José Gomes (Purgatório Fan-Club, Wild Shadow, Ravensire)

José Gomes, also known as "Zé do Purgatório" or Zé Mastercrow, has been a very active person in the Portuguese heavy metal scene, since the early 80's, in the Fan Club Purgatório of Heavy Metal, in Fanzine "Folha Metálica", in the band Wild Shadow and later as member of the band Ravensire. We had a conversation with José Gomes in order to know more about these and other subjects.

Q. - Tell us a little bit about how your interest in hard rock and heavy metal in general started, and how the idea of forming the first fan club in Portugal came up as well?

José Gomes - Hello Paulo and readers. Portugal, back then, was a very poor country and culturally obsolete. We were with a 5 years Democracy after a long Dictatorship.

Rock music in general wasn't available for everyone. Radio Shows dedicated to the several genres were just starting. The first international acts were just showing up for the first live shows. There were a couple of music newspapers and backpages small articles on the bigger headlines Journals - but their content was rudimentar. To listen to Rock music was something almost exclusive of the higher classes (because it was fashionable) or musicians (because they needed to learn a bit of everything).

I guess my kind of personality always was too much of a misfit to listen to disco-sound haha. So, that's how i started. Reading international mags, Listening on Long Distance Radio the Hard-Rock shows of France and England and gathering with people with same interest so we could exchange records,etc.

Also, most of my friends know it, but i had the luck to have as a close friend and neighbour a guy that had some Rock, Prog-Rock and Hard-Rock Lps.

So, while he was eating his girlfriend on the next room, i was eating his records.

The idea of having a club dedicated to Heavy-Metal, actually came up after i read on a french "Rock & Folk" about the French Heavy-Metal Association.

The Project had as a target to give useful information to fans not living on the big cities and eventually to organize live shows with portuguese bands.

Q. - In 1984, you were behind the first heavy metal festival in Portugal, organized by "Purgatório Fan-Club", that took place in "Santo António dos Cavaleiros", was it hard to find the bands to play in the festival?

José Gomes - Yes, I was one of those 6 or 7 young kids (since we were all 17 or 18 yrs old) who organized everything.  It was easy to find the bands because there were just a few around.

Q. - What memories do you keep from those days? Why didn't you repeat the experience?

José Gomes - Well, it was a hard experience. On the last minute at the day of the Festival surfaced many problems and mistakes of us, the organization, as lack of licenses to have such a live event. People living near the event didn't like what they saw with several hundreds of long hair dudes and the noise of the music. The energy system of the pavilion wasn't enough to support the lights and PA sound. Also the bands of the north of Portugal were cooler and all the 3 played with same backline while the 3 from the south, each one wished to play with their own. That make a lot of time retard between the change of backline and the next live show. All this with the pavilion already packed with audience. Yeah, we started organizing a 2nd Festival and with the support of the French leg of Purgatorio do Heavy Metal (we distributed also some zines to France, because we had French friends there) we were about to bring as headliner H-Bomb, since 2 of the members were from Portuguese blood. In the end, problems with H-Bomb changing line-up and other type of stuff avoid us to keep organizing it. Luckily, Defensores Da Fé fan-club and Metal Army started organizing the metal afternoons on Rock Rendez Vous and we all thought the venue and conditions were perfect and the people doing it (some of them were ex-Purgatorio) were highly motivated.

Q. - Around 1985, you, Quinito and Paulo "Grande" started Wild Shadow, how did this idea come up? Were you already friends before? What memories do you keep from those days?

José Gomes - Yep - we were all friends already and for some years. At the time we were already veterans of our scene. I recall Quinito by that time travelled to Holland to watch live Warlock supporting Judas Priest and to buy the guitar of his dreams. None of us knew how to play or how to sing but we thought if we dedicated hard on the rehearsals we could do it. The idea came after we organized and watched the performances and level of the portuguese bands on the 1st Portuguese Heavy-Metal Festival back in 1984. We really thought we could do something on our own.

So, we invested on our backline. We even bought a double bass Staccato yellow drum kit to Tarantula. I also invested on a very good Shure and P.A. and had a rack of delay with which i could do some of my screams. But to be honest we mostly rehearsing for ourselves and for some friends who liked us. We always thought we had a ton to learn before an official presentation. That's why the 1st show of the band was only in 1990 to support Alkateya.

Q. - Was it difficult to recruit the other members for the band?

José Gomes - There were 2 things difficult yes - a steady place to rehearsal. None wanted us - we were too much noisy for them haha. So, we were always jumping from 1 place to the other.

It was easy to find guys and try them for 1 month or so.

The problem was to find cool guys who could keep a discipline and involvement in the band. And most important - to stay longer times. There was always something more important than music.

Q. - Did you accumulate functions as Wild Shadow vocalist and in the fan club as well?

José Gomes - No, i quit the club and dedicate myself only to the band and my life.

You can't imagine the hundreds of phone calls and letters and people requesting meetings...

Things were just starting after the 1st Maiden show in 1984 for a lot of youngsters and they saw me as someone who could provide them what they wanted. Obviously am not.

Q. - Many times you have lent some records to radios, for example to the "Lança Chamas" program, was it difficult to get access to the metallic news and albums in the early 80's?

José Gomes - Yes - i lent records to the Lança Chamas show. Wasn't the only around doing that. The good albums you could only get them by import. I had several strategies - it all depended the country origin from where i was buying. I had a friend that was going to Spain 1 time each month. So, he was bringing with him some Heavy Rock mags and some spanish metal.

From France i had other strategy. To german metal i knew a guy that made big bucks buying to a German distro or directly to the label, all Sodoms and Hellhammers he could get. Of course for me he had to find other things.

To buy Scandinavian, or Belgian or Dutch or British or US Metal i was buying directly through a records catalogue that after i got to a national bank and swapped Portuguese money for pounds i did hide well inside a letter and picked the stuff. If i remember correctly i was doing it with COB Records and Gema Records.

I never had any problems and after 10 days / 2 weeks there they were the records on a turntable near to me.

Q. - Was it hard for a heavy metal band to play in Portugal in the 1980s?

José Gomes - Hard ? Impossible. 1 Rock-Club existing in Lisbon. And almost exclusivity to Pop or Vanguard or stupid shit like that.

They were surprised when the metalheads packed their house with increasing shows.

Q. - Do you recall the "Metal Lusitano" sessions to record the supposed first heavy metal compilation in Portugal, around 88? Do you know what went wrong?

José Gomes - Yes, I think I went to all shows and the other afternoon sessions before as well. Or at least almost all. I think someone had the copyrights to release it on double vinyl. Someone from the organization, from Rock Rendez Vous and from a label, I think Polygram was the one. I still know who has the license part of the organization with the copyrights of that but the other parts involved vanished. I think lack of money was the probable cause as usually at that time.

Q. - When did you decide to leave Wild Shadow, and why?

José Gomes - 1990. Couldn't go on with it. And wasn't giving what the band needed.

Q. - What do you feel when you look back to the 90's when the survival of heavy metal bands was very difficult?

José Gomes - Heavy-Metal was always present even with lesser bands. It wasn't as popular as it was in the past but bands were making albums. And fans were still there.

To look for newer bands you just couldn't expect anymore the mainstream big labels to respond. Everything went underground.

It was the time of the rise of extreme metal - which i don't have any problems in saying curious as i am i also listened a fair share.

That's why i can't listen it anymore (because i know it well) not even a second. Heavy-Metal is the purest form of all "Metals".

Call what you will !

Q. - What do you think was most important for heavy metal resurgence? Do you think that the contact among the fans through the internet could have been fundamental?

José Gomes - I don't know if there is a "resurgence" now. There are many bands i don't lose a second with it. I kind of smell them.

I normally don't like this type of guys that yesterday played in a Black-Metal band, today they play in a Black/Thrash band and tomorrow they say they are masters of Speed-Metal...I definitely do not trust them or their loyalty to the music.

Q. - You were the lead singer of Ravensire's first ep, Iron Will, do you remember how and when came the Ravensire's interest for you to join the band? What memories do you keep from that time?

José Gomes - Well, they heard about me and my past. They were needing a singer. I thought and i thought and one day i was inside their rehearsing room.

We tried to blend our styles. And i do think we got a good result and even if i already left the band several years ago we remain good friends and we all agree i helped the band somehow seeing in what direction should the band go - even if in their case, it's so natural.

It was an easy collaboration and we appreciated what we all did.

Q. - What balance do you make of so many years of dedication to heavy metal?

José Gomes - It's my life.

Q. - Are you still in touch with former members of Wild Shadow and Purgatório do Metal?

José Gomes - Yes - but not too often. We all have different responsibilities.

Q. - In your opinion, what are the main differences between the 1980s and the reality of today?

José Gomes - In 1983 the Whitesnake show had to be delayed 1 day after what happened on the door and that spreaded to the whole location.

That's unthinkable today. (Note #1)

Q. - Would you still like to do a new heavy metal project?

José Gomes - No, I'm done with that. Retired forevermore hahahaha !!!!

Q. - Anything else you'd like to say? As far as I´m concerned, I would like to thank you for your time and wish you all the best in the future!

José Gomes - It was a pleasure Paulo. 

Note #1 - It was lots of problems on the entry with police than it spreaded to the whole village more than 100 arrested for bad behaviour and lots of property damaged. Specially on cars and houses Than the organizer asked Whitesnake to stay 1 more day/night and play the gig on the next day. We were lots of peace, forming queues to enter the pavilion - I can assure. People sitting on the ground, forming queues than arrived the police on their cars and were brutal and broke all queues unnecessarily.

Trespass

Trespass, has been one of the most underrated bands from the n.w.o.b.h.m., this year marks their return with the new recording "Footprints in the Rock", a solid riffing album with great melodies, we had a chat with long time leader Mark Sutcliffe.

Q. - Hey Mark, nice to meet you! Were you involved in some other bands before forming/joining Trespass?

Mark - Its nice to meet you too Paulo! It all started in about 1977 with myself on guitar, my brother Paul on drums and my cousin Rick Sutcliffe on Bass. We had various names Fusion and later track IV. It was always Trespass really.

Q. - What were your main influences at the beginning of the band?

Mark - There are so many! Status Quo, Deep Purple, UFO, Thin Lizzy, Free, Bad Company Rush, Sabbath, Judas Priest, Journey, Boston, The Scorpions AC/DC etc.

Q. - The ten song demo tape "Through the Ages" came up in 1980, did you sell this tape during the shows? Sent it to fanzines?

Mark - It was just supposed to be a promotional thing. It is very rare now! We should have recorded an album right then!!

Q. - After the edition of "Bright Lights" in 82, wouldn't it be an LP the next step?

Mark - Actually I think the album should have come in 1980. We and our management were so confident a major label was going to sign us, we didn’t record and release an album ourselves. BIG MISTAKE No 1. We had the songs.

Q. - Why did you split up back in 82?

Mark - The death of my and Paul’s Father Allan in September 1982 was really the catalyst for the end of Trespass.

Q. - Did the idea of release "The Works I" come after the notorious compilation "79 Revisited"? Did it give a new impulse to Trespass?

Mark - We just wanted to get some more songs out there. It was a great feeling to know that people were, and still are interested in Trespass and our music.

Q. - Why did Paul leave in 2014? Maybe he'll be back "One of these days"?

Mark - I can’t speak for him obviously but I think the drums just weren’t enough for him to express himself musically.

Q. - What gives you more strength to keep Trespass active, after all these years?

Mark - I really do believe in the music and that is where the energy comes from. The important thing for me is to share my music and get it listened to. Trespass is just the best way of doing that.

Q. - Why did you re-record the old songs in the album “Trespass” in 2015? Weren't you happy with the recording quality of those songs?

Mark - Yes and no. The old stuff is a historic document. Most of the recordings were demos though with different sounds and singers etc.

I wanted to make the songs sound consistent and up to date. My idea was that it would sit better alongside any new stuff that we intended to do.

Q. - Three years have passed since the edition of the album “Trespass”, what expectations do you have for “Footprints in the Rock”?

Mark - All I want is for people to enjoy the music. Thanks to MIGHTY MUSIC we have got it out to many more people. I will be writing and playing guitar  music

Whatever happens . It is in my DNA. I am planning and writing for a new album already! The working title is ‘Force Of Nature’

Q. - You're still living a "Momentum" with Trespass?

Mark - Yes, it is an unstoppable force! Once it starts rolling it just moves faster and faster!

Q. - Do you have plans to play in festivals or go on tour, this year, supporting "Footprints in the Rock"?

Mark - Getting live shows is the hardest thing for a small band like Trespass. I very much hope we can do some shows this year and next. We’d love to come to Portugal!

Q. - In your opinion what are the main differences between the eighties and the reality of today?

Mark - I think the main difference is the technology. Everyone can record music at home to a high standard. This does not mean they will be good songs of course that comes from the heart and mind! We were lucky to make a record at all in 1980 only a few bands got to do that.

Q. - What memories do you keep from the early days and all the n.w.o.b.h.m. movement? Tell us a bit the impact that Trespass and the singles "Live it Up" and "One of these days" had.

Mark - Trespass came from a little town in the English countryside. Most successful bands like Def Leppard and Iron Maiden came from big cities. It was a blast going up to London, but we were never really able to become part of the scene, because we were outsiders. Our music had an impact though and that is the main thing. It all comes from the music.

It was fantastic seeing One Of These Days in the Sound House Metal Chart! The NWOBHM was a great thing to be part of. People have a need to be part of something.

When ever we do a NWOBHM concert the people still belong and they are just the best people!!

Q. - Anything more you want to say, to end up this interview?

Mark - I want to say Thank you to you Paulo for helping to get the word out. I also want to say thank you to everyone out there who has bought an album or helped Trespass in any way. Every penny goes back into the music so  you are literally keeping the music alive!

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Thorn

From Dallas, Texas, the band Thorn were active from mid-eighties (86), to early nineties (93), their demo tape, Moonlight Terror, was recently re-release on cd by Lost Realm Records, with some live extra tracks. We had a chat with their lead singer Kevin Dell Greer, to know a little bit more about them.

Q. - So tell me Kevin, how did your interest in heavy metal music start?

Kevin - I actually went to college for opera. I knew that rock vocalists had a tendency to lose their voice at an early age, due to overstress and incorrect singing technique, so I decided to go into opera to make sure my voice lasted. When I originally began singing, I was into Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Who. I started on drums at 15 years of age and switched to vocals at 18 years of age. My father was an original 50’s rocker and I just carried on the tradition. My interest in heavy metal began in 1975 when I first heard Black Sabbath’s first album. I was 13. When I heard “The Wizard”, it got me into song writing and playing the harmonica. Early Judas Priest, Ronnie James Dio, UFO and The Scorpions were early influences as well. Back then, we just called it rock and roll. The term “heavy metal” wasn’t used much.

Q. - What other bands did you play before Thorn?

Kevin – Before Thorn, I was in Disillusion, The Flying Kazoo Band (with a Hell’s Angels biker, named Moon Rat), Manticora, and Heart Attacker.

Q. - What were your main influences at the beginning of Thorn?

Kevin – Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Ronnie James Dio.

Q. - At this time did you play some covers too, or was it only your own songs?

Kevin – At first, Thorn, was an all original band. That got us our following. We eventually started to play covers, so as to get the lucrative shows. In the mid 80’s you could get a gig playing 3 nights in a row. You played three 45 minute sets on Thursday, and four 45 minute sets on Friday and Saturday. The pay was very good in those days, but you worked your ass off for it!! By the way, we covered everything from AC/DC to Zeppelin. Very versatile band.

Q. - Did you play around Dallas, and the rest of Texas or was it hard for a heavy metal band to be booked in the area?

Kevin – We played throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Texas Metal was at it’s infancy at the time and we were testing the waters, so to say. Some places were very receptive, and others, not so much. It was definitely an experiment every night. The early days of Texas Metal were spent in dark, grimy roadhouses and roughneck biker bars. We saw our fair share of stabbings and beatings. The band had to be as tough as the patrons.

Q. - The demo tape came up in 1987, tell us a bit how it was received by the Texas metal community? Did you try to approach some labels at that time?

Kevin – The 6 song E.P. was very well received in the Dallas area. It was fresh stuff. We were putting out material at the same time as a young Pantera was. As well as Rigor Mortis and Gammacide. All of these bands played together at different times. Thorn was very happy for our Metal brother’s early success. We landed a hit song on the local radio stations, with “Street Fighter”. It had been included in an earlier album compilation called, “Metal Cruelty”. The subsequent write up about our offering led to it’s being put in rotation on various radio stations around Texas. That’s when we decided to make our own album. We hired the best entertainment lawyer and shopped it around. We showcased for all the big labels. Dallas Metal was hot!! But the Dallas music scene is also very fickle. Along came Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians (friends of mine, by the way), and Dallas Metal fell to the wayside. Overnight. Suddenly you couldn’t get a call back from a label. They loved our sound, but it wasn’t what they were after anymore. Cest la vie.

Q. - Does the fact of not being signed a record deal lead to the end of the band? Were you working on new material before you broke up?

Kevin – Lack of a record deal didn’t help. But we were troopers. We wrote many more new songs for a full-length album. I wish I had copies of some of them, but they were all worked out live. I do have videos of the songs but have yet to release them. Maybe someday.

Q. - What do you think that lacked to Thorn to have a successful career?

Kevin – I would have to say the fickleness of the business…..Metal one day….soft pop the next. It was fun while it lasted.

Q. - Did you stay in touch with each other over the years?

Kevin – As a matter of fact, Thorn had a reunion show 3 years ago. All of the original members. Eric Wiethorn, Kephen Hanks, Danny White, Mark Aiken and myself. Fantastic turnout!! Kephen Hanks and myself were recently hooked up in a tribute to Tesla. Unfortunately, Randy Quick, guitar player extraordinaire, passed away about 4 years ago. We all stay in touch to this day.

Q. - Are you happy with the edition made by Lost Realm Records for Moonlight Terror? Is it like a dream come true?

Kevin – It was very nice to hear the old db’s on the tape bumped up a few notches….brought out some stuff I hadn’t heard before. To think that people were interested 30 years on was heartening. It was bold new steps at the time.

Q. - It surprises you that "Moonlight Terror" still has so much acceptation these days?

Kevin – It’s early Texas Metal….it took a while to wrap my head around the fact that people are still interested. I can dig it now.

Q. - Next move, you've been in Strangers for a while, and recorded the album Next Time Around, how did that happen?

Kevin – Strangers were born from the ashes of Thorn. I still had a lot to share musically. It was a natural progression. Strangers plied their craft for 10 years. A Strangers song is always in my head. We never broke up. Just drifted apart.

Q. - Are "Strangers" still active, or you're only working with "Bezel" these days?

Kevin – Strangers does a reunion concert every 3 years. Very big shows. As a matter of fact, the original Strangers is planning a reunion this year. All original players, except for C.J. Sullinger. He is an accomplished New World guitarist at this time. Our bassist, Glenn Malicki played with Omen and Phantom-X for a number of years. We are all still very close. A lot of miles under that band. My main efforts are put towards Bezel these days. The best musicians I have ever played with. We have our second album coming out this year. We have had the honor of playing with Michael Schenker, Kings X, Lynch Mob, Queensryche, Pat Travers and many more.

Q. - In your opinion what are the main differences between the eighties and the reality of today? Do you keep an eye to the metal scene of today?

Kevin – Good question. Musicians in the eighties worked very hard. We didn’t have computers, so we had to network personally. At least by phone. Land based lines, mind you. We had to be on top of our craft, as well as on top of our interacting social skills. We were old school song and dance people. Many a band flyer on a car, or in a club, was placed there by a band member. You couldn’t be lazy. You couldn’t be late. You HAD to do your homework from an album or cassette. You WORKED YOUR BUTT OFF.

Q. - Anything more you want to say, to end up this interview?

Kevin – I suggest you check out Bezel on Amazon, Youtube, Facebook.ITunes, or wherever we may roam…..STAY HARD !!!!

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Ciclón

Ciclón surgieron en el 2005, y llevan ya mas de 10 años en esto del rock duro, con mucha determinación y actitud. Tuvimos una charla con Rubén Sánchez, el bajista del grupo, que nos cuenta como van las cosas en Ciclón.

P. - Como fueron vuestros primeros pasos en el heavy metal? Ya se conocían de anterioridad, o tocaron en otros grupos antes de formar Ciclón?

Rubén - Bueno nuestros primeros pasos fueron como cualquier otro rockero o metalero que se precie, muchos conciertos, muchos bares, muchos festis y mucho rock n roll… jajaja

En ese conglomerado nos hicimos un grupo, pero básicamente porque éramos amigos, y Ciclón fue la primera banda que tuvimos, no habíamos tenido más contacto con otras formaciones , porque apenas sabíamos tocar nuestros instrumentos de una manera decente jajaja… Kike estuvo en algún intento de proyecto antes, pero nada serio como esto … Básicamente surgió un poco medio broma medio en serio, y fíjate ahora más de 10 años después ajajaja… Si nos lo dicen hace 10 años te estás riendo una semana del impacto : )

P. - Con la excepción del puesto de bateria, nunca hubo alteraciones en el grupo, creo que tu, Pablo Yague e Kike han venido a formar una unidad muy sólida a lo largo de los años, verdad?

Rubén - Sï, básicamente porque nos une la amistad, yo a Pablo le conozco de hace más de 20 años que se dice pronto, y a Kike más de 15 … así que fíjate… Me estoy dando cuenta de que llevamos mucho tiempo juntos, porque llevamos ya mucho tiempo viviendo jajajaja Esto es un complejo de viejo, empiezas a hablar de las edades con demasiada distancia ya jajajaj

P. - Cuales fueron vuestras principales influencias en el inicio del grupo?

Rubén - Bueno el grupo siempre se ha caracterizado por ser de un corte ochentero en general, heavy clásico y bandas icono del panorama del rock duro … Ninguna Novedad, aunque si bien es cierto que cada uno tenemos nuestros gustos, el pilar principal es el heavy metal más clásico … Grupos de power metal, o de rock urbano o punk o incluso algo de pop o alguna cosa rara por ahí … Pero vaya, el pilar fundamental es heavy del clásico : )

P. - Hay alguna razón especial para que os llaméis Ciclón? Como surgió el nombre?

Rubén - El nombre surgió de una broma una noche de borrachera rodeados de bastantes pijos en una residencia de universidad Privada en Madrid, íbamos ahí con nuestras pintas a ver una amiga nuestra y todo el rato estaban ahí dando el coñazo, estábamos hartos que nos dijeran que si teníamos un grupo y ya dijimos que éramos de Ciclón para que nos dejaran en paz… Y hasta aquí la broma jajajaj Por supuesto no deja de recordarte a nombres del estilos como Muro, Leño, Obus , Baron Rojo … El nombre nacía basado  de la nomenclatura ochentera de la época… Luego resulta que una firma de joyas tiene una serie especial Ciclón, y algún grupo de rancheras por ahí que tb se llama igual que nosotros… Puedes meterte en el google y spotify … Te vas a reir : )

Eso es un poco toda la historia : )

P. - Habéis quedado satisfechos con la aceptación que tuvo el álbum "Fuera de Control"?

Rubén - Bueno estamos contentos, pero la verdad que con la calidad, las canciones , el esfuerzo de promoción, portada , video clip etc….  creíamos que llegaríamos un poco a algo más gente … El otro disco la verdad que tuvo más impacto, supongo que el cambio de maqueta a disco se notó mucho más. O porque hay mucha banda ya, y es super difícil seguir llegando a la gente. Un poco de todo me imagino ...

P. - Que perspectivas tienen para el futuro? Ya están preparando vuestro siguiente álbum?

Rubén - Sí , Ahora mismo queremos centrarnos en componer el nuevo trabajo, hemos tocado mucho y apenas nos ha dado tiempo a meternos de lleno en composiciones ….

P. - Tendrá también algunos invitados como vuestros anteriores discos?

Rubén - Seguramente ,  claro, pero no sabemos ahora ni quién, ni cómo ni dónde : )

Pero vaya alguna sorpresa meteremos claro : )

P. - Seguiréis con Leyenda Records? Estáis satisfechos con el trabajo hecho hasta ahora?

Rubén - No descartamos movernos con otra gente y ver condiciones que nos gusten más. No hay nada cerrado y el trato con leyenda Records ha sido cordial.

P. - Como os sentís mejor, grabando u tocando en directo?

Rubén - Yo desde luego tocando en directo, el estudio se pasa mal a veces porque hay que grabarlo todo lo mejor posible … Menos el batería, el resto te dirán lo mismo que yo jajaja

P. – Tenéis quizá alguna canción que os gusta más tocar en directo?

Rubén - Bueno las canciones que más gustan son Caballeros del Rock , Matar por Matar (aquí porque sale nuestro Eddy particular correteando y animando) entre otras …

A mí personalmente me gustan mucho Manos Siniestras y las voces del tiempo …

P. - Alguna vez habeis pensado en grabar un álbum con letras en Inglés con vista à la internacionalización?

Rubén - Sí, pero muy por encima, a lo mejor algún tema en inglés, una versión de nosotros mismos, pero vaya, meros comentarios … Nada de inglés de momento : )

P. - Después de más de 10 años en el activo, que balance hacéis de Ciclón?

Rubén - Aquí podría alargarme muchísimo eh? jajaja pero vaya resumiendo … 

Mucho esfuerzo, mucha satisfación, sueños cumplidos, muchos momentos, muchas sensaciones, mucho tiempo, mucho rock roll, mucha carretera, muchos amigos, mucha ilusión, mucho calor de las personas que te apoyan … Creo que de las mejores cosas es que has hecho algo que ha llegado a la gente, y por eso nos han llamado de muchos sitios … Osea que super positivo …

P. - Es difícil continuar haciendo heavy metal hoy en día, teniendo en cuenta esta crisis que a todos nos afecta?

Rubén - Si, es muy difícil seguir en la brecha, hay muchos grupos y poco público en general, y muchos de ese público son otras bandas, o medios o alguien que no es una persona normal y corriente que viene a ver un concierto… Exceptuando ya bandas grandes y consagradas, el mundo del underground es  difícil …

P. - Como veis el futuro del heavy metal tradicional?

Rubén - Bueno, creo que no soy demasiado optimista en este aspecto, ya no sólo en el heavy metal tradicional ,la música alternativa siempre tendrá sus fieles, pero poco a poco se va reduciendo el número de seguidores … Los medios no hacen que nuevas generaciones lleguen a lo que llegamos nosotros de jóvenes … Ahora tienes de todo en internet, pero la primera chispa de rock  que te puede llegar está inmersa en toneladas de radio fórmulas que invaden todos los canales posibles, es súper complicado porque el heavy como tal no vende comparado con otros géneros… “No eres todo lo rentable que yo quiero , fuera “  … Creo que se quedará en algo como el Jazz, que siempre está ahí pero que muy poca gente lo escucha o lo sigue … No es fácil cruzarte heavies por la calle … Antes era otro rollo, tristemente no soy nada optimista con el tema.

P. - Hay una gran concentración de grupos de heavy metal en la comunidad de Madrid, como explicáis esta situación?

Rubén - Bueno ten en cuenta que aquí, siempre se han concentrado los medios, los grandes conciertos, programas de radio del panorama nacional … Había muchas zonas y bares de ambiente heavy metalero, rockero, alternativo … Todavía sigue pero en mucha menor escala… Todo eso influía claro … A mí modo de verlo…

 Y que aquí somos muchos y por porcentaje te salen más heavies que en otros lados jajajaja 

P. - Como os gustaría terminar esta entrevista? Queréis acrecentar algo más?

Rubén - Pues agradeciendo a toda la gente que sigue apostando por nuestra música, y que con el granito de arena de todos podamos seguir disfrutando de nuestro rollo. Gente como tú, de medios, de asociaciones, de los que apoyan de alguna y otra manera, de los que nos vienen a ver a nosotros o a otros grupos. De toda esta pequeña gran familia que sentimos esto de una manera especial. A todos ellos mil gracias por estar ahí y seguir apoyándonos. Sin ellos no seríamos nadie, y lo mínimo que podemos hacer es agradecerlo muchísimo. : ).

En este caso a la gente de Portugal, gracias por hacernos llegar esta entrevista.

De mi parte, me resta agradecer vuestro tiempo, y desearles que os vaya todo bien en el futuro!

Igualmente tio, un abrazo enorme de toda la banda¡