Michael Amott
07-10-2003, 13:14
What's up?
About time that I post something here, eh? (Vasilis, you can stop the threatening e-mails now!)
Seriously, this is a great place that Vasilis and Co. have created for Beggars fans thanks for the support!
Btw, I just did an interview with a Greek metal zine called FILTHY PIGS I thought Id post it here as it may be of interest to you and maybe will answer some of questions as to what the Beggars are up to atm!
Here we go then .
-----------------------------------------------------
1) Initially our heartfelt thanks for accepting to take our interview. What is the bands news? Are you working on any new songs?
Well, thank you its great to be doing this interview! Yes, we have some new songs that I have been jamming with our drummer Ludwig Witt Its all really riff-based stuff with tons of the beggars groove in there, we are excited as hell about it! We are in the process of arranging the material we have now (about 9-10 song ideas). We hope to do some demos in December 2003, we have some recording equipment in our rehearsal studio and well be working under zero pressure down there just letting the music flow.
2) Are now JB and Roger Nilsson fully molded with the older band members? Have you found out why did Spice quit or are you still in the dark? Would you do any reunion show with him when you get famous, old , untalented and rich?
Ha-ha, I cant see a re-union with Spice on the horizon but who knows? I have learnt to never say never rock bands do strange things you know! No, we still dont really know the exact details surrounding his departure from Spiritual Beggars in 2001 And to be honest, I dont think anybody cares about that anymore its yesterdays news you know? We wish him the best of luck with what ever he chooses to do now and Im sure he feels the same way about us. Life goes on. The new guys did a great job on the On Fire album and the following tour we did in march/April 2003
3) Are you going to try to experiment with your sound or try to bring in any new features any innovations now that youve had your time with JB and Roger. Or are you keeping the Beggars sound trying to improve on the songwriting?
Basically, we have a sound and style that we are happy with the Spiritual Beggars style. But we will always be open for trying some new ideas no doors are closed.
4) Do you guys enjoy touring? Is life on the road suited to you, or do you miss some of your hometowns conveniences like knowing the good places to hang out and where should you head to with a deadly hangover from last night?
Yes, we do enjoy touring especially places like Japan and Greece etc the more exotic places for us!
5) You seem to be enjoying yourselves on stage. Do you agree that a very important part of the rock/metal philosophy is the opportunity to grab bass, drums, guitar and mikes, go on stage, wreak havoc and have a good time with the whole audience playing music?
Sure, bring it on!!! We love being up there jamming it really can be magic sometimes!
6) Do you have any recollections from the two times you have visited us or has booze erased it all?
Hey, well NEVER forget the shows they were KILLER!! Especially the one show at Rodon Club in Athens 2003 great atmosphere!!! I have some of the show on video and its so cool! We cant wait til we get to come back! I guess we need to make a new album first!? Special memories from Greece are many its probably the coolest place weve been to with the Beggars all thanks to the incredible rock fans!
7) You are on stage and in the middle of a song find out you cant play a part of it. What do you do? Or doesnt live performance really matter as long as everyones having a good time?
That has never happened so far believe it or not! The music is leading us in the right direction, at the right time we are just hanging on and enjoying the ride!
8) How do you feel with the whole stoner rock label. How do you react when being placed in the stoner rock movement by various magazines? Are you ok with it or does this label cover a few good bands and a great load of untalented garage bands as usual with most labels. Isnt your music different from the other stoner bands as it isnt based just on Black Sabbath?
People dont really call stoner rock anymore the On Fire album destroyed that perception of the band I think. I never really felt that we fitted into that category though. We just want to play cool heavy music and if people want to call it stoner then I guess thats OK. Labels dont mean much to us. In the past Spiritual Beggars has toured with everything from Iron Maiden to stuff like, Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu and Queens Of The Stone Age we even opened up for Pantera once All these shows/tours were amazing. At the end of the day its just HEAVY MUSIC you know? Personally, I never liked the bands that people labelled Stoner, it sounded like students with a fuzz pedal I couldnt hear any new Iommis or Blackmores in there, thats for sure.
9) Have you ever thought that you give a chance to younger audiences to acquaint themselves with the hard/heavy rock sound and then discover old classics like Zeppelin, UFO, Skynyrd etc?
Well, we dont aspire to teach people the history of rocknroll but if that is a side effect of what we do I dont think its a bad thing!
10) Do you have any plans of touring in the near future?
No, I am pretty much on the road for the rest of the year with my other band; Arch Enemy, so Spiritual Beggars is not touring anymore this year, thats for sure. Next year we hope to make something happen again and a new album maybe!!!!! Thats not a promise though, ha-ha!
11) Which musicians did you look up to when you learned playing with your respective instruments? Do you still think of them highly? Does each of you still practice on his own or do you just jam together?
Sure, people like Metallica, Slayer and stuff like that I grew up listening they are still out there kicking ass! Respect! Speaking for myself I play guitar everyday, regardless if I am at home or on the road or in the studio its just something I like doing...I wouldnt call it practicing really its just what I do, its who I am. I know Ludwig plays his drums a lot as well he loves hitting things!
12) The last words are yours
Thanks to all the Greek fans, new and old, Spiritual Beggars loves you we will be back!!!!
-----------------------------------------
Ok, I hope some of that was interesting
All the best to all of you
Michael Amott
About time that I post something here, eh? (Vasilis, you can stop the threatening e-mails now!)
Seriously, this is a great place that Vasilis and Co. have created for Beggars fans thanks for the support!
Btw, I just did an interview with a Greek metal zine called FILTHY PIGS I thought Id post it here as it may be of interest to you and maybe will answer some of questions as to what the Beggars are up to atm!
Here we go then .
-----------------------------------------------------
1) Initially our heartfelt thanks for accepting to take our interview. What is the bands news? Are you working on any new songs?
Well, thank you its great to be doing this interview! Yes, we have some new songs that I have been jamming with our drummer Ludwig Witt Its all really riff-based stuff with tons of the beggars groove in there, we are excited as hell about it! We are in the process of arranging the material we have now (about 9-10 song ideas). We hope to do some demos in December 2003, we have some recording equipment in our rehearsal studio and well be working under zero pressure down there just letting the music flow.
2) Are now JB and Roger Nilsson fully molded with the older band members? Have you found out why did Spice quit or are you still in the dark? Would you do any reunion show with him when you get famous, old , untalented and rich?
Ha-ha, I cant see a re-union with Spice on the horizon but who knows? I have learnt to never say never rock bands do strange things you know! No, we still dont really know the exact details surrounding his departure from Spiritual Beggars in 2001 And to be honest, I dont think anybody cares about that anymore its yesterdays news you know? We wish him the best of luck with what ever he chooses to do now and Im sure he feels the same way about us. Life goes on. The new guys did a great job on the On Fire album and the following tour we did in march/April 2003
3) Are you going to try to experiment with your sound or try to bring in any new features any innovations now that youve had your time with JB and Roger. Or are you keeping the Beggars sound trying to improve on the songwriting?
Basically, we have a sound and style that we are happy with the Spiritual Beggars style. But we will always be open for trying some new ideas no doors are closed.
4) Do you guys enjoy touring? Is life on the road suited to you, or do you miss some of your hometowns conveniences like knowing the good places to hang out and where should you head to with a deadly hangover from last night?
Yes, we do enjoy touring especially places like Japan and Greece etc the more exotic places for us!
5) You seem to be enjoying yourselves on stage. Do you agree that a very important part of the rock/metal philosophy is the opportunity to grab bass, drums, guitar and mikes, go on stage, wreak havoc and have a good time with the whole audience playing music?
Sure, bring it on!!! We love being up there jamming it really can be magic sometimes!
6) Do you have any recollections from the two times you have visited us or has booze erased it all?
Hey, well NEVER forget the shows they were KILLER!! Especially the one show at Rodon Club in Athens 2003 great atmosphere!!! I have some of the show on video and its so cool! We cant wait til we get to come back! I guess we need to make a new album first!? Special memories from Greece are many its probably the coolest place weve been to with the Beggars all thanks to the incredible rock fans!
7) You are on stage and in the middle of a song find out you cant play a part of it. What do you do? Or doesnt live performance really matter as long as everyones having a good time?
That has never happened so far believe it or not! The music is leading us in the right direction, at the right time we are just hanging on and enjoying the ride!
8) How do you feel with the whole stoner rock label. How do you react when being placed in the stoner rock movement by various magazines? Are you ok with it or does this label cover a few good bands and a great load of untalented garage bands as usual with most labels. Isnt your music different from the other stoner bands as it isnt based just on Black Sabbath?
People dont really call stoner rock anymore the On Fire album destroyed that perception of the band I think. I never really felt that we fitted into that category though. We just want to play cool heavy music and if people want to call it stoner then I guess thats OK. Labels dont mean much to us. In the past Spiritual Beggars has toured with everything from Iron Maiden to stuff like, Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu and Queens Of The Stone Age we even opened up for Pantera once All these shows/tours were amazing. At the end of the day its just HEAVY MUSIC you know? Personally, I never liked the bands that people labelled Stoner, it sounded like students with a fuzz pedal I couldnt hear any new Iommis or Blackmores in there, thats for sure.
9) Have you ever thought that you give a chance to younger audiences to acquaint themselves with the hard/heavy rock sound and then discover old classics like Zeppelin, UFO, Skynyrd etc?
Well, we dont aspire to teach people the history of rocknroll but if that is a side effect of what we do I dont think its a bad thing!
10) Do you have any plans of touring in the near future?
No, I am pretty much on the road for the rest of the year with my other band; Arch Enemy, so Spiritual Beggars is not touring anymore this year, thats for sure. Next year we hope to make something happen again and a new album maybe!!!!! Thats not a promise though, ha-ha!
11) Which musicians did you look up to when you learned playing with your respective instruments? Do you still think of them highly? Does each of you still practice on his own or do you just jam together?
Sure, people like Metallica, Slayer and stuff like that I grew up listening they are still out there kicking ass! Respect! Speaking for myself I play guitar everyday, regardless if I am at home or on the road or in the studio its just something I like doing...I wouldnt call it practicing really its just what I do, its who I am. I know Ludwig plays his drums a lot as well he loves hitting things!
12) The last words are yours
Thanks to all the Greek fans, new and old, Spiritual Beggars loves you we will be back!!!!
-----------------------------------------
Ok, I hope some of that was interesting
All the best to all of you
Michael Amott