par Valérie, EUROPETHEBAND.BE, et
octobre 2006
What are the main musical changes did you want to say to this new album?
Mic : We wanted to explore some new musical grounds where we haden't been before… But we basically did whatever we felt like doing without thinking of any changes in particular.
What is your state of mind in some weeks of the release of "Secret Society"? Do you feel exited? Are you curious to know the reaction of your fans? Anxious maybe?
Mic : You always hope for your new album to be well recieved. Fan's reactions are very important but most important is for us in the band to be satisfied with our work. And in this case we are very proud of what we've accomplished.
What is your position about the peer to peer? "Secret Society" was on the net one month and half before his release. What do you think about this?
Mic : Not alot we can do about it. It's a reality that we have to learn to use to our benefit .
When you write songs, do you start up with the music or the lyrics. Are there subjects that you prefer for the lyrics ? And scales or tonalities for the music ?
Mic : Usually music first.
At the moment, I prepare the chronicle of "Secret Society" for a French Hard Rock Webzine, I find it excellent, fabulous, magnificent.... I stop or I continue?;-) The only one " negative point", it is its duration.... This is why, i've put 19/20 and not 20/20 ;-). Can you, for your next album make us an album of two hours ? Many bands like EDGUY, TEN or FAIR WARNING doing album about 70 minutes... Why not you?
Mic :Quality beats Quantity;-)
The promotion of " Secret Society " seems more elaborate than that of " Start From The Dark " Is it a bigger contribution on behalf of the label or the wish of the band to promote this album, to "go out of the dark".
Mic : I guess with the SFTD album people might have thought that was just a one off. But now they realize we're here to stay and we will keep going 'till we die!
What is the place of the religion in your musical inspiration? The religious wars and terrorist acts relating to it mark you most?
Mic : Dont get the question… sorry
Of what titles are you the most satisfied on "Secret Society"? And why ?
Mic : We all have our own favourites.
Is the comments of the fans on the official forum influencedyou on the writing of " Secret Society " (for example more keyboard, more soloes etc.)?
Mic : We like to listen to what our fans have to say about things but in the end it's the band's decicion based on our own opinions. It's hard to say how much you're influenced by what you read and hear.
John Levén: Why don't you sing backing vocals. Is your voice too low for that or don't you like that ?
Mic : I don't like it (and the others don't like it).
Do you plan to write an instrumental song that could be released along with a single, even if doesn't make it to the album ?
Mic : Why not!
Do you understand the feeling of helplessness of the fans in front of the sleeve of " Secret Society ", and the despair of those with the change of logo?
Mic : Yes, it's understandable… but sometimes you feel like changes are needed. We feel that this is the greatest album cover we have ever had. We can only hope that people will sit down and listen to the whole album and at the same time looking through the booklet and the cover before getting too upset about it. Hopefully some fans will enjoy it.
Why not to have put on the sleeve either the logo, or the title of the album?
Mic : Well you probably haven't seen the album yet… The logo and title are there but with a sticker. We didn't want to ruin the fantastic cover.
The video of "Always The Pretenders" is it already filmed? If yes, where is it filmed ?
Mic : Not filmed yet but will probably be shot on stage with some additional secret footage.
"Always the pretenders" is an certain hit, many fans don't hesitate to predict a future as "The Final Countdown " . Are you agree with this opinion?
Mic : TFC was a very special song and it's very unlikely we will ever try to write a song like that again. Not said that ATP ain't a great song of course, but we would never expect to have a hit like TFC…
Do you plan to take out a songs-book of the album " Secret Society "? (Tablatures)
Mic : We don't do those things ourselves, you will have to ask our Publishing Company (Warner/Chappell Scandinavia)
Set list of the tour will be very different from that of " Start From The Dark ", shall we hear more titles of " Prisoners In Paradise "?
Mic : We don't know yet.
During your next tour, will you go on giving concerts in halls with a capacity as the Elysee Montmartre in Paris? Or will you go back in larger places like Zénith?
Mic : We will probably keep it small, warm and rocking
A new album, it is more titles, so, a more difficult choice "to sort out" the songs which you go to play in show. Do you go to do longer shows? Until now, concerts lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, do you go to do concerts of 2 hours and 15 minutes for example?
Mic : The shows will have about the same length as before
Is it you who choose the bands which open the shows for you ?
Mic : As much as we can. But it often turns out our first choices are not able to do it unfortunately
How many titles of "Secret Society" do you go to play on this tour? Do you know the titles which you go to choose of this album?
Mic : We don't know yet.
As it seems, there are subtitles in Swedish along with the interviews of LFTD. Have you thought of putting english subtitles for those who find it difficult to understand spoken English ?
Mic : In this case it was probably up to the Movie Company…
Sale figures of STFD are to be found on different websites from various unofficial sources. Even if it's not the most important, could you give us the sale figures worldwide and in France ?
Mic : Don't have a clue, sorry
What is your reaction when you hear"The Final Countdown" during sportive or political events? Did you know that Jacques Chirac (our current President of the Republic), during the presidential elections of 1988 used this title for his Presidential campaign?
Mic : It's an honour in most cases but we also heard that George Bush used it at the end of his campaign which did NOT amuse some of us.
Have you ever thought of doing a concept album ? Aren't you interested in doing so ?
Mic : It could happen but right now all we have in mind is the tour.
Have you ever been sollicited for writing the soundtrack of a movie ?
Mic : We haven't had the time but it would be interesting to try one day.
Have you already thought to doing an album with accoustics versions of your biggest hits? A kind of best-of, but in accoustic version?
Mic : Not really, but you never know.
Do you have any comments? What do you to say to your french fans?
Mic : Thanx for staying with us and hope you will enjoy our Secret Society on tour as well as on CD.
Mike, Stephan and Valérie tell you : Thank you very much to answer this interview! See you soon in tour in France!! Thank you for your music! We love you !
Mic : Thanx for your questions and hope to see you out there soon