Tyranny & Bloodshed Tour Interviews

Anders Jivarp of Dark Tranquility:

 

Craig: How old were you when you started drumming?

Anders: I was 15 and I was really really bad (Laughs)

Craig: Why were you bad? What did you do wrong?

Anders: I honestly didn't know anything about drums, it was an accident. I didn't take any drum lessons I just listened to albums and tried to steal whatever I could.

Craig: So you didn't get any lessons of any kind? Were you in a marching band?

Anders: Not really. I like to watch DVD's of other drummers that's where I pick up stuff from. But for the most part I am self taught.

Craig: Who are your top 5 influences?

Anders: Mike Portnoy, I think he's number one. I like Neil Pert of course, Joey Jordinson from Slipknot, Brad Wilk from Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine I think he has amazing groove, and Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork he's really cool!

Craig: What 5 CD's are currently in your rotation?

Anders: The new Cavalera Conspiracy record, Some Tori Amos albums, and some b sides from Sarah McLaclan. That's pretty much all the stuff I'm listening to right now. I listen to a lot of everything.

Craig: What do you do to warm up for a show?

Anders: I only warm up my wrists actually. I give it like ten minutes on a practice pad and some stretching. I need to just stay relaxed, focused, and concentrate during the show.

Craig: Can you remember a night where you played your best?

Anders: Couple of days I thought I did really well. I think it was in Cleveland I just remember playing really well. That's all I really remember though.

Craig: What equipment are you using nowadays? Are you endorsed?

Anders: I'm not endorsed.  Right now I'm playing Pearl Export kits, for cymbals I use Zildgian and some Sabian.

Craig: If you could give one piece of advice to drummer's nowdays what would it be?

Anders: Do like I did and listen to everything not just metal bands. You can learn a lot of things from a lot of different drummers and arrange it to metal. That's the best advice I can give.

Craig: Who gave the best performance live you've ever seen?

Anders: Dirk from Soilwork. Obviously, he's an amazing drummer. Also Doc from Vader when he was still alive.

Craig: If you weren't drumming what would you do with your life?

Anders: I would probably work in a warehouse or a supermarket kind of like I do right now. I like working I'm not a lazy guy. I need to keep busy as soon as I'm off tour I go to work. I like it!

Craig: How do you think your drumming has progressed from the first couple albums until now?

Anders: I'm much much more solid. I'm just better, I'm a steady drummer. I'm not a show off.

Craig: That was the last question I was going to ask you, was to catagorize yourself as a drummer. What kind of drummer do you say you are?

Anders: It's just soild (Laughs). It's very hard to put a name on it. It's steady.

Craig: Do you guys have anything written for the new record?

Anders: Yeah a lot actually. I write a lot of stuff on keyboard. We'll arrange it together with the guitars shortly.

Craig: So what's the songwriting process of the band like?

Anders: I think I write about 50% of the material. But everyone chips in and writes.

 

 

Mark Cross of Firewind Interview:

 

Craig: How old were you when you started drumming?

Mark: I think I was 6 when I first got my hands on a pair of drum sticks. My dad was a jazz drummer in London and he bought me my first pair of sticks. I never let go after that. I got my first drum kit when I was 11 and I just started practicing a lot. I got some lessons as well.

Craig: Were you in any sort of school band or anything similar?

Mark: Yeah high school band was where I had my first gigs, it was how it all started.

Craig: So you've had a few lessons but you're mostly self taught?

Mark: Yeah

Craig: So who are your top 5 influences as far as drumming goes?

Mark: Ian Paice I think made all the difference. Back in 72, Made in Japan was the first album I ever got. I remember listening to Neil and hearing all these different sounds and thinking, "Oh man what is this guy doing!?" I was very much into Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, late 70s early 80s rock. Of course bands like Iron Maiden influenced me. I was also into jazz too, Billy Cobham has made a difference in my life.

Craig: Assuming your influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites? Any drummers out there today interest you?

Mark: Well there's so many different drummers. Stewart Copeland is in a totally different genre but very interesting in his playing. Alex Van Halen is a big one. Dave Lombardo is someone I really like as well, what he did in Slayer and Testament was very interesting and a very powerful drummer. When you look at the guys in today's metal scene a lot of the guys aren't hard hitters and Dave Lombardo has that punch. Nowadays it's become very rare to have that kind of power that I look for in drummers. Everybody uses Triggers and I'm totally against it.

Craig: So why are you against the triggers? Do you think drummers play too fast nowadays to hit hard or what?

Mark: It's not about being the fastest drummer. You can play fast sure but after a certain while you need triggers to do that. I think you should be honest with yourself and honest with the people you know? People rely on the triggers because they can say, "Oh well we were in sound check and we don't really need to do this or need new drum skins anymore!" I don't think that's what its about. I think people should be aware of it and be honest about it. That's why I'm against all this technology it makes things way easier you know? You can use it live and its not your playing anymore. I don't like that, I'm old school.

Craig: What are 5 CD's in your current rotation?

Mark: A lot of Firewind (Laughs). I don't know I haven't been really listening much to one specific kind of band. There's so much different stuff on my Ipod like The Cure, Testament, some jazz tunes, Van Halen, I just go with whatever sounds good.

Craig: How do you warm up for a show?

Mark: I stretch a lot. I do a lot of warming up, like punching walls (Laughs). Stretching my arms and such, been doing martial arts training for a while.

Craig: Oh really? How much do you think that's helped your drumming?

Mark: Very much!

Craig: So that's something you would recommend to young drummers?

Mark: Oh yeah. Very good training, very good sport. You learn how to focus, you learn how to breathe, learn how to have a lot of energy. Martial arts is just great training to help you control your body.

Craig: Can you remember a night where you had your best playing? If so when and where?

Mark: I don't know. I think back in 93 when I was playing with Ian Gillan that was a very unique experience for me and I'll never forget that. With Firewind, I guess Albuquerque as far as this tour goes. I've had many good nights and some bad nights.

Craig: What equipment are you using? Who are you endorsed by?

Mark: I'm endorsed by Tama. I love using Tama drums and I plan on getting a new kit next year. I use Paiste symbols and I have special cross symbols that are made by Factory Metal Percussion.

Craig: If you could give one piece of advice to drummers nowadays what would it be?

Mark: Play (Laughs). I think people should really learn how to play drums and not rely on this technology nowadays. I think you should listen to a lot of different music as well. You shouldn't be stuck in one genre of music.

Craig: Who has given the best live performance you've seen?

Mark: There's so many. Neil Pert a few years ago in my mind.

Craig: If you had to stop drumming what would you be doing with your life?

Mark: I don't know. I'd be riding my motorcycle a lot.

Craig: How does your drumming differ in Firewind from other bands you've been in?

Mark: I think a band like Firewind is a band that has all kind of genres in one. I think the band just combines all my musical influences. Helloween was a little more progressive but at the same time pretty similar. Firewind I think I have a lot of room to do things and to add my own touch to it. Every band has a different vibe and different chemistry. Every year we learn something different that we can do on the next album. Like I said, I just think Firewind.

Craig: So is Firewind your permanent band?

MArk: Yeah I think this is the last step in my career

Craig: Really, so does that mean your going to hang it up pretty soon or what?

Mark: No not at all. I just get tired of being a social guy, touring a lot with so many bands and doing them all at once its tiring. I don't want to do that anymore, I want to concentrate on one thing and do it well. Maybe I'll do a session for another band, but live with other bands? I don't know.

 

 

Daniel Erlandsson with Arch Enemy:

 

Craig: How old were you when you started playing?

Daniel: I was twelve years old

Craig: Have you taken any lessons? Been in school band?

Daniel: No nothing like that. I started out mainly because my brother started playing before me. The drum kit was already in the house and I'd see him play so that was how I got into drumming. Pretty quickly I started my own band with a couple of friends when I was like 13 years old. I didn't really know how to play but neither did any of the other guys in the band.

Craig: Who are your top 5 influences in drumming?

Daniel: When I started out drumming I was obviously influenced by different people than I am right now. Nicko McBrain was probably my biggest influence when I first started. Guys like Neil Pert, Dave Holland from Judas Priest even though he's a very stiff player.

Craig: Hey, at least got you started.

Daniel: Yeah you know when you first start out its more of a case of what music you like.

Craig: Any current drummers nowadays that influence you?

Daniel: Not really influence me but I do get inspired when I watch drummers on tours that we're on. For example on this tour there are three very good drummers. Tim Yeung is just amazing. It's inspiring to watch that.

Craig: What 5 CDs are in your current rotation right now?

Daniel: I'm listening to Rammstein's Reise, Reise. Little bit of old school stuff lately like Hell Awaits and Show No Mercy by Slayer.  Piece of Mind by Iron Maiden. I was actually just listening to From Beyond by Massacre.

Craig: How do you warm up for a show?

Daniel: I have a pair of sticks backstage, I don't have a pad backstage. I used to, but we're on tour so much it's a priority to scale down. I just tap my feet against the floor a little bit, just try to get warm.

Craig: Do you remember the show where you played your best? When and where was it?

Daniel: I think I played pretty flawlessly yesterday (Laughs).

Craig: Is there a lot of those nights or what?

Daniel: No no no (Laughs). Really they are few and far between. Especially when you're on the road and you notice differences in your playing each and every night.

Craig: What equipment are you using nowadays? Who are you endorsed by?

Daniel: I use Pearl drums, always have used Pearl Drums. I use Sabian Cymbals, Evans drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, and Roland electronics.

Craig: If you could give one piece of advice to drummers today what would it be?

Daniel: It's important to not give up when you are struggling. A lot of people seem to be into the idea of getting very good very quickly you know? People write to me and they say, "I want to learn how to play Ravenous!" and I'm like, "Ok you got to start practicing how long have you been playing?" "Two Months!" Ok you to be a little bit more patient!

Craig: What's the best live performance you've ever seen? Band or drummer?

Daniel: I saw Rush when they were in Sweeden a few years ago. Never had the chance to see them before. Totally inspiring. I don't think they had played in Sweeden since 1979. It was fucking amazing.

Craig: If you had to stop drumming what do you think you'd be doing with your life?

Daniel: I don't know. Don't even want to think about it. I'd like to think I'd be doing something musical. Playing guitar maybe? I am playing a little bit of guitar.

Craig: You going to be writing any riffs with the Amott brothers or what?

Daniel: I try to. If I have a good idea and they pay attention to it. I've had a few riffs end up in songs before.

Craig: Oh yeah which ones?

Daniel: On the last record Doomsday Machine there were a few riffs on there. They're scattered all over the album.

Craig: How do you think your drumming is different on Rise of the Tyrant compared to Doomsday Machine?

Daniel: When you first hear the material you get a vibe from the material. It's a different vibe every time. On Doomsday Machine I was trying really hard not to overplay the songs. On the new album I felt a little bit more free. I tried to keep it a little bit more spontaneous. One thing that definitely has been different over the years is we take our time recording
the drums. The first album I think I did in a day.

Craig: About recording the drums, how was it different recording with Fredrik Nordstrom as opposed to Andy Sneap?

Daniel: I think Andy is a little more meticulous. He pays more attention to detail. So I worked with him a lot where Fredrik I didn't work with him much I worked with his assistants in the studio. He's a drummer himself so he has a good ear for recording drums.

Craig: So about your brother drumming, do you guys have a friendly competition going? How much do you two influence each other?

Daniel: I say the competition is in the past.  The fact that he was playing got me into drumming in the first place. When I first started playing I tried to listen to CD's and copy drummers. One of the first songs I learned was "Aces High" by Iron Maiden. We used to show each other different things like that. I was 6 years younger so I'd try to outdo him all the time and
come up with the most intricate stuff to play. Nowadays its totally different. We talk on the phone a lot and discuss what we were doing lately, drumming and drumming on the albums we've been on lately. We have a very good relationship.

Craig: Has it hit you yet that you replaced Ken in Carcass? Do you add your own style or do you try to keep it as much like Ken did it as possible?

Daniel: It's big for me. I definitely decided when I got the gig that I'm going to emmulate his playing as much as possible. I'm not going to try to go fancy or anything, his playing is very rough and raw. I think the level of drumming in metal has been raised ten times since back then. Like I said though I'm going to try to emulate his style.