Danko Jones
TM - Hi this is Amelia and Elizabeth from Twinmusix and we are here with Danko Jones, Thank you for having this interview with us today we appreciate it.
DJ - Thank You.
TM - What can fans expect from your new album "Leo Rising"?
DJ - Pretty much the same as your last album "Electric Sounds". We are not trying to re write anything or reinvent anything. We are just a hard rock band, and it will just be eleven new Hard Rock songs from us.
TM - What was your writing and recording process for "Leo Rising"?
DJ - We don't live in the same city, we write remotely and send files to each other. That is basically how we have been doing it for the last three albums. When it comes to recording I will be in Toronto with our producer Eric Ratz. Rich Knox our Drummer, will fly into Toronto, and John Calabrese will send His Bass Guitar tracks from Finland.
TM - How much input do you get from your producer Eric Ratz?
DJ - When we are ready to do an album with him these songs are pretty much written during each session. I think he would come up with two or three suggestions arrangement wise but his real role is to get the tones and the drum sounds, guitar sounds and getting the right performance out of me vocally.
TM - What is your favourite song on your new album "Leo Rising"?
DJ - I like a few tracks, like the fifth track "I'm Going Blind" the sixth track "Hot Fox" and the second track "Diamond in the Rough".
TM - How did you come up with your Album cover for "Leo Rising"?
DJ - "Adam Mallett" designed our album cover. He has done t-shirts for us in the past but never an album.
Our first album twelve albums ago was called "Born a Lion" and this album is called "Leo Rising". There is a Rising sign and a sun sign. It is astrological there are twelve signs in the Zodiac and this is our twelfth album, there is something to be said for that but nothing too deep.
TM - What can fans expect from your European tour?
DJ - We are just going to go up there and play some songs. We will try and meet as many people as we can.
TM - What is your favourite memory with your fans?
DJ - There have been fans that have gone to record plants and printed up stuff on their own that have been either out of print or that had never been released on vinyl that was cool.
TM - you paid homage to Kiss in your new video "Diamond in the Rough" featuring Marty Friedman of Megadeth how did you come up with the video?
DJ - Our Bass player "John Calabrese" came up with the idea of a KISS cover band to cover the song "Diamond in the Rough" because we all live in different places. The director Patrick from Gothenburg Sweden found the Kiss cover band "Wicked Kisser" and they lip sync the song. I came in as a cameo and we turned it into a spoof or a remake of the KISS made for TV movie "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park". I was playing the role of the phantom it was a really quick thing to do when we are not in the same city but we want to be in the same video.
TM - It was a cool video.
TM - Who was the first band or Artist you saw live and can you tell us a story?
DJ - I think it was "John Denver". My parents took me, and I think I fell asleep for the whole show.
TM - Who inspired you to play music?
DJ - I grew up as a heavy metal kid and a punk rock kid. As i got older i got into different types of music. I listened to anyone, and had all types of influences from Black Flag to Neil Young to Slayer and ZZ Top.
TM - If You could have any band play one of your songs what band would it be, what song would it be and would it be in your style or their style?
DJ - I think it would have to be Taylor Swift because she is one of the biggest artists in the world and she can do any song in anyway.
TM - Is there anything else you want to say to your fans?
DJ - We can't wait to get back to Australia, so when we do come, make sure you check us out.
TM - Thank you for having this interview with us today we appreciate it.
DJ - Thank you.