SARASIN A.D.
"...everything from knife fights to naked women..."
(Interview mit Roger Banks, September 2008)
Congratulation to your new CD. First of all, please tell us a little bit about the Band-Members, so that our readers here in Europe knows who you are.
Greg Boileau, played in Brighton Rock and Empire, Phil Naro from Talas 24K, Peter Criss and on and on LOL!, Johnny Rodgers plays with us live and is also from Brighton Rock Rob Grant on Bass and myself on Drums from Empire, Naro, Jim Gilmour, Tony Levin, XXX Sublimator etc, etc!
When and where was the band founded?
The
band was formed by Greg and Rob when they met way back while working in the
local steel mills in Hamilton.
Do you have any favourite bands?
Bands
that influence our sound are the classic hard rock bands, Montrose, Aerosmith,
Zep, AC/DC, Maiden, Queen, etc all are huge influences!
What was the first and latest CD you have bought?
I Just bought a band called The Secret Machines really cool full of ambience and can hear there influences I like it a lot. Also just picked up the last Gary Numan CD very cool indeed!
How long does it take to realize the new CD and where did you record it?
It took about 14 months to write and record, we recorded at a friend’s studio here in our home town Empire Studio.
Any favourite track on the album and why?
For
me off the top of my head would be “How will you be remembered after you have
gone” I really like the lyric it makes one think quite hard about their
mortality and our time here on this earth, and it is a cool song to play, a real
slow heavy grinder but I was able to get a few cool drum things going on in it
so happy me!!
How easy do you find it to write songs?
Well
Greg and I wrote and arranged the music and Phil wrote the melodies and lyrics
with our help. It may seem a little strange to write in segments like that but
our chemistry really works quickly in that format.
What’s the meaning behind the album title „Daggers-Lust-Disgust“?
(laughing) Get that question alot! Bit of an inside joke but, it refers to different levels of a relationship or potential relationship, some folks interperate the title as a metaphor for the way the world around us seems to be evolving, either way I like it when the listener tells me what they think it means.
Where do you get your influences/inspiration from?
Everything,
old influences new influences, anything that you find cool and gives you energy
you take it and massage it and try your best to make it your own!
Please tell us about the cover artwork…
The
cover was a cool design I found, (sorry don’t know the artist).
I think it fits the Title because like the Title of the CD, it can be
interpreted in many different ways and views!
Is there any chance to see you guys in over here in Europe sometime?
We are hoping! We really would love to tour Europe, unfortunately the costs make it difficult, it all depends on CD sales and fan response, please call your local festival organizer and tell them to bring us over, our bags are packed and passports are ready to go!!LOL! Seriously we would love to perform for our European fans it would be a fantasy, we hope to see you very soon!
Tell us any highlights or painful stories from your Tour/shows?
The usual, everything from knife fights to naked women, getting ripped off, playing in front of thousands of people, truck break downs, cockroach infested hotels to luxury suites, but you know what, we wouldn’t change a thing, that’s Rock N Roll!!
If anything would be possible. Tell us for which band you would love to do the opening act?
Well if Zep is doing anymore shows that would be heaven!
Do you’ve any songs ready for an new release?
We are always writing so never at a loss for ideas!
Let’s talk a bit about the music biz… What do you think personally about the whole download-thing?
Well people that do free downloads well that hurts financially, but I tell you, if people simply went to our website and were willing to pay say $.99 per song well that changes everything. Now the artist is in control of their destiny and making a whole lot more than they would ever get from any record company. The internet is a powerful tool, I see a time not too far from now where CD sales become a thing of the past not unlike vinyl records, people will simply buy and download all their music and graphics from the web!
In our QUESTION PIT section at medazzarock.ch we’re actually asking how important myspace for a musician really is…. Your opinion?
Very, like I said I believe that any internet based promotion is the present and future of this business.
When you aren´t playing music what do you do in your spare time?
Hang with my Family, Golf, drive seadoo’s.
What do you expect from the bands future?
Our
mission is to get this band over seas to our European fans by doing that would
mean that we have reached the next level of acceptance and keep building from
there, while writing cool music that we really dig!
At
the end of our interviews we sometimes have some kind of a game. I’ll give you
some words and you tell us what comes to your mind…
Switzerland
- Beautiful women and leader hosen (don’t ask why!LOL!)
Casting
Shows - sorry don’t watch TV most of it is poison for the mind!
George
W. Bush - Thank god I am Canadian!
Best
Of-Compilations - usually don’t include my favourite songs
Family
- why I do what I do, my total inspiration!!
War
- futile, can’t we just get along?
Internet
- convenience, a little impersonal but the way of the future.
Money
- nice but definitely not everything, many things take priority!
Holiday
- desperately needed, thanks for reminding me! Lol!
Well that´s it... Any final words to our readers?
Thanks
so much for your support, please check out our website and call your local radio
station and festival organizers and tell them to contact us!
We can’t say how much we appreciate the help; we hope to see you all
very soon! Take Care!
All
the best!
(Interview by Patrick)