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| w/ MICK CERVINO |
| Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: For this album, you really brought in some "heavy hitters" to collaborate when choosing K.K. Downing, Yngwie Malmsteen and Roy Z. Though, when I first heard Storm Warning, the first thing that came to mind was that the talent contributed matched the talent that already existed within the band, which made the musicianship on this album completely over the top. Granted everyone had their own style of playing, but yet everything seemed so smooth and all the players seemed to blend so well from track to track. Was that the idea behind choosing who you did to contribute and what unique quality individually do you feel that they brought to Storm Warning?
Mick Cervino: The idea of choosing the musicians, as were the guests, was to contribute to the existing songs .The songs were already there and they were I thought strong enough as they were and I made a point to not allow the guests to basically take over the songs. I chatted to them beforehand and I explained, look, this is where the songs meets here, and they were very receptive and very respectful of what I was trying to do. That’s why it worked out so well. Sometimes when you deal with very famous people with big egos, sometimes they tend to say, well, I call the shots on this song because I ‘m in it. But, that wasn’t the case at all with this project and I’m quite pleased with that. I’m very humbled to your commenting of the great musicians behind the guests were as good. I appreciate that and that’s a very huge compliment. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Your welcome, but, it’s the truth. You can have these great guys playing with you as guests and sometimes the band behind it gets lost and the guests become the stars. Of course you guys are great musicians yourselves, everything was just flawless. Mick Cervino: The drummer and I have worked together before when I played with Ritchie Blackmore. I was very surprised it came out as good as it did. I’m pleasantly surprised. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: As far as KK, Yngwie and Roy, what unique quality individually do you feel that each brought to Storm Warning? Mick Cervino: Their amazing talent and experience. I really didn’t have to go over too many details. These are people that hear something and they instantly know what goes there. You knew that the solo sections were in good hands when you would hand it over to these guys. I think for the songs that Yngwie participated on, that their ideal "Yngwie" songs. As I was writing those, I envisioned Yngwie playing on them and that’s why I chose those for him. With KK, it was a similar situation. He sometimes does not get the exposure that he deserves because he’s sharing the guitar work with Glen Tipton and I think KK’s extraordinary. His production work over the years with Priest gave him excellent experience that he was kind enough to share with us. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: How did it feel to have KK not only play on the album, but also decide that you would be his very first production project with this album? That had to make you feel amazing! Mick Cervino: Definitely! KK has been very strong about the project all along. He put his guitars early on but then he continued to be interested in what was happening and he wanted to hear how the rest of the instruments were coming along. I met with him a few times here and there and we exchanged ideas and at some point, he volunteered to do the executive producing and what am I going to say, no? (Laughs) I said, of course! He brought in Roy Z to help with the mixing and then he also was scheduled to participate on a couple of the songs and a couple of leads he and there. Obviously, you can’t go wrong when you have these heavy weights on your side. So, I’m very, very happy with it. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: You also had your wife/manager contribute lyrically on the song Pain, which I thought was interesting. Can you tell us how that came about and does she normally help in the writing process? Mick Cervino: She does not. This was a very odd situation. I was in the middle of writing lyrics and we were under a little bit of time pressure from the label in Japan to release the first edition of the album. We were at the beach with just a piece of paper and a pen and she was writing poetry and I said, let me see what you’re writing. I saw the Pain poem that she was writing and I figured this could work. It’s a very depressing song if you read it. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Yes, but I liked it! (Laughs) Mick Cervino: You can’t imagine that it was written on a weekend at the beach! (Laughs) Obviously, I adapted it to fit the melody of the song. But, it’s her lyrics and perhaps she should do more of it. She’s really talented. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What specifically made the band choose Storm from Blackmore’s Night as a cover to include on the album? Mick Cervino: The title, of course, because we had Violent Storm, the label Gold Storm Records. Everything’s related to storms. We’re a very stormy band. (Laughs) Other than that, it was song that I had played with Ritchie before I left his band. His version was very acoustic, very melodic and very soft and I just thought that the song was asking for more of a rocking’ version. Even when I heard it for the first time, I thought, this could be a good Rainbow song. I was given the opportunity to propose the song a different way and let’s just hope Ritchie doesn’t mind. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: (Laughs) Has he commented on it? Mick Cervino: I sent him a copy. However, you know Ritchie, he’s a very mysterious person and he’s not going to let you know if he likes it or if he doesn’t. He’s going to keep you guessing. I’m sure he didn’t oppose, otherwise he would have said something. He didn’t say anything, which is a good thing with Ritchie. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: How was the actual recording and did you feel there was more stress being that this is your first effort for Violent Storm? Mick Cervino: Well, it was done throughout a good couple years. Therefore, it wasn’t anything that was rushed. I had some of the songs for many years too. I had worked with many of the people involved before. So, it was a very comfortable situation. Some of it was done long distance, just sending files over the internet or by mail, and then going back and forth. Of course, it was the most special thing I think I’ve ever done since the other album, Ostinato, which is strictly a classical thing on bass guitar. So, all the weight was on my shoulders with that one because there was nobody else involved. (Laughs) With this album, I’ve kind of shared the weight with the other people involved. But, still it’s my songs mostly and it’s my own project, my own band to go on the road with. It’s definitely something that I’ve taken special interest on and that took all my time and energy at the time. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Now, let me ask you this, why do you think it was that Yngwie and Ritchie didn’t let you write on their studio albums? You didn’t write on any of their albums, but you went on tour with them. Why do you think that was? Mick Cervino: Well, their comfortable with their own ways of doing things and it gets to the point, they know what they want. They can save tons of money doing it themselves. I did try to collaborate in the past with Ritchie. What happens is when you’re at the level of musicianship with somebody like a Ritchie or Yngwie are, somebody else’s opinion sometimes distracts you from what you envisioned, which happens to me too. I like to write on my own for the most part. When your in a band situation, people come over and say, why don’t you put this here or that there, which may be good ideas but maybe my ideas are better. (Laughs) They probably feel the same way. The thing is, when you have a strong focus on what you want to do, you don’t want distractions. You just want to do it your way. Therefore, I understand perfectly and I didn’t feel offended. That’s why I’m doing my own band so I can write my own songs. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Well, I’ve heard of musicians writing the music but then the bass player or whoever will come in and lay their tracks. But, that wasn’t the case with them. Mick Cervino: With Yngwie, he likes to record his own bass lines as well. He happens to be a great bass player. He said once, that with previous bass players he had that he was actually never happy with the end result of the bass lines when he let somebody else do it. So, he started doing his own bass lines. That’s his kid. That’s his baby. He can do whatever he wants with it. That’s why I’m doing whatever I want with my project. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What were some of your inspirations when writing for the album? Mick Cervino: All kinds of things. Many of the songs go back several years. It’s just life experiences and musical experiences that drive you to write different things at different times. Even when I was with these guys, I was still writing in my head and waiting for the right time to do my own thing. It’s just personal experiences and some people interpret them in different ways. For example, the song Owning You, the first time you listen to that, you can’t really understand it. It may give you the idea that it’s about some pervert who kidnapped somebody and it has nothing to do with that. (Laughs) It’s about the banking system and how credit cards screw you to the maximum. (Laughs) They make you think, we will help you, love us, and in fact, their just there to squeeze you. That’s what inspired that song. (Laughs) I like the idea of people figuring it out for themselves and what applies to their lives. The song War was not a political song, though; it may be interpreted like that. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What I liked about the album is that there’s variety for every listener. You have the two tracks Fire In The Unknown and Pain, which is straight up metal, Deceiver, which to me had an old-school feel and then to the lighter of the bunch, Alimentary Fable. Was that the intention, to have something geared that would appeal to everyone so as not to fall into any one specific category? Mick Cervino: Exactly! You hit it right on the nail. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I’m good! (Laughs) Mick Cervino: (Laughs) But, you’re right! What happens to me when I listen to most bands CD’s is that after a couple songs I get really bored and typically the rest of the songs are using the same formula, and it’s the same style and they also have like sixteen or eighteen of those songs and I never get to the end. I listen to 4-5, I’m done, and I didn’t want the listener to go through the same thing with my album. So, I thought I would offer a little bit of diversity in the styles and you can tell that it’s the same bunch of guys playing, but it’s not the same formula. It’s not the same thing, over and over and over. I like the idea of being melodic like I did in Alimentary Fable. I like the idea of being like Speed Metal like in Fire In The Unknown. I like heavier stuff like Pain could be or You Don’t Care. There’s a little bit for everyone there. I think if I were to listen to it, I wouldn’t shut it down after the first half of the album. I would be interested in seeing what’s next. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: It’s strange because that’s exactly the way I am too. You’ll hear 4-5 songs and your like, ah, I’m bored. But with you, I listened to the whole thing. Good stuff! (Laughs) Can you tell us a little about the bonus video footage that will be included with the release? Mick Cervino: It has Martin, the new guitar player. He’s from England so there’s some shooting of him in England from this January. Then there’s Mike the drummer and I in the recording studio playing. I thought it would be fun to show how this album was put together. It’s always fun to see how people are other than seeing them on stage. There’s a lot of joking around and entertaining stuff. Hopefully, everybody will like it. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I see you’ll be on tour and playing some festivals. That has to be pretty exciting for the band and good exposure for the album. Mick Cervino: Sure. Some of them are with huge names, Heaven and Hell and a whole bunch of people. We’re headlining some shows as well. So, we can’t wait. It’s been a long wait. We’re all very edgy and itchy to just go and do it. We’re hopefully coming to the states August until September if all goes well. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Cool, are you going to be coming through NJ/NY? Mick Cervino: Well, if you can be in the states, we will be. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Well, I’ll definitely come out and cover a show when you guys come. Mick Cervino: Definitely! Plan your trip to Europe for now. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Well, true. It’s a ways off for now but I’ll be there. I can’t forget about you that quick! The Music’s too good! (Laughs) Mick Cervino: Don’t worry, we’ll send you reminders! (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Last question, being that you’ve spent a vast amount of time on the road playing for both Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen, What most sticks out in your mind when thinking of these experiences and do you have any good and/or bad tour stories from these experiences that you’d care to share with your fans? Mick Cervino: It’s obviously the musical things and the personal things. With Ritchie Blackmore, as you may know, has been my idol since I was kid. I have studied the guy to the smallest details from every interview I’ve read about him throughout the years. And it so happens that he was very much like I expected him to be. So, there’s many things that I’ll remember with him. Like hanging out at the castles when we were playing Germany and Austria. Him and I getting lost in some of the castles in the areas that we weren’t suppose to be and trying to find the way out and getting caught by the cops. (Laughs) Very childish things because that’s the way it is with Ritchie, he’s very juvenile in many ways and that’s part of his magic. The guy has a special personality. Also, there’s the musical moments with both him and Yngwie that turns poetry into another world. You just remember those special moments of when they are very inspired. I felt so special to be there on stage next to those guys. I guess those are the main things that I remember outside of certain gigs here and there that meant the world to you. As far as the other part of your question, you tend to remember only the good things. There’s both obviously with any relationship, with any band members, there’s always good and not so great times. As I said, the good times takeover in time. You just remember the good things. You remember the little adventures on the road. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Any funny or breaking down stories? Mick Cervino: Ritchie is like me in many aspects. I’m very old fashion. I prefer the old fashion way of doing things. When they first came out with the Navigator for the cars in Germany, we were on our way to a castle and the driver insisted on using the Navigator and Ritchie said, no, those things don’t work. Then we stopped at a petrol station and Ritchie messed with his Navigator so the guy couldn’t find his way. We lost about 2 hours of going the wrong way just so Ritchie could get his satisfaction of having told the guy that those things didn’t work. (Laughs) Then Ritchie will say, another way, just go here and there. Ritchie looked at a map and showed him the way. But, in the mean time, the guy was extremely frustrated and Ritchie was just laughing. (Laughs) You get many of those things. There was another time that Ritchie was on the opposite football team and we beat him 3-1. The next day he turns up at the football field with most of his team being professional football players from Germany. So, they obviously beat us like 51-0. (Laughs) Those kind of things that I can remember that were very special and unique. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Do you still talk to him or have a relationship? It sounds like you guys were very close. Mick Cervino: We were very close. But, it’s one of those things, once you leave the Ritchie circle... it’s one of those things. I’m sure if I came across with him, we would have a good time again. I’ve been busy. I’ve moved and live in Miami now. He lives in NY. So, it’s not like we bump into each other that much. We’ll be playing in the same city in June and maybe I’ll hook up with him then. That would be great. But, it’s hard to say how receptive he would be because he’s a very special, unique character. We both left on good terms so I’m sure we could hook up and hang out. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Are you still playing with Yngwie on some things or no? Mick Cervino: Not at the moment. To be honest with you, it depends on how busy Violent Storm is. That’s my priority now. If I am not busy and he needs me and he still wants me to play with him, great. But, in the mean time, I’m just concentrating on Violent Storm. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Mick, thanks for the interview. Great album! With that said, do you have any final words for The Metal Web!? Mick Cervino: Thank you very much. Come and see us. We’ll be playing in your neighborhood very soon. Buy the album. Don’t download it illegally. That’s a bad thing to do. (Laughs) Come and see us. We will have a ball and it will be a great show! We promise. OFFICIAL SITE "VIOLENT STORM": http://www.violentstorm.net HOME |