CD: Hi there, and thanks for sparing us the time to answer a few questions. First thing's first, what does the name mean? We all know what a Poltergeist is, but what's a Potergeist?

JD: Hi there as well, let me say a big thank you for hosting this interview. Our name, “Potergeist” started as a joke when me and my cousin Alex were looking for a band name in order to appear at our first festival in the Greek island Antiparos in 2005. It was a badly spelled Google search for the horror movie “Poltergeist”, missing an “l”. We immediately loved it and made it our own as it came to be something that expressed us all since “pot” is something that we indulge in often. Though, believe me, there is nothing numb about our concerts. You could say that if poltergeist is the noisy spirit of evil, Potergeist is the noisy spirit of the smoke.

CD: Can you tell us a bit about how the band came to form?

JD: Since always me and my cousin shared a deep respect for the American blues as well as the Southern and metal cultural heritage. One night I was fooling around, playing some bluesy riffs on my guitar and Alex joined in, as I switched to heavy distortion. We realized that we should share the groove. After that, we called in some friends to join but during the last 2 years the band synthesis has changed a lot. Right now it’s pretty solid and I think it’s gonna stay that way.

CD: How has the debut album been received by the critics so far?

JD: It’s been a blast.. while the Greek press underlines the diversity in the styles used, we’ve received very positive feedback from all over the world and been recognized as a novelty. It’s just a beginning but we are willing to take it all the way.

CD: In my review, I made mention of Greece being a hotbed of metal activity, but not being well know for so-called Southern Metal. How do Potergeist fit into the Greek scene (if at all)?

JD: Well, let’s not stick to terminology.. for the people attending our live concerts, not to mention the fans in the pit, this doesn’t matter. Of course, we belong to the underground. The underground set us off and it will always be our home. The energy transaction between us and the fans is always true whether it’s 10 people down in the pit or a thousand. We enjoy what we do.

CD: How have Burning Star Records (who have released “Southwards”) been? How did you end up signed to them?

JD: We contacted Burning Star records in a turning point for Potergeist and I must say if it wasn’t for them things would have turned out differently. And by differently I mean much slower. They did like what they heard and immediately offered a contract. Much respect for their straightforward professionalism and understanding.

CD: How does the song writing process work for Potergeist? Is it a democratic way of working, or do some members contribute more than others?

JD: All lyrics are written by Alex. This is not democracy man, cousin is a great fucking poet! (laughs) Greece invented democracy but the philosophers also said “each man to be assigned at what he does best”. Potergeist’s music comes from Potergeist as a whole whether it’s guitar shredding, innovating and solid bass lines, inspiring rhythms or just approving a good idea.

CD: How is touring with the band? Any plans to tour the UK anytime soon?

JD: One thing I can tell you for sure is that if you told us to begin a world tour tomorrow we would start packing right away. Problem always is the terms.. After all, we are all 4 of us poor sons of bitches. But to answer your question, yes, UK is a top priority for 2008, when we’ll have a few gigs abroad.

CD: The co-called Southern Metal genre seems to be exploding at the moment, in terms of the amount of press coverage it's getting. What are Potergeists top three Southern rock/metal albums of all time?

JD: Pick any three Pantera albums you like after 1990.. (laughs)

CD: Who would you love to tour with, in a dream situation?

JD: In my dreams I always play alongside Dimebag.. but to express the others as well I think touring with Down at the moment would be monumental.

CD: I thought your music had a really strong blues influence; what influenced you when you were writing songs for the album?

JD: Well, to give you a little inside glance, we’re gonna get heavier from now on. But concerning Southwards I think the answers must be: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Corrosion of Conformity, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Black Label Society, ACDC, Down and a series of country blues artists from Robert Johnson to Albert Lee. Oh, I forgot to put Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey on the list.. (laughs) And then some.

CD: Where do you see Potergeist going from here?

JD: Anywhere good deals, good company, talent and positive feedback may bring us. Honestly now, it’s a matter of hard work and persistence in order to achieve what you crave the most. A second album is on the plans and the gigs that we talked about.

CD: I have to say that it sounds like you were having fun when you recorded the album; was the process of recording and writing fun this time around?

JD: It’s time to tell you a little secret.. In Potergeist we write music we would like to listen to. If someone else would write Southwards instead of us, fuck, I would listen to it all the time. I still do. We happen to be very alike to our musical tastes, so every time we rehearse we reproduce the live thing. Constant partying, herbal –ahem- tea, and head banging. All aboard! (laughs)

CD: Every time I go to Greece, I'm always impressed by how many metal bars and clubs there are out there. Why is it then, do you think, that Greek bands don't enjoy a higher profile on the international stage?

JD: The phenomenon you are referring to is a mixture of sloppy works, low budgets, bad –or no- promotion and a dose of outgoing –yet superficial- Greek personality which results to insufficient bands that fade away. This is not criticism, it’s a wake-up call to those worthy enough to stand tall.

CD: What bands do you guys listen to in the tour van / bus?

JD: We are currently not using a tour bus because every time we’ve played outside Athens we got there by public transportation. (laughs) But I think when we finally do get a touring bus of our own (the pot-mobile), it’s going to be filled with the bands I’ve already referred to: blues for relaxation, metal sounds for the rest of the time.

CD: OK, you've got ten words to convince potential fans to give your album a listen. GO!

JD: Damn! I do headbanging with my own album for fuck’s sake!

http://www.myspace.com/potergeist
http://www.burning-star.net

Interviewed by Chris Davison

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