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Was
it hard for you to put out an album? There are so many rock bands in Sweden,
isn't it a stiff competition to get a record deal?
You really need to be a great rock&roll band in Sweden to get a record
deal. We were contacted by 3 labels after just the first 5 track demo.
We signed with Wild kingdom just a few months after we started Gemini
Five. Piece of cake!!!
What made you choose the manga type cover for your
album? Are you fans of manga comics?
We wanted a cover in style with "Destroyer" by KISS and someone
came up with the idea to draw the band in manga characters. We´re
no big fans of manga. We just love the drawing Charlie Grandberg did.
Your rendition of 'You Spin Right Round' is pretty
good, and actually quite catchy. But other hard rock acts covered it,
like Dope, or Orgy. What's different with your version? Why did you decide
to record this song?
We actually heard that other bands covered the song after we recorded
it. We did some changes from the original and it came out great in the
studio.
I ´ve loved the song since I heard it for the first time ages ago.
You also did a cover of Cheap Trick's 'I Can't Take
It'. This song originally appears on the album 'Next Position Please',
which was released in 1988. Why did you choose to cover this song instead
of an older one? Is it your favorite Cheap Trick song?
We were asked to join on a tribute record for Cheap Trick. I´m a
big fan and thought it would be a fun thing to do. We´re not interested
of doing any more cover songs on our albums,but this tribute song felt
ok. I love the live version of the track and to be honest!!! We joined
the project real late and all the best songs were allready taken.
You did quite interesting cover songs (at least
the two that I know), do you plan on recording other ones? Any Ideas?
Like an 80's US metal band song for example?
For the moment???NO!!! We don´t want Gemini Five to be connected
with cover songs. We might add a cover to the live set in the future,but
not for a long time.
Is the song 'Chemical Between Us' based on a true
story?
Yes...for sure. It´s about a friend of mine that came in the position
"quit the drugs or die". His girlfriend couldn´t so he
decided to leave her though he still loved her very much. I´m actually
very proud of that lyric.
Seeing from here, Sweden is like heaven for rock
music. It just seems that Stockholm has become the LA of the 2000's. What
do you think of this? Why Stockholm attracts so much rock bands?
I feel like the Stockholm rock-boom is bigger abroad than in Sweden. Yeah!!!
We´ve got great rockbands,but not that many. I still prefer L.A!!!!!
I read that you're influenced by 70's rock bands like Kiss, The Sweet.
Do you also like hard-rock bands from the 80's, like Faster Pussycat,
Skid Row, Guns N Roses, Cinderella, ...? What are your favorite bands?
We grew up with the likes of KISS and AC/DC. And we´ve also been
into bands like Mötley Crue and Skid Row. It´s imopssible to
not be influenced along the ride. Here´s a few favourites:
Tin Star: Kiss & Led Zeppelin
Rod: Mötley Crue & Marilyn Manson
Snoopy: Skid Row & Korn
Pete: AC/DC and KISS
And what about older Scandinavian rock bands, like
DAD, Glorious Bankrobers, Europe? Do you dig them?
I know Glorious Bankrobbers has been an influence for Rod and Pete. I
was an Europe & Treat fan MANY years ago.
You toured with Hardcore Superstar What are your
memories of this tour?
We had the time of our lives. A 24/7 party with the nicest guys you could
hang out with. Coming to play in Europe for the first time was so great.
The audience was wild and we couldn´t believe it was really happening.
Your bass player Hotrod went to LA and did some
quite awesome musical encounters. Could you tell us more about this experience?
Rod left Sweden for L.A to make it big time. He hooked up with guitarist
Johnny Jetson from The Space Age Playboys forming a band called The Jet
Set(now Queer For Girls). He later became a member of L.A´s finest
The Beautiful Creatures. Unfortunatly immigration problems made him leave
Hollywood and U.S.A. He joined up with me,Pete and Snoopy when he got
back to Sweden and we formed Gemini Five.
Do you listen to your musical peers? Are there some
current bands out there in Sweden that you dig?
We´ve got some great bands singing in Swedish like KENT and DI LEVA.
Also Soundtrack Of Our Lives and Backyard Babies are cool bands.
Your album was released in 2003. Do you already
work on a sophomore release?
We´re currently in the studio recording the new album with producer
Peer Stappe. Due for release early 2005.
Is there a chance that we see you around in France
sometimes?
I hope so. I don´t know if people in France know about us. We just
did a small tour in Italy and they love us and rush to see the shows.
If we get around moneywise...we´ll come to France anytime.
What would you tell to the French reader who will
read this interview in order for him to buy your album?
The album is really something over the ordinary. You´ll find some
old-school hardrock with a modern twist. The 4 coolest guys around and
12 great songs. I´ve got the feeling that everybody that listen
to the album ends up loving it. What about you????
Download a couple of songs from the G5 site www.gemini5.net and take a
stand. Are you with us or against us????
Thanx a lot and good luck!
Thanx a million. Great interview. Best regards...Tin Star & The Gemini
Posse
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