DREAM POLICE
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 4th March 2009.
Dream Police are a well loved and fondly remembered Norwegian band who have just returned to the fold after a near-twenty year absence. They are playing a reunion gig on the 30th of May at Fredrikstad stadium.
Trond, Ole Petter and Rino have been lashed into the Rock Realms stocks. Sadly Odd René Andersen escaped just before we got the rope round his ankles.
Hi Guys, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions for Rock Realms. Hope all is well?
Ole Petter: Everything is great, apart from the cold weather outside.....
Rino: Hi Jon! Thank you for taking time with us! Everything is just great!
I guess, at the moment, it’s all about the big reunion gig on the 30th of May? How are the rehearsals going?
Ole Petter: The rehearsals are going good! We've only had one day so far, but next week we’re going to rehearse for 2 long days....
Trond: We are starting to feel the attitude that’s needed.
Rino: Since we split up we all have been busy as freelance musicians. So we do a bunch of other jobs in between rehearsals. But it was magic to meet each other again, just the 4 of us playing the old tunes again! This is really going to be fun!
First time playing live for something like 17 years? Does it feel like you’ve never been apart?
Ole Petter: It’s amazing how things stay in the head and hands! It feels like we've ALMOST never been apart..... And since all four of us still are working as musicians, we’re able to play the songs properly! I love playing those songs again!
Trond: After we hit the first note it all came back, for me anyway :-) The energy was there. We sounded like we used to.
Rino: ...In a way, yes!!
What made you decide to do this now? Was the moment just right or are there other reasons for getting back together?
Ole Petter: Lots of people have asked us over the years about this, but it did not feel right until now. We’ve all been too busy doing other things.
Trond: We have been asked to do this for years and its now 20 years since we started, so we felt like we had something to celebrate. It’s been too difficult to make it happen 'cause of our different careers.
Rino: It is 20 years since the band started. I guess the moment was just right!!
You haven’t done things by halves... Playing a football stadium is pretty big! Is it going to be an all day affair with lots of bands, or just you? Talk us through the concert.
Ole Petter: It may sound a bit crazy, but it’s true. We don’t think we’re gonna fill up the whole stadium.
Trond: Well, it sounds big, but it’s a new concept for national artists and they are putting the stage way out on the pitch to make it a 3000 capacity. But I always knew we were a stadium band, he he. It’s only us with a support act. Don’t know who yet.
Rino: The details ain’t finished yet. But it’s not an all day event. There will be someone playing before us - maybe more of an acoustic act.
The gig is supposed to be a one-off. If it goes well, is there a chance of more dates and maybe even a new album?
Ole Petter: We take one day at a time..... We do this gig now, and see how it feels, THEN we can answer that!
Trond: You never know ;-) We are certainly having a good time together. We are going to concentrate on making this a magical night, and then evaluate things later that evening.
Rino: To be honest: We don’t know! We’re now just focusing on this gig. Only time will tell…..
Are you planning to record footage for a DVD or live album during the concert?
Rino: We have talked about it....
Ole Petter: We might do that....
Trond: There could be some plans....
Trond has a fairly high profile outside Norway thanks to Wig Wam. Are we likely to have come across any work from the rest of the guys and not realised it? You’re clearly a talented bunch!
Ole Petter: Rino and I just released an album in Norway! It’s kind of a laid back pop album.
Rino: It's called U And I, Ted. This album is pop music where we play and sing the lead!
http://www.myspace.com/uandited
Where did the influence for the Dream Police style originate from?
Ole Petter: We have always been big fans of rock bands like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and that "bluesy part of the rock scene".
Trond: Well, at the time I had plans for this band that would be born out from my childhood heroes Led Zeppelin and Van Halen. So I wrote a few songs, called a singer I had met 3 years earlier. Odd Rene really blew my head off. He was like a soul singer but with that Rock 'n' Roll attitude. He could handle anything. It became a marriage with hard catchy blues rock.
Rino: I believe it’s much from Van Halen and Aerosmith.
Sony re-released the first album just before Christmas. How did that come about?
Ole Petter: I didn`t know about it before I found it in the stores! But it`s great, because that album has been really hard to get! I get mails every week from people who are looking for that album. It seems to me that the album means a lot to many people!
Trond: Lots of happy fans that could buy the album in the store rather than spending half a year on Ebay searching for it ;-)
Rino: To be honest. I don’t know! Hehe
Have you been surprised by the level of interest shown in the band by fans?
Ole Petter: I`m quite surprised......! But it`s wonderful to see all the young kids who love our music!
Trond: Yes, cause when I’m out touring with Wig Wam, there is a whole new generation that has discovered this band. They always shout for Hot Legs ;-)
Rino: I must admit that I am. Through all the years since we split up, there has been letters, lots of mail and questions about a reunion.
Out of all the songs on both albums, what is your favourite Dream Police track?
Ole Petter: I think Hot Legs shows all sides of the band in a perfect way!
Trond: Must be Hot Legs!
Rino: I think “Hot Legs.” Because it describes best what we wanted to sound like.
What are you up to once you finish answering these questions?
Ole Petter: Right now I´m on tour with one of the most popular female artist in Norway: Ingrid Bjørnov. Tonight we are playing in Mo i Rana, and tomorrow we`re in Bodø - up north. We`ve been touring Norway since september '08, and are traveling until the end of March.
Rino: Pick my kids home from school!!
Trond: I am working on my new project called Heavy Metal Nightmare in my studio. Check out http://www.trondholter.com/ and http://www.therockranch.no/.
A huge thanks for your time!
Ole Petter: You’re welcome!
Trond: Thank you for your interest in us.
Rino: A huge thanks back to you!!
Catch Dream Police at the Fredrikstad stadium in Norway on the 30th May, and find their re-released album in all good record stores now!
