x
A
true American
phenomenon, the Dave
Matthews Band f lew under
the radar yet still became one of
the nation’s biggest attractions.
This was achieved largely through
touring, but in 2017, for the first
time in their history, the band
skipped a year on the road.
Frontman and leader Matthews tells
us about the group’s return.You last spoke to Classic Rock
before some gigs with multi-
instrumentalist Tim Reynolds in- How did they go?
That whole tour was a blast. It’s
always fun to play with Tim, because
it’s just a small group of people – just
me and him and a couple of crew
guys. Quite different to being a part
of the machine.
Were there any discussions
about you and Tim making
a record together?
It’s a subject we always discuss.
We make a very big noise for two
people, and I’d love to transport that
into a studio setting. I look forward
to the day it happens.These are the Dave Matthews
Band’s first European showsin four years. How did it feel to
revive a sleeping beast that you
once called “dysfunctional”?
What I didn’t know so much [during
that conversation] was that the focus
and loyalty of Boyd Tinsley [violinist]
was elsewhere. So we got a new
keyboard player, Buddy Strong, to
replace him and it’s brought us an
unimaginable new life.Is it hard to remain “a regular
Joe”, as you put it, when your
band has sold sixty-eight million
CDs and DVDs combined?
Not really. I would still rather sit ina pub where nobody knows who
I am than attend some party full of
plastic assholes. Fame is a distraction
to all of the good things.The Dave Matthews Band have
some of the most passionate and
demanding fans around. Can
that sometimes be exhausting?Yeah, I suppose it can. Mostly
they’re good people, but I don’t
really understand the sense of
entitlement that some of them feel.Do they turn up at your house?
There were a couple of mad people
with hammers [chuckles]. And
somebody brought me some
homemade jelly. I didn’t eat it,
because I wasn’t sure what it
might contain, but I did appreciate
the gesture.As a socially and politically
aware artist, how did you feel
when, seemingly without
a shred of embarrassment,
President Trump entertained
guests at the White House with
takeaway fast food?
We shouldn’t be surprised by
anything [that Trump does]. The
man’s lack of self-awareness is
quite unbelievable.Doesn’t it make you think:
“I could do better”?
Oh, look, my eleven-year-old son
could do better being President
than him. DLThe DMB play in London on
March 12 and 13.Dave Matthews Band
Time to catch the band that recently got “an unimaginable new life”.
“Fame is
a distraction
to all of the
good things”
S
till on the road for last year’s
Forever Warriors, Forever United album,
her thirteenth studio record, the
effervescent former Warlock frontwoman
brings her band to the UK once again.
Forever Warriors, Forever United entered
the chart of your German homeland at
number four, which is very admirable.
It also topped the vinyl chart in Germany,
so I was very happy. We’ve already played
a lot of gigs, and new songs like All For
Metal and my cover of Whitesnake’s
Don’t Break My Heart Again are fitting in
really well.
What were the highlights of the first leg of
this tour?
Being at Wacken was incredible because
I got to play If I Can’t Have You, No One Will,
a duet with Johan Hegg [of Amon Amarth],
and of course we also did Bloodstock.
Were you able to watch Judas Priest at
Bloodstock?
No-o-o! We played at the same time.
Many of our rock-star heroes are dying
or suffering debilitating illnesses. That
must make you want to celebrate life
even more?
Absolutely! When I was a teenager a show
was simply rocking out, but now it’s about
providing a great moment – something
that’s empowering. I have more positive
energy than ever before.
You look great. Is being vegan something
to do with that?
I don’t know, but possibly. I just can’t eat
meat any more. Physically I feel very good,
and playing a gig provides a better workout
than going to a gym.
Why are you playing only two UK shows?
There will be more of those in the autumn.
We’re going to be at Hard Rock Hell in
November, and there’s a festival in Scotland.
Have you played indoor holiday camp-type
shows before?
We did Hard Rock Hell before. I didn’t care
that it was cold. Any show is a good show.
What else have you got coming up?
There’s talk of a movie with Nicolas Cage. I’m
keeping my fingers crossed about that. DL
Doro plays two UK shows, in Manchester
and London, in March.
The Queen Of Heavy Metal
plays two UK shows.
Doro
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