We sent a few questions to John Ricci, guitarist of Exciter. Here are the answers we got back. Thanks a lot!
What was the response of
the audience towards DARK COMMAND and BLOOD OF TURANT, as well as generally,
towards the reunion of EXCITER?
The fans and the media have responded great to the new EXCITER. The new
line-up is strong, and the reviews have been over the top. I consider
The Dark Command and Blood Of Tyrants classics.
You are a relatively old band and it happens
that you have never been in Greece. Why is that so?
We have never been approached by a Greek concert promoter to play there.
Even though over the years, we have received fan mail from Greece we have
never played there. If you wish, you can contact our record co. in France,
Osmose Productions, Herve , 011-333-21-81-0374. Our future plans include
shows that will take place in Toronto, Canada, April 6/01, Asbury Park
Convention Centre, New Jersey, USA, April 7/01, Metal Convention in Kalamazoo,
Michigan June 16/01. Also, tentatively, Wacken Open Air, Hamburg, Germany,
Aug 3-4/01.
Have you written any new songs so far?
Do you plan to release some kind of a new album?
We are currently writing new songs, this time we are not waiting so long
between releases. We would like to release a new disc, before the end
of this year.
In BLOOD OF TYRANTS you said that you
would re-record the classic song BLACK WITCH from HEAVY METAL MANIAC.
Why didn't you do that, finally?
I decided, that Blackwitch should not appear on a disc of new songs, I'd
rather record a disk of all old EXCITER songs, or even if it was a live
disc, with that song on it, that would be okay too.
We know that you have an ugly past as
far as your relations with discographic labels is concerned. How is it
going so far with Osmose Records?
Osmose, is the best record co. we have had, they have been honest, and
have tried to the best of their ability to promote us. In the past, our
other record companies, have ripped us off financially, and have re-issued
our old records without our permission. Record co.'s are not to be trusted,
that's why we made absolutely sure Osmose was a reputable company, before,
we signed with them.
How did this speed thrash come up, which
is the heaviest stuff you have ever written?
The new material is just as strong , or sometimes even stronger, because
we created an original formula, and now we are trying to make even better,
more aggressive, heavier, etc. Our new singer, Jacques, I think, is one
of the great heavymetal singers, of today, along with Halford, Dickenson,
Dio.
How many copies did DARK COMMAND sell
and how many the BLOOD OF TYRANTS album, so far?
The Dark Command disc, was released nov. 97, and to date, it has sold
about 20000 copies, Blood Of Tyrants, which was released July 2000, has
sold approx. 4000 units so far, we expect more sales.
What is your opinion about the (stupid)
European Power Metal and for bands like Hammerfall, Blind Guardian and
Gamma Ray?
The bands that you mentioned like, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian and Gamma
Ray, are all great bands, they're all melodic metal, which seems to be
the formula, most European bands follow. The difference between fashion
music, and real metal, is that the bands that believe in their music,
are good bands, and the bands that play fashion music, are usually, musically
"weak" bands, which break up after a short time.
I personally believe that your new vocalist
is much better than Dan Beehler and one of the best voices of the 90s.
Whom do you prefer better and why?
I like our new singer better than the original singer. The reason is Jacques
Belanger, is technically, a vocalist, where as Dan Beehler, was a drummer,
who sang, and sometimes the challenge was a bit too demanding for Dan,
to do both well. Now that we have a lead singer , there is more versatility,
in our music, but at the same time, keeping the spirit of EXCITER in the
music.
What is your opinion about the 80s metal
and also for today's metal?
The new metal of today does not have originality, there are too many influences
of other types of music in metal, therefore, to me, it doesn't sound too
exciting.
For a long time now, many old bands reunite...
One of them is Rob Halford who has done a very good come-back with a very
strong album, while he was stating that Metal is dead. What is your opinion
about reunions as well as about Halford...
I think Rob Halford, really missed playing true metal, and he went back
to his roots. I think the reunion of some of the older bands like Venom,
is great, because the 80's metal, is the true metal it is not false metal,
like the 90's.
Tell us a funny story from the old good
days...
I guess a funny Road story, from the old days, is when we toured with
Merciful Fate in 1985, as a joke, we put sneezing powder on King Diamond's
cross, that he brings on stage with him. King had a great sense of humor
and later after the show, we all sat around and laughed about it.
In the 2 last albums and especially in
BLOOD OF TYRANT the production is completely 80s thrash. How did you manage
that?
The reason, our recent disc's have a dirty thrash sound is because the
studio we recorded at has old technology equipment, plus we purposely
try to retain that " garage " sound in our production.
What are the concepts you are working
on in BLOOD OF TYRANT
Each song on Blood Of Tyrants, has a common theme, to rid the world of
evil world leaders, they are the tyrants, and we want to execute them
and get the " blood " of tyrants.
What bands do you consider as the most
influencial of the metal scene?
I think the 3 most influential bands in metal, are Black Sabbath, Judas
Priest and Motorhead.
What where Exciter's influences when they
first began?
As I mentioned, Exciter influences, when we started, and even today, are
Sabbath, Judas Priest and Motorhead. We are definitely inspired by these
bands, without really sounding like them.
What does HEAVY METAL mean for you and
how do you feel for it?
Heavy metal music, to me is a lifelong dream and challenge, I feel this
is my path in life. I like aggression of metal music, it's kind of rebellions
to society, it's like dare to be different, heavy metal is like frustration,
if something is not going right in your life, just sit down and crank
some loud heavy metal; it's a cure for everything!!!
Is there any metal scene at all in Canada?
Do they support you over there?
There is no metal scene in Canada. Everything here is pop and alternative.
This is probably why Exciter does not play too many shows here. There
is no support from the music industry or media for metal in Canada; What
a Joke!!!
Personally, I believe that the new line
up of Exciter is the best you ever had. What is your opinion for today's
line up and the older one?
I like the current line-up, because we all get along, and we do not have
personality problems like we did in the old days.
Which is, according to your opinion, the
best album of Exciter?
Actually, my 2 favorite Exciter discs are Heavy Metal Maniac and Blood
Of Tyrants, because they are simple, straight ahead, metal music.
Back in 1985, right after the release
of the FEEL THE KNIFE ep, why did you leave from Exciter that you yourself
created?
I left Exciter in 1985 because I felt I was loosing control of the band
that I formed, we were making bad business decisions, which was hurting
the band's career, and I also was having problems with Dan Beehler, because
he wanted to be the boss. Which didn't agree with me much. After I left,
the band replaced me with a guitarist called Brian McPhee, who is a great
guitarist, but he really wasn't into Exciter or Heavy Metal. So the disc
that followed, Unveiling The Wicked, sounded less aggressive and heavy,
much to a lot of fans, disappointment.
Tell us a 90s metal band that you like!
I really don't like any of the 90's bands, I can't even mention one!
What is your opinion about death and black
metal? Do you follow this kind of metal music at all?
I'm not into Death or Black Metal, so I can't really comment on those
bands.
Are there any old songs that you will
release along with your new material?
All our new songs are actually brand new ideas, they are not reworked
old songs. But, I did try to capture the spirit and aura of the old material.
Do you intend to continue in the style
of music that you play right now? Old speed-thrash metal? Will you change
at all in your next album?
Our next release, will be once again speed thrash metal, why change? Exciter's
music is timeless, it's very original and no one else sounds like us!
Is there any unreleased material or some
kind of a demo before Heavy Metal Maniac?
Before Heavy Metal Maniac, we had a 4 song demo, one of those songs was
World War III, which appeared on Shrapnel Records, US Metal Vol. II, released
in the early 80's.
Back in 1983, how did the contract with
Sharpnel Records come up?
Shrapnel Records was so impressed with World War III, that they offered
us a deal, for our 1st album, which turned out to be Heavy Metal Maniac.
What kind of subjects to you like working
on, when you're writing a song?
The topics I like and write songs about is death and destruction, devils,
witches, etc…
What do you have to recommend to the bands
that start right now and look for a label?
I recommend to new bands, if a company offers you a deal, make sure you
ask for references and research that company before you sign. And if you
don't get a record offer, keep trying and never give up; follow your dream.
If you weren't living the season you live
now, in what era whould you like to live and why?
I think I would like to live in the 1950's. That time was simple life
and not complicated like today.
To close this interview, give a message
to the Greek Metal Maniacs that wait over here for years to see you live,
in our country!
To all our Greek fans, thank you for supporting Exciter, maybe one day,
we will play a show there. Make sure you buy a copy of Blood Of Tyrants,
it is a must for your record collection; another Exciter classic!!!
Interview by: - Babis "The Metal Warrior" Antaloudakis & Giorgos "Morbid" Andreadakis