Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell, Crush 40) – Interview

Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell, Crush 40) – Interview

02 Febbraio 2016 1 Commento Iacopo Mezzano

interview by Iacopo Mezzano (with the help of Alessandro Lifonti)
italian version

MR: Hi Johnny, I’d like to start this interview talking about your italian origin. Are you still in touch with your relatives who live in Italy? What do you like about our country?
JG: I am Italian to the core! I live and breathe being “Italian” hahahahaha! What’s not to love?….the language, the food, the women, the landscape, the woman and especially the women. Hahahaha! My kids say they are half Italian and the other half doesn’t matter. I went Swedish to be careful I wouldn’t get killed by an Italian woman! They are on fire!!!! Hahaha!
And…..It’s pronounced G-O-L-E by the way… Just say each letter man! All my life no one can say Gioeli! G-O-L-E ….say it with me! Hahaha Yes, I come from a loud and proud Italian family from Sicily. Bella!

MR: How did your passion for music begin? What was your first love, drums or singing?
JG: It started when watching my brother’s high school band. Man oh man…What kid doesn’t want to beat on drums! I was HOOKED like a fish in the mouth. I didn’t realize I could sing until I was around 8 years old. I used to perform theatre shows and off Broadway shows. I was reallllllly into acting and thought that was going to be my direction in life. I had a musical director show me how to open my mouth and since then I haven’t shut it. : )

MR: Was it tough for you leaving the drums behind and get yourself into the singing role? Is that true that you were involved somehow getting Brett Michaels (Poison) or is it just a legend?
JG: I used to come out and play guitar and after you touch the people in the front row, you dont want to go back and sit on a drum stool. I needed to be with the people. We knew Brett from Pennsylvania, so when we arrived in Cali in 1987 helped us alot getting started. A good dude.

MR: Could you tell us anything about the early days of your career? (Phaze, Killerhit, Brunette)…
JG: Do I have to??? Hahahahaha It was my “starting years”…growing, learning, working…I can say that it was difficult but the best time of my life. I worked really hard even at a young age. My Italian mother and father used to force me to eat but I refused to leave my studio in the basement of our home. I’d work for 16-18-20 hours…whatever it took. I’d write and play all the instruments. Some of the early Brunette demos are me playing all the instruments…all. I also liked creating music to “create music”. Once you get the big record deal, music is created to affect someone’s checking account. It takes on a different feel. That’s why my new solo record and pledge music DIRECTLY connects me to those who REALLY want it and are not forced to eat it. Get it?

MR: What do you miss the most about the eighties?
JG: My age. Ha I miss the dedication to the “sound”. Now, people are all into such weird shit. A good melody wins without question and the 80’s had it. It was fun.

MR: Would you like to give us further information about the double Eclipse album and your first meeting with Neal Schon?
JG: It was a powerhouse band. Neal is amazing…the band was amazing. I never felt more confident as a musician than with that band and lineup. It was special…not that my current band isn’t! It just was a newborn brought into the world for me. It was my baby.

MR: Are you still in touch with Neal Schon? Can we still dream of a collaboration between the two of you in the future?
JG: I am. Ya never know what the future holds. He’s really busy with Journey and other projects but we text from time to time. I learned a lot about a lot from Neal. What a talent.

MR: Double Eclipse is an album that still stands the test of time. Is it true that it was almost a failure when it came out?
JG: Not true at all. We kicked ass and sold a lot of CD’s. Fanbase grew fast and it became a classic CD. ‘Classic’ makes me sound so old!!!

MR: There are many great songs on Double Eclipse but my favourite one is In the hands of time. How did you come up with that track?
JG: Joey wrote the intro riff and then Neal and I finished it. What you do with “time” is the core of your being. I spent a lot of time “staring at an empty page”…a reference to writing songs… This happens to be my father’s favorite song. It’s about finally getting there and making sure you appreciate it. And….I do. I never lost that appreciation for the music and for the fans.

MR: Between 1992 and 1998 you basically disappeared from the music scene. What did you do for six years, and how and when did Alex Rudi Pell’s call arrive?
JG: I studied medicine….I went to the gym a lot….We had our baby Girl who is not a baby anymore… I needed time to recover from the beatings of the business. I tried to rekindle what once was instead of creating a new place for myself.
Axel was a fan of my voice and found me through Jeff Scott Soto. I liked the “old school metal” sound a lot! It’s what I was bottle fed…so for me, its a great gig. Those guys are like family.

MR: It’s been sixteen years since you are singing for Axel Rudi Pell. What’s your best experience with this band so far?
JG: Heading to the airport to go home. Hahahahahahaha! I think the anniversary show hit home. All those years….all those songs….like over 300 songs man…and to see tens of thousands of people there was a confirmation of what we’ve accomplished. We broke attendance records, gold records etc….but….for me it’s about the people who continue to love this band. It’s like our own gang.

MR: Next september ARP will finally hit Italy again after a decade. What do you expect from the italian fans? Did you tell Axel about your impressions about the performance at the Frontiers Festival?
JG: Has it been that long??!?!?!?! Actually, I remember the show…outdoor festival. The people were loving yet wild! I had to buy another suitcase to bring home the wine! Axel also remembers… I can’t wait. Absolutely cant wait.

MR: Now just an inconvinient question: my colleague Nico D’Andrea reviewed the last ARP album Game of sins, and he noticed a little lack of inspiration from the band comparing this album to the previous ones. I agree with him, and even the way you sing seems a bit more static than the past. Can you see a bit of slack too when it comes to Axel’s song writing?
JG: That’s fair if you feel that way…I only look to my personal performance and don’t judge the others. I think these songs will come off much better LIVE than in the studio… Sometimes it just works that way.

MR: Let’s talk again about Hardline. In 2002 you released II, and that was the last album where your brother Joey was in the line-up. What’s his business now? Will he ever come back to the music world?
JG: I don’t know if he ever will. It’s up to him not me! These days I like keeping family, family and business, business. He runs the company we owned since 1995 still. He’s fine.

MR: Face the night is another great ballad from that record. It’s a B-side of the first album, right? Tell us about it.
JG: This song I wrote about the original guitar player of Poison! They were on the edge of massive success but this guy left it all to start a family. That’s where the title and inspiration came from..

MR: When and how did you start working with Josh Ramos?
JG: I met Josh years ago when he was in the “Storm”. Neal used to always joke and say “this guy sounds like me”. And he does!!! I called him years and years ago…can’t remember the year and we just started writing and working together. A great guy that boy Josh!

MR: After the great Leaving the end open, here we are with Danger zone, and the return of Italy in your life as you started a partnership with Alessandro Del Vecchio. What would you like to tell us about him and the other italian musicians who toured with you?
JG: They play their asses off, and make amazing pasta! Frontiers put me in-touch with Ale and it’s been life changing. He’s like a brother to me. He’s a man made not of flesh and bones, but of love. Very hard to work with anyone else when you have such a blessing in your life. And what a talent…he can write, record, mix, master, produce and wash my car like no one I’ve ever seen!!! ha

MR: Fever dreams video was filmed in Italy. All of us from melodicrock.it know that as we were in the backstage. Any memories you want to share from that day?
JG: Yes, I hate this video. I still don’t understand the concept but I had plenty of toliet paper to wipe my ass. ha

MR: When will the next Hardline album be released? Can you give us further information?
JG: This summer… 2016!

MR: Crush 40 was also part of your career. Any memories?
JG: TONS…..Jun and I traveled the world to meet the most amazing kids. It’s like having a new and different audience everywhere we go. It’s much different than the normal Hardline gigs and Axel gigs…these are people who are passionate about the music and meeting the characters in a game. Interesting and cool.

MR: And here we are with the news of your forthcoming solo album. Why did you also start a campaign with pledge music? What’s Frontiers record role in it?
JG: I wanted to best connect with the fans as personally as possible. This was the MAIN reason. This CD will be handled by Frontiers whom I love but the spirit of the CD will be connecting with those who appreciate my work and want to understand the process. I also am donating a good chunk of cash to the Barber Family whose son had a tragic accident. Joe Barber is paralyzed from the neck down at the moment, and they need financial help. He’s 17 years old and he has a life of recovery in front of him. It’s my way of giving back. I’m loving connecting with all the fans. I do updates every week, answer questions and just get a chance to be “real” and not some puffed-up rock star.

MR: Why are you releasing a new solo album and not a Hardline one? Did you write all the songs?
JG: I ALWAYS participate in the writing, but I do like to collaborate and be inspired by the creativity of others.

MR: How would you describe these brand new songs? Are they more hard rock or melodic metal?
JG: I would say like “Raised on the Radio”…Journey-ish

MR: Are there any other musicians playing on this record, or you are playing the other instruments?
JG: Ohhhhh…..lots of surprises.

MR: You will donate 10% of what you get from pledge music. Would you like to talk about this?
JG: Well, I say 10% but it will be much much more. They need the help not me.

MR: Just a few more questions for you. Are you ready?
JG: Fire away….

MR: Who’s Johnny Gioeli in everydays life? What do you like to do?
JG: I work my ass off…I love family time…I like to fly my airplane, fish, hunt, explore, watch my kids grow, watch hockey games, read my daughters writings, eat popcorn, spend family time, play hard…as hard as I can before I fall asleep at 9pm. ha

MR: What sort of advice would you give to a young kid (or band) who wants to focus on new songs to start a career in the music business?
JG: Today….be different. Take chances. Forget about “the business”. The business will come…the music must be first.

MR: What do you think about the music business these days with the internet and the digital downloading?
JG: As long as our work is recognized, I’m good. I love the direct connection to the world.

MR: Where do you see yourself in ten years? After thirty years, is there still hope for a new musical experience? If yes, which?
JG: I’ll go and go and go until the people say stop. That’s the way I roll. I have a lot of Energy…I can bench press two fiats!

MR: Thank you so much for your time and patience. Say anything you want to close this interview!
JG: Thank you all for being there!

LINK PLEDGE MUSIC: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/johnnygioeli

© 2016, Iacopo Mezzano. All rights reserved.