interviewpage
Ken Tamplin - Interview June 2003 |
This is an interview with the legendary Ken Tamplin. Check out his new CD by the way, it rocks Victory:Hello Ken, how are you doing? Ken:I am doing well thank you. Victory:You're just returned from a performance at the Gods festival? What is a pleasant experience? Ken:It rocked! The bands were great, the venue was first class and the production team was wonderfully professional. Victory:About your new record, I heard someone say you did not do this record for profit earning but just for plain fun, is it true? Ken:Yes that is true. I do mostly film and TV now and yet still love to make music for myself. So I made a record I would like to listen to. To compare this CD with your earlier works, how would you describe it? Ken:I would say that for those that like what I have done in the past, I guarrantee they won't be disappointed with "Wake The Nations". It would be most like my records An Axe To Grind, In Your Face and Magdallan. Victory:With almost 80minutes of music and hundreds of guitar solos, this is an album that many heavy metallers will love but leaving the rest in a situation like "ooh, what is this, man we live in the 2100th century not in the eighties" You don't care about trends, do you? Ken:As I'm sure you already know, I am a big fan of the guitar however, I can't stand when someone makes a guitar record only for the guitar solo. That is pretty mindless and careless to me. I like when the "solo" fits the songs and takes an already good song to a new level. That is what I believe Wake The Nations is about. We have a great cast of players like: Reb Beach /Guitar (Whitesnake/Winger/Dokken) Doug Aldrich /Guitar (Whitesnake/Dio/House Of Lords/etc) Kee Marcello /Guitar (Europe) Richie Kotzen /Guitar (Mr. Big and Poison) Marty Friedman /Guitar (Megadeth) Jeff Watson /Guitar (Night Ranger) Mattias Eklundh /Guitar (Freak Kitchen) Pete Lesperence /Guitar (Harem Scarem) Jeff Scott Soto /Vocals (Yngwie Malmsteen/Talisman) Scott Van Zen /Guitar (LA Guitar Wars Winner) Howie Simon /Guitar (Jeff Scott Soto) Stevie Salas/Guitar (The Rolling Stones/Terrence Trent D'Arby) Drums: Glen Sobel (Beautiful Creatures/Impelliteri) Bass: Daniel Pearson (Coolio/Jennifer Lopez) Keys: Ed Roth (Glenn Hughs/Mya/Impelliteri) Philip Bardowell/Background Vocals A really fun record for me. With that said, yes I do care about trends however, I care about them only to the extent of knowing what is going on so as not to be "left behind". I don't care about trends when that means following a trend just to be "hip" and losing sight of the most important thing and that is in this case, the music. I honestly believe that if wearing pants made out of Cow Crap was "trendy", people would actually do it no matter hopw bad they stunk! I don't live my life that way. Victory:This is perhaps a difficult question to answer, but let's throw it to you:There are many awesome guitarsolos on the record, which one do you love most? Ken:That IS a hard question because there is so much great talent on the record. I guess I would have to say that I love Scott Van Zen's solo on God In Heaven, Howie Simon's solo on Falling Houses, Jeff Watson's solo on The Man With A Plan and Doug Aldrich's solo on Come Together. Victory:Will you be doing anymore shows? Ken:We hope to be. My other guitarist (Howie Simon) is on the road with Jeff Scott Soto for a while so when he gets back, we will be discussing more shows Victory:I also heard that you produces the new Laudamus album (which what I have heard so far RAWKS), how did you get in contact with them?. Kevin:Yes, I did produce the new Laudamus CD. They are a great band and great guys. The album rocks hard. They contacted me off my website. It is rare that I take on a band like that but after hearing them, I found it irresistable. They are getting great reviews already. I strongly recommend the CD. Victory:Finally, You are also in the movie business, tell us about it. For many of us it would be a dream coming through when getting to do soundtracks for major movies. Is it your dream job? Kevin:Yes, I started quite some time ago (about 12 years). It was really more of an issue of finding a way to support my family since I have two small children aged 7 and 9 and didn't want to be "out on the road" most of their life. I wanted to be there for them so I wiggled my way into the film biz.. VictoryAnd at last, name your 5 alltime favorite cd's! Kevin:The Aretha Franklin box set, Strunz A Fara Greatest hits, The Gypsy Kings greatest hits, My complete Motown Collection and The Beatles Anthology. God Bless, Ken /Victory |