The Demon is one of those bands that
should have much greater recognition, one of the formations that most cherished
and worshiped the golden era of the early '80s, where, more precisely in
England, we had the birth of the movement that became known as the "New
Wave of British Heavy Metal ", where bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def
Leppard and Motorhead were some of the most successful, overcoming barriers and
reaching a wider audience, followed by others, which are not lifted the same
commercial success, in no way can be said to have no great importance in
history, occupying a prominent place in the Headbanger's hearts. (Read Portuguese Version Here)
Following this thought, we can cite
Diamond Head, Samson, Raven, Tygers of Pan Tang, Angelwitch, and of course, Demon. From the beginning, with two very good albums and full of classics, the
Demon, besides music, also called the visual attention of almum's covers, live
performances and even its name, which gave an indication of something mystical
and supernatural. But the band was not restricted to the formulation of those
early years, always adding new things to your Hard / Heavy packed with
memorable riffs and choruses.
But what is certain is that strong preference of fans always fell on the sound basis of these early
albums, and now with their latest album,
"Unbroken", this is proved because the disk is being acclaimed as one
of the best releases of the band in the last 20 years.
Well, we talk a little bit with the founder member, Dave Hill, about "Unbroken", this actual moment of the banda and the classic rock, and a little of history! Check out:
RtM: To start this interview, I would like you to comment the title and cover of the new album, "Unbroken," where the band's logo appears surrounded by chains.
Dave Hill: This symbolizes after 30
years the band is unbroken, still strong!!!
RtM: The "Demon" has always
been very different albums, such as NWOBHM's "Night of the Demon" and
the progressive and conceptual "The
Plague". I think this last two albums, the band has more facets than
pleasing their fans, meaning that Hard / Heavy riffs and choruses with
striking, the climates of the keyboard and the lyrics (opening with "Prey"
reminded me of songs like "Dont 'Break the Circle", including because
of the intro), who move between reality and fiction. Do you agree? What do you
say about it?
Dave Hill: We feel unbroken is back
to big classic rock anthems, more commercial lyrics, and memorable heavy rock
riffs!
RtM: "Unbroken" has been received very
well, with many positive reviews!! Are you satisfied with the results and
comments so far?
DH: Unbroken has been received
with great reviews in all the country’s it has been released so far. And even
some reviewers have said it’s the best album in 20 years.
RtM: "Fill your Head With Rock"
and "Still Believe" talk about the style of music we love, at “Fill
your Head”, you talk about the Sweden Rock, where the band will perform again
this year, while "Still Believe" seems somewhat autobiographical !
Could you talk a bit more about these two songs?
DH: Fill your head with rock
is the story of the days we have spent at sweeden rock, which is perhaps one of
the top classic rock festivals we have ever played, and so we wrote about our
experience. I think Still believe is
what we still believe after 30 years as a band, that classic rock is one of
the great music art forms and grows stronger each year.
RtM: Despite many lineup changes, you,
Neil and Farrington was working together
since 2002, I'd like you to talk about this partnership, which also divides the
compositions, and also talk about Paul Hume, the newest member, who also did
the pre-production of "Unbroken".
DH: Over the years Demon has
had many changes, but I have always enjoyed working with other people, and both
their ideas and mine into developing new ideas for the band, and I feel with my
own experience we have achieved that.
RtM: Continuing, I would like to talk why Andy Dale leave the band, who
devoted several years to "Demon", and, of course, about David
Cotterill, who is in the band since 2007.
DH: Andy has worked off and on
with us over the last 20 years, but recently because of his business and family
commitments he has been unable to continue with us. Dave Cotterill has been
with us now for the past 6 years, and is a superb guitar player and a very
important part of the Demon sound.
RtM: I know it may be tricky, but you
could choose what your favorite songs on the new album? I’m very undecided
too!! So many excellent choruses and riffs!Wow! But I believe the title track,
"Prey", "Wings of Steel" and "Still Believe" are
the most please the fans and certainly will be requested at the shows!
DH: At the moment we are
featuring Unbroken, Prey, Fill your head with Rock, and Still Believe, but I
would find it hard to pick any one track as my favorite, as I like them all.
RtM: Going back a bit in the past, the
album Demon I heard most was "The Unexpected Guest" and always wanted
to ask you about the concept of the cover and back cover of the album, and also
you talk a bit more about my two favorite songs on the album, "Dont 'Break
The Circle," which is a classic ! and "Have you been here
Before", which to me, should always be in your set list on the shows!
heheh!
DH: The cover is actually the
torso of a muscle man, but there is a holographic image that comes through as a
face. Don’t Break the Circle has become a Demon Anthem and is included in
every Live Show, and the track was
covered and recorded by Blind Guardian who I am sure helped to spread the
popularity of the song throughout the world, and have you been here before is a
song we regularly feature from time to time in our live shows.
RTM: After the death of Mal Spooner, in
1984, many believed that the band could terminate the activities, the band
released "Heart of our Time" (85), who had negative reviews, not
being well received. Certainly the loss of Mal Spooner affected you so much.
Talk about this complicated period, the loss of Mal, and about this album.
Recalling that after this all you released two great albums, which received
great reviews, "Breakout" and "Taking the world by Storm".
DH: After the sad loss of a
great friend and co-musician writer, it took the band some time to get our act
back together, but on "Breakout" we started to get back were Mal and Myself would
have liked to have been. And in respect to all Mals efforts, the Band Demon
continued as he would have wished.
RtM: In 1992 the band ended its
activities, becoming a long period out of the scene. Tell us about the reasons
for their arrest, and what you did during the period when the band was
"asleep" , besides, of course, your solo album?
 |
| Classic line-up: Chris Ellis, John Wright, Dave Hill, Les Hunt e Mal Spooner |
DH: In 1992 we decided to take
a break from performing and recording as Demon, this was not a breakup of the
band, but we all needed a break to pursue other projects. One might say a
well-earned rest.
RtM: In 2001 the band returned with the
excellent "Spaced Out Monkey," which brought a more modern garb,
would like you to talk a little of that return, what motivated you to return
with the band, and talk about “Spaced Out Monkey” album.
DH: We got back together in
1998 to play some live dates in Europe, and we have been writing new material,
so eventually we went into the studio, and recorded spaced out monkey. The idea
of Monkey was to make a more modern sounding album which Demon have always done
from time to time, and I am still very proud of the spaced out monkey
recording.
RtM: And the current scene of heavy
metal? How do you see it? Much is said that icons like Judas Priest, Iron
Maiden, Purple, Ozzy and other traditional bands, are getting old, and may be
does not exist a new generation able to
replace them in Heavy Metal scene, and get what they got. What do you think?
There are many many new bands, but…
DH: I think the foundations
that have been laid by these bands, has and will inspire a new generation of
Rock Bands, who will I am sure envolve and carry the classic Rock Torch, into
the future and hopefully live up to the great standard set by them Bands, and
Demon.
RtM: The band has had a considerable gap
between their current releases (Spaced Out Monkey -2001; Better the Devil-2005
and Unbroken-2012), and this time the compilation "Time Has Come" and
two DVDs, you think about having some of the shows This year, in the
Headbangers Open Air and Sweden recorded for a DVD release, or perhaps some
commemorative box for more than 30 years of the band? And a wish: Do not take
so long to release another album!!! hehheheeh!
DH: Hopefully the live shows
that you have mentioned are being recorded, along with many live recordings we
have in our possession, we are hoping as you have said, a comprehensive box set
of Demon, sometime in the near future.
RtM: And shows in Brazil or South
America? Have you received any proposal? Too bad we do not have here a festival
like those that exist in Europe, Brazil has many fans of Heavy Metal, some
small festivals are growing, who knows one day we have something great! Last
year we had hope with the "Metal Open Air," which turned out to be a
failure due to some problems and inexperience of the organizers.
DH: We have been approached on
a number of occasions from contacts in South America to do live shows, but as
of yet as you know we have not appeared in Brazil, but hopefully that will all
change in the next few years.
RtM: Well, thanks for your time, for this
interview, for the music, I'm a big fan, and at Road to Metal there are huge fans of the band, and its a pleasure to be doing this
interview, I hope one day to meet you in person! I need that you autograph my
Demon’s albums!!
 |
| Dave live performing at 80's |
DH: Just want to say I am
sorry this interview was not received earlier, but thank you for taking the
time to be a fan of our Music and I hope to meet you sometime in the future,
and I would like to give my best to all our fans in Brazil and South America.
Interview by: Carlos Garcia
Special Thanks to Mike Stone
Demon Official Site
Facebook
Discography
Discography
Night of the Demon (1981)
The Unexpected Guest (1982) - UK Number 47
The Plague (1983) - UK Number 73
Wonderland (EP) (1984)
British Standard Approved (1985)
Heart of Our Time (1985)
Demon (EP) (1986)
Breakout (1987)
Taking the World by Storm (1989)
Hold on to the Dream (1991)
Blow-out (1992)
Spaced out Monkey (2001)
Better the Devil You Know (2005)
Unbroken (2012)
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