Interview with Silvio Massaro from Vanishing Point
Interview questions by Damien-X
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| Silvio Massaro - Vocals |
HM: Welcome Silvio! I`d like to first of all thank you for this interview and for your time, it is a great honour and I hope it is as good for you as it is for me hehe.
Silvio: The pleasure is all mine Ilija.
HM: First of all for the readers out there, how did the band start? how did you guys first meet?
Silvio: We all met at a stamp collection fair ...no just kidding.We met at my 7th birthday party at Mc Donalds where we all had party hats and shared ice cream cake... no just kidding again ..To be honest I`m really not to sure how the band really started cause when I came along the band had already started with Jack, Joe and Tommy. They had been together a few years before me under the name `EYE`.
HM: How has the experience been until now?
Silvio: It`s been a great experience! So far I feel like every year this band is together we just achieve another thing we aimed for. Every day is an experience in it`s self, something that I wouldn`t trade for anything...... besides a billion $$$.
HM: What influences VP`s music? Whether it be music, stories, life experiences etc...
Silvio: I would say that many things infulence our music. The most common one would be our own life experiences and how we believe and see the world to be in our own lives today.
HM: I noticed that for the release of your last album `Tangled In Dream` which I must say is an absolute masterpiece! has sparked quite a stir in the international metal scene and has resulted in an extensive world tour, tell me, as a band what was the best and worst experiences through this tour?
Silvio: The worst would have to be Jacks farts on the tour bus, man he really had a mayjor problem with control!! NO really there were no worst experiences touring everyday was amazing, from waking up every morning in a different country to seeing the fans sing along to the words of your own music. It trully was just an all round amazing expirience.
HM: Is there any countries out there that you`d like to tour in the future that you haven`t in the past?
Silvio: JAPAN & USA.
HM: Which country on the leg of your last tour was your favourite to do?
Silvio: I would say nearly all of them were my favs but the stand out shows were in Sweden, Finland, Spain and Prague (Czech Republic).
HM: How was the experience of playing the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2002? Was it everything you expected it to be?
Silvio: YES AND MORE!! Look the whole thing about Wacken is that it is something that every metal head in the world has to expirience themselves. For me it was a gathering of over 10 years of gigs and concerts that i would
have never of seen or that i missed out on seeing because of living here in Australia. All coming together all in one massive event was truly something amazing!! So to actually be part of the whole event was very humbling not only playing there but to be the first unsigned band in Wacken`s history to actually get a place on one of there mainstages.
HM: One question I know that the answer must be plaguing many fans is, will the new release `A Life Less` be released anytime soon?
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Left to right: Jack Lukic - Drums; Tom Vucur - Guitar; Chris Porcianko - Guitar; Silvio Massaro - Vocals; Joe Del Mastro - Bass; (Ex) Danny Olding - Keyboards |
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Silvio: OK HERE IT IS ....... the title of the new album is no longer `A Life Less` that`s taken a spot on a track on the album that we wanted to call it that. The new title for the album will be entitled `Emraced The Silence`. As far as the release, there`s no date posted but I can assure you it wont be to far along.
HM: As I know there have been problems with finding a new keyboardist after the departure of Danny Olding and other problems aside from that, and another question on top of that, have you guys been successful in finding a new full-time keyboardist?
Silvio: After Danny Leaving we have been using the services of a friend of ours ,his name is Leonard Kopilas. He has his very own band called Manic Opera who are currently looking for a full time vocalist. He has been an amazing talent to be working with while we have been writting and recording. He`s helped us get through alot. At this stage still no one full time. Were are always looking for anyone with the right stuff who has what it takes to be a VP member.
HM: I was actually talking to Maria Ravic not too long ago and she tells me that the new album sounds awesome and that it`s definitely worth the wait and there`s not a doubt in my mind that it will be such a great album, tell me, how was the experience of recording this album?
Silvio: Oh cool im glad she liked it, well recording this time around was very hard work for my self especially since all the backing vocals on this album are all done by myself. There are countless of layers of backing vocals on some tracks that will even make Def Leopard freak out. But hey it all sounds good and thats what I like. I grew up listening to bands with huge choruses and massive backing vocals on them. So I`m just adding in on what Ibelieve sounds cool to me.
HM: Are there any suprises about this album for the fans?
Silvio: Yes, when you put the cd in your player a half naked girl jumps out on to your lap!! hehehe.. no surprises what you hear is what you get!
HM: Will we be seeing another video emerge from this new album? I`ve seen a couple on Rage, one from your first album `In Thought` and `Never Walk Away`, but unfortunately I still have not seen the video you guys made for `Closer Apart` which is probably one of my favourite tracks on `Tangled In Dream`, will your videos be broadcast on Rage again anytime soon?
Silvio: Well we hope to make more videos in the near future, we love making them and they`re just another great way of creating awarness to people all over the world. We have been played on `rage` and a few other networks as well but i couldn`t tell you when the next clip will be played. It`s all up to you the public to ring and request for them so that they will be played more often. SO GET RINGING!!
HM: I have noticed many bands these days have released DVDs, is there any chance of Vanishing Point releasing a DVD in the future?
Silvio: Yes ofcourse !! when i dont know..... give us a year or so then maybe we`ll get something out.
HM: On the new Sonata Arctica EP there`s a cover of your song `Two Minds One Soul`, it sounds very different to that of the original but I must say I love it, it must feel like a priviledge to have a band as high calibre of Sonata Arctica doing a cover of one of your songs. I must say I was very excited when I first heard about this. What are your thoughts on it?
Silvio: Oh look I love it also, Idon`t think there could be ANY higher compliment to your music than to have such an amazing band such SA cover one of your own songs. It truly blew us away and they do such a great version of it, I love it!
HM: I heard about the problem you had with your sinus and that you were taken to hospital for it, how are you feeling now? I`m hoping everything`s fine in your court.
Silvio: At the moment Iam doing ok. After I recovered from my sinus operation I became extremly ill with Tonsillitis, it really knocked me out for a good 2 months in and out of hospital 4 times, was a bit of a nightmare .... but I`m recovering now and I`m glad to say that it`s almost over .. I go back to hospital soon in the next few months to actually get my Tonsills removed, but for now I`m fine.
HM: And last but not least, any words for your fans?
Silvio: YES! let it be known that Vanishing Point is no passing phase!! We plan to be around for along time yet! I know things have been kinda quiet for the last few years but believe me when were ready, were gonna hit you hard like no other aussie metal band before us.
We have worked so hard to get where we are today and we ain`t gonna let it go that easy. So to those of you who thought we disappeared, all I can say is be prepared to see what we have install this time around of the Vanishing Point saga!
HM: Thank you very much for your time Silvio, as I said before, it`s been a great honour and I hope the best for you and the band in the future, let`s hope to see you guys back on tour again!
Silvio: Oh you will Ilija, and thank you for your kind words. We`ll see you soon, very soon. Watch out for updates on our site.
Official Site: Vanishing Point
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