EDGUY Frontman Discusses AVANTASIA Project

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet recently gave an interview to his webmaster about "The Scarecrow", the third installment of his AVANTASIA solo project. The album is being produced by Sascha Paeth, who also played the rhythm guitar on the CD. The drums were laid down by KISS/ALICE COOPER drummer Eric Singer and the bass is being handled by Tobias himself. The complete chat follows:

Q: Tobi, how is the new AVANTASIA album production going?

Sammet: Really great. I have a lot of work right now, but doing another AVANTASIA adventure is a dream come true. Yet, there's a lot of work to come and I don't see an EP to be ready before summer.

Q: So you'll do an EP prior to the album "The Scarecrow"?

Sammet: If I sign to a label that agrees on releasing it at a very low retail price I will. The full album will take a lot longer until it will be finished, we have too many songs. But they're all great, so I guess it's a quite luxurious problem. I think it would be a terrific starter to come up with an EP full of new first class songs at a fair price. Songs that will belong to the album, but actually not be on it. We did it with EDGUY on the "King Of Fools" and "Superheroes" EPs and our fans just loved it. We didn't make any money with it, but the reaction was incredible cause the songs were no B-sides but high quality songs. Fans pay it back in loyalty and show even more interest in the band's forthcoming releases. And AVANTASIA has been off the map for so long, it would be a perfect big bang to return with a killer EP. Well, I'll have to talk to labels about this, but this project deserves to have a special resurrection for the fans, don't you think?

Q: But you said you wouldn't wanna do AVANTASIA again at all? How come you changed your mind?

Sammet: No, I said I couldn't imagine it back then. And by the time people asked I was honest every single time I've said it. "The Metal Opera 1 and 2" had been so much work and they had become too successful. To this day it is the biggest selling album that record company ever released. For some people these albums have become all time classics. Whatever that means — it sounds like a big honor. But on the other hand it's a big thing to match up to as well. I don't wanna sound cocky but I am really not down and out enough to do it for the money and end up with just a nice album. I am aware that as an artist I have a moral duty towards myself and the fans, right? Whatever you do: Do it with your heart, do it big time and do it as if it would be the last thing you'd ever do! And there I've come to the point I had to say: I have the ambition, the vision and the ideas to make it the best piece of music I've ever done. It's the right time now and I got into this business because I want to be my own boss, so why should I not do what I so desperately want to do? This new album surely won't be a copy of the old ones, nor will it be an EDGUY album. But it's definitely AVANTASIA! AVANTASIA 2007. Big, epic and yet it's definitely not kitsch.

Q: So, what is AVANTASIA 2007 going to sound like?

Sammet: Diversified, pomp metal with some classic rock elements, Classic orchestrated moments and Celtic stuff, a big timeless production and so on and so forth. It's going to consist of many different elements. Bombastic kick ass music with a lot of heart and depth. You will hear that the songwriter is the same guy who also wrote songs like "Avantasia" and "Seven Angels" and of course pop stuff like "Holy Water" or "King Of Fools" and "Save Me", haha. Just wait and have a big happy smile on your face when you'll hear it! Of course I am sure some people will say that I sell out because we'll have a very commercial rock song, which would do great as a single by the way. And even a ballad. Disgusting, isn't it? I should feel guilty. And I won't wear a frock coat. But so what?! I've been in in this circus for 15 years, I've achieved to feel comfortable and find myself in a situation where I can afford to do what I wanna do, the way I want to and without compromising. We'll show how to do a conceptual classic metal album without dragons. No "Spinal Tap"! It will be interesting for all metal and rock fans, and for those over 14 years of age as well, haha.

Q: A lot of people keep asking which guest musicians you will have on the album. Can you already give us some names please?

Sammet: Oh, there'll be some. I can exclude the Pope and Elvis, everyone else might very probably, if not certainly be on there, I just don't wanna make names too important, people shall love the album because of the music, not because of names. The star is the team, which is the music and the final result. Don't get me wrong, there'll be great musicians and you'll know their names. For example I've just been to England to work with my friend Bob Catley who's gonna be one of the guests on the album. By the way, his band MAGNUM is going to tour Europe in May, tell people to check them out, I think they are the greatest art-rock band of all times. People keep asking for my musical inspiration: Here you go, check MAGNUM! There'll be a lot more guests and I'll let you know on this website first.

Q: Any other interesting details on AVANTASIA? What about the conceptual story this time?

Sammet: Well, there's billions of news and details but you'll have to wait and see what they are. It's gonna be huge and I am the happiest man on earth to be able to do it. Now let's talk about something else.

Q: Okay, you will tour the USA with EDGUY and headline Germany's Bang Your Head!!! festival? Isn't that a great honor, especially because the list of bands that have headlined over the past few years reads like the who-is-who of rock history: SCORPIONS, ALICE COOPER, MOTÖRHEAD, DEEP PURPLE, WHITESNAKE, to name a few...

Sammet: Great, isn't it? The promoters seem to have faith in us and we're going to give people a great show in return. We've played so many tours now, I think we know how to put some life into a party on stage. As for the USA we've been touring there before and whatever bad things people say about the U.S. metal market, I can't agree. Let's face it, the mass media don't really support traditional metal, but so what? To me it seems like the industry and young bands as well always wail and whimper. But what do they expect? Going out to play stadiums? Wake up, kids! Of course it's only clubs, we have played six European tours and only one "real" proper U.S. coast-to-coast-tour so far. We'll go out and kick ass. I have got many friends in the USA, I don't like the ignorance in the U.S. entertainment business, but that won't keep me from liking the country. I don't like German pedantry, Italian mafia and Australian insects. But I'd never dislike those countries. I am looking forward to go to the U.S., play to our fans, meet my friends, and show the U.S. press, what Deutschland's entertainment machine called EDGUY is all about. I love going back to States and if any band hates it, well... then don't go!

Q: Okay, last question: We've been talking about your big plans with AVANTASIA, but when is a new EDGUY album coming out?

Sammet: We've got a DVD filmed in Brazil a few months ago, we'll edit that and then find a release date. I am going to be busy with AVANTASIA for the next months, but later in the year we'll be back in the studio with EDGUY. I don't know about the timing, never do the second step before the first. You may sprain your ankle. Now is AVANTASIA time.