Greetings Alan, thanks for taking time from your schedule to answer this e-mail interview.
Let's start at the beginning. On- The Blinding Darkness DVD (which is brilliant I might add); you mention that you were a Pallas fan…. When you were seeing the band's gigs; what were you doing musically at the time and what was the circumstances that led to you becoming the lead singer of Pallas?
When I first saw Pallas (it would be about '81) it was with the guitarist of the band I was in at school - which was a prog band of course.
Initially we went by the name of "Enchepalitis Lethargica" (Sleeping Sickness), but became "Trance Macabre" - it didn't last. By the next time I saw them, I was at University and went with the guy who became the keyboard player in my band there - also called "Trance Macabre". I remember we were in the gallery over Ronnie's keyboards, and my mate Nick was blown away as it was the first time he'd ever seen a mellotron "in the flesh" so to speak.
In those days I was mainly a bass/12-string player who did some singing. I also played in a celtic rock band (bass and backing vocals) as well as a psychedelic band called "Cloud Factory" (bass/12-string). I also did some vocals for a Glasgow band called Abel Ganz. It was while doing a gig with them for the local radio station that I got the nod that Pallas were looking for someone. I don't know why, but it just seemed the right thing to apply for.
Since you live far away from the rest of the members, how does the compositional process work from such a distance when creating an album? Where do you record?
It can make it fairly time-consuming. The others offer up CD-R's of work in progress, and I try to add my take on what they're doing. My ideas are either taken on board or ignored depending on how the band as a whole reacts. I also write stuff of my own which I send up for their consideration, and that too goes through a process of change and development. It's pretty much true that every track is a PALLAS track, as everyone has had at least some input by the time it's recorded. Once we've got an agreed framework and arrangement then I fly up to do vocals - usually a couple of tracks at a time. Graeme and I will usually have thrashed out a lyric of sorts by that point, and we'll finesse it together just before recording.
Though you have a great visual style of singing, you replaced a very theatrical singer- Euan Lowson. Do you like the more theatrical pieces or do you like to tone it down and concentrate on getting the music across in more direct terms?
I'm not really a fan of dressing up in costumes. A very small number of people can pull it off - and Euan was one of them. I didn't think it was appropriate for me to even try to follow that. I dabbled a bit with the odd theatrical flourish in my early days with the band, but mostly I just go with the flow of the music. I always preferred to watch singers who "got into " their music. I see my role as a kind of conduit for the energy of the band as a whole - I'd feel a bit of a prat just standing around.
Besides I haven't got an instrument to keep me occupied for (most) of the longer musical passages - though that is changing.
Pallas is classified as neo-progessive rock (though I tend to disagree with that). Do you mind being labeled? What do you think about the term progressive music?
I don’t mind the term "progresssive" - whatever that means. I DO object to the term "NEO". It' s become a term of opprobrium from a bunch of lazy know-alls who don't really know what they're talking about (you know who you are). I sing in rock band. If you want to analyse or categorise it further, that's up to you.
What singers influenced you or do you really like to listen to?
I have to be honest and say that Gabriel and Collins were my first real influences, but that's as much to do with the fact that the range of my voice was similar to theirs. I loved the big Blues and Metal wailers, but I just couldn't do that convincingly. 20 years of booze and late nights later, I'm a bit more soulful - but I'm still no Paul Rodgers or Robert Plant.
The classic question. What would you listen to if you were stranded on a desert island (With a CD player and batteries), and you could have any ten albums, what would you choose and why?
ALAN: Difficult
1: Rush - Vapour Trails (it's really grown on me)
2: Rush - Moving Pictures ( the one that's aged best)
3: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
4: Radiohead - OK Computer (might be a bit depressing to take to a desert Island - I'd have to make sure I'd hidden the knives)
5: Muse - Absolution (Rush meets Queen in the 21st century)
6: Yes - Going For The One (I think the closing section of "Awaken" is their finest moment)
7: AC/DC - "If You Want Blood" (go Angus, go!)
8: Peter Gabriel III (The right side of disturbing)
9: Roy Harper - Bullinamingvase ("One of Those Days in England pts 2-10" shows just how much fun you can have with a 12-string guitar and a spliff)
10: Zeppelin - Remasters (A song for every occasion including prog-epic "kashmir)
Sorry, No Genesis - If I could add them, "Selling England.." would probably nudge out "the Lamb.."
What happened during the 1980s? Was Pallas disbanded and regrouped? What did you do during this time? How did the band get revitalized to start producing music again?
Well we decided to leave EMI after "The Wedge" album as it was clear that they had no understanding of what we were trying to do. Rather than record a low-budget album with little likelihood of proper label support we decided to take our chances elsewhere. We came close to signing another major deal on a couple of occasions, but in the end financial pressures meant we effectively had to call it a day. We all went our separate ways - but kept loosely in touch. In the end a sort of internal gravity pulled us all back together!!
What is your favorite book? Movie? Hobbies/interests outside music?
Changes all the time. I have to say that "Espedair Street" by Iain Banks is the best book about rock bands ever written. "The Tin Drum" by Gunter Grass is another favourite. I also love the discworld series of books by Terry Pratchett. He turns fantasy folklore on its head and writes funny, perceptive allegories. As for films, "Trainspotting" , "The Blues Brothers" and "Spinal Tap" are favourites. I also loved the "Lord of the Rings" series.
I don't have much time outside of music for any other hobbies, except for more music. I play guitar and sing in an occasional Blues band. Very different from Pallas - but lots of fun.
What do you think of the way commercial music is handled today? Do you think progressive rock has a chance in today's rap/hip-hop/teeny-pop/hardcore attitude? Is it now underground music?
I think the music industry as I once understood it has had its day.
The majors are now reaping the benefits of being more concerned with manufacturing product than nurturing artists (of whatever flavour). The younger audience is disenchanted with what's on offer, and treat what they are given as the commodities they've been bred to expect. Hence the prevalence of the download culture. It's not just that it's cheaper, it's also that it doesn’t mean so much. Just another disposable lifestyle accessory that you can bin when you're bored. I don't blame them.
As for Progressive rock - there's a healthy niche market that keeps us and many other bands in business. We won't be buying Ferrraris any time soon, but there seems to be a wider acceptance of our kind of music than there has for many years. Outside of that, there is still a lot of good music being made in a whole host of genres. The internet has helped the various subcultures flourish.
After the excellent -The Cross and the Crucible', Pallas has just released the much-anticipated- `The Dreams of Men,' Can you tell us some insight into the direction and insight into the creation of the album? Any plans beyond this album?
"The Cross.." was always going to be a difficult album to follow. We knew we'd hit on something strong, but we were keen not to merely repeat ourselves. We thought long and hard about where we could go next. IN the end we decided that perhaps we needed to make it a bit more "energetic" this time round - feature a bit more guitar and drums. But the material also kind of dictated how it developed.
We never really plan much beyond our current project. So "The Dreams Of Men" will keep us busy for much of the coming year with gigging etc. After that, who knows? I thought perhaps we could do a concept album based around progtastic versions of Elvis songs. We could call it "Elvish - The Return of The King!" :-)
You seem to be playing much more guitar nowadays… what I brands do you play? Any thoughts on doing any solo albums?
It's a bit of a band joke that I have more guitars than Niall!! I've got a couple of Gibsons, including a natural top Les Paul standard that is my pride and joy, but because Niall uses a strat, that's what I use with Pallas. I did buy myself an Explorer, because I don't know of a prog-band with one -(it was a bit of a mid-life crisis purchase). But then the guys got me a VG-8 guitar synth like Niall's and it won't fit on that, so I'm still using the strat. From my bass-playing days I've got a Ricky 4001 which I would never part with (Arena wanted to buy it after borrowing it for the Contagion album). I've also got some Takamine and Seagull electro-acoustics, and a spanish nylon guitar of uncertain provenance.
I'd quite like to do a solo album. There's quite a few songs I've written that don't really fit in Pallas, and it'd be nice to record them properly.
But it's a time factor thing. It would certainly sound a bit different - probably more acoustic orientated.
How did you like your experience at Nearfest? On Sunday April, 30, 2006, the band will be RoSfest- an up incoming Prog festival in Pennsylvania. Additional thoughts. Any hints on set lists, etc.
Nearfest was great fun. The audience was a bit more "laid-back" than we're used to, but they still seemed to get off on it. It's always weird playing at festivals because so much is out of your control, but the Nearfest people did their best to make it a smooth operation. The atmosphere outside of the concert hall was really interesting. More like a convention than a rock festival. The jam sessions in the hotel in the evenings were really excellent. I'd go back just to do that.
Rosfest - it's too early to say. Euan's agreed to come along and do a few numbers, so we'll have to figure out some stuff that works well for both of us. So in that sense it should be a bit of an unusual Pallas set. I'm also making a guest appearance with Jon Jowitt's NEO project. Playing some Pallas songs believe it or not. And some early Yes, as Peter Banks is apparently on board.
You have an open forum. Do you have any words to the Prog fans out there? Or to young inspiring musicians?
If you've listened to and/or bought our stuff and you've liked it - Thank You. If you haven't , give us a try - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Despite what some of you may have heard, Pallas is NOT a Genesis-clone band from England - we're a prog-ROCK band from Scotland!!! (very important geographical difference) :-)
Thanks Alan, best wishes on your continued sucesses and on the new album. Thank you for youe time.
