LIEGE LORD... A band of the eigthies playing a powerful heavy metal. Three
albums are their legacy, and two of them are classic ones. The internet thing
was a great help to find guitarist Paul Nelson, who became a LIEGE LORD member
before the recording of the second album. Paul agreed to talk about LIEGE
LORD and a little more... Enjoy this interview...
How did you get into Hard Rock and Metal ? Which albums have remained
your favorite ones ?
When I was growing up the bands that fueled my metal
music hunger were Judas Priest, UFO, very early Scorpions, Black Sabbath,
Aerosmith, AC/DC After that my taste in music went crazy and I would listen
to everything (which continues to this day).
As far as guitar players early on players
who I really dug were guitarists like Michael Schenker then there was Johnny
Winter, Ted Nugent, Frank Marino, Tony Iommi, Billy Gibbons, and Alex of
Rush, soon the list grew to Tommy Bolin, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Steve
Khan, George Lynch, BB, Hendrix, Uli Roth, Allan Holsworth, Garry Moore,
Larry Carlton, this list could take up a whole page! I've studied the styles
of so many guitarists it's insane there are so many great ones. Reggae, Blues,
Fusion, Metal, Rock, Funk I've always tried to absorb as much a possible.
I listen to everything and make it a point on the road to always listen new
CDs constantly and don't really have any favorites because I never listen
to a CD more than once and then I move on.
When did you start to play guitar ? You were also a guitar student of
Steve Vai… How was it to have Steve Vai as a teacher ?
I started when I was 9. And yes I studied with Steve
for a time.
We met at Berkley College of Music in Boston he was an excellent player even
back then, the only problem was that his sight reading stunk! So we
would get together and sight read music from saxophone books. After that
he would show me some amazing stuff like finger exercises, modal work and
some amazing chordal ideas that I found out later were based on his studies
with Joe Satriani. And get this, the payment plan that we worked out
was that I would supply him with a carton of cigarettes for every one hour
lesson I took. I think I got the better end of the bargain.
In which bands did you play before joining LIEGE LORD ?
I was in a lot of cover bands in the beginning like
most but I also did studio work and gave guitar lessons.
The first LIEGE LORD lineup (Matt Vinci on bass, Frank Cortese on drums,
Andy Michaud on vocals, Tony Truglio and Pete McCarthy on guitars) released
the "Freedoms Rise" LP in 1986 on Iron Works/Azra in USA and Black Dragon
in France. Do you like this album? "Freedoms Rise" is considered as a classic
album as "Master Control." So would you have liked to play on this album?
Yes, I actually liked that record but am very happy
that I played on the later recordings. Remember I had to learn all that material
for my first shows and tour with the band.
You joined LIEGE LORD after Pete McCarthy left. Do you remember the reason
of Pete’s departure ? And how did you get in touch with the band ? Did you
know them before joining LIEGE LORD ?
I actually joined the band by replacing guitarist
Pete McCarthy came to my house one night to jam. While we took a break he
told me that he had had it with Liege Lord and their type of metal, and that
he wanted to pursue a more commercial sound (poser metal). I told him he
should stick it out, I mean, how could you be unhappy after releasing a successful
album? A week went by and I had been informed by one of my guitar students
that Pete had left Liege Lord and that he wanted to have me learn the "Freedom's
Rise" album and teach it to him for an audition he had the next day. Well,
I did. The funny thing is that the student did not get the job, but after
leaving the audition he mentioned that I had learned the album in one night.
Three days later I was in the band. Hahahaha I new Andy we were all from
the same town in Connecticut.
How did the deal with Metal Blade come ? Was it only a two albums deal
?
After I joined the band a month or 2 later we did
a show with Avenger and Brian Slagel from Metal Blade was there and
signed us on the spot. We made sure that we only signed for one CD
at a time.
The songs for "Burn To My Touch" were written before you joined. Wasn't
it frustrating for a guitarist songwriter to wait the time of the next album
for taking part of the songwriting process?
Yes the songs for Burn were written even before
Freedoms Rise I would have to wait a full year and a half before I finally
got to write and arrange with the band on Master Control. I was able to write
my own parts like on the songs Castout and Legend and more but it was frustrating
not being able to write full songs at that time.
How did the recording of LIEGE LORD’s second album happen ?
As soon as we signed with Metal blade we knew we
had to put out a record quickly so we rehearsed the material we had like
crazy hired producer Joe Buchard of Blue Oyster Cult. I picked out the artwork
Matt came up with the name and we headed straight to the studio. We were
still doing shows at the same time many at the now famous Lamours in Brooklyn,
NY. The length of the CD was short and we knew it but there was too
much going on to fit and more music.
"Burn To My Touch" was released in 1987. Do you remember how was received
the album ? In Europe, I remember the response was not as hot as for "Freedom’s
Rise"…
Basically Freedoms Rise did great in Europe, Burn
to my Touch did extremely well in the USA and Master Control did great world
wide. Not a bad trilogy I'd say !
Why did Andy Michaud leave the band ?
Personal problems, he was a very close friend and
I hated to see him go.
How did you find Joe Comeau ?
He was the first to answer an audition add the band
posted. I knew he was it right from the beginning and was responsible for
him getting the job, he kicked ass. It’s funny John Bush was very interested
at the time but we originally wanted the singer from Heir Apparent.
Can you tell about the songwriting and the recording of the third album
?
The album was recorded in 1988 and recently re-released
worldwide at Carriage House studios (now used by may top Metal acts Overkill,
Fates, Lizzy Borden,Garry Moore etc...) on the East coast of the united states.
It was more of a group effort than ever before we each teamed up and wrote
3 songs each, we had a stronger recording budget and rehearsed like
crazy. We also left the medieval type lyric style and became a bit more topical.
"Master Control" was released in 1988, and this strong metal album got
a great response. What are your thoughts about this lp ?
I guess the same as yours. It was our strongest
album and it’s amazing how it still holds up today Terry Date’s(Rob Zombie,
Def-Tones, Soundgarden) production is on so many records today I guess that
could be a factor.
You toured with CANDLEMASS in the East Coast and with ANVIL in all the
Usa., but not in Europe. What are your memories of these two tours ?
Both tours were great with Anvil we toured the whole
US they actually ask me to join there group after wards but I couldn't relocate
to Canada so I gave the gig to my guitar tech Sebastian Marino. We played
every where and partied hard and shared the stage with everyone Megadeth,
Anvil, Overkill, Exodus, Death, Raven, Flotsam, Racer X and the list went
on and on. There are a lot of tour photos at
www.liegelord.com
Was really Metal Blade supporting LIEGE LORD with tour and promotion ?
No, they were waiting for us to finish so we would
sign a 7 album deal wich we didn’t.
LIEGE LORD disbanded in 1990. Was it a difficult decision to take ? No
regrets about this split ?
No it was time ! The music scene was changing and
we had made our mark …
The LIEGE LORD albums were re-released on cd’s some years ago. Was it
with the permission of the band ? And are you satisfied with these reissues
?
It was a surprise, but we were happy with the outcome
and all 3 CDs have been doing well worldwide and for that we are pleased.
What do you think of the current metal scene and the 90’s metal scene
in comparison with the 80’s metal scene ?
My opinion of the music scene now is that it strikes
a very familiar resemblance to the scene years ago metal fanzines, college
radio etc., the big difference being the introduction of the Internet with
this metal has gotten a bigger boost. As far as the music today it will never
be the same metal that was created in the eighties you cant recreate that
energy and newness. New metal hasn't reached that type of individual voice
yet to the point where it will leave much of a legacy.
What have you done after LIEGE LORD ? I heard you performed clinics alongside
Vivian Campbell and Bruce Kulick… Did you play in other bands ?
Years of touring, endorsements and two albums with
that band and it was time to move on. I recorded an album in Portugal
that was certified gold and went on to do various guest spots on many other
artists' recordings as well as writing music for TV and commercials, Namm
shows clinics for ESP, Randall with George Lynch, and yes Bruce Kulick, Vivian
Campbell. I’ve also done a lot of guest spots on records like Warmth in the
wilderness vol. 1 and 2, a tribute to Jason becker on Lion Music with Steve
Moorse, my old teacher Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert and many more. Uli Roth tribute
and a Uriah Heep tribute out this month with Joe Comeau on Century Media.
In February Virgin records will be releasing rock/blues legend Johnny Winters
album which I’m on as both Guitarist and song writer a CD I’m very proud
of being part. Johnny has been a big influence on my playing early on. There
are many more aspects of my career that I could get into, but it would probably
be easier to visit my web site at
www.paulnelsonguitar.com
Can you speak of your solo album "Look" ? How does it sound ?
Well, it's actually this project was something I've
wanted to do for quite some time now even as far back as my days with Metal
blade records. It's an instrumental recording in the vein of what might be
called Progressive or Rock-Fusion. It has allowed me to break the confines
of just performing short solos and melodies in a vocal song format. Instrumental
records allow musicians to stretch, plus I have been a tremendous fan of
the whole '70’s era: Jeff Beck, Holdsworth, Tommy Bolin etc. I am pleasantly
surprised by all the good press, airplay and sales. The fact that my fans
who knew me from my heavier side still allowed me to stretch musically without
cutting my head off has helped. I mean, I do my own thing anyway but it's
great when you have the support.
Do you think it’s possible in the future to see a fourth LIEGE LORD album
?
There is really no telling what's in store for Liege
Lord but if something does develop you will be the first to know.
Thank you Paul for the answers. Good luck for the future. Close this interview
as you want…
Thanks for the great questions and to the constant
support from all our fans!
Till Next Time!
PAUL NELSON
interview by Patrick Lefevre
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