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1. Can you give us a brief intro to the band?
Paul Finnie: I've been playing bass for the band
since mid 2009 when drummer Rich Smith and Guitarist
Andy Midgley also teamed up with the one and only Steve
Williams. We added another guitarist, Gav Owen, and
vocalist, Chity Somapala, to this new line up in April
2010. Mainly UK based, I'm from Glasgow, but Sri Lankan
Chity currently resides in Germany.
Steve
Williams: I'm the founding member of the band which
started back in 2001 when myself and our former bass
player left Dragonheart (now Dragonforce). The current
line up, who Paul already mentioned, are appearing on
a Power Quest album for the very first time. Over the
years we have had the good fortune to play with the
likes of Hell-o-ween, Dream Evil, Labyrinth, Angra,
Firewind and Threshold along with numerous festival
appearances and headline shows in the UK.
2. Musically, what would you say your main influences
are?
PF: I like to think that bands such as Megadeth, Dream
Theatre, Journey, Thin
Lizzy and Iron Maiden have all helped me find my musical
direction. They
certainly influenced my life in a big way.
SW:
When Steve Scott and I formed the band we were really
influenced by
bands like Stratovarius, Iron Maiden and Hell-o-ween
but also by hard rock acts like Van Halen as well. I
think in addition to these influences you can now hear
touches of Dream Theater and Symphony X in the PQ sound.
3. Tell us about your upcoming album release?
SW: "Blood Alliance" is the 5th Power Quest
album and is due for release
in the UK on March 28th via Napalm Records. Elsewhere
in Europe it is released the previous week and it is
already available in South East Asia via Marquee/Avalon
Records. It's probably the fastest album we have recorded
since the debut album
"Wings of Forever" back in 2002 and also probably
the heaviest as well. I think the energy the new members
have brought to the band is partly responsible for that
but lyrically I felt I had a lot of things to get off
my chest on this album as well, which often leads to
faster songs.
We will be playing a good number of songs from the new
record on our tour in May and will debuting some of
the new material at Hammerfest in March. If you haven't
already heard "Survive" from "Blood Alliance"
you can check it out via the official PQ Myspace page.
PF:
Blood Alliance, continues the PQ sound of melodic power
metal. I think this new line up brings a new attitude
to the music though. It's definitely a bit heavier and
more aggressive than past albums.
4. What are your upcoming tour plans?
SW: We kick off 2011 with an appearance at Hammerfest
on March 19th and we also have 4 UK headline shows confirmed
for May 5th -8th in London, Derby, Manchester and Glasgow.
Later in the year we also have an appearance at the
prestigious Bloodstock Open Air festival on August 13th.
5. Where is your favourite city to gig, both in terms
of playing and
visiting?
SW: One thing I've noticed when touring is that, because
I'm heavily involved in the day to day life on the road,
I don't often get to see many towns and cities from
a sight seeing perspective. I do remember having a great
day in Strasbourg when we were on tour with Angra in
2007 and also in Barcelona on the same tour.
From a playing view point, I have to say that the fans
in Spain and Portugal were some of the most vocal and
lively that I have ever seen. Closer to home I always
enjoy playing in the Yorkshire area as the fans there
have always been kind to us. I'm very much looking forward
to playing in Glasgow this year for the first time in
5 years as the fans there were extremely welcoming and
awesome when we were on stage.
6. If you could go out on tour with any band, who would
it be?
PF: Tough choice. Any of the bands I mentioned as influences
really.
SW:
I've already had the good fortune to tour with Hell-o-ween,
who are one of my all time favourite bands. I think
maybe Dream Theatre or Iron Maiden would be the ultimate
tours for me but I'd also love to play with bands like
Gamma Ray, Edguy and even more classic bands like Whitesnake.
7. Have you ever suffered an onstage/tour related
injury?
PF: Not yet, I'm crossing fingers and touching wood
that I never have an answer to this one, ha ha!
SW:
Like Paul, I've been very fortunate in this respect.
Probably the only thing that could be mentioned would
be a strained neck muscle from too much head banging
on stage.
8. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened
to you on tour?
PF: Well I have been a bit too drunk after a show and
found myself waking up in a hotel corridor. Don't want
to talk about what I was or wasn't wearing! Surely everyone
has done this though! It was funny to me but our poor
merch guy didn't seem to enjoy me thumping on the door
to get back into the room.
SW:
I've got to admit Paul's story would take some beating
lol! I do remember being stalked in a hotel after Bloodstock
2003 by a very drunk girl with a plastic sword! Wasn't
very amusing at the time though! hahaha!
9. What are the best / worst things about being in
a band?
SW: Without doubt the best thing about being in a band
is being able to get out on the road and play for the
fans who have bought our albums and merchandise. The
support of PQ fans has been amazing over the past 10
years and I will never forget the appreciation of everyone
who spends their hard earned money in this way.
Of course getting to meet other musicians who you may
have looked up to when you
are growing up and to be able to share a stage with
them is another amazing thing to
cherish.
I guess one of the worst things these days is the fact
that more often than not our music is available on torrent
sites for free download before it has even been released.
It may not have much of an effect on established bands
with a large fan base, but for bands of our stature
it can be the difference between being able to tour
or not. Tour support is calculated on album sales so
it doesn't matter if you have 100,000 people who have
your album if only 5,000 paid for it.
PF:
For me the best thing is getting to play with such talented
musicians. The fact that we all get on so well on a
personal level is important too. Every one of these
guys is like a brother to me. Perhaps the worst thing
about being in a band is the constraints of what you're
given to work with. A lot of stuff is outside of your
control and it all costs money. You have to be determined
and always keep your sights on the bigger picture. It
helps bond you as a band though and makes you stronger
as a person.
10. What's your personal poison of choice?
SW: A pint of Guinness (sometimes with a shot or two
of Jagermeister in
there) never goes amiss but I also enjoy a bottle of
Budweiser, and on occasion a
little Jack and coke too.
PF:
Who's round is it? Whiskey for me please. I am a Scotsman
after all (so make
it a treble!)
11. Which band / album do you love but know you shouldn't?
SW: Well, I think I've got past the point in life where
I think I shouldn't like something, or am maybe embarrassed
by it. I would say there are a couple of bands I guess
I could mention here and they would be A-Ha and Europe
but I also have a soft spot for other 80's pop acts
like Pet Shop Boys and Erasure. It's all about the catchy
melodies!
PF:
Er...I'm a big Counting Crows fan. Not very metal I
know but lyrically Adam Duritz is a poet genius.
12. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a wood
chuck could chuck wood?
SW: I've no chucking idea! hahaha!
PF:
Is this a question on the latest maths exam paper? I'm
going to need to know
the wind speed and what time of the day this is taking
place before I can
provide a definitive answer on this one I'm afraid,
ha ha. Taxi for me and
my groundhog please!
13. Any last words?
SW: I hope you all enjoy the new album "Blood Alliance".
Thanks for the opportunity
to do this interview with you guys as well. The support
is very much appreciated. I hope we'll see you on the
road during the course of 2011 as well.
You
can check out more about the band at www.power-quest.co.uk
and
www.myspace.com/powerquest
PF:
Looking forward to putting on a great live show and
hoping we'll see plenty
of you there. Till then, keep rocking! Cheers
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