Interview with Kosta Zafiriou, December 2000

Hello Kosta, thanks for your time in answering this interview –questionnaire. I appreciate it. I know how busy things can get. Ill make this really short for you. Before we start with questions in regards with the present times of Pink Cream69, I want to ask you about Sonic Dynamite. Are you happy with it and in a whole, how good or bad did it do and what hopes did you have for it?

Overall we are happy with it, although you always start thinking about what you?ve could done better when the mix is done. For my personal taste I think the record is good, but I tend to like ELECTRIFIED a little bit more, since it is more hardrock based and less metal . Plus I think SHAME, the opener of ELECTRIFIED is one of our best songs ever. Nevertheless songs like Seas of Madness, Spirit or Lost in Illusion are already PC classics and will make it permanently into the setlist live. The sales were very good, in Europe we increased around 30%, which is great, and in Brasil we are doing good for the first time. In Japan we stayed at the same numbers, which is also good considering the decreasing market for traditional hardrock. The States or Canada unfortunately don?t play a big role as a market for us.

How would you compare “Sonic Dynamite” to previous Pink Cream69 releases?

Like I mentioned above, it is a bit more metal than I would describe the classical sound of Pink Cream 69, although it still has many melodic songs. It is necessary for us to change for every record a little bit within our own style, otherwise it will get boring. Don?t forget we play in the same line up –except when Dave came in 94- since 87-88.

Which would you consider to be your favorite Pink Cream69 album?

Always the last one, like your youngest baby is the most cute and beautiful.

Alrighty then, when should Pink Cream69 fans be expecting some new material?

Actually Koffl and Dave wrote so many good songs in a basic form that we have a serious problem: On our last meeting we couldn?t agree 100% on which songs we want to record. Nevertheless I am sure we will work that out. We are planning to start recordings mid of March, the release can be expected late summer/ early fall.

What are the titles like? How many songs will the next CD consist of?

Look above and you will understand that I have no idea at the moment. I only can say that the songs turn me on and I am really looking forward to record them.

What theme do the titles evolve around or will each song contain a different meaning?

We were never the band of concepts, I am sure we won?t change on this record either. Usually we work with working-lyrics until the songs are arranged and then finalize the lyrics.

Will the philosophy in the making of this new material be the same as in the past or are you guys gonna try and test the market with something else? Where will the focus lie more as far as lyrics, music, melodies etc are considered?

Experiments we did in the past, we will stick to what we are best at: Good, melodic and powerful hardrock. Being a band selling 99% of the records in non English (native) speaking countries you will always be measured much more on the songs and the melodies than the lyrics. We still keep the level in our lyrics up with interesting themes and try to avoid Cherry Pies.

Will it be the same personnel involved in the recording production, mixing etc?

YES!!! The structure we have (Koffl and Dave write, Dennis produces and I do the personal and tour management) is something many bands are jealous. Why changing?

And I have to ask this, what role, besides the obvious will you have?

Besides the above and drumming I am an equal part in arranging, involved in the lyric writing process and the vocal recordings, to back up Dennis and make sure Dave is at the peak of his abilities.

Although it is premature now, what about the next big tour? Will Canada and the U.S. be included, we all seem to be left out in the past 5 years?

Unfortunately I have to say that it probably will not happen. How about kicking Marilyns and Korns ass and making people buy some hardrock? I know it?s not your guys fault, but North America is not a market for bands like us, at least at the moment. No promoter would book a tour for us and invite us to play for you guys, all we request is some pizza and a few beers. Actually this is the only big dream for us which did not get true until today.

Now for all those still hoping to make a mark on the music scene, explain to us what your techinique is all about, and what do you employ to be able to maintain your stamina for tours and performances?

Unfortunately I barely have the time to really rehearse and improve as an artist since I work since 4-5 years much more on the management side than as a musician. When the time comes for a tour I simply get my shit together and rehearse until the hands smoke. On tour I drink a few beers after the show (never before), or smoke one, but hardcore partying is unprofessional, the next show will suffer.

Your web page a while back mentioned you were going to toure with AXXIS and special guest Edenbridge (pretty decent band) until the 9th of December, how did that go?

Great! We had many people at the shows, the bands got along great with each other and had a lot of fun. Only one person on the tour had a shit job, playing drums 90 minutes, taking care of a travel party of 25 people, the production and the finances. Guess who…

Thanks a lot Kosta, I appreciate the time. Talk to you soon.

Author: Monster Of Metal