STATE OF ROCK
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 27th January 2010.
State Of Rock is more or less German band Frontline with a different singer. Consisting of guitarist Robby Böbel, bassist Hutch Bauer, drummer Rami Ali, plus new singer Tony Mills (TNT, Shy), the band have just released their debut album A Point Of Destiny.
Tony Mills answers questions.
Hi Tony, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions on the State Of Rock record “A Point Of Destiny”. Hope you are well?
Tony: I’m fine, thanks!!!
How did you become a singer in the first place? Did you start by playing instruments, or were you a vocalist from day one?
Tony: I started by playing an instrument, but, I think it was because I was such a crap bass player that I got into singing... People kept asking me to sing, so…., after a while, I gave up the bass and concentrated on the singing!
Have you always pedaled your wares in the rock/metal scene, or do you dabble in other genres?
Tony: Well, I kicked off in punk in the 1970's, spent a long time in rock, worked on soul, and currently, I'm half way through recording an opera album, so there’s your answer!
Do you come from a musical family?
Tony: No, quite the contrary.
Are you able to make a decent living from what you do? Does it p*ss you off when you see programmes like X-Factor giving singers instant fame and money?
Tony: Well, music has kept me alive throughout most of my life…., there's a lot to be said for following your heart and courage of convictions etc.. It has obviously worked for me thus far.
What surprises me about X Factor are a couple of things, really. First of all, I sort of tend to agree with most of Mr. Cowell's opinions about all the various artists that he has to vet. But the other thing is, the various people who win these competitions, seem to disappear from the limelight as quickly as they gained it. I think that is tragic, although actually when you look a little deeper, it's a pretty shallow regime….., not having worked for years as a musician and not having those disciplines, you’re just walking onto TV and have people shouting 'yes' at you. It's almost as if, because it took little time to get up there, your standing in the business will be just as short? I'm an emotional sort of guy and I see young children and handicapped people doing their best all the time. Even very old people with their heart in the right place…., and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye, but this is a show about entertainment and passing people through the gate for public performance who are not even remotely capable…. It’s unforgivable and I cannot condone that.
You’ve been singing in bands for over 30 years now. Back when you started, did you think you’d still be making records in 2010, or did that not even cross your mind?
Tony: To be honest, I never thought I would make a record at all. I suppose the inevitability of gradualness crept over me and it wasn't until I'd taken lessons and got contracts to fulfil that the seriousness of it all came home. I actually never thought I would live past 40, so, to be honest, everything is a bonus right now!!
Was there a time when you knew you’d finally made it as a bona fide rock star, or in your mind are you still waiting for that moment to come?
Tony: I don’t believe in rock stars personally. I'm just a working-man. And I'm not waiting for anything...
Personnel-wise, State Of Rock is, to an extent, a continuation of German band Frontline. How did you end up getting the gig as singer with the band?
Tony: Basically, the record company boss (Georg Siegl) approached me in the absence of the previous vocalist…... I liked Robby Bobel's style straight away, so I said 'yep'!
And you’re still the singer with TNT as well?
Tony: Yep!
Is the State Of Rock style a continuation of the Frontline sound, or is this a different beast?
Tony: I think there is a distinct continuation of Robby's playing style in here, yes, but we basically brought everything to the table, my own personality, his writing style, the input from Rami and Hutch, the whole works, and tried to work through all the tremendous ideas; in retrospect, it worked together well.
Who was the main writer for the record – or was it more of a team effort?
Tony: I’d say we split the workload 50/50. Robby wrote the music and I took care of the lyrics and the melodies.
How long did the album take to create – from the initial writing until the final mastering?
Tony: It took 8 weeks to record and another 4 weeks to complete.
I take it from your earlier statement the record company – Metal Heaven – were there from the start?
Tony: Yes, from the off… They instigated the project and oversaw the progress of it throughout after all.
Was there any overriding concept behind the lyrics, or is every song a standalone entity?
Tony: Every song is very much a standalone entity that was purely driven by the groove of the music. No secrets, no rules broken, just MOR Rock and it was effortless to write. Because the music was so inspirational, it all seemed to just flow out.
A lot of the choruses on “A Point Of Destiny” are huge! Was it a conscious decision to make the songs this catchy, or was that just how they turned out?
Tony: That's just how they turned out. They were all natural progressions of themselves. The songs just found their own natural length and finished themselves….!
Did you feel a spark as you were making the record – something that suggested this was going to be a special album?
Tony: Oh, definitely! In fact, I’d already seen that way before I stood in the studio. When Robby sent me the first track, it nearly knocked me clean off my feet in the kitchen! I was like, 'WOW, this is something else!!! I'm in!!!!
We absolutely love the song ‘Friction’ (even though it’s difficult to listen to it without thinking it would work brilliantly as the theme tune to a KY Jelly advert). What are your favourite tracks, and are there any good stories behind the genesis of any of them?
Tony: Black And Blue”, “Freedom” and “Count Me Out”, are all favourites.. To be honest, they're straight, honest rock songs that always had every intention of trying to find the right hook that suited the tune. There's no diplomatic mysteries or progressive underworld here, just bouncing rock ‘n roll songs, that's all. Plain and simple!
Was the studio recording hard work, pleasure, or both?
Tony: An absolute walk in the park and an absolute dream.
Have you already discussed the possibility of another State Of Rock album?
Tony: Yep. You do, don’t you? As soon as the album was done, I was looking at Robby and we’re all going, “Is that it?” There’s a lot more in this band for sure…. And, it’s definitely a band…. We intend to really make something of this. My Shy keyboard player Joe Basketts and ‘Schimmi’ from Evidence One are joining the band for Live Work, so this will be a band with a real purpose!
So, we’ll see you on the road? Any chance we’ll see you play the UK?
Tony: Yep, and yes! Keep watching the Myspace page because it’s all in hand…!! Can’t say too much just yet, but it’ll definitely happen!
We like the amusing digitised video of ‘Heartless Dreamer’ on the band’s MySpace page (www.myspace.com/stateofrockmusic). Where did the idea come from, and who made it?
Tony: Have you ever seen anything so bizarre? It certainly wasn't my idea!!!! I think the lads did it for fun in Germany…..!
Any thoughts on producing a big budget video with real people in it, or are they not worth the hassle and expense these days?
Tony: That’s probably a question for the label…
Are you going to be lending your voice to any other albums this year?
Tony: Yes, I'm working with John Payne and Greg Bisonette on a sci-fi prog rock album based in Milan called 'The Mystic Technocracy'. That’s really interesting…. Then, I have other projects that are current in the studio, but nothing that is ready to be announced just yet. There’s, possibly, a new TNT album before the summer?
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Tony: How old I am. And of course the answer is, older than my teeth (my teeth are only teenagers, I'm 23)…..!
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Tony: Editing vocals for a Norwegian band called Wildside! I like to keep busy!
Anything else you would like to mention?
Tony: Much love, rock n roll to all your readers and hey, have great day!!
Thanks for your time!
Tony: Cheers!!
Thanks again to Tony for his time. You can check out the Rock Realms review of State Of Rock's latest album, A Point Of Destiny here.
http://www.myspace.com/stateofrockmusic
