WARREL DANE

A brief affair

- Like in NEVERMORE, apart from few personal threads, the lyrics on „Praises To The War Machine” are very cynical and tackle the problems of contemporary world underlain with politics and religion. Won’t you ever get bored with it?

It’s fascinating to stigmatize the worst shit that happened to the humanity. I think that I have much to say in this respect and since I have a chance to do it, I should take the floor. Cynical, I’d say sarcastic, is just the title itself. Nobody in his right senses praises the war matters. Everyone is a prisoner of political, business and religious relations. A few people decide for all of us in which direction the world should go to, and so they start wars causing thousands of people in the world suffer and they are stimulated only by the quest for power and profit. It’s disgusting. “The Day The Rats Went To War” also says about it. People sent to various wars are fed with different ideals. Be patriot, give your life for your country fighting in “our war”. I wonder if these bastards responsible for causing the armed conflicts would be ready for patriotism understood in this way. Bullshit! They prefer to sit in their warm armchairs and keep the track of it all on CNN counting their stock profits at the same time. In the meantime ordinary soldiers, heroic American boys die on foreign land. These people are treated as rats. If they die, there’s no loss, they’ll send another patriots. It’s time to change it.

- Strongly said. Who are you going to vote to in upcoming presidential elections? Who’d be the best leader for America for the next 5 years?
I think Hilary Clinton. Mainly due to the experience which she gained being the First Dame. This woman is unbeatable. She’s been through the sucking-off-affair so being a president is a piece of cake (laugh). But to be serious, we’re now in extremely important moment. Many things depend on these elections. Maybe it would be the best for Hilary to reign together with Obama. This duet is remarkable itself and I think that it could achieve a lot. Generally, these are one of the most interesting presidential elections that I ever witnessed. It’s a pity that CNN distorts the truth that much. It’s another proof for manipulation in mass media which have somebody that pulls strings. I think that people in Europe better understand what is true and what is false. The Americans have completely different, strongly distorted view.

- OK, let’s leave the topic and pay a bit more attention to the newest album. What are, in your opinion, the highlights of this release? Songs or exact moments which you are especially proud of?
Well… damn hard question… I love „When We Pray” opening the album. One of my favourite tracks is „Your Chosen Misery” and „August”... It’s hard to name those best. I love them all, these pieces of work are like my own children so I share my love with them equally.

- In this cluster of screaming kids there are also 2 bastards….
(laugh).... Yessss....

- First of them is excellent cover „Lucretia My Reflection” from SISTERS OF MERCY repertoire. Still, I didn’t know that you’re such a great fan of gothic…
And I’m so inconspicuous, aren’t I? (laugh) I grew up with PRIEST, SABBATH and MAIDEN but in the meantime I got quite much fascinated with old-school gothic scene. I guess that if you paid greater attention to such releases as EP “In Memory” or „Dreaming Neon Black”, then you’d perceive some traces of gothic music. For a long time I’ve wanted to make a cover of SISTERS OF MERCY’s “Floodland” which I consider remarkable. This album reminds me the most the old good times, my old flames, friends, fellows, that what we were doing together. Everybody has such an album which lets they feel younger for a moment, especially when you cross this dangerous age boundary (laugh). For many people it’s “Master Of Puppets” and for me it’s just “Floodland”. I had a dilemma because on this album there are many other compositions I wanted to set about but finally I’ve chosen „Lucretia My Reflection” which has always been my favourite. I was very nervous and stressed when working on it, it’s a classic man. No dirty shoes here.

- Tell me what we still don’t know about your music inclinations?
Like every other confirmed metalhead I started with BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST. Till now I think that these three bands are the best thing that metal scene ever saw. Apart for this, of course this whole gothic movement of 80s, SISTERS OF MERCY, THE CURE, JOY DIVISION, BAUHAUS. In the course of time my music taste widened considerably and today, aside from all those guitar works, I like to listen to music achievements of e.g. Loreen McKennit. Gradually I start to consider PORCUPINE TREE my favourite group too. These are things which, as far as I noticed, many metalheads listen to as well. I’m open for everything that’s fine. The only thing I truly hate is country in every form. But I keep on telling about this in every fucking interview (laugh)

- The second cover is „Patterns” by Paul Simon and I must admit that the choice is even more surprising. I’d rather expect that you’ll rape my favourite Shania Twain (laugh)
(laugh) You fucked me up with this text. Shania is a dream woman for me, of course if you turn down the tune. And Paul Simon is my real hero. If it comes to lyrics, he’s the best writer I’ve ever known. I decided on „Patterns” as it’s superb, although not well known, work; it’s never been a hit. Text to this piece is remarkable, it’s just amazing dark poetry. Matt Wicklund really helped me when remaking this piece. I’d like Paul Simon to hear it one day and tell what he thinks about it. I’m really curious of his reaction although I get the feeling that he’d get pissed off a bit (laugh).

CV:
Real Name: Warrel Dane
Born: 7 March 1961
Function: vocal, keyboards
Associated: SERPENT'S KNIGHT, SANCTUARY, NEVERMORE
Website: www.warreldane.com