Interview with Astral Doors Singer Patrik Johansson

Again, we spared no costs nor fears to tear every answer out of your favourite musicians...read here, what Astral Doors-Fronter Patrik Johansson answered :

rockingboy:  
Patrik, first of all, let me congratulate you and your friends for an awesome Album. Notes From The Shadows is exactly what I expect from a good Heavy Metal Album.

Patrik: 
Thank you Bernd, that makes me very glad. We are so happy with the result ourselves as well!

rockingboy: 
To be honest, Astral Doors came into my mind when I received the Package of Stephan, the friendly Metalville-guy. Maybe some are in the same situation and never heard of yours...would you please introduce Astral Doors to our readers ?

Patrik: 
We started out back in 2002 with the intention to write true classic heavy metal/hard rock. Things went really fast and we got a record deal very fast. Now we have released seven albums, one best of album and played all over Europe. If you miss Dio you must check out Astral Doors: we carry his legacy on to new generations.

rockingboy: 
Being a Astral Doors member, is it a fulltime job ? Are you professionals ?

Patrik: 
We all have „real“ jobs as well: I have the great fortune to actually work with music as a music therapist and the rest of the boys work for the steel company SSAB. It's tough for musicians these days to live of the music since people don't buy albums anymore. The only chance if you wanna live of the music is to tour at least six months per year like Sabaton.

rockingboy: 
Let's talk about your music. Your first record, Of The Son And The Father was released in 2003, so what would you say which were the biggest steps you climbed as musicians and as a band in this time ? Was there this „good times, bad times“ thing in-between ?

Patrik: 
We have become better songwriters I hope and also better musicians over the years. My singing for example is much better now than on the debut. Of course we have had some ups and downs through the years, but all in all have we been good friends since we started. No big ego's in this band!

rockingboy: 
The music on Of The Son And The Father sounds like 80s Power-Metal stuff with high pitch vocals, mystical lyrics and choral refrains, which totally runs against a huge wave of early 70s, blues-oriented retro-bands, wearing long hair and vintage clothes.

Many of them are from scandinavia...did you never think about following musical trends ?

Patrik: 
Well, first I must say that I have never been a high pitch singer. A highpitch singer is for example Ralf Scheepers. I don't sing that way at all. I don't think the music on the debut is power metal either, it is more Black Sabbath and Dio-style. I believe that we walked against all trends with the debut and actually came up with something totally unexpected

rockingboy: 
I fear I'm getting on your nerves, but this one's a necessary question:

As everyone's picking out while listening to your older records, Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale, Rainbow and Deep Purple must have influenced you a lot. Isn't that hanging above your heads as a sword of damocles sometimes ? And correct me if I'm wrong, is Notes From The Shadows a little step into another, a more independent direction ? It seems, you tried to use your voice more different this time, which I like a lot btw....

Patrik: 
Thank you! Well. If people compare me to Coverdale or Dio, it's just a big honor. On the other hand I can use my voice in many ways. If you listen to the stuff I did with Wuthering Heights or Civil War you will get what I mean. Astral Doors is however a band where I really wanna give the listeners an old school powerful vocal experience in Dio/Tony Martin/Coverdale style. But perhaps you are right, I may show more sides of my voice on this album. Or perhaps the simple answer is that I have improved my singing.

rockingboy: 
Patrik, did you ever contact one of your favourite musicians ? For many fans, being in a „friendship“ to a musician, let's call him „star“, shake hands or shoot pictures, is the highest level they can reach. Collecting signed records and picture with their favourite musicians, is what they long for. Was that ever important to you and how about today, many years later ? What about your Astral Doors fellowship ? Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll craziness or is that a cliché ?

Patrik: 
No, I have never been that kind of guy. I've met Dio once but I didn't wanna bother him. There's nothing I dislike more than „Ass lickers“ and people who crawls for the „stars“. I know who I am and what I do and even if other people see me as a star I would never see myself as one. As the matter of fact I see no one as a star: we're all just people and everyone is good at something. About the sex and drugs thing it exist of course in the business, but I'm happy if I can have some beers after the gig.

rockingboy: 
Tell me about the process of recording Notes >From The Shadows, how does this work in your case ? Sitting around in a studio as a group, drinking beer, being friends and working out musical stuff, isn't that part of a historic myth ?

Patrik: 
We write the songs this way: Johan, Joachim and sometimes Ulf come up with the music. Then they send it to me and I sit on my own creating the melodies and lyrics.

rockingboy: 
Any news, tour plans etc. for your friends in Germany ?

Patrik: 
You bet. We will promote this album with a bunch of European shows. Our drummer injured his hand a while ago, so the gigs are postponed to winter, but then we will come out with full force.

rockingboy: 
Patrik, thanks for answering my questions. I wish you all the best for your future and huge success with your Album. Say hello to Jocke, Joakim, Ulf and Johan...

PJ: 
Thanks for this interesting interview. I will say hello to the boys:-)