You can’t stop rock’n’roll

You can’t stop rock’n’roll – classic words from Twisted Sister dated 1983.

Rock has managed to rediscover and reinvent itself, I see it everywhere I go.
At least here in Sweden it’s very evident. And it’s such a relief, cause I still remember the identity crisis that rock’n’roll went through in the mid- and late 90’s.

I came home to Sweden after having lived in NY for a year and was bummed that there were no rock-clubs anywhere. It was The Great Rock’n’Roll Depression if you ask me – the post-Nirvana and pre-nothing period.

The golden era of rock died over night. They all just disappeared – all those bands who sold out arenas worldwide, had those huge over-the-top stage-productions, topped the Billboard-list…
It was the exclusive time when hard rock actually had its own show on MTV (remember MTV when it actually WAS Music-TV??).

Europe had Headbanger’s Ball with Vanessa Warwick. The US had Headbanger’s Ball with Adam Curry and later Riki Rachtman. I loved that era. You can laugh about the hair, the spandex, the glitter and the lipstick today, but rock’n’roll was alive and kicking!

Then came Nirvana and everything just went downhill. I’m sure there are people out there who beg to differ, but that’s my humble opinion.

Rock clubs closed, there was nothing nowhere… Rockers cut their hair and stayed at home in their flannel shirts being depressed.

It was a nightmare.

Something had to change, and eventhough you can’t change everything – you can always change something.
I decided to do something about it.

I wrote to my favorite nightclub at the time, Heartbreak Hotel, and tried to convince them to open a hard rock club.

To make it easier for them, I included a bunch of ideas, probably two pages full of brainstorming – and sent it to the owner. He called me the next day and next thing I know, I was in charge of the rock club Hard Break at Heartbreak.That hadn’t been my plan, I just wanted a place to go to, not run it, but what the hell – I took on the challenge.

On the day of the premiere there was no doubt that people had been STARVING for rock’n’roll! The owner couldn’t believe it – he had been struggling to stay in business and figured that my idea at least couldn’t make things any worse…

The opening night of Hard Break – there were people lining up, rockers as far as the eye could see! People couldn’t even get in – an hour or two after we had opened the doors it was already crowded! A club with a 800-guests capacity, nobody really believed me when I said that it would work.
I knew it would.

Rockers didn’t just suddenly stop loving their music. They just didn’t have anywhere to go. It felt good to prove everybody wrong – rock’n’roll was very much alive, it was just hidden, surpressed and temporarily beaten.
But you can’t stop rock’n’roll – it’s an undefeatable force!

This clip is from a TV-interview after the premiere of Hard Break:

 

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See the full gallery on Posterous

Things have changed a lot since then. When I look around now, there are rock clubs and rock pubs/bars on every corner. You can even choose your particular niche – from AOR to death metal. Take a pick. It’s all there.

Even fashion is now rock’n’roll. The catwalks are hailing black clothes, chains and studs. Shoes are cool again, high heels, straps, studs, just very metal in general. Hard rock is “okay” now. It’s the first time in 30 years I think, that I can say that rock has finally been accepted.

Since Finnish rockers Lordi won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Hard Rock Hallelujah” a few years ago, you suddenly have rockers competing in mainstream music competitions (such as the Eurovision), which was totally unheard of ten years ago.

Hard rock never really died. It was more like a sleeping grizzly in its den. And it’s just such a kick to see it back on track with full force!

Bands are out touring again, clubs are up and running, rock radio is getting just as many listeners as regular mainstream stations. Years ago people would have laughed and said that that could never happen. They had another thing comin’…!

Oz-TV is back, at last…! :)

Finally! A new Oz-TV is up on Youtube. I missed those when the band had a break. Now when they’re back out on the road, in South America, I can enjoy these episodes again.

I don’t understand why so many people watch what I think is meaningless TV, such as Big Brother. That is only stupid people locked up in a house, being just…stupid. It doesn’t inspire me, it doesn’t give me kicks, it doesn’t do nothing.

This stuff does.

 

Life on the road has always been appealing to me, but very few people are privileged to do that on a regular basis. Being in a rock band nowadays is a struggle for the most part. There is not any money in it really, you can talk to almost any band today and they will tell you how hard it is, and how much you have to sacrifice to even be able to DO that.

A few artists can make a good living doing that, the legends, the Metallicas, the what have you…. And Ozzy, duuh, of course.

My first experience of life on the road was when I was managing an all-female band, Modesty Blaise, back in the early 90’s. We were out travelling in a rented van, staying in cheap hotels that the promoters had us stay at, and of course you never had your own room, you always had to share. Well, if you were lucky enough to even have a hotel room. Sometimes they had you sleep on the floor in some room at the venue or whatever. When you’re a small band from nowhere, nobody cares. Show up, do your thing and get out of here. :) That’s the attitude.

 

But I loved it. It makes people bond like family because you’re together 24-7 doing something that you love to do, travelling around. It’s something that can’t fully be explained unless you’ve done it I think.

 

The best thing I’ve ever done in my life was the tours with Jon Oliva’s Pain. Had my own bunk on the bus, loved falling asleep to the jokes and laugs where people in the front of the bus kept yapping till 2 or 3 in the morning. I loved sleeping in a bunk because I sleep like a baby when something is moving. I loved opening the bunk-curtain in the morning, not quite knowing where we are, to the smell of coffee.

I loved that whole crazy life, where you never knew when you were gonna get your next meal or what was on the “menu” (it all depended on the place they were playing and the budget of that particular venue..). The first time I tried to put on makeup in a bus I gave up. I ended up looking like Alice Cooper.

Trying to get dressed in a bunk is impossible too, so I gave up trying to be “private”, nobody cares anyway we’re all in the same situation.

 

Being around music people was great, I felt like I belonged 100%. I never had to explain myself to anyone, people just GET IT because they are the same. You could sit there and talk about anything music-related and people would just add their own stories, they’ve all been out on the road doing this for years. It’s just a great thing, that feeling of being “home”.

Anyway, when I got back from touring with the band (I’ve said it a thousand times and i’ll say it again, the JOP-family is great, I love them dearly) I felt empty, I just wanted to get back out there.

I still dream of being on the road. Every day when I’m stuck with my everyday job, I wish I was out doing what Ozzy and the boys are doing – right now. In this very moment. And through these videos, I get a taste of their current everyday life which is the closest I’m gonna get to being out touring.

At least until this summer when I go out on my own rock’n’roll galore!

In-store gig, the way music is supposed to be

Went to Stereo Studio – a record store right in the heart of Copenhagen, after work. Mike Tramp was doing an in-store gig and a meet-and-greet signing session. I figured it could be cool to just go and check out.

Beautiful sunny, early spring-day, a little chilly but lots of people out strolling down Stroget, Copenhagens main pedestrian street. You couldn’t miss where the in-store gig was. You could hear it from miles away. Some people stopped and looked through the window, curious to see who was playing in there.

Walked in and there was a small crowd that had heard about the signing. The band sounded surprisingly good. I say “surprisingly” because I wouldn’t expect miracles from a small low-profile gig like that with a mini-PA and the band standing in a corner, still it sounded great. :)

[Keep your eyes on the KID in the corner, the aspiring new future guitarist who stole the whole show!]

What a wonderful feeling it was to be there. THAT is what music is all about! Just being in an actual record store, surrounded by CD’s, vinyls, merch, books…. like a music-temple. I remember what it was like going to record stores all the time. Flipping through albums, trying to discover something new, reading sleeves, or just checking out new versions of records I already had…

Music feels more…real. There was a band, there was a crowd, and there was a real record store. I forgot how cool it is to be in a record store, cause we live in the modern age of downloading now. You never meet other music fans like that, you mind your own business and download your music from your couch, you just lose that whole feeling of interaction.

The in-store thing was all about being part of loving music. :)

I miss all those record stores that used to be on every corner back in the good old days. This was almost a trip down Memory Lane and I really enjoyed it. Some things can’t be replaced by the convenience of downloading music from iTunes…

 

MIKE TRAMP – video interview from The Rock

Today is the official release of Mike Tramp‘s new album “Stand Your Ground“.
I met Mike for a chat right before sound check the day of his release party Thursday night. Actually, this interview was made during sound check, so consider that whole “live” feeling with the noise in the background, a bounus. ;-P

For those of you who live in Copenhagen, Mike will be having an in-store signing session and acoustic gig at Stereo Studio 16.00 (4 PM) today.

But for now, enjoy this interview with Mike where he talks about his current life in Denmark, about how you can’t make good rock’n’roll if you’re too comfortable, his memories of Ronnie James Dio and more. Don’t miss the two bonus questions in “video 2” :-)

Also, make sure to visit www.fotograf-hh.se for photos from the release party gig.

 

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MIKE TRAMP – release party @ The Rock, Copenhagen

Met up with Mike Tramp (ex-White Lion vocalist) yesterday.
Last time I talked to him was exactly 10 years ago, and I could not believe that he actually remembered me.
I don’t even remember people I met last week, and he manages to remember a person he met once – ten years ago. Amazing.

Did a video-interview with Mike, which is coming up in a few days. He will be talking about his current life in Denmark, about being somewhat of a nomad, White Lion, the new album, Ronnie James Dio and who he would want to be stuck with in an elevator…!
So stick around for that. :)

[Mike Tramp – live, release party @ The Rock Copenhagen last night March 24, 2011]

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The show was very intimate because 99% of the crowd appeared to be close friends of the band. After all, we were in Mike’s hometown, Copenhagen.

He was joking, communicating in a very personal way with the crowd, genuinely enjoying every moment.
I have to be honest and admit that I’ve never been a White Lion-fan or Mike Tramp fan per se, it was a bit too polished for my personal taste, but I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the new album (official release date on Monday)

The evening began with the new CD “Stand Your Ground” blasting through the PA. Most of the songs were heavier than I expected and Mike’s voice has improved a lot compared to the “good old days”. It has a lot more depth and power now.
Cool riffs (maybe the work of multi-musician, songwriter, producer etc, Soren Andersen that has been with Mike for a while now) and a very solid overall sound.

When the band entered the stage it felt like you already knew the songs, eventhough they were brand new. A very effective way of presenting a new album.

I liked the warm atmosphere Mike created, he made it feel like we had all entered his living-room for a special private gig. Yet it had the quality of an arena-show. All very nicely done, great energy and balanced choice of songs.

We got everything from “Don’t Let Them Put It On You” from the new CD (great song) to old classics such as a very stripped down and heartfelt “When The Children Cry” or the cover “Radar Love“.

He also performed the Ronnie James Dio-tribute “Hymn to Ronnie” that he dedicated to Ronnie and also another hero that we lost recently, Gary Moore.

“It’s okay if you cry”, he said, and when I looked to my left during the song, a guy took that literally, probably hoping that nobody would see him as he subtly dried the tears from his eyes there in the dark…

Mike Tramp has been around for over three decades and he knows his business. He’s never been more confident with that he does.
Like he also stated in the interview, everything he’s done in his past has finally led him to a good place that he feels he deserves.
He most certainly does.

To me, he has grown into a very skilled artist that has developed his craft to  perfection. The pinup-boy from the 80’s is gone – say hello to the true rocker Mike Tramp.

Pics and video-interview soon!

http://www.maytherockbewithyou.com/May_The_Rock_Be_With_You/News/Entries/2011/2/2_MIKE_TRAMP_-_STAND_YOUR_GROUND.html