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Interview with Michael T. Ross (Hardline, Angel, Accomplice) - Hardline
Keyboard player Michael T. Ross is known for his work with Hardline II. Michael T. Ross has been very busy with the music lately and that causes an interview, where Michael covers all his projects.
Hardline has just released a new live CD and DVD. The performance was taken from your performance at "The Gods 2002" in England. What are your memories of that particular show?
Well, it was a bit exhausting flying 11 hours just to get there and then play at 1am, but it was worth every minute. When I got on stage and opened up the set with a keyboard intro, everything was fine, but when the band started, my keyboard was stuck on the intro sound. I tried changing the patches with no success, so I did struggle a bit for the first three songs. I was getting worried because the fourth song was the big ballad "Face The Night," and thankfully a miracle happened and I was then able to switch to the piano/strings sound and the rest of the set was fine.
At the time you performed at "Gods 2002" Hardline II was not released. Did that effect the setlist and the audience's reception of Hardline.
I don't think so because most of the set list was from the first release and the new songs that were played like "Face The Night" and "Only A Night," have memorable chorus' that the crowd easily caught onto.
Johnny Gioeli and Josh Ramos have apparently started writing tunes for Hardline III. How far in the process is the album and will you be involved in the song writing?
Josh Ramos called me about a month ago and said he was on his way down to Southern California to stay at Johnny's house and start the writing process but Johnny was also scheduled to go to Germany to record the new Axel Rudi Pell record, so I'm assuming they are still at the beginning stages.
You have continued your collaboration with Johnny Gioeli in Accomplice. Tell us a little about, how you got in touch with Johnny and what we can expect from the forthcoming Accomplice album?
Johnny completed his vocal tracks a while ago and has no involvement since other than helping us solidify a record deal with Frontiers Records. We are waiting on engineer Tom Fletcher to complete the mix and hope to have the masters to Frontiers Records in the early part of 2004.
You recently joined Angel. What the difference between playing in Hardline versus Angel?
Angel is a big keyboard oriented band, so I get to really let loose with many keyboard intros and solos. Hardline is more of a guitar driven band, so the keys aren't as dominating as the Angel material.
Angel are playing "Bang Your Head" festival in Germany June 2004. Is it just a one off gig or are there plans of a whole European Tour?
I believe the Bang Your Head festival is the only one confirmed to date but we do have other festivals lined up in Europe and we are still waiting on a final word from our tour manager Danny Stanton.
The line-ups in both Angel and Hardline are characterized by only having a few original members in their current line-ups. What's your view on the complex of problems with older bands still playing, but without some original members.
I'm sure the fans would want an original line-up but the reality is certain band members have moved on to different things other than music. To many original members, it has been over ten years since they have played professionally and therefore, we have to accept the fact that some of these amazing players back in the day do not play professionally today. This is good for guys like me who gladly take their place. It's a bit funny to be in a band to help revamp a band and at the same time launching my career. Basically, it is an honor to being playing with these legendary musicians.
When performing with Angel, Do you copy Greg Giuffa's parts accurately or do you incorporate your own style of playing.
Because I only had less than two weeks to learn 16 songs with Angel, I had to wing many of Gregg's parts and implement my own lines but now that I have some time right now, I'm going back and learning his parts note per note to keep the integrity of the music.
If a record company with lots of dollars approached you and asked you to form your dream band - what would the line-up be?
I'm honestly not interested in any other label at this time because Serafino at Frontiers Records has been so good to me, I'm exclusively with them. After the new Hardline and Accomplice record comes out, I will be on about seven releases with them and am ready to do more. My dream line-up would be Atma Anur on drums, Yngwie J. Malmsteen on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Johnny Gioeli on vocals.
What do you consider your career highlights so far and what's your future plans?
I feel that working with legendary producer Andy Johns for six months last year is one of my big highlights, knowing that he recorded some of rock's most classic albums such as Led Zeppelin's II, III and IV. I look forward to possibly relocating out to Europe next year and join other projects. I would really like to work with Kai Hanson one day, as he's so amazing with Gamma Ray and his other bands. I would like to also mention that I'm very excited about working on a new project with vocalist Suzee Rock and hope to play some festival with her group in 2004.
We thank Michael so much for the interview and wish him best of luck in the future.
For more information visit Michael's website
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Written by Michael - 11/7/2003 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Désiré B.- the BIGGEST Johnny Gioeli FAN!!!!!! (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 4, 2005 | Konnichi Wa !
Johnny Gioeli should forever stay in "AXEL RUDI PELL", because Axel reads the BEST Songs!!!The other musicbands like "Accomplice(...), Hardline,( I like Hardline too...) isn`t nearly on that high Level like AXEL!!! Johnny and Axel are the PERFECT TEAM , a Dreamteam!!! - for product songs; in this extremely high Level!!!!Johnny`s voice is suitable for Axel`s Songs!!! I know that!!!:-)AXEL & JOHNNY reign TOGETHER & FOREVER! BASTA! And...Thats it!
Hey man...I´m a 15 young old,-and crazy girl from Austria..Thats my opinion!(I can`t good english...:-()
CIAO!!! I LOVE JOHNNY 4-EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*Bussi*
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| Comment by Désiré B.- the BIGGEST Johnny Gioeli FAN!!!!!! (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 4, 2005 | Konnichi Wa !
Johnny Gioeli should forever stay in "AXEL RUDI PELL", because Axel reads the BEST Songs!!!The other musicbands like "Accomplice(...), Hardline,( I like Hardline too...) isn`t nearly on that high Level like AXEL!!! Johnny and Axel are the PERFECT TEAM , a Dreamteam!!! - for product songs; in this extremely high Level!!!!Johnny`s voice is suitable for Axel`s Songs!!! I know that!!!:-)AXEL & JOHNNY reign TOGETHER & FOREVER! BASTA! And...Thats it!
Hey man...I´m a 15 young old,-and crazy girl from Austria..Thats my opinion!(I can`t good english...:-()
CIAO!!! I LOVE JOHNNY 4-EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*Bussi*
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| Comment by Désiré B.- the BIGGEST Johnny Gioeli FAN!!!!!! (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 4, 2005 | Konnichi Wa !
Johnny Gioeli should forever stay in "AXEL RUDI PELL", because Axel reads the BEST Songs!!!The other musicbands like "Accomplice(...), Hardline,( I like Hardline too...) isn`t nearly on that high Level like AXEL!!! Johnny and Axel are the PERFECT TEAM , a Dreamteam!!! - for product songs; in this extremely high Level!!!!Johnny`s voice is suitable for Axel`s Songs!!! I know that!!!:-)AXEL & JOHNNY reign TOGETHER & FOREVER! BASTA! And...Thats it!
Hey man...I´m a 15 young old,-and crazy girl from Austria..Thats my opinion!(I can`t good english...:-()
CIAO!!! I LOVE JOHNNY 4-EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*Bussi*
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