Kamelot: Roy Khan Interview

Kamelot Germany recently interviewed Roy Khan while they were on tour for the 2010 Pandemonium Over Europe tour. You can check it out below!

Kamelot Germany: Thomas said in an interview that the overall sound of the new album is very Kamelot like, but the lyrics are much darker, even darker than on "Ghost Opera". What is it that makes darker themes more interesting to write about than positive and uplifting stories?

Roy Khan: It has more to do with the music which is even more melancholic and darker in its expression. Not way more though, it’s still very Kamelot, but the themes this time are spinning around serial killers, hell, failure...it's just a slightly different thing. And sometimes things are not really planned out, they just happen to be the way they are coming up. That's how we write our music.

KG: But what makes it more interesting to write about dark themes?

RK: It’s not really more interesting although it has always come quite naturally...it’s about making it fit an athmosphere that is already there.

KG: What do you think are the main differences between the new album and the previous ones?

RK: I would say that "The Black Halo" and "Ghost Opera" and the new one are not too far from each other. There is no humongous difference. Except for the fact that The Black Halo is a concept album, of course. Maybe the main difference, at least from Ghost Opera, is that there are quite a few guest artists this time. There's also a 10 minute piece I think people will love.

KG: There is an interview with Jon Oliva on the internet where he says he will be on the new album too.

RK: Yes, he’s one of the guest guest artists.

Kamelot In General

KG: Which songs of Kamelot do you like to sing the most? Don't say all of them, there have to be favourites!

RK: I love our ballads. That also has to do with the fact that I can hear myself properly on stage. When the double base is going and all the instruments are playing, it’s really hard for me to find my way through the sound picture sometimes, but I really like all the songs. Playing live is a trip especially now that we have so many albums to choose from. We all like all the songs. Of course "March Of Mephisto" is a favorite. The crowd participation is always humongous. So many songs I like...there's not one that stands out as my favourite. I can't give you one though, when fact is there is not one that stands out in this regard.

KG: And which one is the most challenging?

RK: In general the older stuff is harder for me to sing, but we can always tune everything down anyway. Like the other guys can tune their instruments down, so it’s not really about that. The ballads are easier because I can hear myself better, but it’s not like there is a song that is very different in difficulty for me to sing.

KG: I have a question regarding a song that you wrote quite a long time ago. It's the song "Will You Remember". It's one of my favorite ballads from Kamelot and I only stumbled across it accidentally, when I got it as a bonus track on the Japanese version of "The Fourth Legacy". How did it happen that such a beautiful song was never recorded as a studio version, but only as a live version for a bonus track?

RK: We just happened to do that in Germany. It was recorded at a really small Café in Wolfsburg. Well, not exactly Wolfsburg, but in the little town where the studio is. Almost nobody there. I don’t know why we never took it to the studio, it’s just one of those things. Nobody there knew us, it was just an intimate fun little thing that we did and then we just left it like that.

KG: I just think it’s very unusual to play a song live that you haven’t recorded.

RK: It is...Kamelot is also an unusual band.

KG: Which Japanese legend is "Love You To Death" based on? Can you tell us its name?

RK: It was actually Thomas who found it and he just gave me that idea for lyrics for that song. I don’t really know too much about it. It’s like famous, well actually I don’t know how famous it is, I never even read it. Thomas just explained to me what it is about and the story is very simple.

KG: Kamelot have a very unique style when it comes to stage settings and clothes. Do you have someone who develops and coordinates these things or do you guys do that yourself?

RK: We pretty much do that ourselves. I had a designer guy in Norway that had opinions of course, when we were making a new jacket or I had stuff modified, but it’s all basically stuff we either pick out or change the way we want it to be.

KG: Your new coat looks really great.

RK: Thank you. Yeah, I like it too.

KG: What fabric is it? Leather?

RK: No, it’s... I’m not sure what it is. More like...I’m not sure what it’s called.

Conception

KG: Are you still in contact with the other band members from Conception?

RK: Oh, yes, constantly. With Tore I talk every week. The other two also a little bit now and then, but not so much.

KG: Conception did two or three concerts in 2005. How are the chances for more concerts in the future?

RK: No, we haven’t planned anything.

KG: Do you know who owns the rights for the albums of the band since Noise Records is not existing anymore?

RK: They are owned by Universal now.

Future Solo Album

KG: You've been thinking about doing a solo album for quite a while. Are there any concrete plans and can you tell us a bit about them?

RK: There has not been time nor energy. I mean...the production like the one we just did takes a long, long time and then there is touring, videos and festivals. I write stuff all the time though. The songs are just stacking up. Like I always say, at some point it just has to come out, but right now it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Offers South American Tour Update

I just landed in Santiago, Chile and lemme tell you we are so pumped to be back here, it's sick!!!

Last night in Buenos Aires, Argentina we had another of those once in a lifetime shows, and the funny thing is that Chile and Argentina are so close together geographically that you can't come to one country and not play the other. And as far as the fans go, Chile has always been a proud audience, and we have always loved them, and they have always been up at the top of our list with the Argentinians.

Which brings me to something very important, and that is loving our fans, and the idiots who spread rumors about us cancelling shows. On this tour we are going to several new countries, and some that we have only played once before. And never do we cancel a show once we are in the country, and in this case South America.

You see, there has been a rumor floating around that we are not coming to Quito, Ecuador, and that is the biggest mountain of horse manure I have ever heard. It must have been started by someone who is very, very afraid of Megs!

I just want you to know that you better go get your tickets now! Because when we get there and you say, "I don't have a ticket," or "I didn't trust you," or "I didn't believe that you were coming to this country," it will be too late once the tickets are all gone. What does Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, have right now that Ecuador doesn't? Tickets to one of the best Megadeth concerts ever.

I mean, if you are going to miss a concert, miss some other band, don't miss the 20th Anniversary of RIP because it won't be back here ever again.

Megaman

Check Megadeth.com for more from the band on their run in South America, and watch their latest video for "The Right to Go Insane" below. 2009's Endgame was released to critical acclaim, garnering a Grammy nod and a Golden Gods nomination. Get your copy now!

Ratt: Bobby Blotzer Wishes Long-Time Friend Bret Michaels a 'Speedy Full Recovery'

As posted on MTV.com, "Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer has known Bret Michaels for nearly a quarter-century, and in that time, he's had more than his fair share of good times with the Poison frontman.

But when Michaels was rushed to the hospital last week after suffering a brain hemorrhage, the memories of those good times took a backseat to genuine concern for his friend's health.

In a statement to MTV News, Blotzer said that he was shocked to learn of Michaels' hospitalization, and hoped that his friend would recover quickly.

"The news of what happened to my friend of 24 years, Bret, came as a shock and with much anxiety," Blotzer said. "Bret is a gentleman and friend to not only his peers and close personal friends, but to all fans and people around the world. Speedy full recovery soon!"

As of Wednesday (April 28), Michaels remained in the intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital, where he is in stable condition. His father told "Extra" that he had recently spoken to his son and that he sounded "a little slow, but fine." According to a statement posted on his official Web site Michaels has been undergoing a battery of tests while in the ICU, and that, as a result of the stroke, he has been diagnosed with a condition that could lead to severe seizures.

"Test results indicate a setback in Bret Michaels' condition, a side effect from the brain hemorrhage called hyponatremia; a lack of sodium in the body which leads to seizures," the statement reads. "Due to the severity of his condition, Bret Michaels continues to remain hospitalized in an intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital."

Ratt Frontman Counts Down His Ten Favorite Albums With AOL Radio

On AOL's Radio Blog, in honor of his band's new album Infestation out today, guest blogger/ Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy runs through his ten favorite albums.

From Van Halen to Led Zeppelin, Pearcy namechecks glam metal pioneers Sweet, heavy metal godfathers Black Sabbath, and recounts his love for Golden Earring, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest among much more.

On Screaming For Vengeance, Pearcy writes, "When Robbin [Crosby] turned me onto the Priest I almost lost my mind. What the hell is this? Talk about metal in your face, this record was intense and I'm sure the band were just getting started when I heard 'Sin after Sin,' but 'Screaming' is total Metal with a capital M!!! The metal gods, Priest set the standard after this record that no one could touch or get close to. My favorite band, I still play a Priest song when doing a solo show, I'm a big fan to this day and can never get enough of the metal gods. Great record, stamp of the Priest!"

As for Golden Earring's Moontan, Pearcy explains, "People only know this band from the song 'Radar Love'; fact is they have plenty of great songs. I like the record because of the songs on this record and how they were structured together. There are (five) songs on this record but a lot of music. Kinda of a story in there somewhere. I love the song 'Candy's Going Bad.' I can practice to this record top to bottom, and can play it by the way, lol."

For Led Zeppelin, Pearcy discusses Presence, saying, "I love any and all Zeppelin, but 'Presence' just moved me in every which way, before I even got into music. The thing about Zeppelin, is live they would take the songs all over the place and jam per say, so when I hear these songs from the record I appreciate them even more. Having collected every bootleg (sorry guys, I buy a lot also!) from the band since I first heard them back in 1970, and still do to this day. It's great that Page has been letting us hear the live re-mastered recordings, they are gems. I was lucky enough to see the band a few times in 1973-75 and they changed my life forever. I'd practice to Zeppelin for hours a day. I was very influenced by them although it's not so evident in RATT music."

Meat Loaf Announces Tour In Support Of Star-Studded New Album

Meat Loaf will embark on a summer North American tour beginning July 3rd in support of his star-studded forthcoming album Hang Cool Teddy Bear. Meat Loaf’s new Hang Cool Teddy Bear, whose title was taken from a line in Beyond The Valley of the Dolls, was produced by Rob Cavallo and features guest appearances by Jack Black, Hugh Laurie, Kara DioGuardi, Queen’s Brian May and Steve Vai. The highly anticipated album is due out May 11th from Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. Free single downloads from the new album will be included in the price of the ticket in select markets. The first single from Hang Cool Teddy Bear, “Like a Rose,” debuted on AOL’s Spinner.com last Friday and can be heard below.



The CD’s theme was inspired by screenwriter/director Kilian Kerwin’s story. A soldier who has been wounded in battle thinks he is going to die. Instead of his life flashing backward at the prospect, his life flashes forward into what could have been. The inter-related songs are the different scenarios he finds himself in. It’s not always the same time or place, but it is always the same woman. The first video, “Los Angeloser,” tells a tale of a bad significant other who takes advantage of a generous lover. (Who hasn’t been there?!) Watch it below!



“I wanted it big, I wanted it dramatic, I wanted a rock record,” Meat Loaf says. “Yes, it sounds like a Meat Loaf record. But it sounds different, too; it sounds new, it sounds fresh. It speaks to you in a different way.”



For Hang Cool Teddy Bear, Meat Loaf’s creativity was sparked by working with a new collaborator, Rob Cavallo, a lifelong Meat Loaf fan who has worked with some of the most explosive names in rock music: Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore and Fleetwood Mac. According to Meat Loaf, “Rob is the number one rock producer in the world because he leaves his ego out of the equation and gives an artist his voice, making it sound better than the artist could even imagine.”



The first leg of the summer 2010 North American tour begins on July 3rd in Gilford, NH at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. More dates will be announced shortly.



The Following Tour Dates Include On-Sale Dates



July 3 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook U. S. Cellular Pavilion 4/30



July 8 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion 5/1



July 10 Atlantic City, NJ Atlantic City Hilton 5/8



July 12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena 5/1



July 14 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater 5/1



July 16 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 5/1



July 18 Hershey, PA Giant Center 5/1



July 22 Detroit, MI MotorCity Casino Hotel 5/1



July 24 Sault Sainte Marie, MI Kewadin Casino 25th Anniversary Festival 4/23