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Interview with Ian Ashley Hersey - Ian Ashley Hersey
Not many axemen these days bring a blues oriented or even a "classic" approach to hard rock, at least in the right way. Most like to shred and play out neo-classical compositions that can wear thin. But for Ian Ashley Hershey, the sound of classic rock in the vein of Robin Trower, Pat Travers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Deep Purple and Bad Company has been profoundly executed with the release of The Holy Grail. Now with hard rock, metal, and AOR taking a less frivolous turn for more down-to-earth releases with records such as Russell Allen's Atomic Soul, Soul Doctor's For a Fistful of Dollars, and Forty Deuce's Nothing to Lose, which is a much welcome return to back to the basics hard rock.
The Holy Grail came about as a passion for Hershey's musical interests, and like many projects there were some bumps in the road, but, the album finally got off the ground after working through several instances that led up those this project. "(The story of the album begins here) and as far as the actual name.it came up as a suggestion for a band name for; something I was putting together with vocalist Randy Williams," Begins Hershey, "We were planning to do the best of Classic Rock. Hence the name.The Holy Grail of rock so to speak. (The Project) sounded good on paper, but the reality was it was at the end of the day it was becoming very evident that I was the one having the privilege of financing this in order to get it off the ground. My only reason to be involved in this project was to make money. So after burning through a few grand and not seeing it getting any closer to completion or seeing any bookings on the horizon, I figured enough (monetary) haemorrhaging .So called it a day. But I did like the name so used for the title of this CD. In the mean time I had already competed three tracks with "Swan" so The Holy Grail was already in progress though it as yet didn't have a title."
The Holy Grail itself, marks an important spot in his career, very much pertaining to the factor of evolution as well as sarcastic points in the conversation, "Well if I wanted to make money.I should have stuck with the cover thing," laughs Hershey, "Seriously though, as I am more about pursing my passion an art.I stuck with what I believed in. Career wise, I think The Holy Grail shows my growth and maturity as an artist and writer as well as serves as a marker where I was at this particular point in time. I feel that I have grown a lot and still fell the need to grow more...For me that is why music is a craft. It's something you keep developing."
Having recorded the album with marriage of digital and analog recording methods, the album's sound reflects a more ballsy sonic propulsion than most full on digital recordings. But nevertheless, there was an unfortunate delay in the whole recording process that gave Hershey the notion that he was going to have to finish this on his own, "The orginal bed tracks were done at a major 24 track analog studio. It started as a spec deal for some heavy duty manager who was supposedly looking for a new act but as spec deals usually do.went south," says Hershey about the potential setbacks, "After several months of waiting, and repeated phone calls to get the go ahead to go back in the studio and finish the tracks.I ran out of patience. So since I had paid for the 2" tapes as well as the engineer.I finally wrote them off and just had the tracks dumped into pro tools and finished it up that way. All the solo guitar tracks where done in my garage on an Mbox.. My neighbours just loved me!"
Like many guitarists albums, several vocalists were brought in to handle the singing duties on the album. All of which were choice singers, "Initially I wanted this CD to be all the same players and wanted "Swan" to do the whole thing. I think "Swan" did a great job on what he did but he was just so busy with other things as well as at the time I did not have the budget to pay him so he could dedicate himself totally to it.," elaborates Hershey on working the choices of vocalists, "So basically it came down to getting the product finished so I ended up using who ever was available at the time and let each vocalist put their own stamp on what they did. Graham was the last vocalist I came in touch with and from a business perspective I should have had him do the whole thing and if I had been in touch with him earlier would have. But "Swan" and Carsten had already contributed writing wise as well as delivered some great performances so I couldn't see undoing that. I figured I just let the CD be what it is."
And what was it like working with these guys, ""Swan" who I originally started working with, I though really brought a LOT to the table. Very creative and spontaneous.I really enjoyed working with him but it just was so hard to pin him down that after the three tracks he did I felt I needed to move on if I was to get this album done," says Hershey, "Randy Williams, who was the vocalist that I was working with on the Holy Grail cover thing I earlier mentioned, I brought him in to do this one track and he was basically one or two takes. Carsten Schulz, who lives in Germany.I just sent him the raw music files and let him do his thing. He E-mailed me some rough MP3s which sounded great so I told him I to go ahead with what he had. He returned the vocal tracks in a couple of weeks and for me was a major pleasure to work with. Very fast, professional as well as a great vocalist. As far as Graham, after meeting with him, I sent him the raw tracks but did have to wait a bit as he need to get his own engineer to record the tracks. I wasn't there for the actual recording so couldn't really tell you about the sessions. I was basically delivered the finished files."
In this day and age, there are guitar heroes, but they don't really receive the same type of notoriety as they used to. Mainstream guitarists come and go, and when it comes to the metal world, so few really make their mark as a major influence on young kids like Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie, Vai, and Satch did. He gives insight to what he feels hard rock/metal and guitar music really should be in this day and age as well as some breife thoughts on the music culture, "I think it needs to become popular with the younger audience as they are the ones that really buy the music. Or do they really anymore as it's just so easy these days to get the music for free" explains Hershey, "When I was growing up it .I used to hang out or ride around with my buddies listing to Deep Purple, Captain Beyond, Blodwyn Pig or who ever and than run out and buy the latest release just to be the first to have it and share it... I don't believe it is like that any more. I think now there's more interested in keeping up with the latest video games."
Even though Hershey might not keep up with some of the recent releases of AOR/melodic rock and Hard rock, he does elaborate on the importance of this type of music, "guess I am really out of the loop here. Aside from Soul Sirkus, who I only know of as I know Jeff Scott Soto and hate to admit still have not heard yet. These other acts, I'm not familiar with so need to check them out," says Hershey, after I mention Soul Sirkus, "If these other people are doing a similar style of music.than I think that is great and perhaps it will help bring this style of music more into the mainstream and help make it more popular. That said, I tend to not pay attention to what is popular.I just do I what I do because it is what I feel and want to express musically as well as challenge myself."
"As far as rock music goes, well it is the music I grew up with so naturally have an affinity for it. I actually like a lot of different styles of music. I am just into good music period. If it happens to fall under the category of hard rock/ metal it doesn't mater as long as it does have some quality to it."
Lion Music is home to Hershey's music, and it was the simple fact that the label does it for the purpose of the music and for the sake of finding "the next big thing" by explaining, "Lion is a company that really believes in artists and their craft and not about signing acts that are in the mainstream. In a conversation I had with Lasse (Mattsson) he said something to the effect that doing the kind of music I was doing was about the love of it.to which I really agreed. So I realized that he to want to sign me because he did believe in and appreciate what I was doing."
Besides The Holy Grail, there are some things that are possibly in the works at this time as well as many projects that Hershey would like to work on, "I was recently in Europe working with some other people but at the moment am just focusing on my thing. There is also talk about doing a side project with the same rhythm section but different vocalist for a Deep Purple/Rainbow tribute," says Hershey, "That said, I am not a big fan of tribute bands as I feel they really are hurting the original market and hampering creativity. If I was to do a cover band I would prefer to do a wide range of covers from Jeff Beck, Hendrix, ZZ Top, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin as I feel to do just one band is limiting as well as bit one dimensional. Anyway, the argument I'm getting from the other guys is that it would help draw attention to the original thing. We'll see.As fun as Highway Star and Burn are fun to play and as much I appreciate Richie am not sure if I really want to have people drawing comparisons between us I'd prefer to play in Deep Purple and play like myself than in a DP tribute emulating Richie. Anyway, at this point am more comfortable just being myself but somewhere along the way one does need to make a living and look at financial possibilities."
Closing things out, Ian Ashley Hershey obviously has major plans to continue as a guitarist and has hopes to tour. "Initially I just want to get out there play and do some live shows as well as working on new material," concludes Hershey, " As far as the future.All I can do is try to keep my head above water, keep doing what I do and just hope that there are enough people out there that want to hear, appreciate and support what it is I'm doing."
Looking for some music that brings a return to the stripped down guitar rock sound, then check out The Holy Grail.
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Written by Hashman - 2/23/2006 |
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