PLAY BASS UNTIL YOU DROP:
INTERVIEW WITH
JOHN GALLAGHER
FROM LEGENDARY
RAVEN
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«I love guitar and learned alongside playing bass.. but something about bass really resonated with me..I could hear the way the bass could change the whole key of a piece and the melodic lines of players like Jimmy Lea of Slade..Gary Thain of Uriah Heep… Andy Fraser of Free (just to mention a few) were very inspiring to hear!» |
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://www.ravenlunatics.com/ Dealing with Raven music means writing about one of the most important band not just of the metal scene; this is indeed a group who made and still makes an essential contribution to the world of rock thanks to their powerful studio album and their burning live act with a telluric impact. Starting with the historical and unfailing Rock Until You Drop of 1981 to get to the upcoming album Screaming Murder Death From Above: Live in Aalborg, recorded during the danish stop, Raven has covered almost 40 years of music with intelligence, strength and also class, being full members of that small circle of bands whom you can’t afford to lose in concert. 
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In this interview we have made an analysis with the bassist and founder John Gallagher of their 40-year musical activity which is still brighter than ever with their classical triangular line-up consisting of John on bass, his brother, Mark, on guitar and now the drummer Mike Heller who has replaced the unavailable Joe Hasselvander. Associated to the nonetheless golden circle of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal by too many insiders, Raven were able to resist the trends, the temporary decline of hard rock and metal over the grunge years and today they still make their powerful voice heard on a metal scene which from one hand is hungry for new proposals but on the other hand it can’t get enough of pioneers, most of all those artists who magically play and approach the stage with the incredible spirit of a young band and the influential attitude of the worthy myth. |
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We must say that John Gallagher is a solid as well as a valuable bassist, an essential piece of the metal bass history and a volcanic improviser: just think of the many solo moments on bass which never miss during the shows of Raven. The full sound, the speed of performance, the granitic rhythms, the stage presence: these are some of the great peculiarities which are the worthy skills of John Gallagher whom we thank for this interview. |
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BMF: Raven are an extraordinary group, and naturally this is not just our opinion. You have resisted the time, the trends as well as the temporary downhill of metal and you are followed by a huge number of loyal fans in which we include ourselves. How can you explain this magnificent longevity? John Gallagher: We are stubborn little bastards! This is what we do..and who we are, we still get extra pleasure from creating and performing our own music ….and the fact that right now more and more people are coming along for the ride by listening to the album and coming to the shows..it’s just amazing. 
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BMF: We’d like to know your opinion about a discussed issue regarding the band. After the four albums of Neat Records you went through – according to a part of the specialised press – an “easier” period under the Atlantic Records. As regards the supposed change of sound, I think that Stay Hard and The Pack Is Back albums are at the same level of the best american bands. What do you think about the Atlantic period and those past critics? JG: I think Stay Hard is a worthy successor to All for one…a little more “accessible” but still with teeth. The pack is back is very different in the way the songs were written and recorded. The drums were played by Rob to a click track…alone..without the “push and pull” of Marks guitar this killed a lot of the feel of the music. The music is a lot more commercial and melodic without the balancing factors…so a lot of fans frankly hated it. And I get that…Between Rob wanting a more commercial approach…The record company/ management hunger for a viable “product”…We got a compromised album. The craft part is great…The heart & soul…not so much. Many other bands did similar albums at this time..Priest…Saxon…I just think we got more criticism! |
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BMF: Raven have a clear punk attitude. How did you live the years of punk music? Did you like them? JG: No..not initially anyway….I liked the energy but the content was lacking….over night our music was discarded by the media..very similar to the grunge thing years later! BMF: In regards of punk, we can’t help but ask you a “politic” question. There’s still a lot of people who consider heavy metal mainly as a right-wing genre. However, some great historical bands like Raven show the contrary and we can mention in the “left-wing metal” groups like Sodom, Destruction, Queensrÿche, Nevermore, Sacred Reich, Sepultura. Moreover there are also many bands who are close to anarchic views as for example Tank. What’s your opinion about this aspect? And what do you think about this wave of right-wing extremism which seems to spread all around the world? JG: I don’t think we are overly one way or the other…lyrically it’s good to have some duality, letting the listener interpretation to be more important. The right wing extremism today is a reaction to the left wing extremism!!!!! 
Nevermore
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Destruction
Queensrÿche
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BMF: How and why did you choose electric bass as your own instrument? What about your main musical influences especially as regards bass? JG: I love guitar and learned alongside playing bass.. but something about bass really resonated with me..I could hear the way the bass could change the whole key of a piece and the melodic lines of players like Jimmy Lea of Slade..Gary Thain of Uriah Heep… Andy Fraser of Free (just to mention a few) were very inspiring to hear! As soon as we went as a 3 piece band I wanted to use counterpoint..octaves, two hand tapping, contrary motion..anything just to orchestrate what we were doing! BMF: As an old and faithful defender, I’ve been living in the middle of NWOBHM’s era and particularly when the heavy metal was being born, strongly opposed by a certain kind of blinkered musical journalism as well as by some conventional people. In the early 1980s and for a very long time there has been an incredible energy. How do you see the current situation? Do you trust metal’s capacity to regenerate? JG: Then you have seen how this music waxes & wants….but never dies! New generations discover this music & put their slant on it! It will always be looked down upon by the elitist critics and that’s fine…we aren’t playing for them! 
Andy Fraser
John Wetton
Greg Lake
Ronnie Lane
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Jimmy Lea
Gary Thain
BMF: Talking about hard rock and metal bass as well as bassists, can you mention us the most influential as well as innovative bass players for you? And today, who could take the baton? Are there any bassists whom you consider promising and impressive? JG: I have so many influences... the aforementioned guys along with John Wetton, Greg Lake, Ronnie Lane, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Geddy Lee, Tom Petersson, Geezer Butler, John Paul Jones, Trevor Bolder, Burke Shelley, Pino Palladino……it’s a long, long list! There’s so many young guys killing it….at least on a technical level…but I don’t always see the smarts of a John Paul Jones for instance…a guy who is also a genius regarding when NOT to play! I also listen to and I’m inspired by other instruments..and often try to work out a guitar part or piano part on bass..often just for fun as an exercise! BMF: I’m really curious – as I’ve got very little information about that – to know something about your gear from the past to the present day… JG: Hahaha. I can’t even comprehend the amount of stuff I’ve used!!!I’m a gearhound..I gave probably tried/ bought/ sold most of the stuff out there! There’s always been an unconventional streak in what I use & how I use it I guess. Our first album was recorded with a Fender Precision & a Ibanez 8 string bass..along with it’s replacement..a Kramer XL8 eight string. I was playing through a Carlsbro Stingray bass amp and a 2x15 cab..and using a Ibanez Tubescreamer pedal and a Boss Chorus. My custom red explorer with the tremolo was added by the next album. I had asked for a bass that could not be broken..so it’s a plywood body, a copy jazz neck, Schaller machines and a DiMarzio P pickup…I cajoled a local repair guy to build me a tremolo…and added a bridge pickup not long after. I’m currently still using that bass Mainly for my solo spot…and for most of the set I’m using a custom flying V bass from a kit..I just painted it & replaced all the parts..it’s amazing! I’m using smoothhound wireless units, a Boss ME 80 for distortion & effects..a Electro Harmonix pitchfork that I use as a 8 string emulator ( but it just died) Peavey bass & 8x10 cabs.. occasionally I’ll bring out my Carlo Robelli 8 String bass…but thats pretty much it for now…but I’m itching for a T bird..and a fretless! Another important factor is my strings…extremely thin gauges…I mean, my G is a 0.25 so I can bend a fourth higher! 
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BMF: While at the beginning of your career the traditional 4-string bass was the uncontested King, nowadays in the heavy metal is increasingly common to find 5, 6-string basses and fretless, especially in the most extreme metal. What do you think about this trend? JG: It’s all about what you do with them…I personally love 7 string basses and the chordal possibilities are great…..so many guys are playing tuned down so far .it’s nuts so these instruments are potentially very useful….but mainly to me in a solo context….but I’m looking forward to getting back into multi string lunacy… BMF: Do you usually play both eight and twelve-string bass? What do you like of these instruments? JG: I saw Cheap Trick back in 1977…and just HAD to get an 8 or 12 string! I love both but for me, I prefer 8 as there’s less tuning hassles…and after having an airline destroy a 12 once it’s just a bigger risk. These instruments sound huge…I tend to play a little simpler and let the sound do the work. My first 8 string was an Ibanez and was very difficult to play..I then used a Kramer XL8 for years..it’s on every track of the Wiped Out album for example. It sounds huge with distortion..but I’d also use it clean with a bit of Chorus for arpeggiated parts like “Tyrant Of The Airways”, where it sounds like a finger picked guitar and a bass at once! |
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BMF: Another strange question, but we are curious to know your opinion. Conrad Lant/Cronos has been playing for a long time an hybrid bass, both fretted and fretless. Many people have wondered about this choice from a non virtuoso bassist… Would you play an hybrid intrument? If so or not, why? JG: Why not? I have seen the Ibanez 7 string mixed fretted/ fretless and it’s intriguing.. Conrad just uses his to make those Jimmy Lea/Gene Simmons slides…but I think it could be fun! BMF: What’s your view on vinyl revival? Is that a real need or just a trend? Can we expect any vinyl reissues as regards Raven? JG: Yes..it’s a great trend…all our early albums are available on vinyl…and the last few new ones too….it’s really the best format especially for artwork. There’s a special magic in having that physical item in your hands…checking out the sleeve art while listening to an album in it’s entirety. BMF: What are the performances on bass which make you more proud? JG: I try to bring good stuff to every song so there’s a few..”Tyrant of the airways”, “To the Limit”, “Pray for the sun & Wilderness of broken glass” have some cool use of 8 & 12 string basses…it was cool to document my solo stuff on the “Live at the Inferno” album...I also did some fun stuff on “On the wings of an eagle” with the finger picked intro…and on more recent songs I get to do some nutty stuff on “Against the Grain” and all over the Extermination album. The playing on our upcoming live album is really good and we all pushed ourselves on the upcoming studio album..I’m very happy with my stuff on that! |
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BMF: Instead of asking you about desert island records, I ask you to mention us ten metal songs - as you please - on which the bass is the lead. According to your taste! JG: Not too many metal songs where the bass takes the lead…but here are some of my faves regardless of genre..and in no particular order:
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BMF: What about the plans of Raven in this year and in the near future? JG: Right now we are halfway through a US headline tour…in the new year we shall release s new live album “Screaming Murder Death From Above: Live in Aalborg” recorded in Aalborg Denmark late last year…a surprise for us..as we did not even know we were being recorded! It’s a great introduction to the band right now..with the crazed drumming if new member Mike Heller! Then we tour South America…then Japan..then the Euro festivals…then looking at European dates & a US tour!..Then later in the year the new studio album will be released. |
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BMF: And finally, could we see you playing live here in Italy sooner or later? What’s your relationship with Italy?
JG: Oh yes indeed! We LOVE the Italian audiences..we just did 3 headline shows and a Show opening for Saxon…so much fun! Italy was the 1st country we played outside of the UK back in 1981…and it’s always been great for us! 
Luca De Pasquale-Manuela Avino2018
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