ROTTING CHRIST's SAKIS TOLIS: 'I Would Never Do A Paid Meet-And-Greet'

In a new interview with Metalgigs.us, vocalist/guitarist Sakis Tolis of Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST offered his views on artists monetizing — directly and on their own terms — enhanced fan experiences in the form of VIP meet-and-greets. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm generally against paid meet-and-greets. If I've ever made the mistake of taking money for one, I certainly wasn't aware of it, because it would have been the promoter who arranged it without me knowing.

"I'm a fan at heart," he explained. "I like to believe I'm still a romantic in that sense. I try to hold on to something from our era, which has changed so quickly and so dramatically, and hopefully pass at least a few of those values on to the younger generation.

"So no, I would never do a paid meet-and-greet," Sakis added. "And I probably wouldn't pay for one either. Although I'm not completely sure about that, because there are certain bands I love so much that I might actually do it myself.

"In the end, I believe that both music and life in general are about what you give and what you receive in return. The way you see life philosophically ultimately determines the way you act."

Paid meet-and-greets are becoming staples of the touring circuit and are seen by some artists as a necessary evil to survive nowadays. Other musicians object to meet-and-greets on moral grounds, believing they favor richer fans over poorer ones. Similarly, many people view the fact that groups charge fans to meet them as completely exploitative, since artists are usually aware that young admirers are prepared to pay any amount of money to see their favorite band, sometimes at their parents' expense.

After 35 years of evil existence, ROTTING CHRIST still stands the test of time. Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their Greek brothers-in-arms have risen from the Athenian underground to become one of the metal world's most reliable forces, backed by a pantheon discography that has both defined and defied black metal.

Last December, ROTTING CHRIST released the Blu-ray edition of "35 Years Of Evil Existence - Live In Lycabettus". This Blu-ray honored ROTTING CHRIST's lasting legacy by capturing the band's first time performing at the historic Lycabettus Hill Theater in Athens. A sold-out crowd of 7,000 people was treated to a two-hour setlist that spanned the band's entire career, from early mighty classics to the latest monuments from their Hellenic period.

Sakis and his brother Themis started ROTTING CHRIST together back in 1987. In the four decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They've released 14 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, ROTTING CHRIST have but one vision — an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.

ROTTING CHRIST's evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervor. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.

Photo by David Parham