Zisis Petkanas contacted by phone Christopher Johnsson, former and guitar player of the Sweden symphonic metallers Therion. In a fulfilled interview, Christopher talks about the changes in the band, Nuclear Blast and their new label, other "big bands - museums" as he calls them and he is mentioned on the financial crisis of our country and the rest countries of Europe and what the consequences will be for them. How does he feel for the rest members of Therion? Why is that the last tour for many years? Read now on Rock Overdose.
Rockoverdose: So Christofer, welcome to rockoverdose.gr. How are you these days?
Christofer: I’m too stressed these days because I’m building my own record label in almost two weeks, so… it needs a lot of work, I work 18 hours per day in my computer.
Rockoverdose: 18 hours per day?
Christofer: Yes! I eat, have a shower, work and sleep a few hours. I build this up for around 21 countries and make license deals for 5 countries, a lot of work. Every time you make a license deal they give you contract that you have to read and sign it. It is really fun because I can do whatever I want. We have a fantastic relationship with Nuclear Blast but they are getting very big as a label company and it is not so much about the music issues. They just want business as usual. The big issue is how we want to work with this. So we want to work this out and not to destroy this relationship. So now everyone is happy, but still has a lot of work.
Rockoverdose: So previously you announced that the "Flowers of Evil" tour is going to be Therion’s last tour for many years?
Christofer: Yes, but many people misunderstood it...
Rockoverdose: Because you are going to work on a rock opera project?
Christofer: Yes, but is a Therion rock opera, so we won’t have any break. We just have a different focus instead of making a regular album. We are going to finish this project and it is going to take a while, then probably we are going to make a new album again. Probably it will take 10 years who knows, depends on how successful and how difficult it is. The backround is that I have been writing an opera for 10 years now and the last 3 years I have not written anything, I am stuck with the orchestra. I can write highlights, hits, but I'm stuck with the bridge between A and B, you know the boring stuff. I need something happening to be interesting. This can not be adapted on classical music with all the long pieces because it tires the brain. My brain is damaged from rock music, which needs action, something interesting to happen. So I am not ready to pull it off. One I said to myself “why are you trying to be something you are not? This is not for you, do what you are good at, you know. Make Therion music or make opera. You can do something else and not have to be excellent”. I thought why not. I don't know, probably I was trying to prove something and say ' hey look I can write opera like the classical composers. Yes you can create something with force but it would not be perfect. I'll do what I do perfect. I just have to wait for the right moment. Now that we finished with the quatrology, we will have done 14 studio albums with Therion and now we will be focused on the art project which makes our studio albums 15. Now it is the right time to do this. Let’s try this period to do this thing.
Rockoverdose: I believe all band need this kind of period...
Christofer: Yes they need to do this. They need to keep their “thirsty” up and this is very important. Every time we recorded a new album we faced the same challenging like when we did our first record. We never lost the fire, we never became a business as a usual band. We have always been doing complicated things, we changed studios, changed producers, new members, new ways of recording. Therion always used to work better with the knife against the throat, of course it is a risk that something might go terrible wrong. It had always been very stressing doing it, but it became interesting. We used to change the sound and that is a thing why we kept the band fresh through the years. Every time we put out a new record people were interested in and hearing it instead of saying “wow they made a new record but they will go on tour and play over the classics”. We are not like Saxon or Motorhead. I am a Saxon fan, but seriously no one thinks that every new Saxon album is the best album. They sell more of course by their first albums back to 1980. So they are a band just like a band museum. This would be my worst nightmare, to put out a new album and no one is interested in. We need to renew ourselves like a snake changing skin somehow, otherwise interest is being missed. So, we need something different to keep the flame alive, sometimes takes 5 years other times 10 years I do not know. There are many problems, just like apart from music you have also to prepare the scene part and the lyrics have to be through poetry so to be heard somehow irrationally. I need to focus on a lot of things like for example choreography and we want to do it very professional so this could take couple of years. So firstly we need to talk to some people and say what we can do better.
Rockoverdose: You want to make it perfect that’s why...
Christofer: We have to. Because we compete with others musical and the audience compare us with them. We might be big stars at the metal scene but, in this kind of audience we are not so good so, we have to be f@@king good or else we are not doing anything. The interesting thing is that we are playing rock opera. In my opinion it has never been made rock opera before. Check Jesus Christ Superstar for example, it is a kind of musical, but still it’s not a rock opera. It is just a title they gave and they call it rock opera, but it is just a rock musical. So we want to create the first real rock opera. There will be orchestra for the vocal parts, just like in opera, but music would be a mix of classical and metal music. It will be the first real rock opera in all ways.
Rockoverdose: The world's first real rock opera, with metal elements...
Christofer: Yes. Metal and rock. Symphonic rock from ‘70s, we already have those kinds of elements in Therion, metal and opera.
Rockoverdose: Are we going to hear something heavier from Therion in the future?
Christofer: Yes, when it is time to make a regular album again. Who knows how it is going to be sound? May if we play live rock opera we might play in the encore part some hits like 'The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah' or 'To Mega Therion' for example. People need to understand that we have not put Therion on ice. This is a Therion project. A part of it has already started months ago, which contains visual parts, actions etc. I think metal scene is interested only for the album, but this is something I do for myself. I have some interesting theories for years now which I want to try in this project. Some of those are going to be given in publicity, others are going to be kept for myself. All of these are in advanced level and when you stay focused on the album you lose the point in the end. Of course many fans are doing this and they are not be interested in this art project but mostly only for the record, because they are Therion fans. Nowadays, with the record label I'm setting, I am selling to distributors something they do not really know what it is. There is also anxiety about the kind of music we are playing in the new record at booking agents. They don't know what this new record is about and they have to invest money for our live shows. We have to use our reliability which we have already build through all these years to trust us, so it is very difficult for us to book this tour because they need to know what is this all about. This is also part of the art project. Press does not get a copy so, some journalists are getting mad. But this is something we do on purpose because when we put out a record some of them they put our songs on the internet, 15 minutes after they get the promo, so this goes straight to fans 1 month before getting published. The fans listen to the songs on their computer or at their ipod in low quality or with messages from the broadcaster in the middle of the track. This thing spoils all the experience. After some shows someone else is going to put it on the internet. But after couple of shows we are going to sell the album to our fans, they are going to take it to their home, they will listen and enjoy the artwork and the album, like I did when I was young. This is the most important thing for me. I will do this only once. Everyone reacted when we announced that there is not going to be a promo but our goal is to sell the album straight to our fans. Also for the journalists it’s going to be different. Everyone will hear the new record at the same time. They will review the album the same time the fans have the album in their hands. They will see this thing from our point of view. We want to make something different, not business as usual. Sometimes the whole thing works as a factory: new record, then promo and then interview...and this goes on and on...we want people to change for a while, even if their reaction is going to be negative.
Rockoverdose: Will you visit Greece. What should we expect for Therion here? Are there going to be any surprises? I am saying that because you are perfectionist and I am looking forward to see that this tour is going to be very special for the fans. Am I right?
Christofer: This is our final tour and from its own is very special (laughing).It also could be a last chance for the next 5 or ten years. We'll bring someone to play keyboards and we are doing this because of we couldn't play some specific songs without keyboards, like Vida Noctura etc. You know, long and difficult formations and that’s why are going to be keyboards. So we are going to play lots of old songs. We are also going to feel a different emotion about us and of course these are going to be our last lives for many, many years. We are going to play a set around 55 minutes or one hour tops. There are a lot of countries that we don't play at their festivals, such as Greece. Standard festivals are in Germany, Holland, France, Belgium and sometimes England. When we finished with the opera, we would like to tour in many places including Greece. We have fans there. At least in Athens we have to. Of course there are many chances if we close a theater and some countries might say “I don't want a f@@king rock band here”. And of course with the crisis in Greece probably many people cannot afford it to buy ticket to go to the theater.
Rockoverdose: It's true. So will you play free for us. (laughing)
Christofer: Yes but still we have costs. Even if we could play for free, without the members of the band get paid, at least the 90% of the ticket has to be paid. It's so sad... Every time we play in festival or a tour and I see how much money we take I say "wow it is too much". And then when you pay all the bills tour sit and wonder where all the money gone. A tour bus could cost 1500 per day. Then there is the crew etc. At least 4000 euros per day. I need to have 4000 every day so I don't go in. Things are difficult for all of us, so we are looking to cut down a little bit from something, smaller tour bus, keep only the basics in general, to cut down some costs. Or else we should do fewer live shows, because times are getting worst, mainly in the most fragile financial places of East Europe. You know, if the economy of Germany goes bad, everyone is going to say 'it's ok thinks are going fine soon'. But after a while, people will start not to go to live concerts, the promoters will get paid less, so we are going to get paid less too...
Rockoverdose: I want to tell me how do you feel now without Niemann and Mats Leven by your side and if how satisfied you are with the line - up these days?
Christofer: Today's line - up is the best we have ever had. Mats Leven was one of the most professional singers we have ever had. I could never forget this. He was always right on stage and never did mistakes. But he was never as flexible as Thomas Vikstrom. Thomas sometimes used to forget lyrics etc. but he was so flexible and better performer. It was obvious that he had worked on opera for many years, not only because of his voice on opera, something he does better than Mats, but also his theatricality. He also matches more with Therion concept. Mats was more like a visitor, a huge professional, but as a visitor, something like special guest. I suggest Vikström join the band permanent because he has been into this a lot. Niemann brothers are very good musicians, composers and friends.
Rockoverdose: We have two more minutes left ... we have to end it.
Christofer: ...About the Nieamann brothers...they were good but the inspiration faded out. We had the best days together. There was nothing bad in our relationship. When you are married for a long time the flame is gone and you need a change. The good thing with the guys in the new line - up is that we are very good friends. With the old line - up we had a great relationship but, we weren't hanging together, go out for a beer...Now we are like a family.
Rockoverdose: It is very important to keep a good relationship.
Christofer: Yes
Rockoverdose: Unfortunately our time is up. We could talk for hours. Thank you very much for the interview...
Christofer: The pleasure is all mine. See you at the concert.
Rockoverdose: We are looking forward to see you in Greece. Is there something else you would like to say before we close?
Christofer: I'm looking forward too. Just give a chance to the album. It might surprise you. Like any album we have already put out. Remember when "Secret of the Runes” came out...It was a failure in the begining. Everyone keep saying “What is that? There is no metal, no rock, just opera and swedish lyrics. We cannot understand it”. Nowadays if you ask fans of us they will tell you it was one of our most popular albums. Others say 'Theli', others 'Vovin', but every time we put out a poll, 'Secret of the Roses ' gets most of the voting numbers. It takes time to realize...that it is very important to be an open - minded person.
Rockoverdose: Thank you one more time.
Christofer: Ok. I thank you. Bye.
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