STORMWIND is a Swedish band formed
around guitarist THOMAS WOLF, and they have released a lot of CDs
so far, with 'Legacy' being their most recent release. The band
is playing Neo-Classical Melodic Metal in a typical Swedish
tradition, MALMSTEEN and EUROPE are clear comparisons. I did a
short interview with Thomas...
First of all, congratulations for the
release of your new double CD!
Thank you!
Im very pleased about the positive press reactions on Legacy!
Please
tell us all about your 'new' CD...
The new
Stormwind album `LEGACY´is a longlasting dreamrelease´like a
`kinder egg´! (he, he) The documentary shows the progression of
the band and the Live CD from `Sweden Rock Festival´with the
Bonus disc of 9 songs is quite unique. I was also very careful
with the sound this time ...to get the best live sound.
The release is surprisely..world-wide , so Im very pleased!
Back to
the past, when did you actually start playing music?
I got my
first guitar 11 years old but my first´` serious´band was in
1982 . I got about 4 different bands during these years before I
left the music and came back to the musicscene 1994 and formed
Stormwind. I never went to a musicschool during that time and
spend much time competing in karate. The guitar hang on the wall
for 10 years ...So finally I took the decision to get in the
bussiness again.
You
started STORMWIND 10 years ago, can you tell us about the early
period?
The first
2 albums was more or less soloprojekt albums with different
musicians but it was really imported for me to try out these
things as classical opus, straight melodic hard rock etc with
different musicians. I tried out 2 female vocalists but in 1998
was I convinced to form a stabil line-up with the best musicians
I could get here in Sweden with Thomas Vikström on lead vocal.
Through
the years you built up a reputation and kept on playing classic
80s melodic metal, which musicians/bands influenced you?
I think Queen and Rainbow are my main influences but I really
like new bands as Angra,Symphony X...
What do you consider your best
work so far?
Rising
Symphony from 2003! I got everything right that time with both
production and songs..! Check it out!
The new CD
is a sort of compilation of live and old bonustracks, are you
already working on something new, if so please tell us about the
songs? And if/when we can expect a new studio-CD?
I have been working with Film and TV music for Scandinavian
Publishing so this year is the first `Stormwind break´for 10
years..!We will see in the future...with another chapter behind
us!
How does
the future look like for STORMWIND? Touring plans? More CDs?
I have
decided that this year will Stormwind take a break from
..Tours,Interviews and 2005 will we get together again for new
adventures.Otherwise will I continue my work with TV-Music.
Thanks for
answering the questions, anything to add for yourself?
Thanks for
all support during these years!