G	L	A	M	P	I	R	E

CHAOS CONTROL : How did you come to start recording/performing under the name Glampire? Had you been in other bands before, and if so how did they compare musically?

Glampire: I have been recording & performing under the GLAMPIRE monicre since '96. My past bands and musical situations cannot compare at all. This is the ultimate for me... True freedom of expression.

CC: Glampire is such a great name and seems ideally suited to the music; was it difficult coming up with the name, or did it come easily?

G: It was the most arduous task I have ever had, as far as naming anything. Though it really paid off, because NO ONE can forget that name! It was fate. It affords me the freedom to do whatever I want in the presentation or the music.

CC: How would you say Glampire's music has evolved/changed since you started the project?

G: There is much greater focus and the songs & production have improved. Though the foundation that was laid on the first CD, The Beginning of Terror, is still intact. When I made the first two albums (second one being Pretty Scary) I was limited in the amount of studio equipment, so I was forced to make choices and sacrifice some ideas ....now I am equipped with all I need, so from here on in there will only be the sacrifices of time and emotion - which are ever present anyway .

CC: Is there any particular band/singer/musician/cd that really inspired you to start making music yourself?

G: It all started with Elton John & Kiss. Those were the two big ones. It just snowballed after that. I listen to ALL music and ALL styles . I am MUSESICK, addicted and I see no end till death .

CC: Do you have formal musical training?

G: I studied guitar and composition at the Musicians Institution in Hollywood, CA. Then I went to the Crafty Guitarists Seminar by Robert Fripp. That was 5 1/2 days of intense guitarmanship. As far as voice, I went to a few lessons with some big time instructors ...for the most part I am self taught and learned all I know on the front lines of the stage or in the studio.

 

CC: When I saw you at Don Hill's there were three distinct sets of songs (you with keyboardists, alone, and with a full band). Do you usually perform like this? Do you have any interest in adapting the material so that all the songs will work with the same line-up, or do you feel it's better to keep things separate?

G: There are a number of factors that play a role in presenting a show like that. First it is to keep the audience entertained and guessing. I am so tired of bands that play in bars who just plug in and play , then they cannot even sing or write or move etc....BORING! The other factor is time. Because I have no band in the sense where we get together and rehearse each week I have to put a band together for a show. In order to do all the songs I want, I need to break it up . The digital onslaught requires little rehearsal, so the time can be spent on the organic presentation. In the near future I will consolidate the two and have a permenant line up.

CC: The visual presentation of the music seems very important for you; are you interested in expanding on this more, and if so do you have specific things you'd like to do in the future with it?

G: Yes ! Very Important. As I said, I want to keep the audience interested and guessing. When the time and the budget allows I will expand greatly. Presentation boils down to money. People have seen it all, so in order to take it up a notch I will need financing, which is being discussed at the moment.

CC: Are you the type of artist who has songs totally worked out before entering the studio, or is the actual recording part of the creative process? Do you have your own studio set-up?

G: Sometimes there is a song written on the acoustic guitar or piano, then it grows in the process of recording. Other times I just sit down and it falls out. MY OWN GOD is an example of a song simply falling out. Actually I was working on two others when it came a knocking .... Twice As Strong is an example of a song that was written on the guitar then as I was recording it the production took over. Tantamount to my concern is the composition and the strength of the SONG, other than that I am channeling all the time. musesick 24/7.

CC: Will you be performing at all beyond the NY area in support of the CD?

G: Yes. Spot dates from now till the end of the year then a full tour in 2000.

CC: What are you ultimate goals for Glampire?

G: To infuse rock & roll culture with a new sound and a new way of getting the music out to the kids. We have the ability to really make some noise as a culture if people are willing to take some artistic chances. The technology is here and so is the acceptance level of the audience. All we need is to kill the fear of failure and the fear of rejection. On the business side, I would like to make enough money so one day I can dissapear and live a tranquil life among the birds and the bees.