We're all eager to make new music. There's a good chance we'll be around for quite a while.”

Kurdt Vanderhoof: Hello?

Wikimetal (Daniel Dystyler): Hi, can I speak with Mr. Kurdt Vanderhoof, please?

KV: It's him!

W (DD): Hi Hurdt, this is Daniel from Wikimetal in Brazil. How are you?

KV: Well, man, how are you?

W (DD): Very good. Were you guys playing guitar, rehearsing, or something like that?

KV: Oh, yes, we were writing the new Metal Church album.

W (DD): Ah, so let's start with that! You guys are writing the new album, that's absolutely fantastic!

KV: Great! Yes, we hope so, we're working on it.

W (DD): So, so far you guys have written something, one or two songs?

KV: We have about five songs. Five songs are written right now.

W (DD): Excellent, excellent. I'm already looking forward to it.

KV: Great, it'll be fun.

W (DD): Kurdt, we're going to talk about all the fantastic things you've done over the years, but to start I'd like to ask about the reunion at 70,000 Tons of Metal. Can we say that Metal Church is back regularly from now on?

KV: Yeah, largely yes. I mean, that's the idea, the whole breakup… You know, most breakups are the reason the band comes back. Even when I ended it, 5 years ago, I knew it was something we'd come back to and do again. But now we're approaching things differently, we're going to start doing things in a new way, we're not going to try to do everything like in the old days, which is one of the reasons we wore each other out a few years ago. So the way we're approaching things is: we're doing everything ourselves and we're doing everything that makes sense, not just… you know, it's hard to explain, but basically we're going to start by putting our album on my label, we'll be in control of everything. So that's going to give us some longevity, we're going to take advantage of the way the new music industry is. So, yeah, that makes things exciting and we're all excited, eager to make new music. There's a good chance we'll be in the scene for quite a while. Some people aren't going to be very happy about it, but… it is what it is.

W (DD): Well, we are, we are very happy. And since you mentioned the cruise, what was it like playing on a ship with so many Metal fans on board?

KV: It was an amazing experience. It's something I never thought I'd do. It's something I'll keep with me… it was really good, because we also played well. And, you know, all those people, we were very well received, so it was a lot of fun. And that's what solidified us to come back – yes, we're going to make a new album – and everything else. So, yes, it was a very good experience. But it was a little strange, because you're playing on a stage and it's big… there are a lot of people there and suddenly everything starts moving, because it's on a ship, and you forget that you're in the middle of the ocean on a huge ship. You're playing and suddenly everything starts rocking from side to side, you start thinking you're going to faint. And then you think, "wait a minute… this is a boat!" So that experience was very strange. But, man, I'll tell you… it was an interesting experience.

W (DD): That sounds amazing, I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe I'll go next year, it should be really, really cool.

KV: Yes, that's really cool.

W (DD): Let's go back to the beginning of your career. Do you remember how music entered your life, especially Heavy Metal?

KV: Not Heavy Metal, but I started listening to music very, very early. My parents had a radio station in the early 60s, when I was born. So I really liked music. Well, my first memory is listening to the Beatles, that's what I remember. And that's when it all started, because my parents worked at a radio station. But back then, in the early 60s, they weren't playing Rock n' Roll records, they played adult contemporary music at that time, like Percy Faith… So they were getting Rock n' Roll records to promote and my dad ended up bringing one home for me, so I started liking it very early. So… Heavy Metal, I don't know, I think it was a natural evolution of the first-generation punk I was doing.

W (DD): Very good, very good. And now, speaking of the beginning of Metal Church, the band's first two albums were great and all were successful, especially "The Dark," the second one… What do you remember most from that time?

KV: Just a lot of excitement. I mean, I was very excited because things were going well and it was a very good time for music, there was a premonition for the whole Metal thing, there was a scene, you know, record labels were looking for bands like that, and things were taking off and becoming national, and part of that was amazing. But at the same time, for me, it was a very interesting time, because I had all this happening, with the band being successful and everything, and I was being pulled more towards the studio side of things, which, as everyone knows, was because I left the band. But I stayed on as a composer and worked on the albums. It was a very good time, a lot of learning. And it was exciting and you know, that moment in your life when you realize what your path is going to be like… so it was great, really great.

Metal Church has always remained very musical. And I think part of that is having various changes, different people coming in and playing.”

W (DD): Very good. Kurdt, we have a classic question on the show that we ask all our guests, which is: imagine you're listening to your iPod on shuffle, and there's a lot of heavy metal music playing, or you're driving your car and listening to a radio station. And then, suddenly, a song starts playing that makes you lose your mind and you feel like you need to headbang immediately, no matter where you are, you can't control yourself. What song would that be for us to listen to now on the show?

KV: Ah, give me a moment to think, because that's a great question, because this happens to me all the time.

W (DD): OK, OK.

KV: Ah… man… I don't know, does it have to be Heavy Metal, or could it be a good Hard Rock song that I remember from when I was a kid?

W (DD): Yes, of course, Hard Rock too.

KV: Oh man… Every time I hear… oh man, there are so many!

W (DD): Everyone we ask this to has the same reaction.

KV: OK, cool. I'll say a few now, just to get them out of my head. Snorting Whiskey , by Pat Travers, when it starts playing it's like… you're driving down the road, you roll down the window and it's… Snorting Whiskey ! It has a lot of attitude, it's not a Metal song, but it's a good Rock song. A Metal song would have to be… Oh my God… Wheels of Steel , by Saxon. That's a good one.

W (DD): That's a great one.

KV: Yes, Wheels of Steel . When that band plays… man, Saxon is a very underrated band. I'd have to say Wheels of Steel by Saxon.

W (DD): Perfect, perfect. Despite all the changes in the band's lineup, all the albums were positively received by critics. Do you think the fact that several musicians contributed in different ways was important for the band to achieve high quality on all the albums?

KV: Yeah, I like to think so. I mean… actually, I was listening to it just now – and I probably didn't even do that before the album was finished – but I was listening to the songs from “Hanging in the Balance”. I had to completely avoid that album, just because of a lot of things that were happening at the time, you know, management problems, cheating, and all that kind of stuff. It was the end of the band, so that album had this strange feeling for me. And the sound was mixed wrong. But I was listening to some songs from the album and I was impressed by how musical it was, and I wondered if that was one of the things that was hurting the band, or not. In the reviews, some people really liked it. So I think the fact that Metal Church always… we started as a Thrash thing and we had this element. I think Metal Church always remained very musical, at least we tried. And I think maybe part of it is having several changes in the band's lineup and different people coming in and playing, I think that contributes too, but I think it was also because Metal Church always had a very musical approach. Although we turned to Thrash and that kind of thing, I think we progressed to something heavier, more melodic and more musical. Even a little progressive in some parts. But I don't know, I think the music has always been the first thing, the most important thing for us. So, you know, for better or worse, that's what I think.

W (DD): Yes, very good, very good. I know you've been busy with your current band, Presto Ballet, which has been active for some time now. Do you consider keeping both bands active and working simultaneously?

KV: Oh, absolutely. Both bands are definitely going to be very active. I have to keep Presto going because it's a huge passion of mine and I really want to take it further and go out and start playing. The problem is that it's a niche market, there's not much room to fly – at least in America. And to go to Europe, where we might have an audience, it's very expensive, we can't afford that right now. Because we'd have to go out a few times and it's going to cost a lot of money to start; on the other hand, with Metal Church, we already have a fanbase and people show up, so we don't have to… we can afford all that, but with Presto we can't, we haven't been able to yet. So that's definitely a serious goal, to pursue things with Presto and make it more visible. So, as soon as the Metal Church album is ready, I'll work on a new Presto album as well.

W (DD): Excellent. Do you have plans to play "The Dark" live in its entirety?

KV: I've thought about that. We were thinking about it because we were going to do another tour of the first album in Germany, but I think we won't, we'll never do that again, play the first album. We have the setlist of the best songs we played on the ship in two setlists – one was the greatest hits and the other was the first album that you know. And the greatest hits were so good that we're going to add more things to it. So, doing the first album, I think it will be the last time for us, unless it's a very special occasion.

We all knew we were going to come back at some point

W (DD): Very good. And since you mentioned setlists, we're really excited for your show here in São Paulo on April 14th at the Live and Louder Festival. What can fans expect from Metal Church that night, and can you give us any hints about the setlist?

KV: Ah, it's going to be the obvious ones, man, the setlist of the best. Obviously, we didn't have any huge hits, but it's going to be the most popular stuff, four songs from the first album, three from the second, two from "Blessing" and a couple from "The Human Factor," so I think it covers everything. So it's going to be an incredible night, simply incredible.

W (DD): That's great, we're really looking forward to that day.

KV: I can't wait to get there too, we've waited a very, very long time to get there, so the fact that we can finally go and do a big show... We're very excited about that, because from the moment we do it once, we can go again and do a small tour.

W (DD): Absolutely. And it's going to be an incredible festival with Twisted Sister and Sodom, it's going to be amazing. Now, can you choose a song that you're very proud to have been a part of, that you recorded or wrote, for us to listen to now?

KV: From the Metal Church?

W (DD): Yes, that would be great.

KV: Wow, man… let me think, let me think. I don't know… Beyond the Black , I think, I really like that song.

W (DD): We're almost at the end of our interview, Kurdt, but before that, let me ask you something, it's just a curiosity. In 2009 you headlined the Killfest Tour with Overkill in Europe, and suddenly the band broke up and at that time it seemed like the end of the line. Right after the breakup, did you consider getting back together or did the idea of ​​reuniting everyone only come a few years later?

KV: Well, when the band broke up we knew we'd eventually come back, we all knew that, we really needed a break. So maybe ending it at the time – everyone was already worn out, a lot of things weren't working, it was a mess – was "OK, we're done." I think deep down we knew we were going to come back, because it had nothing to do with internal problems, it had nothing to do with us, with our relationship or how we worked together, it had to do with outside influences, like the way we were booking tours, things like that. And our record label at the time was going bankrupt, because of the changes in the industry, so things were changing, things weren't working. So, yeah… it got to a point where we thought: "before we kill this thing and end it forever, let's break up now." We all knew we were going to come back at some point. And I think everyone does that now, but it certainly wasn't a marketing ploy or anything like that, because it was really over for a while, but I think we all knew.

W (DD): Excellent. And we hope you're really back in action.

KV: I think the way we're able to do things now, with the industry, allows us to do things ourselves. Like I said, we're putting the albums on my label, we're going to do everything at our own pace, we're going to do everything our way, and we're not going to let anyone tell us what we have to do and how we should do it. So that in itself will make a difference, it's much more appealing, and it's much more exciting when you think about it in those terms. That's one of the things I love, finally coming to terms with the new industry. It was difficult for a while, but the way things are now… it's really cool.

W (DD): Very good, Mr. Kurdt Vanderhoof, from Metal Church, it was great talking to you, a pleasure to have you on our show, it was awesome, we are looking forward to the show on April 14th at the Live and Louder Festival with Metal Church, it's going to be incredible. Could you please leave a final message for all the Metal fans in Brazil who are listening?

KV: Thank you for being so patient, we can't wait to get there and make things happen so we can come back! We are very, very excited. We've been waiting to go to Brazil – I, at least – for years and years, so it's going to be a huge event for Metal Church, we're really looking forward to it.

W (DD): Thank you very much, Kurdt, and count on Wikimetal whenever you need to promote something here in Brazil, both for Metal Church and for your solo projects, you can count on us, let's keep in touch.

KV: I really wanted to do something with Presto there, that would be amazing.

W (DD): Yes, absolutely, let's exchange emails and we can promote Presto here in Brazil.

KV: Excellent, man. Awesome.

W (DD): Very good. Thank you very much, Kurdt.

KV: Sure, thanks, man.

W (DD): Bye.

KV: Bye.

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