Metalshrineīs Steve Mårtensson & Simon Wright Intervju - Simon Wright, Dio / ex AC/DC Youīve got a new album out called "Killing the dragon". What can you tell us about the record? Simon Wright: Itīs a little bit of a departure from what we did before with 'Magica' because itīs a little more song-orientated. Weīve got a new guitarplayer, Doug Aldridge. He came in and heīs just wonderful, heīs great to play with. Heīs got great tone and he knows his instrument. It was an easy record to do because we were all on the same page. There are some really cool songs on the album. How much input did you have on the album? SW: I donīt really write the songs...itīs usually Ronnie, Jimmy and Craig. Craig wrote some songs on the album and Doug wrote two. Itīs more in the process when we get to rehears the songs. Arrangement and that kind of things or if we should move things around. But as far as cords and stuff...I donīt play the guitar. My input is from the composition side of things, I suppose you could say. Which record, of all the one's you've played on, are you most proud of and why? SW: I have to say 'Killing the dragon'. Iīve done quite a few but this one really felt good. And the guitars were, like I said, with the new guitarplayer and every thing. It really re-energized the band. And some of the songs are really classic Dio, so Iīm really proud of the input I had on it. In the press, 'Killing the dragon', was described as the 'Holy diver' of the 2000. Was that something you aimed at when you did the album, to give it a little retro sound? SW: Not really consciously. Jimmy was back in the band and he had a big part in 'Holy diver' and 'The last in line'. And just the way Doug plays. Heīs more of a classic guitarplayer. I canīt say enough about Doug. He really came in and boosted us. Heīs marvellous. People say heīs simular in a way Vivian Campbell was. I never played with Viv, but I can imagine that it was pretty similar. So I think it happened naturally. Whatīs your opinion about Tracy G? SW: I like Tracy. Heīs cool. But the Dio-fans never liked him. SW: No, it kinda surprised me. I heard the 'World War III' album which he and Jimmy did. That was a fantastic album and I was very excited to hear what Dio would be like with Tracy. 'Strange highways' was pretty cool, I think. But I think heīs got a different kind of attitude towards the guitar which worked in some ways but in the overall picture, I think it was a bit, not classic enough for the Dio-fans. Heīs a great guy and everything, but it just didnīt work out I guess. Youīve been to Sweden a lot of times. Do you have any favourite cities? Any special memories of Sweden? SW: I must admit that I like Stockholm and I like Gothenburg too, for different reasons. Gothenburg is more of a rural town and Stockholm is more cosmopolitan and trendy. Thatīs pretty cool too. I was married to a girl and her family was from Sweden, from Stockholm. Did you spend any time here? SW: Iīm not married any more but when we were we came over. And we visited her family and her grandmother in a place called Norrköping. We stayed at their summerhouse and I asked her grandmother: - Where is the shower? And she pointed at the lake. (Simon starts to laugh) That was a bit of a shock as I donīt swim very well. Fun memories. I like Sweden alot. What band have been the most fun to tour with? SW: U.F.O was fun. There was a couple of disasters obviously but the guys in U.F.O are great; Phil, Pete and Michael. That was fun! But being in Dio is cool to. Itīs a great band to be in because itīs very challenging musically. And AC/DC? SW: AC/DC was cool. First class all the way. Everything was always very organized and lots of people around. Lots of girls. (Simon laughs again) What's the best story you've heard about yourself? SW: There are so many...see I donīt remember because I wasnīt cohering at the time. So I donīt know if they are making up or if they are telling the truth. Whatīs the most extreme experience youīve had with a fan? SW: I donīt know if itīs an extreme experience but thereīs a guy in France who has a family-tree of me. And heīs got one of Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio too. Iīve never seen one of these things before and itīs so thorough and extensive. Itīs pretty frightening. No, itīs not frightening but heīs really into the music side of things. And heīs a great guy but it was a bit strange to see all these names. Not just bands but families and stuff like that. I havenīt been stalked or anything like that. According to one of Swedenīs largest heavy metal magazines (Close-up #52) you took drumlessons from Motörheadīs Mikkey Dee. Is that correct? SW: (Simon starts laughing) No, thatīs not correct. I contacted Mikkey for some advice... (Simon starts laughing again) You know, I like Mikkey a lot, but I didnīt take no lessons from him. What is your best and worst tour memory? SW: I got to say that there has been some really great shows with Dio. This tour that weīve just finished in America with the Scorpions and Deep Purple. There was some really great shows even though we played in the daylight and we were playing really early. We played Blockbuster Pavillion just outside Los Angeles. That was incredible. There were like people forever. Again when I played with AC/DC in Rock in Rio in 1985. There were like 350.000 people there. It was amazing. It just went on for days. And in the middle of this there was a McDonalds...the biggest McDonalds in the world. Bad experiences are when Michael decided he didnīt wanna play in Japan anymore and walked of the stage. That was pretty devastating. Thanks for the interview. SW: Thank you! Dio - Official website Dio.net - Great Dio fansite

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