Kosta Zafiriou

Kosta became interested in hard rock at the age of 11 when he got just released Rainbow "Live On Stage". Then his interest turned to glam bands such as Sweet and Kiss. For about 10 years Kosta remained a devoted fan of Kiss, by buying their releases and attending their shows. The desire to start playing drums appeared when young Zafiriou has started to show his interest in NWOBHM. When he was 16 he had experienced to play real drum kit for the first time and began to dream about creating a band. For Kosta playing in a rock band meant the opportunity to travel around the world, as well as "personality, lifestyle, freedom and a little rebellion, especially when my mother wanted to cut my hair."
Since 1982 Kosta played in a band called Redline, where Alfred Koffler was a guitarist. In the spring of 1986 he joined Kymera - a band, where Andi Deris was a singer at that time. During summer and autumn of 1986 Kosta and his band recorded the EP in a studio in Mainz and performed some gigs in Karlsruhe and in other parts of Germany, including Hamburg. However, personal relationships between Kymera members were very tense, and in early 1987 Kosta and Andi left the band. Zafiriou initiated the creation of PC69 - the band consisting of like-minded people that should be excluded personal tensions in the team.
After PC69 has signed a deal with CBS in 1989, Kosta proposed to his long-time friend Jan Bayati to become PC69 manager, though Kosta has been doing some management tasks as well. Jan, Kosta and Sasa Erletic (PC guitar tech) are co-sharing Bottom Row Promotion company, which was established by Jan in 1991. There are several well-known bands who have contracts with Bottom Row nowadays, among them are: Helloween, Pink Cream 69, Axxis, Krokus, Marla Glen etc.
Since 1995 Kosta mostly works as manager. In Bottom Row Promotion he is responsible for management, publishing, A & R, production. Also Zafiriou is working as a tour manager and he traveled with Helloween during their tours in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. As tour manager services are very expensive in Germany, Kosta is doing this work for free for PC69. Here's how he described PC69 and Axxis tour in 2004: "It is a great pleasure, though I must admit that sometimes it's too much work. It takes a lot of time and effort. Imagine that, after I played a concert, I collect the papers and make an account job. Then I check if all the equipment was loaded into the bus for setting off for the next concert. In the morning I have to get up earlier than anyone else, to check whether the venue is ready for the show, how about PA and lights, also check whether musicians and staff have meals and ets. I have even some problems with sleep due to such tight schedule. Nevertheless, it is an incredibly interesting job that allows to combine music and business. I would be bored to do only music, because most of the day woul be wasted. For example, during the tour you wake up as late as possible - about 12 a.m., followed by five hours of doing nothing at all, just waiting for soundcheck. After that, another three hours to wait for the showtime. But I never sit idle..."
Unfortunately, Kosta's work as a manager does not leave enough time for music, but he participated in several projects where other The Pinkies were involved. Also Kosta has played drums on a "Time Machine" (2004) album by Axxis.
In PC69 Kosta is not only playing drums, but also participating in an arrangement of the songs.

Article written by Tanya 'ivanna' Valchishena