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Your
new release is a box-set with remastered version of old songs, a
live DVD and a live CD - who came up with that idea - the record
company or was it
your own idea?
BoP - The
record company originally suggested filming one of our shows in
Germany during 2004. It
was our suggestion to expand that further to include the audio
live cd and a selection of
songs from previous albums as we felt that made up a more value
for money package. We also wanted to maintain artistic control by
mixing the audio and making a more comprehensive set of extras for
the dvd.
As
an old fan of your music I feel a bit let down - after all there's
no new stuff, the live show is only 1 hour long, the background
material is good, but
for fans, who's been following you from the beginning I don't feel
this offers a whole lot, but to new fans this is a great
introduction to your music
- was that the reason behind this release? And can you understand
if old fans feel a bit disappointed?
BoP
- I'm
sorry if you feel that way, but I feel the pack offers a lot to
existing fans and a good intro to
those unfamiliar with our music. The dvd contains a lot of extra
stuff, interviews, old live footage and photos and the remastered
compilation features some songs we haven't played live before. The
set was one hour as we were playing as guests to
Edenbridge and not headlining and new stuff will be coming in the
shape of a new studio album, which we are working
on at the moment. Which I'm sure will satisfy old and new fans.
"Heathenology"
is your third release on Massacre Records - how is the
co-operation with them? Do they give you better support and is it
easier to get tours after you've joined them?
BoP
- Massacre
is ok, they are not a big label and big budgets are not avaliable,
but we give them a quality product to
market. Unfortunately tour support is not something they help out
with so that side of things is very much down to us. Promotion and
press has always been good in Germany so they work well on that
side.
In
the past you have seldom been out on the road to support your
albums, but that changes now, when you join Pink Cream 69 and
Axxis on tour this spring
- how does that feel?
BoP
- This
is something I get very irritated about. Balance of Power is a
good live band and
we get very frustrated about the limited opportunities for
touring. Without a booking agent we have managed to play
in Europe and the USA, but it has been a struggle. We live to play
our music live and it annoys me, when people think of us as a
studio band, come to a concert and we'll show you otherwise.
And
why haven't you been touring that much in the past?
BoP - I
guess my previous answer covers that one. We have been offered
tours, but large "buy-on" fees and music business
politics seem to
get in the way, that doesn't stop us trying though!
Any
chance you might be doing some festivals this year?
BoP - Some things are in the pipeline, but as a saying goes
in music business "It's not what you know it's who you
know" I
hate to sound cynical, but that's reality.
Jon
K is your third vocalist - why did Lance King leave?
BoP
- Problems
with Lance were never about music, he was and is a superb
vocalist. But our working relationship with
him also included the business side as his label released our
albums in North America. That is where the disagreements came about and unfortunately meant we couldn't continue
working together. It's a pity, when business gets in the way of the artistic side, but I'm sure many other musicians can
relate to that.
Jon
K is also the vocalist in BioMechanical how does that influence
you?
I mean is BoP his first priority or are they at the same level?
BoP
- I'll
answer these two together, Jon's work with Biomechanical is very
different to our music so there is no conflict. However
that band is very much his project from a performing, writing and
producing point of view, so it obviously takes priority
for him. We don't have a problem with that as I work with bassist
Tony Ritchie on the music and Jon comes in at the stage, when the
songs are written and arranged and does his part in the studio.
When
can we expect new stuff from you?
BoP - As I mentioned work is underway on a new studio album
although we currently have no release schedule. Once demos and pre-production
are complete we will record in Minneapolis with Lionel producing.
We are also taking time out to do shows to promote the
Heathenology set.
Now
that you all are living in England is the process of writing new
songs easier or is it still the same? How is a normal BoP song
created?
BoP - The writing and recording process is much the same as
before. I work on ideas and send them to Tony - we then get
together and
work on demo tracks with Tony singing lead vocals. All our
previous albums have been recorded in London in sessions spread
over several months and then mixed in the studio in Minneapolis,
but this time the album will be recorded and mixed completely in
the US.
Why
do you think it is so hard for melodic metal bands from England to
compete with their counterparts from the US or Germany? To me it
seems a lot easier
to get recognition in the metal community if you are from the US
or Germany,
than if you are English?
BoP
- For
a long time melodic metal was out of favour in the UK and the
press particularly either ignored or
mocked bands, they didn't consider fashionable. BOP and other
bands had to look abroad to get music released. Japan and
Europe provided a lifeline for the music and it is a credit to the
magazines, labels and fans, that there has been big
resurgence in metal music, that goes beyond the nu-metal stuff. We
went to America and were pleasantly suprised at
the level of interest in power/melodic metal and the fans
enthusiasm for European bands.
Any
famous last words?
BoP - I'd just like to sincerely thank people for their
support and interest in our music. It means a lot to me and the
guys and
hope you'll enjoy future BOP releases.
Thanx
for doing this interview and the best of luck in the future!
Do
check out the new Balance Of Power boxset.
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