Virgin Steele in Sweden Rock 2002
By the GODS! Virgin Steele had a great half and hour gig in Sweden rock 2002. Without any intro guys arrived to the stage and forced audience almost to their knees with Invictus, and then it just was going on and on with new songs without speech, which was good. David put his all concentrate to his voice and dynamic show. From new songs VS played olny Conjuration of the wathec and then without brake VS played Dont say goodbye (tonight). Gig's slow songs were God of our sorrows with two verses and Vow of honour. WOW! And after those two songs VS continued crushing. Somewhere between a gig David holded burning sword and kept some kind of speech. Last song were Noble savage and then it ended. Audience were yelling encore, but unfortunately Frank hurted his leg when he was leaving drums. That's why he coulnd't play anymore and there was no encore. David told that to audienece and his last sentences were "I will return, WE will return."
Gig was everything what I imagined and even more. It was best ever, great and very euphoric experience. At least to me.
Set list (not in order):
Great sword of flame
The fire God
Life among the ruins
Wine of violence
A token from hatred
Vow of honour
God of our sorrows
I will come for you
Don't say gooodbye (tonight)
Conjuration of the watcher
Invictus
Noble savage
The redeemer
(17.09.2002)
METAL OPERA AND FUTURE
One day I decieded to "tease" Virgin Steele's David DeFeis and ask him lot of questions.
About year ago I did previous interview so now was the time to do it again.
Of course first I asked do he have time to answer 'cos' his third metal opera, Lilith, has take David's time very much.
I waited almost two weeks until this "half-God" answered behind the sea to my questions.
You have done a new metal opera, Lilith. Tell me about Lilith's working process
The working process was ferociously intense, concentrated, emotionally charged and relentless.
I worked pretty much non-stop for days and nights on end. I did not think that I would actually finish in time,
but somehow I did. During the winter I completed 40 pieces of music. Sometimes I started with a title or
a lyrical idea for a scene and other times I developed the piece musically first, and other times a combination of all the possible routes of composition.
My main focus was to try to capture in sound, the proper mood for each section of the story.
There were many moments of deliberation, trying to decide which pieces of music for which scenes/sections.
Making that commitment was often difficult, as there are aways several possibilities.
At the end of the day, I think the correct decisions were made.
Why your metal opera's, Klytemnestra, Die Rebellen and Lilith performances have been only in Memningen, Germany?
Because that is where the theater is that I developed this type of relationship with.
Now I have the possibility to expand and take those works both to more parts of Germany, and to countries outside as well.
Your sister, Doreen DeFeis, is an opera singer. Does she act in your metal operas?
No she has not acted in any of the works thus far. Hopefully in the future this can be arranges.
However, she has performed some of my songs in her concerts. She does a great version of Iphigenia in Hades.
She has also several cd's out.
Tell me about your family.
I come from a family of lunatic and theater freaks! Almost everyone is involved in the arts in somehow.
Either music, acting, dance or painting and sculpture.
A new album, when it will be ready? How about that DVD, we were talking about it a year ago...?
Who knows!!!??? We have several possible plans and we are trying to develop all of them simultaneously so we are not sure what we will issue first.
We will do a new album, in fact we are already involved in it. We will complete the DVD and a live album, etc...
Again... what will come first... we are not certain yet.
What kind of touring plans Virgin Steele have? Will VS now even try to come Finland?
We are only doing the occasional 'one-off' here and there at the moment.
Once the new album comes out we will commit to a full scale tour.
We will possibly do a few special acoustic shows in January and then we are confirmed for Greece in February.
Yes absolutely, of course we will come to Finland.
Blake did an poerty book called Marriage Of Heaven And Hell. Does VS's same named albums based on that book? Have you read it?
No they are not, as I was not aware of Blake's book until the final recordings of The Marriage Part 2 album,
I knew about his "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience" books, but that's all.
Frank Gilchriest actually brought Blake's "Marriage" book to my attention. I did read it after the fact and I enjoyed it immensely.
The songs of "The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell" albums are based essentially on life, experiences, observations etc.
Have you ever thought that you might write a book?
Yes. The question is when and what should it be about? Once I sort this out... I'll give a try.
I would like to issue a book of all my lyrics, poems etc.
Smaller people are better singer than taller ones because of their body structure. Do you agree?
HA!!! I'm not so sure about that one. I believe that the quality of a voice is largely inside the larynx,
vocal cords and the resonators of the face, throat etc. Height... could play a factor to but I'm not really convinced.
How many different language do you speak?
I would say that I really only speak english as that is the language I am proficient in.
I can stumble around with italian and I know few german and greek phrases but...
I would never suggest that I can actually speak those languages. I need to study them much much more.
Then I tried to be "clever" and ask how old David is with this question:
What other remarkable thing happened in that year when you were born?
The sun vanished, the moon turned to red and the stars fell from the sky.
HMPH! Then... If Virgin Steele were a tree which tree it would be?
The tree sacred to the druids... the oak.
I'd like to know what will be around David's mind besides the working thing I asked him to continue sentences.
a) Only you...
... can prevent forest fires.
b) Some day...
... all the secrets of the universe will be laid bare before my lusting gaze.
c) Nothing is...
... sacred anymore.
d) Words...
... and music are the wine of life.
Last question was how many stairs is in David's house. He said that only one. His house is built all on one level.
Now when everything is done at this time I'll stay and wait some kind of Virgin Steele album...
and also that will Virgin Steele come to Finland or do I have to again to travel to Sweden to see 'em.
~ Sarita ~
(published also www.letsmakesomenoise.com)
