SAXON's 24th studio album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", released at the beginning of the year, attracted very positive reviews, as the bans proves every time that they are a VALUE that hasn't diminished over time, but as it grows, it becomes more dedicated to metal sound showing the light and the way to the younger ones.
We had the opportunity to speak with the great guitarist Brian Tatler (Diamond Head) who is now the new member of SAXON, replacing the legendary Paul Quinn.
Let's see what he told us about this great opportunity to join the band not only for touring but also to take part in the creation of their new album. An opportunity he grabbed without a second thought...
RockOverdose: Hi Brian! Welcome to our pages! Congratulations on your new album! It’s your first album with the band and we’d like to know how you feel.
Brian Tatler (SAXON): I’m flattered! I’m very honored to be involved! It still feels a little strange to see my picture and my name alongside Byff and everybody else, on the cover but it’s great! They welcome me in the band and I’m enjoying it, it’s been great making that record!
RockOverdose: Being in another legendary band like Diamond Head, how did you manage to adapt so quickly in another band? How challenging was for you to adapt with SAXON’s manners as a band?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): It was a little bit challenging; I got quite a lot of time to work all the stuff we play. I got the first call in March last year, and our first show was in Athens last summer at Rockwave festival!
So, I had about four months to prepare myself. Obviously, I got the setlist and I practiced a lot, cause SAXON has some songs faster than Diamond Head. So, I had to brush up a bit of my right hand, but yes… it was a great challenge! I think it is very good to have a challenge in your life and it probably helped me as a player and I really embraced the opportunity. When they asked me, I immediately said yes! It’s a big step up for me! Diamond Head is great, you know but SAXON is a lot further of the ladder. And for somebody in my age to get an opportunity like this is quite something ….
RockOverdose: You didn’t have to prove something as a player and as a musician of course, but when you invite you to replace another great musician is an honor of course and you have to seize the moment.
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Absolutely!
RockOverdose: As you mentioned your debut with SAXON was here in Greece. In my humble opinion you were great, although I enjoy it better when you play at close venues. What feelings did you have before this first show of yours with the band, and how do you feel now that you’ve already recorded together?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Before, understandably I was a bit nervous, because that was such big jobs for me to learn a whole new set and go straight for such a big festival in front of so many people. Moreover, that night we were supporting DEEP PURPLE, one of my all time favorite bands! I’ve never played at the same festival with Deep Purple before, so all that things were so special for me. Also, we didn’t sound checked that night, mainly Deep Purple sound checked early in the morning and then all the bands just had to go on. I think that it was just the road crew who did a little line check, but I didn’t set foot on the stage till the moment I was backstage, they put the intro on and at a certain point you had to go on stage! So, the guitar tech put on me the guitar, gave me the pick and I had to head for the center of the stage while the first song “Motorcycle Man” was about to start. It was quite of nerve-racking, you got to be on the game and I did a lot of homework and a lot of preparation! I’m really glad I did because when you actually go on stage, everything is very loud and you could easily become horribly stalked if you haven’t prepared properly.
RockOverdose: What’s your opinion on the greek audience? You’ve been here before with Diamond Head, but how was it now with Saxon?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): It was great! They did accepted me to play some of the great songs like Crusader etch You feel the pressure cause you’re standing in someone else’s spot trying to feet their shoes and you don’t want to let them down, either the band or Paul Quinn. You don’t wanna let the fans down paying money to see you. So, you feel the pressure but as I said, I’m not too bad to notes, I’m a calm person and I don’t get stressed too easy.
We've played in Athens before, with Diamond Head and I remember years ago we've played also in Thessaloniki. It's always great.
RockOverdose: They say that the greek audience is one of the loudest in the metal scene at least, after the latin american of course...
Brian Tatler (SAXON): I'd agree with that! We've just played at Latin America, we did Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. They were great, very excited! I've never toured South America before and that was fantastic! A new experience for me.
RockOverdose: Now, that you're going to have a long tour ahead with Judas Priest and Uriah Heep I think it's a dream to be together with those legendaty bands. What are your expectations and feelings being part of this tour?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): It's huge for me! It's probably the biggest tour I've ever have done to this point. To be playing in giant venues like Wembley and Birmingham, it's massive! I've been there many times in the audience, e.g. I've seen ACDC there but now to be actually on the stage is quite exciting! That's a dream come true! And then again, I've never toured with Judas Priest, the closest I have is being at the same festival billing in the past. So, that would be nice, to be hanging out with Priest and get to know them a little bit and things like that.
RockOverdose: About the album now, it's been the 24th full-length studio album of SAXON and someone would expect that inspiration after so many years and albums won't be so good. But SAXON(among other legendary bands) proves the opposite! You seem to always find inspiration on new topics, that can be up to date and keep the listeners interest. How easy or difficult is to find inspiration after so many decades?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): I'm not a lyric writer so I don't really know how difficult it is to keep coming with ideas for lyrics. It's hard to come up with the music, I'm a music guy and I work hard to come up with riffs and arrangements. So, I can only imagine is just as difficult and especially in Byff's case, like you said it's been the 24th album, SAXON have covered so many topics and that's hundreds of songs, that they've worked for and write lyrics for. So, I'd imagine is very difficult at least to try and do something new and something different. You have to bare in mind that you have SAXON's fans to like it. We don't want to be too far from the track but also you need to keep it fresh and exciting for the band as well. The band needs to enjoy the new songs and that's really hard, so you have to be working on it cause we like to present as much material as possible, to the singer in this case Byff to have a variety to choose.
I was really flattered to be asked to write for this album, although I was asked to be the touring guitarist at first, things changed and I continued with the band and I was asked if I'd write as well, so I sent Byff lots of my material stocked by, especially writen during the 2 years of Covid. So, that's was probably a nice shot in the arm for Byff to have another writer with fresh ideas.
RockOverdose: So, we expect more to come!
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Probably! Let's hope so!
RockOverdose: Inspiration is endless of course is endless but how do you see the future of music? Do you believe that the younger talents out there will create something that hasn't been heard before, one day?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Probably! Yeah! Noone knows what it is but that's something that always happen. Every now and then something new comes out and it may be somehow of a shock to the older generations, but once the kids like it then it becomes the norm and you just go for it.
I also believe that rock is such a fantastic style of music that I've been into since I was a teenager. I believe that kids will always follow rock music, if you've got the right combination, then anything could happen. Join a band and see the world!
RockOverdose: What's the most importand lesson you that you have learned from your journey in the music industry so far?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): I think writing songs is absolutely vital! If you can't write songs you're not going to last very long. You've also have to take care of money, try look at the contracts, don't sing to aweful management companies .. So, you have to be a bit careful. It's two words, music and business. Music that you love but you've also have to care for it's business side beacuse that's going to benefit your band. That would be my advice: "Write good songs and take care of the business."
RockOverdose: That's true! Good songs stay forever!
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Yes! Good songs stay even after you're gone. e.g. we're all still listening to Jimmi Hendrix.
RockOverdose: Do you have any favorite song from "Hell, Fire And Damnation" and why is your favorite?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): My favorite is "Madame Guillotine", I think it works really well and Byff has done a very good work with the vocals. So, I came up with the basis and he did a fantastic job with the lyrics as well. I've listened to the whole tracks over and over while recording and mixing, and I think that's my favorite. It's a great song and Andy Sneap made a great job, I've never worked before with him althought we've been friends for a long time and I've been to his studio when he was writing with Megadeth. He's done a great job, and I understand why people like him so much, he has great ideas.
RockOverdose: What about the upcoming tour of yours, how easy is to pick songs from such a huge catalog? Will it focus on the new album or it will have also some of the all time classic fans favorites?
Brian Tatler (SAXON): It's not up to me to choose the setlist. I'm the new boy! I imagine it would include of course the classics and some tracks from the new album as well.
RockOverdose: A final comment before we close this interview if you let me, I love this dual guitar approach that you have in this album. It may be simple but not simplistic, in my humble opinion. You did a great job! I'm sure that Paul Quinn is happy for this replacement. I'd like to thank you very much and wish you all the best! Hope to see you soon in Greece again!
Brian Tatler (SAXON): Thank you very much! For sure he's happy! Nice to meet you! Hope to come back again soon!
On behalf of RockOverdose,
Vivi Zapantiotou
Saxon:
Biff Byford – Vocals
Nigel Glockler – Drums
Doug Scarratt – Guitar
Brian Tatler – Guitar
Nibbs Carter – Bass
Follow Saxon on:
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https://www.instagram.com/saxon.official
https://www.twitter.com/SaxonOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/PlanetSaxon
https://www.saxon747.com
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