HARDLINE
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 30th March 2009.
Hardline have been around since the early 1990's and are about to release their third studio album.
We caught up with silky voiced lead singer Johnny Gioeli to talk about the new album and more...
Hey Johnny, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions! Hope life is treating you well?
Johnny: Life always treats me well...thanks!
Hardline’s first release, Double Eclipse is one of the most talked about albums from the end of the ‘hair metal’ era. Do you have a deep feeling of pride over the positive comments the album generated and still does, 17 years later?
Johnny: Yes...I'm still blown away when people put this record in their top 5...It truly was and is a great record...and it's an amazing compliment.
It must have been pretty gutting to produce something so good and then have grunge come along and steal your thunder?!
Johnny: It kicked my ass...I hated that shit...! Give me melody or give me death!
The 2002 release, ‘II’ was well received in the press as well. We’re you tempted at the time to make Hardline more of a full time project?
Johnny: Not really...I was so involved in mm kids and my companies...I just didn't have the time to starve...haaaa.
The new album, ‘Leaving The End Open’, has been a few years in the making. Were you moving slowly in search of perfection, or simply fitting it around other work?
Johnny: A little of both...but mostly due to wanting to take my time and write from the heart and not force anything.
Is there some deep psychological meaning in the title?
Johnny: It just means that I really don't plan where the road goes...I just travel on it...day at a time...
How did this release come about? Did you always plan to make another album, or were you asked to write and record it by Frontiers?
Johnny: I planned it and hope to make many more.
This is the first Hardline album that doesn’t feature Joey Gioeli. What’s the story behind his absence?
Johnny: He became a homosexual and I couldn't deal with it...haaaaaaa -Kidding No, my Bro was just too busy with other stuff...I still to this day work with him everyday.
After listening to ‘Leaving The End Open’ we don’t think anyone will be disappointed by the result! If you had to define the sound, what would you say?
Johnny: I would say a natural progression for Hardline...the sounds of old and new...
Were the songs written by the band, or are there some external credits?
Johnny: Josh and I wrote 99% and my Nephew Johnny Montgomery and I wrote Hole in my Head together in my studio in Cali.
Do you have a personal highlight from the 11 songs?
Johnny: I just love track 1 "Voices" to me it represents power and feeling...good ole' positve I can do fucking anything feeling.
Are you planning to tour on the back of this release?
Johnny: Man I hope so...I wanna sing this stuff live so badly I can taste it...we'll see.....
What is the future going to bring, either as a group or as individuals? Any other projects you would like to divulge?
Johnny: No future projects besides the million freakin' things I do now...
Is there any chance of resurrecting the indescribably brilliant Killerhit song ‘Forever Yours’? It’s one of my favourite Johnny Gioeli songs of all time and all I have is a tinny version I got years ago from who-knows-where!
Johnny: That is funny!! I wrote that when I was 17 years old....and I was JUST singing it!!!! I wrote that for my now wife when we were kids...what a trip. Hey ya never know...
Are there any other bands you are into at the moment you think people should check out?
Johnny: Many people know I sing for Axel Rudi Pell too! But if you don't, get ready for heavy.....
What are the best live gigs you’ve ever attended, both as a fan... and as a performer?
Johnny: Van Halen in the 80's and then my first Hardline show was with Van Halen...truly memorable.
What question do you hate interviewers asking you, and have I avoided it? :)
Johnny: All the questions YOU asked....!!! HAAAAAAAAAAA KIDDING... I just hate the comparison to the first record...It was an awesome record but jesus, I'm into competing with it...it's fucking 2009.
What are you up to once you finish answering these questions?
Johnny: It's 9:35PM and I'm at my beach house in Connecticut...just watched the kids choice awards on TV in the dark because it's "save the earth hour"...I criticized every damn kid that couldn't sing a note...making my 12 year old daughter Katy yell at me for 1.5 hours...now I have a headache and this old man is going to bed. How exciting huh?
Thanks Jon for the AWESOME interview...!
The new Hardline album, “Leaving The End Open“ is out on the 17th of April on Frontiers Records. Check out the Rock Realms review here.
