AVANTASIA INTERVIEW
The world’s biggest Metal opera was finally coming to Australia. 20 years after the release of the original Metal Operas, Musical mastermind Tobias Sammet decided to bring the full AVANTASIA stage show to Australia!
AVANTASIA’s eighth studio album, ‘Moonglow’ was released via Nuclear Blast in February and boasts an incredible list of performers including Jorn Lande, Eric Martin (Mr Big), Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Bob Catley (Magnum), Amanda Somerville, Candice Night, Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian) & Mille Petrozza (Kreator).
TWINMUSIX got BOB CATLEY about his upcoming tour with Avantasia and more.
TM - What can fans expect from your Australian tour?
BC - A three hour Avantasia show with lots of people on stage playing different Avantasia albums from over the years. The songs are amazing and are from different albums over the years, there will be A lot of interaction with the audience. There is lots of types of music rock, pop, heavy metal, short songs and long songs. They can expect a long and interesting show and they are going to love it.
TM - What are you looking forward to doing in Australia?
BC - We are traveling far, we are coming from Tokyo Japan. It is going to be a long way to get there, I will probably be resting before the show will hopefully walk around the harbor and look at things.
TM - You have a new drummer and keyboardist, how has this affected your music writing process?
BC - It is great to have enthusiastic people in the band and new blood that moves the band in a different direction. They came up with new directions for the band, we needed a full-time drummer that could tour with the band and our new keyboard player is great. We are going to start recording our 21st album soon, which is exciting. It keeps us going and our heart and soul going, which is very important for the band.
TM - How did you come to join Avantasia?
BC - In early 2000 my manager got a call from Tobias Sammet who wondered if I could do a couple of songs for him for a project called Avantasia and it's sounded interesting. He came over and we got together in the recording studio and he showed me the recording. I recorded The Story Ain't Over which was my introduction to the wonderful world of Tobias. I thank him for that and I still work with Avantasia today, I sing a song called lavadana and this is my third world tour with them and this is our first time to Australia so I am really excited.
TM - You released your new album with Magnum last year, how have fans responded?
BC - The fans loved it and went great in Europe in Germany, it got to number 8 on the charts and 16 in England. Tobias sang on the title track with me on lost on the road to eternity, it is the biggest record to date. We hope the next album will follow in the same footsteps.
TM - Can you tell us a story from playing at the Rumrunner?
BC - We were the resident band at the Rumrunner from 1972 to 1975 and we were called Magnum but not The Magnum We are known as now. We started off as a cover band for people to dance to but that changed when we left the Rumrunner and wrote our own songs.
There were two resident bands and the owner of the club Albert knew Black Sabbath, John Bonham from led zeppelin and he use to let them in late at night and jam. They would have Tony Iommi on guitar and Ozzy Osborne singing, Geezer Butler on the bass and John Bonham on the drums it was fantastic like a supergroup playing old rock and roll songs. The problem was no one would dance to them because they were to fast so we got the boot and they put a DJ in.
TM - That is so cool, what a time to be alive. I wish I was there for that.
TM - If you could have any bands play one of your songs, which band would it be, which song would it be and would it be in your style or their Style?
BC - Queen with Freddie Mercury playing a Magnum song, Need A lot Of Love of the album Wings Of Heaven.
TM - Is there anything else you want to say to your fans?
BC - Hello Fans, we cannot wait to play our Avantasia songs for you and hope you have a good time.
TM - We can't wait to see you in Australia and Thank You for this Interview today.
CHECK OUT TWINMUSIX INTERVIEW WITH JORN LANDE FROM AVANTASIA
CHECK OUT TWINMUSIX INTERVIEW WITH TOBIAS FROM AVANTASIA
CHECK OUT TWINMUSIX AVANTASIA REVIEW
CHECK OUT TWINMUSIX AVANTASIA PHOTO GALLERY
