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Online Interview with Tomas Bodin, Jonas Reingold, Marcus Liliequist, Dave Kilminster, Roine Stolt..…

By Rita Bayer

During the last days, I was sending out “5 Quick Ones” to a couple of artists, it seems some of them are recently super busy or just having a summer-break. As soon as I´ll get more “5 Quick Ones” back, I´ll add them here. Thanks to all for their kind support.

Tomas Bodin: 9th July, 2005

Rita: "I Am" is out now for a couple of days.... how is the response on "I AM" so far? Are you pleased with the feedback?

Tomas: So far so very good. I must say that the feedback is better than I expected. So of course I'm very pleased with it.

R: As far as I know, "I AM" is the first part of a trilogy...a few words to the follow up releases, please. (involved musicians, themes, with vocals again? similar sound , when do you think the trilogy will be completely done etc.? )

Tomas: I think you could say that “I A M” is very much a “take-a-look-at-yourself” kind of album. The next CD in the trilogy will be “YOU ARE”. On that album I will take a closer look at different things/patterns you can see in the today’s world. To give shows like “Extreme Makeover” or “The Swan” will be in the focus.

The third album in the trilogy will “HE SHE IT”. This album will tell the story about love. I hope love will override everything in the end.

It's the same band “THE I A M” that will the music. The schedule for the new releases are hopefully autumn 2006 and yet another year after this for the third one.

R: You already announced a new band on earth called "I A M". Who will be part of "I A M" finally ?

Tomas: The band is;

Anders Jansson: Vocals
Jocke JJ Marsh: Guitars
Jonas Reingold; Bass
Marcus “Mackan” Liliequist: Drums
Tomas Bodin: Keys

I'm still looking for a female voice that also could play some instruments like percussion, guitar or should I say a female version of Daniel Gildenlöw.

R: When can we expect to see "I AM" performed LIVE ? If you go on tour with your solo-project... you plan to perform only your latest release or a mix of past & present solo releases?

Tomas: I can’t say anything yet but I have already had several discussions about touring both Europe and USA. Of course we will play music from the “I A M” concept and perhaps some more. I better keep this as a secret.

R: What are your recent projects?

Tomas: Right now I’m busy promoting ”I A M” but also mixing Moonsafari´s new (and first) album.

Jonas Reingold July 14th,2005

Rita: You were touring with TFK through America a couple of weeks ago. Sum your impressions up, please.

Jonas: It was a nice tour, I think that TFK never played for as many people as this time. And we traveled by a bigger bus this time, so we could sleep during travel.

R: What was the coolest and the most shocking / unexpected moment during this tour?

Jonas: The coolest was the sold out gig in Quebec and the most unexpected moment was that I discovered that you actually can loose weight in America.

R: Did you have time for sight-seeings? If so ....what were you doing?

Jonas: No, not really, we rented a boat one day off in Florida. That was nice.

R: Could you give a quick update, please:

a) Splinter Production

Jonas: I´m working on it right now, we have recorded drums on all tracks. Tomorrow we will start with the rest of the guys.

b) King Koma

Jonas: On hold for the moment, too busy schedule to work on that.

c) Karmakanic

Jonas: I´m composing material for the upcoming cd.

d) TFK

Jonas: Also composing for the new cd.

R: Other projects you´re currently involved in?

Jonas: I have mixed the new Bad Habit album. It will be released this autumn on Frontiers rec.

Marcus Liliequist July 14th, 2005

Rita: Marcus, you´re the new Flower Kings drummer, you had your debut with some of TFK´s members during the Circus Brimstone tour, you were hitting the drums on Tomas´ solo project "I AM"...
could you introduce yourself , please. (musical background, projects you were involved, recent projects )

Marcus: I started playing the drums when I was three years old and I had my first drum teacher when I was about 10.
I moved to the southern part of Sweden, to a city called Malmoe when I was 15 years old. There I attended a Music based College and played various gigs on the weekends. The college went on for three years and after that I went on to Malmoe University Of Music.
I moved to Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA) at an age of 20. This was an amazing time for me as a musician!
I had some of the greatest drumteachers in the world and met some of the nicest friends ever. After about one year in L.A I went back to Sweden and have played as a full time drummer since then.
I have done lots of studio sessions and tours with various artists. The latest tour I did was with Percy Sledge. The man who wrote "when a man loves a woman".
I like playing all different styles of music that I get a kick off. One day it can be a jazz gig. Another day a rock session etc...

R: How did the contact come about with The Flower Kings Family?

Marcus: I have played some gigs and sessions with Jonas Reingold throughout the years. Through that I came in contact with Roine Stolt. He basically asked me if I wanted to play on his upcoming Solo album and I said yes!
So that´s the story, short but effective!

R: How did you like touring with Circus Brimstone & The Flower Kings a few weeks ago and how long did it take to study all the stuff?

Marcus: The touring with Circus Brimstone and The Flowerkings has been really great. I have always liked to meet new musicians, and the guys in this band are already some of my best friends!

The studying of the material from The Flowerkings have been pretty cool. The technical part is not so hard actually, it is the memorizing and to get the right feel for each song which is much more demanding.

R: Did you feel nervous during the first shows and how was the response of the fans ?

Marcus: I have played the drums for some years now. Every week I have about 3 gigs. Sometimes more and sometimes less of course but I usually never get nervous anymore. It´s always a great boost to go on stage, but that´s more the adrenaline in me, I think. The response from the fans has been good, I hope!

The reaction I got from talking to some of the fans has been that they accept me and my playing, and that´s good enough for me!

R: What did you like best during these tours and could you describe your role within The Flower Kings family, please. ( are you going to be involved in the song-writing process etc.)

Marcus: The best has been to meet a lot of new people and to play to an audience that really listens to you! That´s what it´s all about for me, to play music that you love, in you´r own way and get reactions from the listeners.

My role in the band among other things will be to put some extra energy in the band on stage. Maybe break some snare heads etc...
In the future I think I can contribute some to the songwriting maybe.

I work as a songwriter aswell, I have a studio and I´m there when I´m not out touring. The songs I do there is more rock/pop stuff but the inspiration from listening to a lot of The Flowerkings and other prog music, has made, that I have some thoughts about maybe making a solo album in the future...

Dave Kilminster 21st July, 2005

Rita: Dave, we talked some months ago, you were enthusiastic about European tour plans with the Keith Emerson Band and your solo release "Scarlet". We all know that the tour had to be postponed due to Keith Emerson´s possible heart problems. (check up in hospital etc.).

Do you know anything new regarding to Keith´s shape and how are YOU?

Dave: Keith is 100% fighting fit, and desperate to get out on tour... as are we all!!!

I'm fine too thank you... I've been in training recently, just getting in top shape for the next tour... I think it's going to be big!!!! :0)

R: Do you already know when this tour is going to happen?

Dave: I have some dates for October in Japan, but that's all that's been confirmed so far... I'll definitely let you know as soon as I do though!!! I think the plan is to start in October and go through till December, have Christmas off, and then get back out early next year.

R: When we talked last time, your solo release "Scarlet" was almost done. Could you give an update, please and what are the reasons for this delay?

Dave: OK, the update is that it's still almost done!!!
Unfortunately I've taken on too much work recently; teaching, magazine articles, filming a couple of instructional DVD's, solo acoustic gigs, jazz/fusion gigs, rock covers gigs, etc, etc.... But the good news is there's a break coming up, so I'm gonna be back on the case next week!!

R: In March your girl-friend released a cd you were involved in. Could you please describe the music, sound , themes etc. of the album "Contact"?

Dave: Wow, that's a difficult one to answer... maybe I should just ask her to send you a copy?

Anyway, it's essentially a striped down EP, just her with an acoustic guitar, some piano and her voice... which is absolutely AMAZING!!! I wanted to record it for her so that she would have something to sell at gigs, and also something she could use as a 'calling card' to get industry people interested...
I played a little guitar on there, but only tiny bits. Mainly I just recorded the thing... I missed the mixing unfortunately because I was in America.

R: What are you currently doing?

Dave: Well, I'm essentially clearing the decks so that I can get on and finish my album... you know, turning down work and just telling everyone not to call me for the next month or so!!!!! :0)

R: Thank you sooooooooo much for your support, Dave!

Dave: Thank you for your support too... it really means a lot...

Very best wishes,
Dave xx

Roine Stolt 1st August, 2005

Photo by : Ueli Frey

Rita: First off all: How are you???
You were touring through America with TFK a couple of weeks ago: Sum your impressions up, please.

Roine: I'm fine thanx . bit tired, need more vacation ......

It was a very good tour, we played bigger clubs and theaters . TFK sort of works better in a theater setting, turnout was really good at most places, with a few sell-out shows. The band was in good shape, now introducing our new drummer Marcus Liliequist. all in all a very nice leap into a bigger following in USA .

R: Daniel Gildenlöw decided not to be part of it due to health-problems and ideological reasons. I hope, I´m allowed to ask you this.…..
Is Daniel still a full member of TFK? I mean, will he be part of the next FK cd and European Tour again?

Roine: "Ideological"??? well I can't say really . Yes it came as bit of a chock to us as he did a halt the day before start of rehearsing, I knew he was not feeling well but it really seemed like he'd do the US tour , we had his flight tickets and all, also I did apply for a non- immigrant visa for him so it was just when he realized he had to do his fingerprints to actually get in there that he refused. This got us in a difficult position but we decided to continue the tour without him .
In retrospect the tour worked really well and in fact just a few people even asked why he wasn't performing and where he was . Daniel had a paper from his doctor that said he had an ear-problem but I guess it was a combination of these things that made him pull out of the tour .

It seems very difficult for us to invest in working with Daniel now as he have ruled out touring in USA for all time and who knows if more countries start with the fingerprint thing, so we really can't see TFK touring with Daniel anymore. It is his own choice, we can't do much .
We intend to try to expand our US market so how could we possibly integrate Daniel in our music in the future.
Luckily we have a long history recording and touring before Daniel entered.
I miss his harmony vocals most but I think we probably get someone else to do that stuff .
In fact Marcus has a nice voice and could do the 3rd harmony .

R: What was the best and the most unexpected moment of this tour?

Roine: Can't say really, but Canada gigs, CalProg and the Florida day -off where we chartered a fishing boat comes to mind, but many shows were great and with unexpected a big turnout, real nice theaters.
We had a great US team that worked with us, it was a happy tour . The only downside was that some fans or venue staff kept stealing a few things from me, slide bar, e-bow and my lyrics !!!??? this got me pissed for about half an hour on the TFK day (evening gig) . I really enjoyed singing Vampires View after a few gigs and it worked well, almost better than with Daniel for some strange reason, that was a surprise for me and the band.

R: You´re busy as a bee, Roine! Could you name and give an update to your current / latest projects, please. ( except the new Flower Kings album)

Roine: I've been working on my new solo CD, a blues style album, it is closer to Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Allman Bros. Steely Dan, BB King ,,Zappa (hotrats) than any Symph rock .
It's guitar driven rock, sometimes slightly psychedelic, music I grew up on, based on simple but groovy riffs, long solos . Mucho guitarra !!!

It's 11 songs, I have Marcus playing drums, Hasse Bruniusson doing percussion, Neal Morse guesting on some vocals and a few other guests.
I'm thinking of calling it "The Observer " or "The Smell Of Amplification" ...haven't decided yet .

I'm also mixing a Live CD by "Circus Brimstone" from April Euro tour . for release later this summer, through our website shop .

R: An update to the new Flower Kings album, please.

Roine: We haven't started yet but it seems we spend November -December doing it .
I think it will be a classic album, no big surprises, I'd guess it takes off somewhere around Unfold the Future ....that style but new stuff too.

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