04-2018
KRI S NORRI S -PRODUCER ARMORED DAWN
SCORPI ONS -ZI GGO DOME AMSTERDAM 02-042018
G3 FT JOE SATRI ANI/ULIJON ROTH /JOHN PETRUCCI KLOKGEBOUW EI NDHOVEN 14-04-2018
Interview with Kris Norris:
 At what moment you started to think to become a producer? I have always been interested in the production side of the music since the time Darkest Hour recorded in Sweden. While we were there I got to become friends with Peter from Soilwork and seeing the side of what goes into making a record besides just performing intrigued me.
 Are you self-educated or did you go to learn it from other producers or school? I learned a lot along the way getting to work with such great producers as Peter Wichers, Fredrik Nordstrom, kato khandwala and Devin Townsend. Each one of them I was able to take away something unique.
Can you explain step for step what does a producer do? Well for me it really depends on what you are hired to do. Sometimes the band already has a full album written and they just want you to come in and make sure they get the best performances. Other times, they might want you to help with only arrangements, or to help do some writing. It is always changing from project to project.
Are you available for all kind of music styles or you focus on some styles that are more your favourite? Obviously, metal is my go to genre. It’s what I grew up playing, listening to, and recording. But, since I went to a music college for composition I have the ability to do any genre required of me. If a crazy tech death metal band wants to add a salsa part or a children’s type song, then I can do that as well.
Is it hard to tell bands when something is not working?
Not really. Most professional bands are there to create not only a piece of art, but a product which means they usually want it to be the best it can be. Sometimes that means not everyone’s ideas are going to make it, including mine. And I like to think that when I tell them hey this isn't working they can always in turn tell me man, we don't think that part is working either.
 By how many bands you have been working as producer?
As of right now I've done around 6 but there are many more on the horizon!
Do you got a favourite producer, and can you tell us who he is and what bands he produced work off? I really love all music, so I can't say I have a favourite producer. Each person has their own uniqueness they bring to the table and that’s what is so cool about production. One guy can take it in a totally different direction than someone else might have.
Is there a band you really like to produce an album for and who is that band? Well they are not a band anymore but an old Danish band Mercenary. I absolutely love everything about that band.
https://krisnorrisofficial.com/
Interview by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk
Our slogan is ‘More Than Metal’ and we like to talk about other things than you work as producer.
 We see you got tattoos. Can you tell us what kind of tattoos do you like? My tattoos at first might seem like a bunch of random images but if you look closely each one has a separate special meaning and they all connect in one way or another. I love artwork like that. The first glance is man this doesn't make any sense and then after a few
views the bigger picture comes into focus. Much like a concept album.
Next to working as a producer do you got time to go to concerts and what was the last concert you went too? I try to as much as I can. I spend most of my free time with my son, so I don't go to many unless its maybe an old tour mate. I recently went to see Betraying the Martyrs in Switzerland and it was an amazing show. I had never met or seen them, and I was captivated by the performance
Is there anything you like to add to this interview or anything you like to say to our readers? Thank you so much for the time and opportunity! It’s always an honour to speak with people who have such a great passion for music!
Interview with Armored Dawn:
● Who came up with the band name and why this name? Timo: Well, we we’re thinking about some really cool, but still an original name and the idea for Armored Dawn came from Eduardo, the lead singer. He said it’s basically about waking up every day, protected from all harm some people are trying to do to you. Some kind of mental thing… Record label was happy with that, so we decided to go with that one.
● Your last album is ‘Barbarians in Black’, who came up with the theme and why this theme? Rafael: Eduardo has always been interested in ancient stories about battles, honour and fighting for freedom and happiness and when he started writing lyrics to this album, he was deeply into this barbarian theme, so we decided to write more songs about the same theme. We might continue with the same theme on the next album as well, but then again, we might always choose to write about something else. Only time will tell…
● You just played on tour with Saxon as support act. Can you tell us how was it to tour with Saxon? Timo: Simply freakin’ awesome. Being huge fans of Saxon, it was an unforgettable experience to be able to see them live every day, and
to be able to share stage with them. As always, it’s a bit difficult task to open shows for bigger bands as most of the audience is there simply to see them. But a lot of the crowd really seemed to enjoy our show as well, so things went better than expected.
● Back to the roots of the band. How did you meet each other and talked about to form a band? Rafael: Well, Eduardo and I had an idea about a new band playing more European style metal. As I knew Timo Kaarkoski, a guitar player from Finland, living in Brazil, I decided to call him and ask if he was up to form a band. After meeting, we started writing songs for the first album and looking for rest of the guys. As soon as the band was formed, we started playing some shows around Brazil and recorded our first album in Denmark with Tommy Hansen.
● You are a band from Brazil, but your 2 albums are going about Vikings. Who is so fascinated about this theme?
Rafael: Basically, Eduardo and, of course, Timo who comes from the land of snow and ice…
● Is it difficult to get tours outside Brazil? Timo: No. Difficult is to get the band and the crew from Brazil until Europe or USA. Well actually not difficult, but freaking expensive, so we must choose carefully where we go to make sure it’s not a financial suicide. After all, there’s not that much money in music business anymore and food and hotels are expensive…
Our slogan is More Than Metal and, in this part, we like to talk about gear and other interesting things. ● Timo, can you tell us how many guitars you got and why do you use Gibson guitars, and do you get one model or more than one model?
Timo: Well, honestly, I’m not completely sure…. I think I have around 45… Mostly Gibsons and Fenders. For the last 5 years, I’ve been using mainly Gibson Les Pauls. My main guitars are a black -87 and a white –75 Les Paul Custom. For me, Les Paul is the perfect guitar. Feels great to play, sounds awesome and looks really cool. Besides Customs, I use some Standards as well.
● Just to know a little of the band. Can every band member give top 5 favourite albums? Timo:
– Rainbow, Rising -
Deep Purple, Strombringer Whitesnake, Saints & Sinners Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell Frank Marino - Juggernaut
Rafael:
-
Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Savatage – Gutter Ballet Mercyful Fate – Time Paradise Lost – Icon Rick Wakeman – Six Wives of Henry VIII
Eduardo:
-
Dio – Holy Diver Manowar – Kings of Metal Ritchie Blackmore’s – Rainbow UFO – Phenomenon Uriah Heep – Demons and Wizards
Tiago:
-
Megadeth – Rust In Peace Judas Priest – Painkiller Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power Steve Vai – Passion and Farware Yngwie Malmsteen – The Seventh Sign
Fernando:
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Iron Maiden – Powerslave Pantera – Cowboys from hell Dream Theater – Images and Words Black Sabbath – Dehumanizer Deep Purple – Burn
-
Slayer – South of Heaven Death – Symbolic Metallica – And Justice for All Exodus – Fabulous Disaster Deicide – Serpents of The Light
Rodrigo:
● In April and May you be going to do some shows in Brazil and you feel more excited to do these shows after your tour with Saxon? Rafael: We’re always excited about playing live. After all, that’s the reason we decided to be musicians. We still get excited about playing in a small bar for friends, but of course nothing beats playing big shows with our favourite bands. We will actually play with Saxon again here in Sao Paulo in May, so that’s going to be something special. ● Is there anything you like to add to this interview or anything you like to say to our readers? Timo: We can’t wait to get the band to Europe again to play some more Rock n Roll and surely we WILL play in Netherlands again. One of our very favourite places in world… http://www.armoreddawn.com
Interview by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk All photos by Hans Clijnk
Vandenberg’s Moonkings
Scorpions Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam 02 – 04 – 2018.
Before we will see the scorpions, it is first time for the support act of the evening Vandenberg’s Moonkings.
The band is formed around guitar player Adrian Vandenberg and he already makes name with his band Vandenberg and later he joined Whitesnake. This evening they play manly songs from MK and MK II.
The music can be described as Vandenberg and Whitesnake. The vocals are in the hand of Jan Hoving and the way he sings can be described as the way David Coverdale sings. On the bass it is Sem Christoffel and on the drums Mart Nijen Es. In the setlist they even got time to play ‘Burning Heart’ of Vandenberg but also some songs of Whitesnake that are written by Adrian. Then it is time to get the stage ready for the headliner and this is not a little band. It is the Scorpions and they are back.
In 2010 it was not sure if we will see the band because they started a farewell tour for 3 years but after 3 years they cancelled the farewell. With a setlist of 17 songs from 7 albums and medleys and then also solo’s and one classic cover it is a concert that stay long in our mind.
Still after 50 years the band is ready to rock the stage. Klaus Meine is talking a lot about the concert back in 70’s when they play the Paradiso in Amsterdam and playing with Golden Earring. The band is in really good mood and they enjoy every moment of the concert.
What we did not know is that Klaus Meine is also playing guitar and today we can see it.
The acoustic medley is so special they play the songs with acoustic guitars and specially for Mikkey Dee they put a mini drumkit on the catwalk.
1. Going Out With a Bang 2. Make It Real 3. Is There Anybody There? 4. The Zoo 5. Coast to Coast
6. Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy's Coming / Catch Your Train (70s' Medley) 7. We Built This House 8. Delicate Dance 9. Follow Your Heart / Eye of the Storm / Send Me an Angel (Acoustic medley) 10.
Wind of Change
11.
Tease Me Please Me
12.
Overkill
(Motรถrhead cover) 13.
Drum Solo
14.
Blackout
15.
Big City Nights
16.
Encore:
17.
Still Loving You
18.
Rock You Like a Hurricane
Because Mikkey Dee is the new drummer of the band they like to honour Lemmy and they do it with Overkill (Motรถrhead cover) and now we can hear what kind of a drummer Mikkey is.
During the song they show photos of Lemmy on the screen in the back of the stage. They are closing to the end of the concert pretty soon.
We hope they do not take so long before they come to play again. https://www.facebook.com/Scorpions/ https://www.the-scorpions.com/
Concert review by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk All photos by Hans Clijnk
G3 ft. Joe Satriani, John Petrucci & Uli Jon Roth. Klokgebouw, Eindhoven. 14 – 04 – 2018.
For tonight’s show the G3 circus landed in Klokgebouw in Eindhoven. Before we will see the 3 guitar players play together on stage it is first that every guitar player plays his own set. The kick-off will be done by Uli Jon Roth.
Armed with his famous Sky guitar he will play a set of one hour long and he start with the song ‘Sky Overture’ and followed by 2 Scorpions songs. Niklas Turmann on vocals as well as his guitar duties He ends the setlist of 6 songs with again 2 Scorpions songs. Setlist Uli: 1. Sky Overture 2. Sun in My Hand
(Scorpions song) 3. We'll Burn the Sky (Scorpions song) 4. Fly to the Rainbow (Scorpions song) 5. The Sails of Charon (Scorpions song)
It is really a pleasure to see Uli play his set but before we know he is at the end of his set and will make place for guitar player number 2.
The second guitar player is John Petrucci and he plays in the band Dream Theater.
He starts the setlist with a cover of Rupert Gregson – Williams called ‘Wrath of the Amazons’. He plays the show with bandmember Mike Mangini on drums and Dave LaRue on bass. They are having a good time playing together but if it goes wrong you also must see the fun of it and this is what happened during the second song when it goes wrong.
John is playing his Ernie Ball Music Man jp majesty claro walnut guitar and Dave LaRue is playing on his Music Man bass Bongo 5. They play a set of one hour long and it even got 2 new songs that are not on any album (see setlist).
Setlist John Petrucci: 1. Wrath of the Amazons (Rupert Gregson-Williams cover) 2. Jaws of Life 3. The Happy Song (new song) 4. Damage Control 5. Glassy-Eyed Zombies (new song) 6. Glasgow Kiss Time for the last guitar player to play his set and that honour is for Joe Satriani.
Like Uli and John also Joe got his own guitar brand and his models with his name. This concert he plays the Ibanez JS1CR30. Joe play a one hour set like Uli and John did before him. 1. Energy 2. Catbot 3. Satch Boogie 4. Cherry Blossoms 5. Thunder High on the Mountain 6. Super Funky Badass 7. Cataclysmic
8. Circles 9. Always With Me, Always With You 10.
Summer Song
His 3-piece band is Joe Travers on drums, Mike Keneally on keys and guitar and Bryan Beller on bass.
5 of the songs of the setlist are from the latest album What Happens Next? He plays all the songs in full speed and without talking in between the songs. Joe shows a lot off tricks with his guitar playing also the mouth playing.
Before we know it, his set is done, and it is time for the G3 Jam. So, he asks Uli and John back on the stage and they play 3 songs together at the same time. By the first song Niklas Turmann is doing the vocals. 1. Highway Star (Deep Purple song) (with John Petrucci) (also with Uli Jon Roth) 2. All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover) (with Uli Jon Roth) (also with John Petrucci) 3. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover) (with Uli Jon Roth & John Petrucci)
After these 3 songs it is the end of this concert and comes an end at 3 hours full music.
Concert review by Yolanda Clijnk All photos by Hans Clijnk