Interview with Pete Sandberg of Silver Seraph
Interviewed By Anders Sandvall
Thanks to Regain records for the promo-pictures
I met up with Pete Sandberg in a coffee-shop here in Malmö Sweden to
talk about his latest project Silver Seraph that he is doing whit Richard Andersson (Majestic). Pete was very sympathetic and very
interesting to talk to.
How did you start the project with Richard Andersson (Majestic) and
how did you get to know Richard? Why did you chose to call the project
Silver Seraph?
I got to know Richard from the time with Rostinghouse management. We had
the same management. I have known Richard five years. During that
time Richard thought, we ought to do something together. He has asked
and asked but not until now have we had the time. The name comes
from the Greek mythology and Silver Seraph is the good angel.
Is this a project or a band?
This is me and Richards project.
Did you know the other guys from before?
I knew Jens from before. He is playing bass and the guitarist Jorgen
has taken part in my former project Jade. I didn’t know Peter, who plays
the drums, before.
How do you like your singing on the record as a whole? When did you
start singing?
Quite satisfied! The sound is good and everyone in the band has done
a very good job. I started singing when I was living in Norway and I was
nine years old and I listened to
radio Luxemburg and I heard the song ”Love hurts” and then I knew that I
wanted to be a singer.
Are you going to tour on the record?
No tour on the record. Every member of the band is occupied with
their own bands.
Who has written the material for the record?
Richard has done all the music and I have done the lyrics. The
lyrical content is Greek mythology, the Good against the Evil and I like
to write theme-records for example my solo-record ”Push” which is about
my divorce from my wife.
Is it going to be a follow-up on this debut-album?
A follow-up of Silver Seraph is uncertain. I have another project
coming out after the summer and it is called Opus Atlantica. On
this one there will be a follow-up.
What’s your opinion on Richard as keyboard player?
He is a master in world-class.
What do you listen to when you are at home?
Black Sabbath (the Tony Martin-era), Ozzy-all solo- records,
Whitesnake. I don’t listen to the new-metal (ed. note:
mallcore). It’s like
Britney Spears! Zero credibility! With that I mean ”Slipknot” and
”Limp Bizkit” among others.
You have a long career. What’s the most satisfying?
The first CD with Alien. The climax was the solo-record ”Back
in Business” and of course Silver Seraph!
What are you going to do the rest of the year?
I am going to mix my third solo-record. This one is only
acoustic and on this record I sing together with the Copenhagen
symphonic orchestra. This record is called ”Naked Reflections” and my
second task is to mix my new project ”Opus Atlantica” and the record is
called ”Anthem”. The project Opus Atlantica is going to tour in Japan
this year and here in Sweden it is going to be a club-tour with the
acoustic record.
Why don’t you have your own band?
I have very bad experience working in a band, for example the band
Alien. That wasn’t a fun experience at all. I look upon myself as
an engine and I always have a vision in my head about the project.
Even if I have worked with the best people possible as Anders
and Jens Johansson and Mats Olausson and Jonas Raingold and the
acquaintance with those have been an access I prefer to be my own.
What do you think about working with a small record-company?
You have a greater priority working with a small company. Better small
than big!
Do you see any future during the 21st century for metal?
I think metal and hard rock always are around and will never die.
Is it something you want to say to the fans out there?
The world is yours. I am very grateful to the people who share my
passion for hard rock. It is also an honor to me that people buy
my records and like them. One very important thing is to stand up
for hard rock if you like it.
Thank you, Pete, for taking time to answer my questions.
No problem. It was a pleasure to talk to you, Anders!
For more information on Pete
Sandberg and his extensive hard rock / metal career, drop by the
official site at: petesandberg.rules.it