Wade, why did you leave Crimson Glory to
join Seven Witches?
Wade Black: That wasn't necessarily the case...When I was in
Crimson I thought it was one of the biggest professional thrills
to be in such a legendary band such as that and I always did
everything to my fullest extent. Everything that was always asked
of me - I always fulfilled with 100% of my heart and that was
something that the band just didn't give back to me. Which was the
respect that I gave them. That never ever ever came back to me. I
was always treated as just a hired person. Never a part of that
band and that hurt me. Being in a situation like that hurt me and
hurt my family, ya know? It just wasn't anything that I was
willing to sit around... I felt like I was wasting my time. Thank
God I was able to hook up with Jack. He saw me play in Germany a
couple of times and we had spoken and then a mutual friend of
ours, Thomas Youngblood, of Kamelot
ended up hooking us up. From the first time I spoke to Jack and
the first time I heard the Witches stuff I knew it was something
really really special. Not only is he a good songwriter and the
singer was really good which got my attention, ya know? I called
him (Jack) and said, "Look, I don't care who you have up for
the gig, that's MY GIG!" and so for the next month or so, I
called him pretty persistently, like every other day and stuff and
I'm like, "Just tell me the gig is mine and let's be done
with this bullshit and get on with it"
Is that really how it went down Jack?
(we're all laughing)
Jack Frost: Yea! He said, "I'm singing!" so I told
him, "Alright - I'm not going to fight you!" (still
laughing)
WB: So we ended up getting together and getting all the talking
done, then he (Jack) got the Savatage gig. So actually, the Seven
Witches album is probably off by a year. But what a better time to
give up - then a time with a band such as "Savatage". I
think they are a legendary band, that Jon Oliva - you can't get
much better than that. To be onstage with the "Mountain
King" I mean, what else more is there to say?
JF: Yea! There ain't!
WB: I mean - that's the ultimate, ya know? His Savatage was my
Crimson Glory. Cause, when I went over there CG was considered as
a legendary band, as an immortal band. I mean, people called me
like a "cult" singer when I was over there. The
"Cult" singer, Wade Black. I was like, "Get the fu
- hell outta here ya bunch of freaks" (laughs)
So when is the new Seven Witches due to be released? You
said February, right?
JF: yea, mid February.
And do you have plans to tour?
JF: Yea, what we're doing is - the honest to goodness truth
about the whole thing is - We used to be on "Massacre"
and they offered us a new deal with their record company but
"Sanctuary" kinda came out to see me play when I was
playing in "Metallium". We talked and I really liked
what they had to say and so they signed this band (SW) last
December/January and Wade wasn't even in the band yet. We got the
deal - w/out a demo or anything. They knew my past work and what
I've done. This was even before Savatage. So what happened was -
We got the deal and I came off the Metallium tour and that's when
Wade came into the picture. Then all of a sudden I got the
Savatage gig and Sanctuary wasn't like all "You have to do a
record for us" instead they were like, "Listen, we
understand this is a great opportunity for you and for Seven
Witches. So definitely do Savatage and we understand that it's
going to be a priority - but don't forget about us and your
band". And I never did. Joining Savatage made it better for
me. It gave me allot more free time to work on the Witches stuff.
Being on the road, I was able to right allot more and it just
kinda worked out well. And with this tour thing, no one has heard
a song yet at the label. And they are like "Well, we have a
couple tours in mind for you guys" and we're (SW) psyched
about it! But the problem is - what if they don't like it. They
have no idea. I mean, they have put allot of money and allot of
time in this Witches band. I mean, allot! and I've been telling
them, "I promise you, I'm not being obnoxious or saying I'm
this great song writer and Wade is God on vocals, but - we are
going to give you a record, and you'll see - you are going to be
blown away by it". We are going to go back to what Metal is
all about - back in the 80's. It's going to be a real metal
record.
WB: It's a tribute to everything we've ever heard. Halford,
Maiden, Lizzy Borden. I mean all of the old bands, Raven, all of
them. All of those old bands, I love all that stuff. That's what I
grew up on and so much of that is me. I mean, if you ask any of my
friends that know me, they'll tell you that - Wade is just Metal.
He just is. There's nothing else for him to do. And it's the same
thing for Jack. We're just cut from the same piece of cloth and
it's magic what we're doing in here right now.
JF: It is. It's probably the most stressful-less record I have
ever made in my life. Usually I'm always stressed out, I'm
shaking, I'm like "Oh My God! I have to finish this record. I
have to finish this". This is the first time I'm like...
WB: I sit and look at him through the glass and he's smiling,
ya know? We're having fun and we're banging these songs out like
it's absolutely nothing.
JF: I think this record is going to be like, I feel that it
reminds me alot of Judas Priest - "Painkiller" days.
See, now I hear "Sad Wings" in there with...
JF: There it is again!!!!! I've heard that twice now, right??
(to Wade)
It's just incredible! Thank you so much for inviting me
in to listen. This is great!
We turn off the tape player to talk about some different
stuff.
WB: are we rolling again? So Mr. Frost - can you tell this
young lady a little bit about the new cd?
JF: Well, pretty much all I can say about the new cd is ....
"Tribute". A tribute to the old bands but I would also
have to say is what I really wanted to do is, I've noticed over
the last few years, there really hasn't been a record, except for
the Halford record, that really just says, "Wow - this is
Heavy Metal" I mean, there is allot of great records out
there, but there really hasn't been a metal record where you put
it on and you just want to bang your head. (Wade & Jack laugh)
What we've said from day one. Me & Wade talked about this, we
just want to come out with a record that's pure - heavy guitars,
screaming vocals - no frills. No harmonizers. Just a true metal
band. And that's what we went for. That's how we're trying to come
across. We're not a progressive band, we're not a 70's band. We're
just a metal band. We're not modern. We are old school but we're
not. We're "Seven Witches". And I think allot of people
are going to be pleasantly surprised because allot of people liked
the first Witches records and allot of people loved the Crimson
Glory record. But this is a whole new thing - it's a new band. We
have the name of course, but it's a new band. I think allot of
people will be really shocked when they hear this. I think allot
of people are coming with the expectation of, well, Witches
records are pretty mid-tempo, this record is - get ready to drive
your car down the street and slam your head back! I mean, I can
remember the first time I heard "Painkiller" - I was
like, "Holy Shit"! So, pretty much this record, if I had
to say just one word..
WB: WOW (laughs)
JF: (laughs) yea but - Power. That's all it is. It's got Power.
Wade, on the last Crimson Glory cd you didn't contribute
any songs. why?
WB: That is correct. I didn't contribute any songs. Simply
because I think they wanted to be stingy and keep me out of
publishing. There big thing with me was - "Wade here's the
line, go in and do what you do." Ya know? Instead of saying,
"Hey, let's get the correct papers together and get you some
money for what your doing". So, I contributed a whole bunch
on that album. A piece of my soul went out when I did that album.
So, let people say what they want. I mean, the fact of the matter
is, he didn't stick his hand up my ass and make me sing. I went in
there. And that was something I did for myself.
JF: A lot of love lost there, huh?
Is it the same with Seven Witches? Or are you more
involved with the song writing?
WB: With Witches I'm involved in all of the song writing. Jack
writes all of the music. He has also given me ideas on
arrangements for the songs, lyrically. So I'd say it's like a
60/40 split.
JF: I'd say a 50/50 split. It takes both of us. It doesn't
matter. I write the music, he writes the words. I write the words,
he writes the music. It doesn't matter. It's a band. And without
him it wouldn't sound this way. Without my riffs, he wouldn't sing
it that way. So that's it.
WB: I love you man!
Wade, you are also involved with a band called Sector 9
with Ben Jackson. What is the status of that group?
WB: Ben Jackson went to go do his own solo album which is
called the Ben Jackson Project. And I would like to personally
thank Ben Jackson for all his time and I wish nothing but the best
for that guy. He is nothing but gold all day long. And I don't say
that about most people in this music business. The status of that
band - I actually kept that band running down in Florida. I've
actually got at this current time, It's not going to be Sector 9,
it's going to be a different name. That will be released soon. My
bass player is the current vocalist/bass player for "Nocturnus"
which is a big band over in Europe. I'm going to put it together
and see what I can come up with. I feel like I still have a lot to
say. I feel that Witches is going to be something very special -
and is going to be my priority band. But different music actually
allows me to go about different ways of doing music. Its not
rocket science. Its music. So you shouldn't have to think that
hard about it.
Seven Witches is signed to Sanctuary for the next 2
records...
WB: Actually it's the next 4 records
JF: Yea, this and 3 more. For Life. (laughs)
Yea, once they hear this - they won't ever let you go.
WB: The way Jack had said it before was - when he talked to
these people, they had come out to see him play and stuff, he was
just super comfortable with it. Ya know? After him (Jack) being in
the business for so long, you start to be able to judge character
real well, ya know? When you first meet someone you know whether
they are going to be snakey or whatever. But he got a really good
vibe from it.
JF: It's nice to see a label that really cares about the band.
Dirk and Beate have been upstanding every minute with everything
that we've done. We need something, its done. You don't usually
get that from a label. Usually its, "Well, we'll see what we
can do." But, no. Not with them (Sanctuary). It's -
"Give us a day". The next day there is an email, phone
call or fax at my house. So, we found a home.
Who will be producing?
WB: Well, Mr. Frost will be producing and also there will be a
co-producer/mixer - Joey Vera.
Well that was leading to my next question - You mentioned
to me earlier that Joey Vera was coming into the studio.
JF: Yea, I mean he is going to pretty much give his ideas and
kinda like, I still don't know if I'm ready to mix a record
totally by myself, but the way it's feeling now, I probably can.
But I'd like to have another ear in here. I've been friends with
Joey, and I really loved the way the Armored Saint record sounded
and I loved the Engine record, it was phenomenal! So it was just
like, we talked and I said, "Hey! What are you doing? Are you
interested in helping me mix the record"? he told me,
"Sure"! So I think it's going to add a little more -
it's going to put that cherry on top. I mean, why not ask a guy
who was there at the beginning. (of metal)
WB: We've also got Joe Comaeu, who is the singer from
Annihilator and also the guitar player from Overkill, coming up
tomorrow to do a song with us. You know Grim Reaper? The "See
you in Hell" song? We did a cover of that, but we jazzed it
up quite a bit.
JF: Have you heard Annihilator? Well Joe is the new singer and
he is going to come in tomorrow and kinda do a duet with Wade on
it. So yea, we have a couple of guest people on here. Actually,
Jon Oliva is also doing a bonus track/song on the album.
WB: What's really neat is, The song that Jon is going to sing,
I also sing. But, this is the spin on it, I do it my way, he
hasn't heard the way that I've done it already. So we're shipping
him a DAT and he's going to sing it, down in Florida, his way,
with different lyrics but the same music. The Oliva track is going
to be the bonus on the Witches album.
JF: Yea, something different!
WB: You get 2 different flavors, plus you get to hear Jon sing.
So now I can say - Jon is on MY album!
Everyone: ooooooohhhh! - (lots of laughing)
JF: So all the pieces are there - we just have to….
WB: I look at him (Jack) and I'm just like, I'm just so glad
that he saved me. Well, not so much that he came and save me but,
he at least had the right feelings about me and me able to express
myself. I've never been able to do that. There's a song that we
do, it's called "Salvation." I've written a lot of songs
that always get thrown into the trash and never get used and a lot
of ideas. This is the first song in 10 years that somebody has
actually taken the time….
JF: He's a great singer. Why not? I mean, why not use every bit
of each person you have. I don't understand people that…. I
guess it has to do with egos but you know what? It's like a
marriage. You have to give and take. It's like, why should just
one person be like, "Ok, I run this show and you just shut
your mouth and do your part". You know what? That ain't gonna
last and for the couple of extra dollars that you sneak away from
somebody, is it worth losing that person in the long run? Which is
what's going to happen. So….
WB: You watch - we'll be together for another 3 albums. I
guarantee it!
JF: That's it? (laughs)
Then Jack & Wade offer up another song -
"Anger's Door".
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now it's 2 weeks later and I went back to the studio to
finish the interview. Today I met Bill Mezick, the Seven Witches
bass player and also Joey Vera who is mixing the album.
Jack, Mez & I went into the studio...
So Bill, how did you meet up with Jack?
Billy Mez: At the "Birch Hill". (A popular metal club
in NJ) It was about 3 months before the first record and they
didn't have a bass player then and we hit it off pretty well, so…
How long has Seven Witches been together?
JF: Actually, 3 years last month!
Are you & Billy the only original members left?
JF & BM: yea.
Jack, Are you still with Metallium?
JF: No, I left.
Why?
JF: Well, I'm in Savatage now and that's pretty much a full
time gig and my contract with Metallium ended and when the
Savatage gig came. It's an American band and friends of mine.
Metallium was fine and everything, but I was a hired guitar player
and I was treated as a hired guitar player. I mean, it was fun.
I'm still really good friends with the singer and the other guitar
player. But, the manager of that band, he has a way of doing
things, he's a rock star. I'll just say it as that. I could have
stayed in the band. But - Savatage.
So which band gets priority? Seven Witches or Savatage?
JF: I knew this was going to be asked! Well, it's like this.
Savatage is my band. I'm a full member of that band. Like I told
you another time, they don't treat me like a hired guy. Full
credit with everything. But Seven Witches was my first baby and
they knew that from day one. They are both priorities. I would
never do anything to hurt Savatage in Witches and I would never do
anything to hurt Witches in Savatage. There is enough days and
time in the week where I'm able to do both and they are really
supportive of me. Remember too, that Savatage has TSO, which is
also another major commitment of Savatage. So, this is my TSO.
They are both very, very important to me. Put it this way,
Savatage is a legend and to be in that band is more like a dream
come true. Witches is more like my baby, which I watched as an
infant and grow. They both have a very strong place for me.
Staying with Savatage - Can you tell me how you were
asked to join? Did you try out?
JF: I've been friends with Chris for many years and Jon too
actually. I took over for Chris in Metalium. Chris was on the
first Metallium record and he was supposed to tour with them in
Europe and my name got brought up and Chris said, "You should
do it. I'd rather see you do it than anyone else". Make a
long story short - I joined Metallium and me and Chris always
stayed friends and about a year ago. I was on tour, well about a
year ago this time, Me and Chris were talking just before I went
to Europe and he was like, "Yea, Al Pitrelli joined Megadeth
for good". I was like, wow. He (Chris) goes, "Yea, we
have to audition like a million guitar players" . I'm not
sure just how it was said but while we were talking he asked me if
I'd be interested. I said "Yea!" He was like,
"Really? Even with all the stuff you've got going on"? I
said, "Yea! It's Savatage!" and like who wouldn't want
the opportunity to be in Savatage.
So we talked for about a month. I was supposed to keep going up
to the studio but they were so busy with doing the record and
everything. Then the day I left for Europe, Paul O'Neill tells
Chris, "Call Jack, we need him to come in and audition
today". Chris was like; "Jack's gone". So Chris and
I, we emailed each other every couple of days saying
"hey" and what going on. They needed a guitar player for
TSO and I could have had that gig last year but I was, I'm pretty
dedicated when I say I'm going to do something, And I couldn't get
home. (Metallium tour) I had a bit of a falling out with Lars when
I was over there and I was considering leaving the band. You know
they are really nice guys in Metallium but there was big
miscommunication. I was the only American in the band. So it was a
little hard. They were speaking German and I'd be sitting there
like, "Hello"?!?! So the language barrier, it made it
hard sometimes. They speak great English, but German is their
first language and that's what they would use to talk to each
other. And I'd be sitting there like, (whistling) ya know?
So I was over there and I came home. I sent a package to Paul,
so he could hear some stuff and he really liked it. Then Chris
told me, "I have a whole bunch of guitar players that want
this gig man". There was a whole slew of people! So I came
home, and I was getting married, and the day of my wedding Paul
O'Neill calls me and says, "I need you to come in
today". I'm like, "God Paul! We can't seem to get on the
same page". We were both laughing. So I went on my honeymoon
and on the day I came back Chris was like, "you have got to
come in tonight". Chris was like my #1- for this gig, I have
to say that. So my wife was like, "Will you just go! You're
never going to know if you don't go". So I went up there and
met everybody, and about 4 days later, Chris put a lot of time
out, we got together, he really wanted to sit down and work with a
guitar player. He hadn't done that in a long time. Just work
together as a unit. So we worked together and then I went for the
audition. I heard there was 20 guys up for the gig. I auditioned
for about 15 minutes in front of Paul and the band just looked at
me and said, "Ok, that was good". The drummer left,
which was kinda weird cause he would have stayed there to audition
other guitar players. So that was kinda weird to me. Everyone was
just like, "Ok. Thanks a lot, Jack. We'll talk to you
soon". Chris just looked at me with a smile and Oliva goes,
(in Jack's best Oliva impression) "Ah - Breathtaking"!
Then gets up and walks out of the room. So about 4 or 5 days went
by and I was like, "Well, I guess I gave it a shot and didn't
get the gig". Then Chris calls and says, "Meet me at
LaMours tonight. We're gonna hang out". So I went to Lamours
to see Symphony X. Jon Oliva calls the cell phone and says, (Again
- in his best Oliva impression) "So, ya wanna be in the
band"? (we all laugh) and that was it. That's all it was. It
was really flattering because I know some of the guys that were up
for the gig that are just phenomenal players. I mean, I'm not
Yngwie. I'm not that type of guitar player. I think I'm a really
strong rhythm player and a good song writer. I think mainly my
personality got the gig, and the love for the music. They were
looking for someone that was a team player. You don't need.. Chris
is a great guitar player and I respect him and I would never step
on his shoes while being in this band and I think they saw that.
Not only did I like, know his people but I also knew the whole
back catalogue. That was important. So that's how it happened and
from day one they've treated me like gold. I mean, there was a
little bit in the beginning where they had to raz me (laughs)
cause I was the new guy. But once I finally got comfortable, ya
know? They responded. Now it's like, I'm one of them, which is
great! It's cool.
Did you and Damond come in around the same time?
JF: Same time.
So did that take half the heat off of you then? (laughs)
JF: Ummm, you never really mess with a singer. Singers are
very.. kinda… how do you say this in a nice way.. (laughs) They
are very emotional type of guys and you don't really ride them
that much. So uh, I got the brunt of it all. (we all laugh) Hey!
But it was alright! I got goofed on a lot at first. The first
couple months I was like, "Oh Man! You guys are killing
me"! But I stood in there and now poor Damond is getting his
ass reamed! (laughing) So you know, it's good.
Are you going to be involved with the songwriting on the
next Savatage album?
JF: We are all going to be involved in the songwriting. It's
going to be a band collaboration thing.
Now back to Seven Witches, what happened to the previous
vocalist?
JF: Pretty much, Bobby is a great singer, a really nice guy, we
made 2 amazing records together but pretty much just personal
differences. I think we went a certain way and he went a certain
way. Nothing bad. Just in the end, it just wasn't right. I guess
we had our visions and he had his visions. I guess I've hinted
that there were musical differences. But we kinda just went our
separate ways.
So Bobby left before Wade came in?
JF: Oh yea. He left way before Wade came in.
Billy, tell me what you think of having Wade?
BM: I wasn't too sure how he would work after hearing "Astronomica"
But I think with us he is a lot more tasteful. A lot more himself.
Anyone who hears him in that album, it doesn't seem like, well,
that his fullness is there. But with us, he came out really
strong. He's really great.
JF: The thing with Wade is, I got a little bit of slack in the
beginning from a lot of people saying like, "Noooo, He's not
going to sound like Witches". And talking to Wade, I told
you, he got the gig from pretty much just being persistent. (Wade)
"I want this gig. I'm in this band" and I'm like, The
guy was calling my house….
BM: Yea, he made himself a part of the band…
JF: Yea, without … (We all laugh)
Yea, that's pretty much what he already said! He had no
problem saying that he called everyday and was a pain in the ass.
JF: Wade just said, "Fuck everybody"! Not that he's
the best, but he's good for this band and I think that kind of
attitude got us. We were just laughing, like this dudes out of
control! He's calling my house, yelling at the answering machine,
"So, am I in yet"? It was like, dude! But you know, he
was just.. he was the right piece to the puzzle. He's awesome.
I've never worked with a singer.. like I told you, I never worked
with someone that was just magic. Just (claps his hands together)
It was like that. It just gelled. Easy. This is the first record
that I've made where I haven't lost any hair. I'm not even
slightly stressed. Very, very enjoyable.
Wade told me that the whole time you two were recording
he would see you smiling through the window.
JF: Yea, It's great because I can talk to him. Some singers you
work with are just like, "You don't know what the hell you're
talking about" and it's like, "Listen, I'm not over here
trying to tell you I know what I'm talking about. I'm telling you,
I hear it. You're cracking". But Wade, Wade is just like,
"What do you think of this"? I'd tell him that it sounds
great and he would smile cause it made him feel good. I think
Crimson Glory, well he told you what it was. I think it was like,
"You must do this"! That was it. It was their way or no
way. The Witches way is like we were looking for a person to bring
something to the table. There were so many singers we could have
got for this gig. But Wade was the one that made us say, "Oh,
look at this. He's going to bring a big chunk here. A big slab of
meat not a little crouton". It's the same with our drummer -
Brian. There was a lot of drummers we had in mind, a couple of
guys we really wanted and just time elements didn't size up well
for everybody. Brian, we were starting to talk because James
Rivera from Destiny's End/Helstar kept telling me, "You gotta
hear this guy Brian. He's great. He's great. He's great". So,
I'm a little snoopy. I have a lot of friends in the industry. So I
start checking around to see what he was about. Every guy I was
checking out I wanted to know if they were clean or if they have a
good name in the business because we have a very good name. We're
not drug addicts, we don't… For me, you'll never see anything on
the web that I'm a jerk to the fans or anything. I'm not like
that. I'm very supportive of the music. I'm a fan of the music so
that's what we were looking for. So Brian calls me up one day and
says, "Look, I bought a plane ticket". I was like,
"You did what"? and he goes, "You know what? I know
you've got a bunch of drummers interested. But I bought a plane
ticket and my attitude was this - If you say I got the gig, I
already have the plane ticket. If you say no, I lost a couple
hundred bucks but at least I know I tried". I hung up the
phone and said, "Well, there it is. The other piece of the
puzzle". Another guy with that kind of mentality, which is
important. You know, a lot of people can play. Hence me getting
the Savatage gig. But it's not all about how great you are. It's
the whole person. You don't marry someone because she looks great.
Cause someday she's going to get old. You don't marry a guy just
because he's hot, you know he's going to be home scratching his
ass on Sunday watching football! You have to live together on the
road and that's a big thing and with the guys in this band there
is no problems. We have a lot of fun. We respect each other and
that's important. If you don't respect one another than there's no
reason to be in a band together.
How do you think the previous Seven Witches fans are
going to accept Wade?
JF: A lot of previous Seven Witches fans have gone nuts
already. We got a lot of slack when Bobby was no longer in the
band. "Oh, the bands over", "Bobby is that
band". I just let it go by. I think a lot of people, I think
the press made it sound like Bobby was Seven Witches. Seven
Witches is a band, not a single individual member. I hate it when
people are like, "Jack Frost, Jack Frost" cause it's
not. It's 4 guys in a band. It's actually 4 guys, it's Joey
(Vera), it's everyone involved with making this record. So I just
kept my mouth shut because I knew what this record was going to
sound like. I had it envisioned from day one. I just wanted to go
back to what metal was all about. I think we really did that with
this record. And if fans are any indication… I went to the Sava
board today and I was blown away. People are saying, "Oh my
God, Oh my God"!
So you let some of the music out? People are hearing it?
JF: Yea, "Metal Tyrant" is on the sound bite on the
Sanctuary website. I wasn't really too keen on the idea at first.
It wasn't mixed or anything, but the next day I get a call from
Sanctuary. They played it for a whole hour straight on rotation at
the office and people thought it was like the new Judas Priest
record! People were just like, "What is this"? "Who
is this"? It's Seven Witches!
Are you guys ready for the take-off of this record? You
have to realize people are going to go crazy.
JF: Well, You know, I'm kinda used to it, I'm in Savatage…
MR: Yea, well! What about Billy? (we all laugh)
JF: I tried to tell him. I mean cause Wade was in Crimson Glory
and Brian - Destiny's End, We've all seen this. We've all been
over there, we've all toured. He hasn't had the chance yet. I told
him, "Dude, you have NO idea what's going to happen".
He's going to tour Germany or play at a festival and be like…
"What the hell!?!" You're going to be brushing your
teeth in the morning and there is going to be like 1000 kids
outside begging for your autograph. It's amazing!! They're
awesome. European fans are just the greatest people!
So my final question is - How is it working with Joey
Vera?
JF: He's great! I've met Joey like a million times over. I've
toured with his band Fates (Warning) My old band Frost Bite did a
bunch of shows with them, I saw him in LA and he kept looking at
me like, "I know you". I'm a huge Fates Warning fan.
Huge Fates and Engine fan and of course Saint (Armored Saint). I'm
just amazed. I'm really lucky, I get to work with Jon Oliva &
Joey Vera. I've got these great guys involved. I'm like a little
kid. I still go back and think, "Oh my God! I'm working with
Jon Oliva and I have Joey Vera mixing my record". "What
the hell did I do to deserve this"? So with Joey, I got the
Engine record and I was just blown away by it. When we did the
Sava tour I heard Fates was going out with us I was like, "Yeaaaaaaaaa!
Awesome!" Joey looks at me like, "Fucking Jack
again" and we got to be buddies on tour. In passing I told
Joey that I really liked what he did (mixing). Then when we played
in Hollywood he came to the show and I just said, "Hey, I
would love for you to mix the record" and he said, "I'd
love to" and that was it. It worked out great. You know what
he did? He brought class to the project, which I really like. Yea,
that's a great way of putting it. He brought class to it. Joey
respects where it came from. He never tried to change the sound.
He's metal. That's where he comes from. You know it's funny,
Incubus and all these bands… talk to me in five years and you'll
never hear their names again. But you'll still hear about Judas
Priest, Manowar, Savatage, Maiden. Classic metal will always
prevail.
JF: Would you like to hear some of the songs that are now
mixed?
Yes!!
Again, I'll just say "Phenomenal"!! I got to
listen to all the tracks I heard last time but with the guitar
solos and the final mix done. I also got to hear a song...hmm,
well, I won't say cause the Savatage fans might hunt me
down! I am anxiously counting down the days for the the
release of "Xiled to Infinity and One" |