CRIMSON GLORY: 'We're Not THE BEATLES, But We've Lasted Twice As Long'

Florida's HeraldTribune.com has published a new article on reunited Sarasota metallers CRIMSON GLORY, featuring a brand new band photo, which can be viewed at this location. A few excerpts from the story follow:

It's been 16 years since the group's classic lineup performed together and six years since its latest record was released. Fueled by nostalgia and the need to jam, they have recently rejoined to play the Rockwave Festival on Wednesday at Terra Vibe in Athens, Greece. Accompanying them will be GUNS N' ROSES, TWISTED SISTER, W.A.S.P., CELTIC FROST, MOONSPELL and a crowd of 15,000-plus fans.

"It's our 20th anniversary, and we still have this amazing cult following," said guitarist Jon Drenning. "Our original fans have kept the band alive. I think we're still the flagship for metal."

Whereas many American listeners have veered away from the prog-metal genre, CRIMSON GLORY is as popular as ever on distant continents.

"Music is very media-driven here. In Europe, it's much more of an underground movement," Drenning said. 'They don't care about video or TV exposure."

"One of the reasons CRIMSON GLORY has survived is because we only put out really good records," Drenning said. "We never counted on the music career to sustain us financially.'

Now it's been more than six years since the release of CRIMSON GLORY's last album, and the members are compiling an anthology box set titled "Valley of Shadows, Kingdoms of Light". Features will include remastered and previously unreleased tracks, a DVD titled "Phantoms of the Opera" with a 1989 live concert from the Manatee Civic Center, new videos for "Lost Reflection" and "Painted Skies", and a personal taped interview.

Fresh tracks for a CD of new material, which may be known as "Divine Chaos", could be out by the middle of next year.

For the Rockwave Festival, the group added Jesse Rojas, aka "Shadow". CRIMSON GLORY leaves Sunday for Greece, and plans to return July 14. Drenning said the band may do a local show sometime this year.

"I feel like I'm going now as more of an adult. I want to see the sights and take some pictures," drummer Dana Burnell said. "Mainly, I'm just excited to be playing with my friends again."

Drenning may compile a cyber-chronicle of his travels, blogging daily on MySpace if time permits. He knows people will be hungry for the dish.

"How many bands can say, 20 years later, 'People still want to see us play'?" Drenning said. "We're not THE BEATLES, but we've lasted twice as long."

Read the entire article at HeraldTribune.com.