busloads. And I was just totally blown away at how full on, how dedicated and how passionate the audiences were. So we know…and we have known…but just to actually see it and experience it- fans there from that part of the world. It was very, very rejoiceful for us, you know, very rewarding. And we very much hope that…well, we know, Alex, it’s a fact that the world is becoming a bigger place. As much as it seems to be getting more small because of the downloading, the industry and whatever…. But the territories have been opening up ever since the wall came down. And we were actually there when it came down in Berlin.
Leaders try to divide us. You wouldn’t think that there’s people in Iraq and these places that are fans of Judas Priest. But there are.
Judas Priest was offered a date in China last year, which we had to decline because the trouble kicked off again. But we’re lucky they’re actually putting that date back together, even this year as we speak, in China. And we know that when the wall came down, obviously, the Eastern Bloc countries- we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to go and play there, in Russia, Latvia, Estonia. And now with China and lots of so called, you know, Malaysian bases opening up for bands like ourselves. It is becoming a bigger place and that is great for metal. And music in general! We’re very, very optimistic for the future. But it remains to be seen what happens between these things…One: should music be free? Should we put albums together so people can access them for free? That’s gonna hurt, not just us but everybody. Some bands, as we said before, established bands- don’t get me wrong, you know- it’s not going to hurt us as bad. But we will say that the younger artists, younger bands- most bands are younger than us these days! And they are bands of the future. It’s those people that we’re going to have to give consideration to.
(I hold up the book I’m reading, Eric Clapton’s autogiography, then talk at length about his resistance to record music in the early days. In the early 60’s, as a blues ‘purist,’ Clapton felt releasing records took away the ‘purity’ of the music, which should only exist ‘live.’ Obviously, he changed his mind.)
There’s always been this battle between being ‘purist’ and being ‘commercial.’ And I kind of feel like we’re at this point where the music industry is in shambles. We have a tradition to pass on, as guitar players and as musicians. Like you’re saying, all these markets are opening up- China, The Middle East. But should we give our music away free? How do we approach this?
I can say this: I can name names that the listeners would know very well. And I’m talking about world class singers, world class guitar players, world class musicians. And they have done really quite well to make a name for themselves over a number of years and made quite a few albums that have done really quite well. But not well enough to financially stabilize those bands for the rest of their lives because life is a long time!
It is.
And now, I was recently with somebody, a good old friend who, like a said before- a great artist, great musician- and he was telling me that he was having to get up at 6:30 in the morning to go to a day job.
And this is a great artist?
This is a great artist. This is an artist that people will know and have records in their collection and admire him…but would probably never DREAM that the guy has to work a day job as well as try to still maintain the level of quality that he and his band put out. And the problem is, you know, when you start to become a semi-professional band and you don’t allocate the amount of time that you need to into your artistry, into your work, you know? And it is a full time job, Alex, you’d have to agree that it’s a full time job.
Twenty four- Seven.
And the thing is, people like the people I’m talking about now, could be helping newer bands, you know, if they were getting the just rewards that they should from their record sales. Publishing royalties, record royalties. So you know, that’s what I’m saying- it’s still THAT level of bands, certain levels that really, you know- they need the remuneration from the records. Because one thing leads to another, bands start to get dropped from record companies, they go to lesser record companies, and its on a slide to nowhere. So all I’m saying is at least an AWARENESS. Whether it’s something that actually needs to be taught in schools, because I do think its something that youngsters now… I was just talking to some fifteen, sixteen year olds and they grew up on it you know? It’s not just music. It’s movies, it’s games, it’s everything really. So like I said before, that will put a lot of people out of work, production. We have to put something back. Something can be relatively cost effective to buy but it can’t be for free.
I agree. I’m sure you feel the same way- really fortunate to be able to have made a living doing music. And its so rare these days, even with talented younger players. And it’s not like it was ever EASY, even when we started. It’s never been an easy choice. But now, it feels almost impossible- with downloading, with record labels folding. There’s what, about two major record labels left…
The horror story is that in the early days, if you had a good, young promising band, whether it’s Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Testament, Def Leppard, or whoever it is… They inevitably had talent. But they didn’t have a way forward without help from record companies, I think it’s fair to say that. Or bona-fide management companies. You know, now, there’s no money in management! So you know, it’s tough now for a manager- for a band to say ‘Will you manage us” and have to say “Where’s the money gonna come from?” and the band is not gonna have an anwer.
Of course not.
So it’s a very, very tough call now, in this day and age. As we’ve said for younger bands to make any headway, unless there’s going to be some serious changes in the industry.
And the fact that you’re helping younger bands, I’m helping younger bands. I wish there was more we could do, but we’re doing what we can do.
I did it once before, for a band called ‘Violent Storm.’ Just to help out, you know. So if someone asks me if I can pitch in, then I’ll have a go at it. Which is a lot of hard work, you know? And making a record, putting a new band together, it costs money everytime you make a phone call, it costs somebody, whether it’s even petrol money!
It was hard back when I get started in the mid-80’s. It was hard when you got started, a bit before that. And it seems like every few years, it gets harder! Anyway, it’s great that you recognize that and those of us who are doing it for a living recognize it.
So I think its fair to say, Alex, that you, ourselves, we’ll all just go forward and continue to battle on. As you said before, from a point of view when you play concerts like this, it gives you the drive to carry on irrespective of whatever’s gonna happen in the industry. We can only voice our opinions and say ‘Hey- this is a good idea, you know, so check it out.’
And this tour’s a good example. None of these bands (Judas Priest, Megadeth, Testament), has been the most popular in our genre. None of us had all the doors open wide for us.
It’s always been a struggle. And even for Priest you know, we can say “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” But you know, we’ve worked hard. And metal has such a great fan base. And without the fans we wouldn’t be here, so it’s all about respect and appreciation to the metal fans all over the world. And whatever the deal is…. Hey guys, if you can afford to pay, or if you think you can, you know, try to. Obviously if you guys are out there in one of the countries- and you all know what countries I’m talking about- if there’s no way forward, that you can actually obtain our music other than a free download, nobody is, I think it’s fair to say, going to begrudge anybody that!
Absolutely. If you think you can pay for it, pay for it!
If you can weasel the money out of your parents like we did (laughter)- to buy yourself a record, you will help…
You’ll help us!
…and you will help the metal superstars of tomorrow, and we need them!
Absolutely. Help us help you!
But for now, we’ll have to say: thanks a lot for all your support and everything that you’ve given already. And you know, the people that we’re talking to out there: we know that you’ve come to the concert, you’ve bought the tickets, you’ve bought the t-shirt you bought the records….
You did the right thing!
And we love you and we appreciate it and will continue to bust our balls for you.
Thank you! And thank you KK Downing!
And thank you Alex. And good luck to you and Testament for the rest of your lives!