Published: October 4, 2006
Interview with Gino Alache - Rockum Radio
Jeff Pilson a musician , composer , producer and actor , was distinguished in the whole world , offering an incredible legacy to us with Dokken Band . Then he delighted us with his excellent works with Dio , George Lynch , MSG and actually with War & Peace . In his discography there are more than 40 records with a lot of bands . We saw him in a very good performance in the film Rockstar(Warner) .Jeff Pilson is a part of the rocknroll’s History . Check here what he told us .
Rockum - Your last album with War & Peace called "The Walls Have Eyes" ( we cant find it in southamerica ) It was written by you in almost the totality , with exception of Desperate hearts ( Jason Bonham ) . Don't you think that your fans will love someday to see an album just with your own name ?
JP: Maybe someday I’ll do that, but for now I like using War and Peace as my melodic rock project/band. The other thing is I hope to do some touring as War and Peace, and the live group I have together are definitely a BAND!!
Rockum - Your friendship with Jason Bonham comes from a lot of years. Perhaps to have shared scenes in the film "Rock star" ( Warner bros ), even fortified those bonds?
Yes, Jason and I really enjoy working together. In fact we’re playing a show with Foreigner in a few weeks (a charity event)- that will be fun.
Rockum - I like too much the film Rock star” but not much the end of the film cause Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg ) showed that hard rock of 80s was without sense and drained. If you could write the movie again. What part would you change ?
JP: I would have had a lot more scenes with the bass player from Steel Dragon!! No seriously, I enjoyed the way it was written. Even though I don’t think 80’s metal bands were useless, I do think the sound of metal became too light and commercial. All the late 80’s/early 90’s metal bands started to sound the same. Maybe I would have made that clearer in the film.
Rockum - Jeff , if there is a thing that this film showed to us was that you make a fabulous team with Bonham and Zakk Wylde . Would you like to make someday a project with them ?
JP: Absolutely. I would love to see that happen someday.
Rockum - Congratulations to you and Ravinder for your daughter Olivia . What do you feel to be a father ?
JP: Tired from no sleep!! No, it’s been a beautiful experience. Having a child really puts your priorities in order.
Rockum - I think you are taking sometime to accompany Ravinder and Olivia , until September that begins your tour to Europe ( Z records ) . What expectations do you have for this Tour?
JP: I just hope as many people as possible can see this band live- it’s so strong. I’m really looking forward to just getting out there and re-connecting with fans. It’s been 4 years since I’ve toured. No other big expectations, really.
Rockum - We know that you are a very good friend of Ronnie James Dio and he invited you to participate in the recording of his new Album “ Master Of the moon “ What can you tell us about it ?
JP: It’s a GREAT Dio record. The songs are amazing and, though I haven’t heard the final mixes, it has some masterpiece moments on it.
Lynch/ Pilson ( Wicked underground ) we felt a great chemistry between you and George like the old times . How was the process of creation of that Album?
JP: It was great- very comfortable and productive. George and I love working together, it’s like it only gets better with time. We hadn’t worked together in years, but in so many ways it felt like only a day had gone ny since we had. We’ve always had that chemistry.
Rockum - You were working with Clear Static in the production of its Album, and also something with Revis (Epic), Which is your opinion about the actually rock musical scene ?
JP: I think there are starting to be some real interesting movements out there. I love heavy music, but I’m glad to see that so much melody is coming out from so many young bands. I’d still love to hear a young band combine heaviness with a real keen melodic sense. That would be fresh.
Rockum - Tooth & Nail, Under Lock and Key, for Back the Attack (Elektra) were one of the most powerful musical trilogies in the history of the metal albums of all the times. How did you make to create so many good songs in those days?
JP: We worked our asses off. George and I were constantly writing. We’d take a mobile studio on the road with us so we could write in the hotel room every night (well, almost every night!). It got more sophisticated every tour, but a fair chunk of Tooth and Nail’s music came from the Breakin the Chains tour, a lot of Under Lock and Key from the Tooth and Nail tour, and also a lot of BFTA from the UL and K tour. We’d also go home and all of us would write like crazy. We were very determined.
Rockum - Which was your best tour and Album with Dokken ?
The 2 best tours were the Dio tour of 84-85 and the Aerosmith tour of 87-88. Dio was such a learning experience for us and we had so much fun as well. Both bands and crews got along amazingly well, and we blossomed as a live band on that tour. Then with Aerosmith- I think that was our peak as a live band. I’ve seen bootlegs from that era, and we were very strong. Don sang his ass off on that tour. Plus it was the peak of our popularity, so all the other things surrounding the band were at their peak as well, if you know what I mean! Best album? That’s a tough one. In some ways I think Tooth and Nail has aged the most gracefully. It still has a rawness that works. Under Lock and Key was very strong for its time, and there are a lot of great songs on that one, but the album sounds too over-polished when I hear it now.
Rockum - In the highest successful moment of Dokken 1988 , came the rupture of the band . Would you think the excess of fame and the mixture of egos was the reason for the separation?
JP: Egos, pure and simple. The vibe around the band in the later days was real bad, but ironically Don announced he was leaving on the Aerosmith tour, which was when we were getting along better than ever. Once he said he wanted to leave, the vibe became forever hopeless.
Rockum - Dokken sold Millions of Albums , great tours , MTV charts , awards in all the world and to be part of the history of rocknroll forever . How would you describe that experience in one single phrase?
JP: Fun fortunes for four fuck-ups!!!
Rockum - Which will be your advice for a young musician?
JP: Follow your heart- eternally. Listen to advice and those you trust, but ALWAYS trust your own instincts first. If your gut tells you something- listen and act!
Rockum - Do you know South America?
JP: Love it. Toured there with Dio in 97.
Rockum - Do you know anything about Peru?
JP:Not really, except some historical info. I’m really into ancient history and civilizations, and Peru has some of the most intriguing ancient civilizations.
Rockum - What would you say to your fans in Peru and South America that read this interview in Rockum?
JP:That I hope they get to hear the new War and Peace. It’s a work I’m extremely proud of. To get it in SA, I think you’ll have to get it through my website, at www.jeffpilson.com. But I think they’ll find it well worth it. Then I want to say thank you for all the years of support and that I hope W&P can tour SA someday relatively soon- and see you there!!
Rockum -Thank you Jeff
JP: Thank you. Take care.