Interview: ICARUS WITCH
*** JASON ***
1. Please introduce your band Icarus Witch to us first of all.
Jason: Icarus Witch is a 5 piece traditional heavy metal band based in Pittsburgh, PA. We create and perform music in the style of the classic bands of the 70s and 80s but with a modern production and an ear for the future.
2. What has changed within the band since you started back in the year 2004?
Jason: Everything except me! Haha, as one friend recently texted, I'm the "Last man standing." This either says that I'm the most dedicated & professional, the most insane, or the biggest asshole. Probably a combination of the above, haha.
3. Well you guys also will play together with my friends RUTHLESS... are you friends with them also?
Jason: No, I can't say that I have heard them, but always eager to check out and befriend the bands that we play with on this crazy journey.
4. You already played and opened up for some huge bands.. and now I think about last year opening up for Heaven and Hell were Coheed and Cambria also played.... what are your thoughts on this show you had with them? And which huge stars will you play with next?
Jason: As I've mentioned several times in the past, that was one of the greatest experiences of my career and both bands were amazing and cordial to work with. We were blessed to be part of that bill, in large part to our former manager Dianna DeVille from Niji, who also handle Dio. We are now preparing to play with Lizzy Borden, Winger, Otep, Omen (at the Warriors Of Metal Open Air), and then a summer tour with Y&T which also includes a stop at the Midwest Rock Fest featuring Twisted Sister, Black N' Blue and many more. After that, back to the studio for new music, then a one off with Kamelot & Leaves' Eyes and back on the road for a winter tour with Paul DiAnno again. So, yeah, that's why this is being billed as the "No Rest For The Witches Tour 2010." We're not happy unless we're playing or creating constantly. Stagnation is the enemy.
5. What are my friends Icarus Witch doing at the moment?
Jason: Working out our various live sets with the new singer, Christopher Shaner and new 2nd, guitarist, Ed Skero. Both are very professional and fast learners. The band sounds fuller and more on it's game than ever!
6. Are you working on new material? What are your future plans with Icarus Witch?
Jason: Yes we are. We have about 5 new songs that we're sending back & forth and working on in hopes of getting a few new originals posted digitally before we head out on the U.S. tour with Y&T this July. Future plans include, expanding our our sound, improving our songwriting and stage performance, just generally progressing and taking this band to its extreme limits with the new talent pool with which we are drawing from.
7. We also want to see you over here in Germany... and hope that we can sometime soon:) What/where are the next concerts you will play?
Jason: No one wants to bring the Witch back to Germany more than myself. This is a totally revamped lineup from the last time we played Deutschland, with the exception of myself and lead guitarist Quinn Lukas. So I'm super anxious to get back to my homeland and show the European scene how far the Witch has come since our last visit. Continue to harass your festival and concert promoters until they're forced to bring us back. As for our upcoming concerts, the best thing to do is bookmark www.myspace.com/icaruswitch or www.icaruswitch.com because the shows are changing and being added to every single day.
8. What does Icarus Witch stand for?
Jason: That's an open ended question, so I will respond in the theoretical sense; Icarus Witch stands for bravery, freedom to do what you will, despite the odds and regardless of what the flock around you are doing. It stands for holding a big middle finger in the face of all those who would try to hold you back and with the other hand a welcoming viking hand shake to the rest of those who share our vision of sticking to your guns and following your heart at all costs. This vision has been extremely difficult to hold on to, but I've held fast and not lost focus throughout the obstacles, line up changes, industry set backs, economic shifts and a few personal tragedies along the way. Icarus Witch is a refuge, like the tower on the front of our Songs For The Lost album...a fortress for the few and mighty to gather and weather the storm before setting out to battle once again, day after day, relentlessly forging onward to victory.
9. Jason, which music do you like most - so I mean which bands are your faves?
Jason: Wow, that question always floors me because it's quite varied depending on mood & which of my personalities is controlling the console. I have a hard time whittling down lists. Let me scroll through my iPod and mention some of the bands I've listened to in the past week; Eclipse, Black Bonzo, Wardruna, Hammock, Dead Can Dance, Katatonia, Ulver, Corpus Delicti, Peter Murphy, Ihsahn, Radiohead, The Cult, The Cure, Sisters Of Mercy, Amorphis, VNV Nation, Alice In Chains, Accept, Dimmu Borgir, Badlands, Apoptygma Berzerk, Bad Company, Blue Oyster Cult, Crimson Glory, Fates Warning, Dio, Dokken, Fastway, Mortiis, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, UFO, G N'R, H.I.M., Deep Purple, Jeff Beck, Journey, Marilyn Manson, Kingdom Come, Krokus, Zeppelin, Mazzy Star, Mercyful Fate, Motley Crue, Night Ranger, Nine Inch Nails, Ozzy, The Police, Queensryche, Savatage, Rush, Ratt, Rod Stewart, Scorpions, Shy, TNT, Slowdive, Triumph, Vandenberg, Van Halen, VoiVod, Uriah Heep, W.A.S.P., Whitesnake, Willie Nelson, Witchcraft, Yngwie, Zebra, House Of Lords, Jorn, Leatherwolf, Gotthard, Wolfmother, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Prince, Pink Floyd, Rainbow, Muse, Type O, Swans...You know, sometimes I want to speed down the highway with Too Fast For Love blaring and other times I want chill in the slow lane with John Coltrane or Sigur Ros. Sometimes I want to blast Dark Funeral and call down the angels of heaven but most times I prefer to sit in my pine grove with a bottle of wine and quietly enjoy Bach or better yet, simply enjoy the quietude of nature. Basically, I'm attracted to anything with a dark, sorrowful edge, a good melody and preferably a hook to reel me back and stick in my skull. Those are the 3 things I strive for in writing as well. Sorry you asked? Haha.
10. Any last words you would like to add for the readers?
Jason: Yes, if you have made it this far in the interview, you are likely more deranged than I. Get yourself checked out.
I thank you very much for taking your time talking to me and the readers. It was a great pleasure to talk to you. Guys I wish you all the best and hope to meet you on the road some time. I am very glad to work together with you and the band, I am really proud of it! Keep it rocking, yours Susi
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