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Band page - Blitzkrieg
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Band Profile
What is your name and your current position in the band?
"I am Brian Ross and I am the vocalist with BLITZKRIEG"
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
"BLITZKRIEG have always been and still are a "Classic True British Metal" band. Why change what works? We must be doing something right because the fans are still with us after 27 years."
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
"Our latest album is "Theatre Of The Damned". People should buy it because I believe it is our best album to date."
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
"BLITZKRIEG was formed in Leicester in October 1980. The first demo, made in November that year, secured our first recording deal with Neat Records resulting in the famous "Blitzkrieg/Buried Alive" single & a track on the Lead Weight compilation album. We gigged extensively in England but split in 1981. The members went their own separate ways but Mick Moore and I stayed together to form the heart of AVENGER. The band released 2 singles on Neat: I then left to join SATAN with whom I recorded the classic "Caught In The Act" album which was released by Roadrunner & licensed to Neat for the UK. After the success of the SATAN album & European tours, the band's direction became unclear so I decided to leave & concentrate on managing the North East band LONE WOLF (I performed vocals on the single "Nobody's Move"). At that point I decided that it was time to record the BLITZKRIEG album that had been planned way back in 1981, entitled "A Time Of Changes". It was released in 1985 on Neat/Roadrunner with recruits from the previous bands brought in to record the album. Meanwhile, Metallica covered the song "Blitzkrieg" on their Creeping Death EP. In 1991 we recorded the mini album "Ten Years Of Blitzkrieg" for Roadrunner to celebrate the band's tenth anniversary, re-recording the "Blitzkrieg /Buried Alive" tracks together with 3 new songs.
In 1995 Neat Records re-emerged and BLITZKRIEG signed a new 3-album deal: "Unholy Trinity", "Ten" & "The Mists Of Avalon" were the result (also released in Japan on Pony Canyon Records). Another boost from METALLICA came when the USA rockers again covered "Blitzkrieg" on their "Live Shit" box set & their 1998 album "Garage Inc."
Inn 2002 we released the album "Absolute Power" on Edgy Records (a spin off label of Neat Records' boss Jess Cox) to rave reviews world-wide. A spate of interviews in Europe, the UK & the USA were followed with a string of festival dates in Europe and the USA. "Absolute Power" was released in Brazil on Hellion Records and on vinyl in Sweden by TPL Records.
Following the release of the double Anthology CD on Sanctuary Records, BLITZKRIEG released their second live album on Metal Nation Records (again owned by Jess Cox). Following the release of "Absolutely live", we went on to record the critically acclaimed "Sins and Greed" album, which was released in mid 2005. This was also the subject of a Limited edition double gatefold release by TPL records in Sweden and in Brazil. We gigged extensively throughout 2005 and 2006, touring with both SAXON and DORO in the UK as well as several European festivals.
The latest release, "Theatre Of The Damned" was released on the 10th August 2007 through their new label Armageddon Music. Co produced by Biff Byford of Saxon, I think we have achieved a classic mix of all you would expect but with a definite modern flavour. This latest release captures the essence of "True British metal". I don't think that our fans will be disappointed. We will be out there playing live so come and see us."
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
"I have always believed in what I do. It is true that it is very hard to gain recognition in the music industry, but I think that BLITZKRIEG will be remembered for what we have achieved."
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
"My two personal favourite moments are BLITZKRIEG's performance at Wacken 2007 and SATAN's reunion performance at Wacken 2004."
How is the writing process in the band?
"Sometimes I write the lyrics first, sometimes the music is written first, we don't have a set pattern of writing."
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
"When I was 7 years old my mum took me to a CLIFF RICHARD concert. It was that that made me want to be a performer. I also considered acting as a career but I chose music and I don't regret it."
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
"Not idols as such, but I do have huge professional respect for Ian Gillan, Rob Halford, Alice Cooper and Marc Bolan."
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording? If so, what made you regret it?
"As I said before I don't regret choosing a musical career and I don't regret making any of the albums that I have made. If I could remix "Mists of Avalon" and put it back the way it was when we recorded it, I would be very happy. For some reason the record company EQ'd the entire "bottom end" out of it when it was sent to CD production.
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
"Songs that we don't like don't make it on to albums."
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
"I rate the lyrics as very important. I write lyrics to complement the music so the music and lyrics together are a complete snapshot of a moment in time."
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
"The music industry in the UK has been in a terrible state for a long time now. "British Metal" was not accepted in England for quite a long time. I am pleased to say that it is now changing."
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
"Record companies have got to find a way to stop illegal free downloading of music. Technically it is breaking copyright law but it is being allowed to continue. If you download an album for free, that may be good news for you but it is bad news for the band whose album you have downloaded. If there are no sales, bands don't get paid and their record company dumps them. If this continues there will be no more bands producing music - end of Metal. Think about the consequences of free downloading."
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
"Treat others as you would want them to treat you."
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
"You probably wouldn't find it all that interesting"
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
"My family. My son Marc and his wife Joanne have recently made me a very proud grandfather. My granddaughter is called Gabrielle and she is beautiful."
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
"During the SATAN "Court In The Act" tour in 1983 we played at the "Dynamo club" and during the song "Trial by Fire" a guy at the front set fire to his head"
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
Albums -
1. "Painkiller" - JUDAS PRIEST
2. "Resurrection" - HALFORD
3. "The Slider" - T-REX
Movies -
1. "The Exorcist"
2. "A Clockwork Orange"
3. "Halloween"
Books -
1. "Interview With The Vampire"
2. "Lord Of The Rings"
3. "The Da Vinci Code"
What is your favourite joke?
"A little girl goes up to her grandfather and says "Granddad, can you make a sound like a frog?"
The old man says, "yes, of course I can, why do you ask?"
The little girl replies, "Because grandmother says that when you croak we can all emigrate to New Zealand"
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
"Just to continue playing writing and recording"
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
"I would like to say thank you to all of our fans. They are the most loyal fans in the world. We couldn't have done this without you. The 'KRIEG salutes you!"
Brian Ross - August 2007
Added by Steen - 9/3/2007
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