Hi Jim… and congrats on “Pride of Lions”. As you already know, we have chosen “Pride of Lions” as the best album of the year and of the month on Grande Rock!
J: We are so honored to be chosen as best album of the year and of the month on Grande Rock!
Are you totally satisfied with the album?
J: There are always things you could have done a little different in retrospect- but I think that of all the records I’ve made – this is the one that lines up the best with my original vision.
How’s the reaction of the fans till now?
J: We are overwhelmed by the good reaction from both critics and fans. It’s like the people were really ready for this kind of music.
Do you fell that now was the right time, if we consider that AOR / Melodic Rock music is in total revival, to present a new band in the vein of Survivor?
J: That good, melodic rock has never been out of style with me. After I left Survivor in 96, I enjoyed stretching out a little and trying other types of writing with my world stage album – but even that record had some good AOR like “Fade to Blue” and “To Miss Somebody”. With Pride of Lions I felt the time was right to pull out all the stops and do an album that heavily reflects the work I did in the 80’s.
Although you are a legendary songwriter, vocalist & guitarist, you decided to work with a new and unknown singer. Did you believe that a new, fresh voice would inspire you to compose some of the best songs that you have written in the last years?
J: I couldn’t have said it better. I was looking for some fresh inspiration. There are many great established singers I was considering working with… but Toby was a new challenge. Someone I could present to the world and blow some minds.
I completely agree that Toby’s choice was the greatest you could have made… as you did again in the 80’s with Jimi Jamison. By the way which one of the two singers do you like most and why?
J: It’s hard to choose. It’s like saying which do you prefer, vanilla or chocolate – they’re both great in different ways. They both have the ability to make you believe the lyric they are singing – that’s number one – and they both have an incredible range – I’ve enjoyed working with them both tremendously.
Do you consider Pride of Lions as a one-album thing or will you go on producing albums?
J: We are already writing for Pride of Lions 2. We are not letting the grass grow – no – this is not just a project… this is a band. We’ve already played live dates as a band and tore it up.
And now let me ask you some things about the album… Which is you favorite song of the album and why?
J: It’s like trying to choose your favorite child. I love them all! But I’d have to single out “Sound of Home”, “Last Safe Place”, “Gone” and “Music and Me” as my faves. “Madness of Love” is the dark horse – I love that too.
Now I would like you to tell me a few words about each one of the songs. Just a line or two for each song.
J: “It’s Criminal”: A burning rocker – the one that decided frontiers to definitely sign the band.
“Gone”: Written with co-producer Larry Millas – very Rainbow influenced. This is the one that earned us a standing ovation in Milan when we played there.
“Interrupted Melody”: Very sad… very passionate – there’s nothing more bittersweet than losing someone’s love!
“Sound of Home”: My favorite! Good solid melody on the chorus – I even get to sing the verses on this one!
“Prideland”: The theme song of the album. Kind of Toto inspired. I really thought the label would reject this one because it’s so different – but they loved it.
“Unbreakable”: This is the next in my Stallone type songs. The resilient human spirit. I really hope this gets used in the next rocky movie.
“First Time Around the Sun”: Another Toto groove – and a message that I really believe in – every day in another chance to start over – and be a better person than you were yesterday.
“Turn to Me”: I wrote this song to just be a fun rocker – and play a lot of lead guitar at the end with Mike Aquino!
“Madness of Love”: This song is in 6/8 time which is different for me. Also it’s a chance in the middle section to show off the chops of the band. It’s more the progressive side of my musical taste.
“Love is on the Rocks”: I began writing this way back in 84 when we were cutting Vital Signs. It took me till now to finish it. It was the audition song for Toby – just as you hear it – no wonder he got the gig!
“Last Safe Place”: One of my favorites. I wrote it in the middle of America’s confrontation with the mid-east. The chaos of the world situation made me appreciate the security of home. Being with your loved ones… and holding onto love.
Please make a comment about the artwork of the album. Does the Lion in front imply that Pride Of Lions is the new “Lion” in the AOR / Melodic Rock genre?
J: I would love to think of the lion that way… but really it is a symbol of strength and pride. It is the musical family we have created here with myself as the voice of experience and Toby as the young cub coming up – learning the ropes but with a strong gift of his own.
Time for the Strange Questions!!! I think a big problem of the today’s music industry are all the CD copies people do with their computers or the music they can download from the Internet. What do you think about this problem?
J: It is a huge problem. The kids don’t realize that they are cutting off the income from the very people that are making their favorite music. I think if they had a sense of this… they would think twice.
What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
J: To develop your own sound. It’s OK to use your influences – everyone does – but to develop some sort of stamp that when you hear a particular song… you have a good idea of who is behind it.
If you were living in Middle Earth (I hope that you have seen or read the Lord Of The Rings) which character would you choose to be and why?
J: I hate to admit it – but I have not seen any of the LOTR movies! Which character does that make me?! (i.n.: What can I say?… hehehe!)
Which are the top 5 A.O.R./melodic rock albums of all time according to you and why?
J: Boston’s first album: Great songs – groundbreaking guitars.
Journey: The one with “Don’t Stop Believing”… defined great power ballads and rockers. (i.n.: He means “Escape”)
Foreigner: The one with “Waiting for a Girl like You” – amazing songs and production. (i.n.: He means “4”)
Survivor “Vital Signs”: We hit our stride here – no bad tracks. (i.n.: My beloved Survivor album!)
Styx: The one with “Renegade” etc. Unbelievable even today. (i.n.: He means “Pieces of Eight”… my favorite too!)
If you had the chance to give only one album in someone so that he can have the best opinion about music… which one would it be and from what band?
J: The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul”. Still my favorite all time record album.
Imagine that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for herself an expensive, gold ring. How would you react?
J: I would start filing for a divorce! But that’s so not like my wife… music was the bond that brought us together – and it still keeps us together for the last 34 years!
OK Jim those were my questions. Thx very much for having the patience to answer them! If there is anything else that you would like to tell to Grande Rock readers, just do it!!
J: Thanks to all our fans over there – hope to play for you in person in your beautiful country – keep on rocking! Jim.
