ROX DIAMONDROX DIAMOND
In 1992 ROX DIAMOND released one of those perfect AOR CDs, but
sadly it never got much attention, but happily the recent
re-release through Z RECORDS gave the band a new push and
therefore I did an interview with the band...
Please tell us all about your band ROX DIAMOND? (when/where
formed, bands before ROX DIAMOND...)
The band 1st formed in 1986 as Casanova. It was myself, Kevin,
and Rick and a different drummer back then. We played the local
clubs as "Casanova" up until after we got our record
deal w/ Funhouse Records. The album was actually recorded and
done when we found out there was a "Casanova" in
Germany signed to EMI Records. We basically were forced to change
our name literally overnight...trademark it...and go on* Rox
Diamond was the previous band that Rick Falco was in..(which had
broken up)..He was still friends w/ the singer so he called him
to see if we could take the name. Everything went from there.
Back in
1992 when you released your fantastic debut, how on earth didn't
it became big, porbably the Grunge hype?
The year 1992 was a great year and a terrible year not only for
us but tons of other bands just starting to make a
"dent" in the business...In came Nirvana, Pearl Jam and
those bands, and out went Winger, Whitesnake, and the other bands
like that..including us, even though we had barely scratched the
surface. It was frustrating.
Please
tell us all about your classic debut CD?
The 1st CD released in 1991 was followed by a quick jaunt to
Japan in support of it...We were flying high, thought we in for a
"long-haul"...but shortly after returning from Japan,
our manager passed away suddenly, and everything seemed to happen
all at once. The music business was changing and I lost my
"zest" for the business. We would have had to change
our style completely to "fit" in w/ the new genre, and
I didn't want to do that. Everyone involved worked really hard on
the 1st album, and we were very excited about the entire
thing..the re-issue / and re-master of the 1st CD sounds about 15
to 20% better than the original release because of technology and
just by making everything in the mix more
"upfront"..The guys and I are very grateful to Mark
Alger and the staff at Z Records.
What
happened after the 1992 release...
As I mentioned earlier, it was just unlucky timing. After several
years of planning and dreaming and rehearsing, and then finally
getting a chance to see our band "happen"..it was gone.
It's all about "timing". The guys and I broke up, went
our separate ways, although always still the best of friends. We
had started families, and took a different direction w/ our
lives, but always thinking in the back of our minds that one day,
we "might" do it again at some level.
Did you do
anything musically between 1992 and 2003?
Between 1992 and 2003 I really didn't do much musically...I sang
on some studio projects, continued to write and record songs and
demos w/ friends. Nothing serious though.
How did
you got in touch with Z RECORDS?
Mark Alger
at Z Records contacted me via email and it just went from there.
After a few phone calls and numerous emails back and forth, the
wheels were in motion!! It came about because Nicky at Metal
World News ( http://www.aordreamzones.com ) had followed the band over
the years, and 1 email lead to another. It was a very exciting
thing to have the opportunity to not only re-release the 1st CD
but also to do a new album.
Are you
satisfied with the new re-issue?
Mark and the crew at "Z" did an awesome job on the
re-master!! I honestly didn't know what to expect, because before
I had heard the re-master, I was getting reviews from other
people and critics / journalists in Europe telling me how great
it sounded..They were right! It sounds really, really, good. Hats
off to Mark!!
Looking
back, don't you think you had a much bigger chance on huge
success if this album had been released in 1986 when AOR/Melodic
Rock was the musicstyle that ruled the airwaves...
If I had a
dollar everytime someone asked me that question, I would be
living in Malibu on the beach!! Yeah, we came along too late!
Although the band was playing during those AOR days...we never
got our "break" until 1990...after a year of recording
and negotiations, etc...and by the time the record came out, it
was the "end" of 1991...The business had started it's
"change". I'm told constantly that if we could have or
"would" have hit 3 to 5 years sooner, it would be a
totally different story now....but.....things happen for a
reason!!!!
So, what
are the plans for the coming months? A new CD? Did you write any
new songs? If so, tell us about them, same style as on the CD?
We
actually are just a few weeks away from cutting the basic tracks
for the new record...We will be recording over the months of
March through June, give or take. Alot of older material
(re-vamped), but also some new songs w/ a different side of us.
People that are familiar w/ the band will still be pleased w/ our
material, but I think there are some songs on this one, that will
surprise people. This band has alot of versatility, lots of
influences, and such, so it's a chance for some other
"flavors" to come out. I'm anxious to have people hear
it, and get their feedback.Thanks to everyone who supports Rox
Diamond!