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3/21/04 Breaking News!!! Pilson to record with Dio. Scroll down to the bottom for additional Q and A’s in red
Breakin’ the Chains
Interview with Jeff Pilson
By Thomas S. Orwat, Jr.
March 10, 2004
Through out his 25 plus year career in music, Jeff Pilson has shared the stage and recording studio with some of the most talented and assertive artist in the genre of rock. From his two stints in Dokken to his time in the Ronnie James Dio band and his brief stay in MSG, Pilson had helped with songwriting and provided a solid bottom end to the rhythm section. However, for the most part he took a step back as someone else was in the main spotlight . But in last years Lynch/Pilson CD (with former Dokken Guitarist George Lynch) and the upcoming release from his new and revamped War & Peace project, Pilson took on many more responsibilities. With the aforementioned projects, Pilson has stepped up and has shown the world that he’s much more than just a bass player, he’s an adequate vocalist and main songwriter as well. Pilson is now were he belongs, on the center stage with all eyes on him.
What follows is an exclusive glam-metal.com interview in which Pilson explains his past, present and plans for the future.
You have a new release coming out under the band moniker War and Peace. But, from what I understand, this is more of a solo project for you than band collaboration. Is that true and what exactly were you responsible for doing on the CD?
I guess it is a bit more like a solo record in that I play, sing and write everything but the drums. However War and Peace sort of represents the melodic rock side of me- so I use that to distinguish what kind of a record it will be. I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that it's important you represent a product pretty openly- or fans get confused. That way if I come out with something in a different direction, which I wouldn't call War and Peace, then fans will know it's something different. That's the theory anyways.
Describe the sound of the new material?
Most of the writing was done in continuation of the writing I did for the Lynch/Pilson record, so there are similarities to that. It's pretty heavy, very melodic, but there are some interesting musical twists as well. I also kept a musical theme going which comes back in variations at different times in the record. It was a very creatively satisfying experience. I think there are some real strong songs as well.
Are there plans to release it in America and if yes, when?
I hope so, but I have no concrete answers for that yet. Wish I did. It will be available through my website, however.
Will you tour to support this release and who will be in the band?
I'd like to do at least a handful of shows somewhere, somehow, but that might be a bit of a time stretch. If I do, I'd make it a Jeff Pilson and Friends type situation and get some good friends in the band, maybe do songs from their groups as well, and just have a lot of fun. It's just hard for me to carve out the time necessary to go on the road these days. That's why a handful of shows with friends might be the way to do it.
You played in the Dio band before. Now that Ronnie needs a new bassist, has he called you to see if you are interested? If not, would you do it if you were asked?
He hasn't called, and I'd love to play on the record, but I couldn't actually join the band right now. My guess is Ronnie sort of figures that and wants to find a more permanent member, and that's very understandable (although completely speculation on my part).
What was it like working and touring with Dio?
It was a most amazing experience. We were such a kick ass live band.
I completely agree. Last year you recorded a CD with your former partner in Dokke n, George Lynch. The Lynch/Pilson project was widely promoted before hand, but after it was released the promotion seemed to stop. You didn’t even tour to support it. What happen? It was a solid release and deserved better.
Thank you. George and I both would have loved to tour the record, but scheduling between us got very fouled up. It's more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it. I think the label was very disappointed we didn't tour, and didn't see many ways to promote it past that. Because we thought we were going to tour, the strategy got pulled out from under the record when we didn't. But strangely enough, I still think someday we will do some shows as L/P (it's just a gut feeling of mine- nothing tangible). So don't give up total hope!!
What is your relationship like with George? Do you get along, will you work with him in the future?
We are very close these days and talk quite regularly. We do both love working together, and I have no doubt we will again in the future. It's very powerful chemistry.
Why did you leave Dokken in 2000? Don told me it was because you wanted to be a frontman and he needed you to be a bass player. Is that true?
No not really. Believe it or not, I don't have these huge ambitions to be some big rock God lead singer anymore. I just love to make music, and I love to sing. With Dokken it had just gotten to the point where there was wayyyyy too much drama in the making of records, and very little creative satisfaction. So when I proposed solid scheduling in order to meet a release that would coincide with the release of the Rockstar movie (Warner Bros. were willing to co-promote Dokken along with the movie), it was strongly rejected. I think it became about control at that point, not about keeping that version of the band together. And in some ways I understand Don wanting to replace me, because I was very busy with other things at that point. But as for the frontman thing, I think that was more a convenient excuse- the truth was a rather long story.
It seems as if Don Dokken has trouble keeping people in his band.
Yes, of course. Don can be very difficult to work with- but not really for the reasons you may think. It gets very complicated. But now it's really gone from being a band of equals- to Don's band, which I think he rather likes. So for that reason I say- kudos to Don for keeping the franchise alive- and may we all be much happier in our current situations.
It’s complete speculation, but if Dokken never broke up in 88, what sort of future do you think the band would have had?
I'm sure we would have broken up eventually anyways, but who knows what we may or may not have accomplished in the interim. We certainly weren't very solid at the point of break-up, but we all eventually got it together to make good records on our own. It's very hard to say.
Why couldn’t Don and George get along?
Egos.
Was there ever a time when they did?
Sure, in brief intervals. Actually, when Don broke the news originally that he was leaving, we had been getting along better than ever. I was a bit shocked. I thought he was crying wolf at first.
Who was more to blame for the problems?
There is no concrete answer to that. We were all at fault in our own ways.
You had a role in the movie “RockStar.” What was that experience like and would you ever do something like that again?
It was fabulous- tons of fun. Yes I'd do it again, but that was a pretty unique situation that I wouldn't hold my breath for.
Where you disappointed with the movie at all. It really didn’t live up to all the hype surrounding it, even with the all-star crew it had staring in it.
I thought the movie was great. Fun and entertaining. Was it entirely accurate for the era? Of course not- Hollywood takes its liberties! But I thought overall it was very fun and I wasn't disappointed in the least.
Thank you for your time. Any parting words for your fans?
Just thank you so much and I hope you enjoy the new War and Peace CD.
www.jeffpilson.com
Added on 3/21/04
Did Ronnie contact you or did you contact him?
Yes, Ronnie's office called just a few days ago.
When are you scheduled to start recording with him?
We're tentatively talking mid April to record, but we have to get together and rehearse first.
Have you heard any of the new Dio material yet? Will you write with him too?
I'll hear the material tomorrow. Most of the songs are already written, but it looks like there will have to be a couple more, so I may be in on the writing- too early to say.
How will this effect you plans to promote your War & Peace release?
I don't see where it will interfere with WNP promotion at all, in fact I think it helps spread the word!
Do you plan on touring with Dio too?
My wife and I are expecting our first child this July, so no touring for me at this time.
How do you feel about Jon Levin as the new guitarist in Dokken.
I think Jon makes a perfect choice. He's an amazing guitarist, and quite a writer as well. I think people will be pleasantly surprised at what he comes up with.
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