Hi Graeme… First of all congrats on “The Other Side Of Midnight”. Why did it take you 4 years to release a new album?

G: Thanks for that... we had planned to release the album last year, but then Retroactive Records in the US got in touch with us about re-releasing our debut CD “No Rest: No Mercy”... that came out late last year so we thought it better to delay the release of the new album till after that... it’s worked well as it turned out, as we got renewed interest in our earlier stuff as well.

Since it’s the first time that we talk, can you tell me why did you name the band Stairway? What does Stairway mean for you and for the other members of the band?

G: I suppose really it was after the Led Zep song, we were all fans of that band back then and it seemed an appropriate name for our band, especially with the overtones of what Stairway is about.

… Why did you name the album “The Other Side Of Midnight ”? Is there a connection between the album’s title and the artwork? (I have to tell you that the artwork is fantastic).

G: Glad you like the artwork, thanks very much…. The title and cover represents Heaven as an open door through which we all can pass, provided we keep our eyes on the eternal and not on the temporal: This side of midnight – where we are now, is the temporal; “The Other Side Of Midnight” is the eternal; Midnight , or death, is the point between the one and the other.

Can you tell some things about each one of the song? Just a line or two…

G: Ok here we go...

“No Mercy”: A rebuke to those who’s only purpose is to get everything for themselves without a thought for others.

“Sea Of Fools”: A Warning not to follow a selfish path and disregard others.

“Burn”: Talks of the injustice of the world system and shows there is an alternative way.

“Pray For The Children”: Speaks about the innocence and helplessness of children and how they depend on us for their well being and how the world seems over occupied with money, possessions, ownership of land and religion, and fights for its so called right to have it at what ever the cost; all the time it’s the children, the future of our world, who are the losers.

“Taste The Blood”: Tells how the devil is alive and well on planet earth doing what ever he will to corrupt it.

“Lead Us”: When all else seems lost, there is hope and solace in Christ.

“She Calls”: For anyone lost and alone in a black hole of depression: talks about how we should look out for one another.

“Cantabile”: An instrumental.

“Death & Destruction”: Tells how the devil uses the world system to lead us to destruction through our own selfishness.

“Soldiers Of Heaven”: Sums up all the previous tracks that through faith we are all Soldiers of Heaven.

“My Life Goes On”: Talks of Christ praying in Gethsemane before His crucifixion.

How difficult is for a band like Stairway that exists 13 years not to have a contract with a metal label? Is this something that gives you more freedom in doing things the way you like or a label could have been a true helping hand for the band? Why you didn’t sign a contract with a label all those years… did you feel that no label can be trustful enough?

G: It is more difficult for us not being with a label, but only because we have to work twice as hard to get recognition for what we do. We don’t have a massive budget to work with like some labels, so everything we do has to be costed effectively and spent twice as wisely. Being with a label would ease this somewhat, but then we would have to let go of some of the control we have over what we do – this isn’t to say that should we be offered a great deal from a label we wouldn’t consider it.

After all there is a saying here: If no-one else can do it for you, then do it yourself”… that’s how the story goes in general?

G: Yes, I agree – just because we don’t have a label behind us, doesn’t mean we have to sit and cuss the world for not giving us a chance, rather, it makes us all the more determined.

What are your expectations from this release? To find a reliable label that can understand you totally or to gain the fans love and to become more popular?

G: Primarily, to get the band and what we do out to the fans and the masses. If in the course of doing this we get added interest from labels, then… who knows!!

Heavy metal is a long… lonely… full of shit road that you have to cross… do you agree with that? After all you can’t become rich by playing metal music!

G: To a certain extent, yes, I agree; a few years ago nobody wanted to know us because we play ‘that style of metal’, and it was seen as yesterday’s sound. But there is a re energizing of the genre and the kids are getting into it now and discovering all the old bands, so it’s getting better for all of us at the moment.

I must also tell you that I liked the production… but as you read on my review I wanted it to be more powerful. Is there any way to work with a producer for the next release… and if yes who will he be… and who is the producer that you want to work with in the future?

G: Yes, thanks for the review, I hear what you say, but we didn’t want to over produce the record and take away the basics by making it too powerful you know, we wanted to get back to the energy of our debut No Rest: No Mercy but without losing the overall sound that we have, I think we managed it just about right. We haven’t thought about the next album yet, but if a great producer came along, who knows!

How would you characterize the music style of your band? It has those 80s NWOBHM, Black Sabbath, Dio, Maiden elements but on the other hand I do not know if the Power Rock label that I read on the release paper suits best the band’s music. What do you think?

G: It’s difficult really – everything seems to have to be categorized and given a label these days - for us, we just play metal, pure and simple – with so many different genres within metal these days, how do you categorize a sound?

I know that the reaction from the press must have been very good, so far… Have you been expecting it?

G: We were slightly apprehensive with so much new stuff around these days how it would be taken, but, so far, the press has been really great with their support for the album which is really encouraging for us, and the album is selling really well which is great, so the message is getting out there it seems, and with magazines like this giving us the opportunity to be heard, it’s all good… cheers!

Are you planning to go on tour to promote the album?

G: We have some things in mind, but nothing final at present. We do have some UK shows penciled in for this year which we are really looking forward to, but nothing final as to a tour as yet.

What do you think of today’s heavy metal music… it’s returning back to its 80s roots or I can be modern and “retro” at the same time?

G: It’s great, there’s so much diversity now, and metal is making waves in the mass media again as well in some respects – long may it continue. 80s metal, as you say is making a come back, but the good stuff, you know gone is the Spandex and all that, and classic 80s metal is back with a vengeance!!

And some weird Questions now!!! Which kind of music do you prefer the most?

G: It depends what mood I’m in at the time: metal is my first love, but then I do listen to a lot of Classical stuff like Beethoven, Debussy and Faure. Just gotten the new Maiden album and am into that at the moment.

How difficult is to survive and to succeed in a music world that is ruled by irrelevant people that promote shit-wannabe-good pop music all the time… without caring about music’s quality?

G: Sometimes it can be very frustrating, but then, the underground metal scene is very loyal and very strong, it’s a pity the media and Majors don’t take more notice, cause there’s more talent outside the main scene than there is in it. Even the major bands like Maiden etc. al tend not to be acknowledged for how successful they are.

What would you tell to someone to convince him to buy your album instead of hundreds others that are being released every month?

G: If you hunger for an in-your-face onslaught of British Power Metal, combining the genius of Iron Maiden with the art rock of Magnum, with powerful, thought provoking lyrics and masterful melodic choruses, then “The Other Side Of Midnight” by Stairway is one of the hottest new Power Metal albums you can buy today. www.stairwaymusic.co.uk.

What would you do, if you had supernatural power?

G: Hmm, interesting question... I suppose I could say world peace and all that... but this ain’t Miss World is it!! J J... I dunno, I’ve just seen X Men 3 and some of their powers would be cool I guess.

If you were obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials which would represent the whole human music… which album would it be and from which band?

G: Probably the Scorpions album Moment of Glory, it is a mixture of classical, rock, pop, AOR and a little country, a brilliant album!

Do you believe that internet has helped the bands to become more popular or has caused many problems?

G: It’s definitely helped - Stairway wouldn’t have the coverage we have now if it weren’t for the internet. It’s a great way for unsigned/underground bands to really make head way in the industry and to reach new fans across the world, and to keep in touch with them on a personal basis.

Which are the things that piss you off from today’s music industry?

G: Its short sightedness in pandering to only a very small demograph of fans, and almost ignoring the 35-60 age group; a group who it’s known are the ones who buy truck loads of CDs, go to the most concerts, are extremely loyal and have the money to do it!! If the industry were more open to this demograph and not over occupied with making a fast million with the latest hype, then it would be better for all of us!

Imagine that your girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for herself an expensive ring. How would you react? J

G: Well, I hide all my good stuff, so she’d only be selling the crap which ain’t worth that much, so it would only be a cheap ring from down the visiting fayre... ha ha J J

Those were my questions Graeme. Thanks for the music, please leave a note to Grande Rock readers… Take care!

G: Thanks for the interview and to your readers, Keep it True and Keep it Metal!! God Bless!!

by Thanos "Casanova"