MelodicRock.com
Interview
Phantom's Opera: Act IV sees a new voice behind
the mike
Jack Young talks tracks, writing and replacing
the very well known voice of the band for
new album Act IV
MelodicRock.com: The
new album seems to see the band doing everything
they always have done, but with a new twist.
What was the thought behind the album when
you got started in making it? Jack Young: After Following Dreams
it was felt that we needed to recapture our
dark side on the heavy end without being too
progressive and no more personal stuff and
keeping the themes more open...and that we
should once again focus on the elements that
comprised our sound signature.
MelodicRock.com: What were the circumstances
that lead to singer Colie Brice leaving the
band? Jack Young: Colie's set skills in the
music arena are broad-based. His solo career
was beginning to blossom. He not only required
room to sing, but to also expand his songwriting
and production contributions. It was his time.
MelodicRock.com: Terry Brock is obviously
a classic melodic rock singer - how did his
name get brought into the PO equation and
did you shape any of the music to fit him,
or did he do the shaping?! Jack Young: We went through several
lead singers in trying to fill the abyss left
by Colie's departure. Finally, nearly a year
into the process, Khalil Turk of Escape Music
called me after hearing the rough mixes of
the songs and says JACK !!!....I have the
perfect lead singer for you...his name is
Terry Brock and he lives next door to you
in New York City . And just like that Khalil
sent Terry the RMs with my scratch vocals
and Terry loved the songs. We hooked up and
he recorded the nine songs in six sessions
at my studio (POPS). We had a blast! Terry
ate Cajun food every session.
As for shaping - none was required. The music
and BK vocals were done and Terry was the
natural match to sing these songs. He had
the range and feel, the talent to work WITH
the music, great diction and a phenomenal
attitude. We had fun every moment along the
way.
MelodicRock.com: He did a great job, will
his role be ongoing? Jack Young: He certainly did and I
hope so.
MelodicRock.com: Could you add a few words
about each song on the album? Jack Young: Etched You always hear
how things change ... But you know what? The
downside of love and the loss of it and the
heartache end...its still as painful as ever,
and still deeply affects you and others around
you.
Insanity Jack Young: Dave and Bobby G have written
quite a few songs that are really hot. When
I heard Insanity it was obvious that Phantom
was written all over it.
Shadows On The Wall Jack Young: Our vampire song depicting
the difference between understanding, condoning,
and flat out acceptance.
Hopeless Love Jack Young: You've gotta believe. Sooner
or later that TRUE and maybe not lasting love
will touch your life.
Lost Jack Young: About the original lead
guitarist in Phantom's Opera & Louie Russomanno.
In the Morning Jack Young: My Favorite!!! Using first
century Rome as a venue for dealings with
the new and unknown and the suggestion that
aliens were with us then and to put it to
a Beavis and Butt Head banging rhythm.
Laura II - Revisted Jack Young: Laura?......Haunting melody...an
update to the girl we sung of in our first
album. Except now, we find out that she has
spent time in the Insane Asylum. Tough life
God Save the King Jack Young: Yeah another favorite
of mine. The verse melody offered me a chance
to really work the lyrics into one of the
many realms we possibly harbor when thinking
of our leaders and what we expect of them.
MelodicRock.com: The music of PO is obviously
quite complex, how do you go about writing
in general - part of songs bit by bit, all
at once? Jack Young: It starts with a melody,
then a working title that works phonetically.
Then a theme which determines the musical
direction and the lyrics. Section/part enhancement
comes at the end.
MelodicRock.com: Do you write a whole album
in one length of time, or over several months/years? Jack Young: The ideas can hit you
anytime. If you've got the right environment,
you just keep going. In the case of Act IV,
the songs were written over a 3 month period,
usually with one completed song opening the
door for the next.
MelodicRock.com: What are your influences
as a song writer? Jack Young: No current ones, but a
few ingrained ones - Beatles, Zeppelin, Queen
MelodicRock.com: Anyone that you would
like to work with on future projects? Jack Young: First, I have to say this
Act IV - the practicing and recording of it
with Dave, Booby G, E-Man, Terry, T.V and
Roy (the Romans in In the Morning)..I had
fun, one of the most enjoyable experiences
ever. It was a great time full of laughs.
To work with them again, I'd love it. Others?...I
doubt I'll ever get to meet Sir Paul M. (McCartney)
MelodicRock.com: What's next for you personally
and the band in the year ahead? Jack Young: I'm almost done with my
solo album...I think its year 4 already. I'll
keep writing and doing a lot of Country lately.
As far as the group, we decided to see what
happens with this release and well you never
know, we'll sit down and talk with management
as things unfold.
MelodicRock.com: What are some of your
all time best albums? Jack Young: Beatles Revolver, Queen
Jazz and Asia S/T.
MelodicRock.com: Anything you would like
to add? Jack Young: Yeah - answers often lie
in the wounds we don t reveal. It's been fun
Andrew…take care. Thanks again! PowerMetal.de
Interviews Band Founder/Keyboardist Jack Young by Georg Weihrauch
Phantom's Opera Act IV Interview
PowerMetal: What kind
of ideas are behind Phantom's Opera? Jack Young: The whole concept of Phantom's
Opera is to offer melodic heavy rock music
with visual lyrics that provide not only a
story line, (messages aren't required) but
are laced with descriptive phrases that bring
one to a certain frame of mind……..Whether
your eyes are open or closed…..You should
feel the aura of a theatrical experience.
PowerMetal: Is Phantom's Opera a project
of your own? Jack Young: Well, it has been since
I was a sophomore in High School. The name
was registered in '76, and its been one hell
of a ride ever since.
PowerMetal: Do you think that you're a
live-orientated band? What do you show live
on stage? Jack Young: We always were…. It fact
it was our forte'. Though over the last several
years we've gravitated to more of a studio
experience…. however, let management give
us the word and we'll have a stage act enhanced
with outrageous props to give the audience
a great theatrical experience that doesn't
rely upon frivolous pyrotechnics…………. You
should see the picture frame we had for Colie
in doing " Portrait of Dorian Grey"……and I
hope you see the finished product based upon
design drawings of the massive uplifting crucifixes
that are slated for opening "In the Morning".
PowerMetal: How did you come up with the
new singer Terry Brock? Jack Young: I didn't. Kahalil Turk
of Escape Music did. He knew Terry and of
his accomplishments here and abroad. We tried
a few new voices, even went back to some re-treads….
but Khalil heard our Rough Mixes with my scratch
lead vocals and knew….WHO we needed. He was
right…..and Terry came on board.
PowerMetal: Who are your musical idols? Jack Young: No current ones. Just influences
from the past…..My Church, the Beatles, Led
Zepp, Queen, and yeah…. I remember liking
the Turtles and Emitt Rhodes.
PowerMetal: Your songs on "Act IV" are
very epical and bombastic, is that the kind
of style you also prefer to listen to privately?
JY. No……. I listen to all kinds of music.
Usually, the difference is "for how long?"…So
many times what you listen to is situational….
and to top it off….I'm restless…..some say
I just get bored easily.
PowerMetal: Especially songs like "Shadow"
seem to be inspired by QUEEN. What does QUEEN
mean to you?
JY. Shadow probably appears to be "Queenlike"
due to the intro with a fortified choral attack,
but after that, its really a statement song
about understanding, condoning, or flat out
acceptance of an entity….in this case; Vampires.
When I hear Queen, I hear a THREE piece band
that sometimes uses piano (no other keyboards)……remember
when they would go out of their way to mention
that no synths were used?
PowerMetal: Terry's voice sometimes reminds
me very strong of Freddy Mercury. Is that
intention or just happenstance?
JY.Happenstance. Terry has the range, intonations,
and flexibility of a seasoned vocalist to
sing a myriad of styles. His voice quickly
enveloped itself within the Phantom style.
Freddy had a beautiful voice, great to listen
to ….and a delivery that inspired on vinyl
as well as on stage.
PowerMetal: You have the nickname "Masters
of Theatrical Metal", but you play more rock
than metal on "Act IV". So how did you get
that nickname? Jack Young: I think you're right. We're
definitely rock…. not metal. As for the theatrical
part,…well, we're theater. All past versions
of Phantom's Opera have tried to portray that
not through only the staging, lighting, BK
scenes, and sometimes outrageous costumes,
but also through lyrical illumination, music
with dramatic changes/pauses to enhance the
moment, and of course, on-stage characters
by design.
PowerMetal: How do you handle the process
of songwriting? Jack Young: Well…. I've done most of
the writing for our four albums..and it starts
with an idea, a melody that I like……and then
I; look for a phonetically sensitive phrase
that fits the melody…I try to stay away from
cliché's….then the feel of the hook determine
whether the music should focus on dark minor,
diminished chordal structures or more pleasant
sounding major chords……a lot of time….a combination
of both. Then it's simple. Complete writing
the music. Complete the lyrics with the intent
of telling a story…and finally go back and
do the arrangement, making sure it uses the
sound signature that we've developed as Phantom's
Opera.
PowerMetal: Who writes the lyrics and what
are they all about? Jack Young: With the exception of "By
Reason of Insanity"……I do. Typically they're
about a plethora of topics and themes. What
we try to stay away from is " personal stuff".
Of course, Love and Romance, whether won or
Lost is always a great standby.
PowerMetal: How was the work with your
producer Paul Dean? Jack Young: Paul " the machine" Dean
is a close friend of Khalil Turk (Escape Music)………..And
Paul and I were hooked up through him. But
as I'm sure you know………Paul is up there in
northwest Canada……….and I'm a Jersey guy…..
So we worked via e-mail…. It was pleasant…….
I'd let Paul know what I was looking for …………he'd
come back with what he was hearing……….we'd
hit middle ground…and it got done.
PowerMetal: Do you have plans to play some
gigs in Germany? Jack Young: We'd love to. We'll sit
down with management, look at the response
to Act IV, and take it from there.
PowerMetal: What is your favorite opera? Jack Young: Classic?…..Carmen
PowerMetal: What do you think about the
present political situation considering the
planned war in Iraq? Jack Young: I'm a musician. As an American
citizen, I express my political views in the
voting booth.
PowerMetal: You have the chance to write
down some final words now…. Jack Young: I'm anxious to see the
response to Act IV. We've re-established our
website: Phantomsopera.net…..I'm hoping that
people will visit and log on their comments…..
And as it seems more apparent everyday…..Answers
often lie in the wounds we don't reveal Thanks
for the opportunity Georg… Take Care Jack
MelodicRock.com
Interview