Tony
Martin
Tony Martin doesn't
need any special acquaintances... He has one of the best, most emotive
and passionate voices in heavy metal music and he has offered us some superb
tracks with Black Sabbath, Empire and a number of other projects. Recently
he came for a one off show in Thessaloniki as a celebration of the 20 years
from his first Black Sabbath concert. What better treat could there be
for his fans? Let's see what he told us...
1. Hello and welcome back to Greece! How
do you feel being in the position of celebrating 20 years from your first
Black Sabbath concert here?
Amazing!!! Still feels good to play these
songs.
2. You’ve been around for almost three decades
and being in the music business is a roller coaster ride. So, which are
the most memorable and best moments of your career? Which are the mistakes
you made that taught you to be more careful?
Ah. Very difficult. Er… I guess I still haven’t
learned and I’m not sure you ever really do. I feel mostly in control but
still things surprise me. All of the Sabbath years were intense!!! And
I didn’t get to enjoy all of it because I was so involved in doing my job,
but it was an honour and a pleasure to be there. But having your first
solo album is also a big thing. And the next thing you do is a big thing
too.
3. What have you got in store for us? Are you
about to release a new album?
I’d LIKE to but I need to move on from my
record label and that will take a little time, but hopefully next year.
4. You’ve cooperated with a number of great
musicians, like for example Rondinelli, Giuntini, The Cage, Empire, M3
and Cozy Powell’s Hammer. Which collaboration of yours was the most important
for you? And for what reasons?
Mostly they were all sessions, non of them
really went on the road except M3 and that wasn’t a good move for me. I
was in desperate times when I did that and I did myself no favours by taking
it on.
5. By the way why haven’t you continued your
cooperation with Empire? “The Raven Ride” was an unbelievable album!
Aha!!! We haven’t finished yet, and I have
Rolf Munkes in my band.
6. Black Sabbath is a huge chapter in your
career and lately we’ve seen them reunite both with Ozzy and Dio. So is
there a chance you might reunite as well and do some shows?
They haven’t spoken to me for 10 years so
I can’t imagine the phone will ring with the offer, and if it did, I don’t
know how that could work?
7. What emotions do you think your music creates
to your listeners? If you had to describe your music and the feeling that
comes out of your songs, which words would you choose? What title would
you give to your career?
Music is a very personal thing to those that
write it, nobody writes other people’s thoughts and emotions and stories.
Other people may cover them but not write. And I imagine everyone gets
a different experience from listening to it, some people really love Forbiden
but others hate it for example. Even though the intention for the songs
was good, the idea of making them rap!!!! Was not in my opinion.
8. What would you advise the young people who
want to have a career like yours? What should they be careful of?
Listen and learn, every situation is different,
and there are basic mistakes like spending all your money as soon as you
get it!!!!!
9. Your son is a guitarist. Is it a hobby of
his or is he in a band? How do you feel about it?
He’s great, love him a lot, and very proud
of him, as I am of the other 3 children I have. But I missed growing him
up because I was divorced from his mom and didn’t see him or my other son
very much. So now we are more like friends and that’s great.
10. Have you planned a tour or is this gig
in Greek a one off show?
Just one for now but hoping to come back for
more, interested????
11. Is there a question you’d like to be asked
and no one has ever thought of asking you all these years?
I don’t know, no one ever asked it!!!
12. Thank you! Leave a message to your fans.
You guys are the first I met, you rocked then
and this weekend you rocked again, thank you!!!!!
Christine Parastatidou
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