Chris Lyne (Mother Road, Soul Doctor) – interview

Chris Lyne (Mother Road, Soul Doctor) – interview

29 Giugno 2014 0 Commenti Denis Abello

interview by Denis Abello

italian version

MR: Thank you Chris for this interview and congratulations for what you did with Mother Road!
CL: I would like to say thank you Denis for this interview and thanks again for your kind words man! Glad that you like the band and the music !!!

MR: Let’ s start talking about Mother Road! When and how did you come up with the idea of this band and from here how did you start to collaborate with Keith Slack?
CL: When the idea to form this band came up, my manager and I started to search for a singer after I left SOUL DOCTOR. We received a lot of applications from many talented guys, but I wanted more of a blues rock singer with the right vibes and feeling for this kind of music. However, none of these singers really fit the job. My manager then played some songs by the band STEELHOUSE LANE for me and asked how I liked the vocalist. I immediately liked him, but Keith simply blew me away when we came across a bootleg of his old band MUDPIE. We contacted him straight away. I sent him two songs and he loved them. Two days later, he returned one song to me and again it blew me away! I realized immediately that we have the same songwriting chemistry, like no other writing team I’ve been involved with in the past ! Keith definitely has the right feeling and everything else that needed for this genre of music in his blood. He’s singing and performing in his mother language and grew up where ZZ Top, Gallagher and the Winter brothers came from as well, and that speaks volumes! His voice is a gift from heaven and he is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met in my life!

MR: How did you complete the line-up? We are very proud because in the line-up there is our fellow Alessandro Del Vecchio! How did you get to this definitive line-up?
CL: Ha ha ha…… the Italians 😉
Keith and I started exchanging ideas about which musicians would be interested in our new band, and that would also give us an honest and real commitment. We were putting together a ‘band’ and NOT another ‘project’ as so many seem to be doing now days. Yeah, Ale is a great guy and a hell of a Hammond player, singer and producer too! But all the guys in the band are incredible! My longtime friend Zacky is a monster of a world class drummer, and Franky is one of the best bass players to me. I worked with them both in a lot of projects in the past. Zacky and I played a long time together in SOUL DOCTOR and Franky shared a lot of studio work with me. I knew how difficult it was to find a good Hammond and piano player when we built MOTHER ROAD. I asked Ale if he would be interested in playing with us. Somehow I got lucky and he said Yes. Seems to be that he liked what he heard ;)) I am very happy and honored to play with so many talented musicians and humble humans in one band.

MR: Drive is a hard rock blues album. Why have you chosen this music style?
CL: Well I think the best rock music was written in the 70’s. In my opinion, that time was full of incredible and prolific songwriters. That is what I strive to be more than anything. I mean, yes you have to master your instrument, but ultimately it’s all about the songs. Normally, I am not really a fan of separating genre’s and styles of Rock´n Roll music. I think a good song is a good song, and a good production is a good production. I’ve never tried to sound or copy anyone else. The only thing I want is to write an authentic album with great songs! The music comes from my heart. The chemistry between Keith and I is right, and we think and feel the same way when it comes to songwriting.
MOTHER ROAD is a great bunch of talented and experienced musicians who all add their own style to the songs, and this creates a new sound without denying our influences.

MR: How did the album develop, and how did the tracks get started?
CL: Keith and I communicated a lot via Skype or phone and used to internet to exchange music files and go over the parts and arrangements. We both own a studio where we can record and compose. The chemistry and the ideas were all on the same page so to speak. The songwriting process works quite smoothly whether we are in different countries or in the same room. The reason is
that Keith and I have a great songwriting chemistry and that kind of writing chemistry is rare now days. Normally I’m not a fan of the long distance writing and I wish we could spend more time hanging out face to face, but right now that’s just not feasible. Hopefully in the near future that will happen. OK, let’s go back to your question. Keith came over to Berlin for four weeks and we completed the process. A couple of songs were written in the studio and we recorded the rest of the album. Then I flew to Italy and visited Ale in his studio, where we recorded the Hammond parts and some backing vocals. Back in Berlin I opened my ears and finished the mix. My recipe for „DRIVE“ was one true Blues rock band from the early 70’s, a cup of obvious influences from the members and a pinch of what is current in style and production. The rest is history….LOL

MR: In your opinion which is the track that represent you the most or you feel you are connected the most?
CL: To be honest, this is really difficult to answer for me. You know, I really love all the songs, they are all my babies 😉 When I listen to the record I don’t hear one bad song. It’s important for me not to give the fans a filler song or a weak album, but to give them the most for their money. OK, I guess the songs we wrote together in the same room, have a more special feeling and vibe for me. As example “FEATHER IN YOUR HAT”, a killer track with an amazing groove and soulful behind the beat feel. “DRIVE ME CRAZY”, really great chorus. “THESE SHOES”, amazing soulful vocals, great melody, fantastic Hammond organ. “THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN”, a fantastic rocker with a good message and all the ZEP, FREE and early WHITESNAKE influences. Only to name a few….lol

MR: Any chances to see Mother Road live in a near future?
CL: Hopefully soon, I can’t wait to take this band on the road !!! MOTHER ROAD is a rock band with guys who passionately play the shit out of their instruments, and whom can’t wait to get on stage and play their asses off! We are definitely Not just a studio band or some project !!! There are still many fans of this kind of music out there and we want to give you what you’ve been missing for all of these years. It will be a BLAST!

MR: What do you think about the music business these days and how hard it is for a new band to succeed?
CL: REALLY HARD MAN!! Many labels and concert promoters are putting too much focus on this alleged name dropping scheme, and are feeding these old bands with far too much money instead of investing into new talents. In my opinion, many of these groups lately have released really weak albums and their live performances are miles away from the class they might have had in their heydays. There are so many new, talented bands around which play their asses off to get some recognition. We are talking about MUSIC and ART, sorry but investing into talent is more important than making some fast bucks. We worked our asses off for this record. We sacrificed our time and our bank roll for our passion and dream and The feedback has been nothing short of INCREDIBLE! I am so humbled, thankful and overjoyed at the response from fans, press and critics alike. We are in the amazon USA best seller charts on #6, I guess not so bad for a new band ;-)))) I never in my wildest dreams thought we would get such a response.

MR: Question about your past! Here and there we can hear your soul doctor influences on drive! What would you like to tell us about those days?
CL: SOUL DOCTOR influences?….LOL Denis I wrote more than 50 songs for the band and I think the band sounded and lived a lot of me. “DRIVE” takes the listeners back to the 1970s Hammond organ-driven, guitar-oriented hard rock era. The music of MOTHER ROAD is a lot more authentic and blues influenced. Music has always been the voice and sound of the soul and now I am at peace with myself musically!!
OK, let’s go back to the second part of your question. I had 12 great years with Soul Doctor, toured all over the world and played most of the big festivals. I’ve learned a lot about the business and had good times and bad times. But sometimes It is time to end things and move on. Nevertheless, this is an era which I do not miss.

MR: It’ s your moment! What would you like to say to your italian fans?
CL: OF COURSE, I spent so many times personally visiting and on stage in Italy. I love the country and the people ( especially the girls….LOL ). Seriously, I would truly like to thank each and every person who has supported all of my efforts throughout the years! I feel very humbled and thankful to have even a handful of folks who enjoy what I do as a musician. Whether there are 3 people or 3000 in the audience when we play, just know that we are grateful and only there because of you. Can’t wait to see you all soon!
CIAO, Chris

MR: Thank you so much for this interview!
CL: I have to say thank you Denis for this interview and your support!

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