Interview: Todd LaTorre of Queensryche 5/14/16

INTERVIEW: TODD LATORRE, QUEENSRYCHE

“The Sins of Sin City”

Vegas Rocks! Awards

May 14, 2016 – T. Ray Verteramo

While the great German stingers did a highly publicized five-day stint at the Hard Rock Hotel, Vegas Rocks! magazine took the opportunity to host their “first” annual Hair Metal  Awards on the other side of town. Red carpet guests included local talents, cover bands, a rapper, and assortment of others, as well as A-listers such as Rudy Sarzo, Twisted Sister, Doro Pesch, and of course, Vegas’ guests of honor, The Scorpions, themselves.

Opening for The Scorpions for this special event is the royal Queensryche. It is safe to say by now that these men have respectfully made a name for themselves over the last three decades, having sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide in the span of their career.

 With both powerhouses, Geoff Tate and Todd LaTorre at the mic, the band enjoys a solid, loyal following with all the trimmings, especially the privilege to share the same stage with legends — Dio’s 1985 Olympian project, Hear ‘n’ Aid, notwithstanding. Just last year, they entered the billboard charts at number 27 with their latest project, Condition Human, and their video, “Guardian” has taken over half a million views.

Operation: Mindcrime, Empire, The Warning, and Evolution Calling, are still considered treasures among collections…

…but, they were not invited to the party.

Mr. LaTorre was generous to spare a few minutes to talk a bit at the Hair Metal Awards event, about the honor of opening for The Scorpions and the dishonor of nearly missing a chance to support his Metal brethren.

 

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What is the dynamic between you and the Scorpions? This is your second tour with them, isn’t it?

Yeah, the first week of the tour for a month with them last year, the end of the year, that was awesome. So, they asked us to join them for the residency here, so…because we toured with them before, seeing them now is like a whole different feeling. We know all the crew, we know all the guys, so, it’s like, “Hey, what’s up?” There isn’t like that introduction phase, we’ve already had all that. It was really great and obviously really honored to be asked to open for them. We are doing nine shows total and five out here in Vegas, it’s pretty cool.

The Scorpions are using the same set as they used last year. Are you using the same set, as well, or are you supporting more of the new material this time around?

We are, but we only have a 45-minute set. As the opener, we realize that there are Queensryche fans there, but it is a Scorpions show. So, a lot of people that aren’t up to speed with Queensryche, we are playing a lot of the well-known hits and it re-familiarizes people with “oh yeah, I remember this” from Empire or something like that. We do one song, we open with “Guardian,” which is off the new record. We play “Queen of the Ryche” – we’re alternating, we’re changing one song each night, just to mix it up a little, but we pretty much have a stake hold of songs that we play.

And those songs are very demanding.

Yeah, all of the Queensryche songs are.

How do you prepare – or rather, how does the band prepare for a big residency like this?

It’s just another show for us. Whether it’s a club show or a festival show or a residency, we’re going to give 110 percent of our time and effort. So, it’s not like we’re psyched out or intimidated it’s just work. It’s just our business and none of us feel psychologically overwhelmed by it. It’s just what we do naturally. As far as preparation we’re always on the road. We’re usually a well-oiled machine. Sometimes, we’ll have a couple a weeks off and we may get a little rusty, just one or two little things that people won’t…But, one or two shows later we’re *snap* right back on.

But, it’s those little nuances that remind the audience that you’re actually human.

Yeah, right! That’s true.

So, talking about tonight, when Vegas Rocks! approached you about participating, what was your reaction?

Well, I’ll throw you a curveball: We weren’t approached, which was surprising. We’re here with the Scorpions, doing the residency and I was talking with Eddie Trunk and Chuck Billy and Alex [Slonic, both of Testament] and those guys the other night, and I said, “Awesome! Are you guys playing in town?” And they said, “Well, we’re doing the Vegas Rocks! thing.” I said, “I don’t know anything about it.” And that’s just the truth. We didn’t know anything about it.

I said, “I really would like to go. How do we get to go?” So, I had to work through channels to get tickets. We had four tickets and we couldn’t get another one for Michael [Wilton]. So, I had to pull some strings to see what I could do to get another…thing. So, we’re here in support of the event that we really weren’t invited to.

photo courtesy of ZRockr

The awkwardness was very noticeable on the red carpet tonight. [Editor’s note: Queensryche was last to appear, after the award presenters and recipients].

Well, the guy looked through the thing and said “Queue?” And I said, “You’re not going to have anything in there. You’re not going to see anything in there that says, ‘Queensryche’.” And he didn’t. He said, “You guys definitely should be on the red carpet.” And I said, “That’s kind of you, thank you.” But, as I said, we’re fans of what’s happening. I think the Scorpions are getting an award and we’re fans of Doro and Testament and all these people. But, we had to pull strings to get to come here.

What are you going to do? We didn’t know even know about it. We’re busy playing and touring and whatever. I don’t know of every event that’s happening. It’s only that I asked why they were in town that we even knew about it and like I said, we had to go through some channels. I thought, “Oh, there’s an event. We’re playing here with the Scorpions as support for ten days, they’re receiving an award.” You would have thought somebody would have thought, “Hey…”

Well, sure, it’s not like you’re some garage band…

Right. Nevertheless, we are here, not out of obligation. So, if that is a testament of us being supportive and fans, that should tell you something.

 

Iron Maiden: The Tour of Souls

IRON MAIDEN – “The Book of Souls” World Tour 2016
Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Event Center, February 28

On February 24^th, the Jedi masters of Metal kicked off a world tour to shame all others.

Iron Maiden’s latest release not only surpassed fan expectations, but sales as well, performing “50 percent better than any other previous release,” according to Bruce Dickinson. That is 50 percent better than their staple classic, The Number of the Beast, which features their first footprint on the Billboard charts, “Run to the Hills.” Fifty percent better than “Piece of Mind,” which features not one, but two MTV video darlings, “Flight of Icarus” and “The Trooper.”

Deep into their 50’s, over thirty years later, these six modest and magnificent men have raised the stratospheric bar that they, themselves, have set. That is a tremendous feat and image to wrap one’s head around.

No band in the history of music since the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has had more influence on generations of music, community, or economy than these men. As musicians, each of them are the creme-de-la-crème of their craft; Nicko’s consummate attention to detail, Murray’s elegance, Smith’s undefeatable craftsmanship on song and string, Janick’s presence, Bruce’s iconic vocals and showmanship, and the unarguably attested greatest bass player in the world, Steve Harris. Together, along with a formidable management and artistic team, and a beloved larger-than-life mascot, have been able to create a universal empire that continues to transcend color, race, religion, gender, age, or time.

Iron Maiden is a big deal.

A Maiden show is not just a concert, it is a privilege. It is an event. It is a pilgrimage to the Metal Mecca. And “The Book of Souls” Mayan theme is a perfect fit for this experience; beautiful, brutal, mysterious, and tribal.

This year, their set consists of glorious lighting rigs of stars, suns, and beams; stones and swamp vines; and the grandest Eddie entrance to date. The use of the Minotaur in lieu of the traditional Baphomet-esque imagery for the “Beast” is ultra-classy, even for Maiden standards. Though the set list beholds a few surprises, such as the inclusion of “Children of the Damned” and the exclusion of “Aces High” and “Run to the Hills,” the choices they dished from a 130 plus song buffet were no less delicious and fulfilling.

Bigger plane, bigger sets, bigger lights, bigger sounds, and bigger tour would have much less impact or meaning in the hands of any other band. Maiden is the only entity in existence that can pull this off and keep their impeccable integrity as artists and professionals. They keep it real and they keep it strong making “The Book of Souls” tour quite possibly – and never to be said lightly — the greatest show on Earth.

Donato Cabrera of the Las Vegas Philharmonic

In my Jour 102 class, we were assigned to do a profile of any personality we chose. Since everyone from Iron Maiden was busy, I chose this man. I got an A+ and a ticket to see their latest show at the Smith Center — an absolutely inspiring performance.

The only real difference between Classical and Metal to me, I believe, is one has the gift to fearlessly provoke emotional shadows and the other just provokes life, itself.

“THAT ONE THING”
November 15, 2015 – unsolicited, academic work

Music is the cornerstone of life. In nature, it is in the wind; in civilization, it is in everything. For Maestro Donato Cabrera, the musical director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, it is his everything.

Cabrera said, “We often say that you should separate your home from your work environment and work is work, don’t take it home with you. That’s the opposite message for me.”

Since he was child, inspired by his grandmother who had the gift to play by-ear at the piano, he knew his indisputable calling. Because music is pure energy in a tangible sense, he is at home everywhere, literally. “I can be in a country where I don’t speak the language and I don’t know one person. Yet, I can walk out on that stage and we can communicate through music in a way that is at once intimate and universal. I cannot imagine a greater gift.”

After 15 years of schooling from University Nevada, Reno, University of Illinois, and the Manhattan School of Music, Cabrera enjoys a full plate today acting as resident conductor for the San Francisco Symphony, as well as music director for the LV Philharmonic, California Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Ironically, there was a time when he believed he may have walked a dead-end path.

“I graduated from Manhattan School of Music and in 2002, I had that thing in Salzburg– which was such a great thing, such an honor to be a part of — I get back to New York City and I had a total of one gig lined up for my future as a conductor,” said Cabrera.“So, I got a job at the Met Gift Shop selling CD’s…I couldn’t believe that after 15 years of school, I’m doing the exact same thing I did in Reno 15 years earlier. I was barely making rent, I had one gig lined up and I was thinking, ‘That was it. What a mistake. I really blew it’.”

But, when an old friend from college saw him sulking in the corner of the Metropolitan gift shop, she handed him the key to his future by recruiting him to his first full-time gig as resident conductor in California. He said, “That was the beginning of everything after that.”

Since then, that key has opened many doors to many countries which has allowed him to reach out and stir imaginations all over the world. “I feel a greater sense of responsibility because conducting isn’t just when I step on the podium and start swinging my arms around and the musicians make wonderful sounds because of that.”

The press has praised his work as “outstanding” and “dynamic.” Jeri Crawford, the president of the LV Philharmonic, knew there was something about him almost immediately. “We were on a director search for two years,” Crawford said, “and we actually had 17 candidates and he was one of those. A few we invited back. When Donato came, we just had this feeling about him and the way he connected to the fabric of the community.”

Cabrera explained, “You have the responsibility of creating the artistic vision not only for the institution, but also for the community, therefore propelling that community into the future through your passion and taste.” He said, “I choose the music, I choose the programs, when and what and where things are going to be performed and of course, all of those pieces have to be of high level. But, it’s the leadership that is required to be the pied piper for the art form and the music and that is what occupies my time, really.

In order for institutions like the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, to move forward, they need to represent the community which it serves.”

For Jeri Crawford, the heart of any community is the orchestra, itself. For both Crawford and Cabrera, the orchestra is the vehicle to deliver the future and the future lies with the children.

The maestro explained that his work with kids is multi-faceted.To begin with, first and foremost, he said, “On the surface to understand what music is – a visceral, subconscious, undertaking. Both when performed and heard…and how the music is made, the science of music. That’s the surface.” Then second, “For me, the most important thing, that whenever they go to a concert for the rest of their lives, and it doesn’t matter what genre it is, at that moment for you to engage your imagination through sound, through music.”

Recently, the LV Philharmonic was awarded a grant to supply three Boys and Girls’ Clubs a sponsored after-school program, complete with 90 brand new violins and an instructor from their own orchestra.

And these programs do make a difference. “I had the honor of seeing someone who was 13 and rise up to the ranks to become a very serious musician,” Cabrera said. “And by the time they were 18, they were going off to conservatory and having a life in music and that is an amazing transformation. It would be amazing to see anyone have that kind of dedication and passion about one thing…too many kids that do not have access to be passionate about just one thing.”

“It seems to me, in our culture, that ‘dabbling’ has become very prized. And I just am not a fan of that.”

It takes passion to foster passion and the man has plenty to go around. Crawford said, “He’s our main guy. He loves kids and that’s one of our most important outreach programs…they are our future.”

A successful performance is “about the experience of the connection onstage with the audience. The music is the vehicle.”With LV Philharmonic increasing their performances by 60 percent, including matinees and new programs such as the Spotlight Series, their ultimate goal to be the best regional orchestra in the United States is on its way, so long as there is continued support. Successful growth, much like a successful performance, is about connection. “That is a magical moment you can have for the rest of your life. That is the most important thing.”

Las Vegas Philharmonic
http://www.donatocabrera.com

The Spirit of Ghost

GHOST
HOUSE OF BLUES, LAS VEGAS
October 31, 2015

“At 10:02, the lights shift, smoke rises and the two shrouds covering the drums and the keyboards are ceremoniously lifted. The pre-recorded church choir takes over speakers, invoking spirits in Latin or backwards English. At 10:10 the stage is bathed in red, then pitch black. After a breath of silence, the Star Trek-y intro for “Spirit” begins to play and an explosion of thrill blows the roof off the House as the Nameless Ghouls take their places. When Papa Emeritus III graces the stage in open arms and flowing robes, the screams of love become so saturating, the band could not be heard at all until after the first chorus.”

http://maximummetal.com/columns/road/col-road.asp?page=142

Sometimes, I love it when I’m wrong.

When I first heard of these Ghost people, I laughed them off as a ridiculous act behind “patchwork prog” with Michael Stipe-ish vocals. In fact, the actual words I used in my Meliora audio review (Aug. 30, 2015) were: “…pretty much just a joke without a punch-line, a hipster salad, and a novelty…Except they’re not.” I felt almost embarrassed that I found myself practically obsessed with this album and referred to Ghost henceforth as “that damn band.”

“Meliora” review – Maximum Metal

But, when I had the chance to see this “damn band” on stage, I had to swallow my words like rancid medicine. The “Back to the Future” Tour was one of the most elegant, energetic, and dynamic concerts I had ever witnessed. Those parasitic songs just animated like fire when performed live. I didn’t feel Satan’s presence anywhere, but I was blown away by the expert sense of theater this troupe has. Far from ridiculous, I was converted.

I even kept my communion wafer to remind me never to judge a Metal band by its masks again.

Ghost – Official Website
Ghost — Official Facebook page

The Lightning Strikes

TEMPLE OF ROCK
VAMP’D – LAS VEGAS
April 7, 2015

“Schenker is one of the very few artists that can genuinely steal the breath away from his fans. Every note of every solo was received with fixation and awe. When the instrument becomes the voice and an extension of the player, the witness becomes part of the process. Schenker is an animator of sound. And when he took the last few precious minutes of the show for his grand finale, like fireworks, he pulled all the stops; manipulating every string, every peg, every muscle, every which, and every way through his signature, unorthodox techniques, and the thrill was beyond words.”

The show was explosive. Seeing the master of the axe perform live was mind-blowing. Receiving personal thanks from Wayne Findlay and Robin McAuley was very touching.

Having my review quoted on his official Facebook page was just downright humbling:
(*Note: my Facebook is set to ‘pirate.’)

Temple Of Rock be addin’ 11 fresh portraits

Month o’ showers 14 · Amended ·

TOUR UPDATES! A very busy week.. hence the lack of updates. Here is the past week..
Day 4 & 5 were days off in Vegas. As we all know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas so these days will remain the unspoken.

Tour day 6: Show day In Vegas Vamp’d bar which included a special guest appearance from ROBIN MCAULEY. http://www.maximummetal.com/columns/road/col-road.asp… “Schenker is one of the very few artists that can genuinely steal the breath away from his fans. Every note of every solo was received with fixation and awe.”

Tour day 7: Livewire Concert Hall, Scottsdale…

 

We Are Motorhead and — Damn, Saxon Kicked Some Serious Ass, too…

MOTORHEAD / SAXON / CROBOT
HOUSE OF BLUES, LAS VEGAS – August 21, 2015

 

“Motorhead is a band. You know, that structure where more than one person plays an instrument at the same time as all the other people to organize noise at the same time. It’s not just Lemmy! Three members: Phil Campbell, Mickey Dee, and himself. He’s not “Burt” from Mary frickin’ Poppins steppin’ in time, doing the shuffle with cymbals between his knees. There are other people on stage with him. And though this band is only made of three, they sound like six. Because they’re loud? Yes. Because they’re loud and because they can play.”

http://maximummetal.com/columns/road/col-road.asp?page=138

I felt very honored and fortunate to catch this show — especially when I learned how ill Lemmy really was when he performed that night. Though he seemed a little lost at times, gazing out into the crowd as if he was looking for the witch he may have crushed with his house, he found his way home the instant he put his fingers on the fretboard.

As for Saxon…I ate some crow with a side of fries. Delicious.

“Nigel Glockler’s drum-slaught gave you CPR. The twin axe act of Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt were so balanced and instinctual, flawless in blend and compliment, and the results were explosive. Quinn delivered solos with surgical madness in pristine chaos; beautiful, captivating, and bone-splitting. (The old bastard knows how to drive!) And Nibbs Carter, on the bass, had the most energy, but refreshingly didn’t play into those flashy, silly bass-trickery tricks that get very tiresome very quickly. He just played his ass off, like a true down-home rocker. And as for Biff Byford, one of the most beloved frontmen of his era and today, is a perfect cross between a gentleman and a mother’s nightmare. A majestic, towering presence of wit and mastery, he seduced and worked the audience with ease, and still hit every note with luscious tone and vibrato, as if he had sold his soul for a throat of chrome. Magnificent.”

Motorhead Official — Facebook
Motorhead — official site

Saxon Official — Facebook
Saxon — official site