SB: No Worries Man.

PM: Congratulations on ‘Angel Down’, is a great album. How has the response been so far from press and fans alike?

SB: Well thank you for the comments, its gone well so far you know.

PM: Did you record the tracks with the musicians in the studio with yourself, or separately?

SB: As a band, we only had 2 weeks to record in the studio so we had to get as much as possible done. ‘Back In The Saddle’ has some live vocals that I recorded with the band.

PM: Is there any particular inspiration/influence to the lyrics on the ‘Angel Down’ album?

SB: I just see things in life you know over the last seven years, the war, things that go one personally etc and to make a record that makes sense when you listen to it in your Ipod. I don’t know what I shall do now cause this album is fucking awesome!

PM: Some of the lyrics seem quite personal?

SB: I don’t like to talk too much or explain my lyrics to people you know, I prefer to say what I wanna say and let people make up their own minds. I don’t want to tell someone what they’re about. Make of them what you will!

PM: Did Axl record his vocal parts on the tour you did with Guns ‘N’ Roses, or did you two get together in the studio at Sound City Studios and Under City Studios in Los Angeles.

SB: He came over to the Studio. We have it on video actually, it’s incredible, me, Axl and Roy Z cut those three tracks, pretty cool.

PM: Did/Do you take or have you taken vocal lessons/training prior to recording the album?

SB: I have a vocal scale recording that is about 25 minutes long that I do before each and every time I sing. There is no special difference between making a record and doing a concert. Although, if I am singing really low, I don’t warm up at all, but to do a high screaming heavy metal song like ‘You Don’t Understand’ or ‘American Metalhead’ I need to warm up a lot to hit those notes. Usually about a month before shows and that I start to warm up my voice.

PM: How is the USA tour with Poison & Dokken going?

SB: It’s going well, last night we played to 12,000 people that was sold out, the night before was completely sold out, we come out and kick ass and the fans love it. ‘Dokken’ are not playing all of the shows, only a few. I cannot believe how many people are coming to these shows, I am happy, this is it, we’re doing it.

PM: Who plays in the band on Tour? Guitar, Drums etc….?

SB: Metal Mike Chlasciak (guitar), Bobby Jarzombek (DRUMS), Johnny Chromatic (Guitar), Rob DeLuca (Bass). They have been with me for five years now this is the band. I don’t like to change band members, I prefer to keep things together. Although Steve DiGiorgio played bass on the CD.

PM: Is the crowd the original fans or the younger fans, or a healthy mix?

SB: There are the kids, and the chicks. There are a lot of girls on this tour, and I mean a lot of girls, you would not believe the amount of chicks on this tour [Laughing].

PM: Do you approach touring any differently from when you first started out in the business?

SB: I can certainly perform better now we have the in-ear monitors etc, when I used to tour with ‘Skid Row’ you relied upon the wedges on stage, now with earpiece monitors I can control the sound that I hear live on stage I can make my performance much better. And when you see the ‘Roadrage’ DVD (released with the UK CD version of the ‘Angel Down’ album) that is all totally live and the version of ‘American Metalhead’ is maybe some of the best singing I have ever done.

PM: You have already toured parts of Europe, are there any shows that stood out for you?

SB: Tampere in Finland (Sauna Open Air), that was cool with ‘Children of Bodom’, ‘Testament’, ‘The Scorpions’ and ‘Whitesnake’.

We have just headlined Australia, and I completely love Australia, love touring there and all of the ‘Poison’ shows have been amazing, it’s an awesome summer.

PM: After the ‘Poison’ tour do you have any more plans?

SB: Yeah, I just learned yesterday we are off to Canada, we end the ‘Poison’ tour in California, and then we just point the tour bus North and go from there! Then we plan to come to the UK and then there is some talk of South America.

PM: You played the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the UK in 2005, something like that?

SB: Oh that sucked [laughs]! But then we played the Guns ‘N’ Roses tour, which was cool.

PM: So would the UK tour be your own headline tour?

SB: I don’t have any idea, I like to play big shows, so I would like to team up with another band, something similar to what I am doing in America with ‘Poison’ that is incredible.

PM: A lot of the older bands are still touring etc, would that be something you likely be involved with?

SB: Like when we played with ‘Children of Bodom’, you had ‘Graham Bonnet’, ‘Testament’, ‘Whitesnake’ etc, that was great.

PM: Would that sort of package interest you?

SB: I like to play big, big shows. I am good at commanding the attention of 20,000 people; it’s……….it’s something about playing a tiny little club’s that I don’t like, maybe because I have played all of these big concerts in my life, I guess I feel that’s what I should be doing. The tours with ‘Guns ‘N’ Roses’ and ‘Poison’ were like this, big shows. I think any musician would answer the same thing (Sebastian is laughing as he says this).

PM: I don’t think other musicians would be that honest though Sebastian!

SB: Maybe...[Laughs]. Oh actually, I prefer to play really small shows…[laughs].

PM: That’s what people expect you to say!

PM: What do you do in your spare time?

SB: I like to make things you know, I got that from my Dad. He was very prolific as a painter. I like to make lights, backdrops, music, do some painting etc, anything so long as I am making something or being creative.

PM: Would you consider another SUPERGROUP TV show? (shown on VH1 in the USA with Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Evan Seinfield and Jason Bonham)

SB: I made a lot of money from that, but I did not like that show, it created a false impression of me especially the way that they portrayed me, I came across as quite bad, which was not the case. I have just done “Gone Country 2”, I feel more comfortable about that show.

PM: Do you have more control on what is broadcast?

SB: No nothing like that, but I don’t drink on that show!

PM: Did you learn anything from the VH1 experience (apart from VH1’s clever editing)?

SB: Yeah, don’t drink when you’re being filmed on TV!

PM: The German band ‘Headhunter’ has recently covered ‘18 & Life’ – have you heard it?

SB: No, I have not heard that, that’s awesome; I really want to hear that. I will check that out though and I thank them for taking the time to record it, it’s an honour when you hear bands doing that.

PM: You have done some significant shows on BROADWAY too in your time (Rocky Horror Show, Jekyl & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar). Is this something that you plan to do a lot more of in your career? Are you working on anything at the moment?

SB: I am ready to rock at the moment; I may do something in the future, but not right now.

PM: Your Favourite bands right now? SB: I really like ‘Hatebreed’ right now, I like ‘Sly and the Family Stone’ and I really like ‘Neil Young’.

PM: Any non-musical idols?

SB: My Dad most definitely, and I like comic books, like Marvel comics, Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, I have read them all my life, I love all of that stuff.

PM: Do you still buy vinyl records or are you into the digital age?

SB: I actually do, they are hard to find. There is a store in New Jersey called ‘Vintage Vinyl’, when I am there I do pick up some records. I am excited to say the ‘Angel Down’ is coming out as a record, on vinyl you know.

PM: That’s me out of questions and time, thanks for your time, a pleasure to speak to you.

SB: Thank you dude I appreciate it.

For more on the band check out http://www.sebastianbach.com
http://www.myspace.com/sebastianbach

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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