Antonis "Jey Key" Katsaros of Greece's webzine Rock Overdose had the chance to speak with the famous singer Tony Martin about a lot of subjects, as for Black Sabbath, solo projects, future plans and participation on Arrayan Path's latest album! Enjoy the interview below...
Rock Overdose: We are proud to have Tony Martin, one of the most famous singers of Heavy Metal, in our webzine! Mr. Tony welcome to Greece's Rock Overdose! How are you these days?
Tony Martin: Hey!! .. thank you!!... I am...... fine .. I think!!!...
Rock Overdose: I will start with a kind of "technical" question… You are singing with a lot of passion in your voice. That is one of the reasons that people love to hear you (including me, of course). Except of the talent, what else would you advise to the young singers out there to do?
Tony Martin: For their voice you mean? Well .. I made a terrible mistake when i was younger and just sang without thinking about it... I damaged my voice so many times but when you are young it heals very quickly.... but after a few years it stops repairing so quick and then you have a problem... You see many older singers struggling these days because of age and repair time... the best thing is to look up some vocal exercises and work on them. There are many different ones.... maybe hundreds but as long as you are exercising your full range it will help..... Now its hard work for me... I have to exercise my voice every day or I lose it very quickly... The only thing that was good from the mistake is I found a voice sound that worked. But apart from that it was a mistake!!
Rock Overdose: Let's go back to the Sabbath days. Which of those albums that you made with Black Sabbath, is your favorite?
Tony Martin: Better to ask which one I don't like...!!!!!!! .............. That would be "Forbidden".... the rest are very cool..!!!
Rock Overdose: Which was your best time with Sabbath?
Tony Martin: I guess the best time was when we seemed to be friends and the band was working well..... After "Eternal Idol" when it was just a session.... "Headless Cross" through "Tyr" and into "Cross Purposes" was the better times.... But the times when I was not chosen for the job was horrible.
Rock Overdose: Unfortunately Iommi's health problems didn't made the famous Sabbath reunion that they planned. How are your relations with Iommi? Have you been spoken lately?
Tony Martin: Sabbath haven't spoken to me for over 15 years ... I met Iommi very briefly in Russia once and he said I was doing a great job with my band. But apart from that i haven't heard from them at all.
Rock Overdose: You announced your new band, Tony Martin's Headless Cross! Can you introduce us the members of the band?
Tony Martin: Ah... yes.. well there is myself of course ... And Magnus Rosen from the band Hammerfall... VERY nice man and amazing Bass player!!!.... Dario Mollo on Guitar... You may recognize him from the Cage albums that i did. Danny Needham currently works with Venom .. but he has been my drummer for many years and i trust him completely.... Also Geoff Nicholls of Black Sabbath who you will know very well.
Rock Overdose: Are you working an album or this band will be only for lives?
Tony Martin: Right now I need a band for live shows..... I am planning a return to the stage if all the conditions are right.
Rock Overdose: Any plans to pass from Greece with Tony Martin's Headless Cross?
Tony Martin: Yes if I can!!!! ... Just need an Honest hard working promoter that doesn't expect me to work for free and i will be there!!!
Rock Overdose: A lot of guest appearances lately for you. We heard you in Black Widow, in Wolfpakk, but the biggest surprise for me was your participation in Arrayan Path's latest album "Ira Imperium", because I leave in the island of Cyprus as the band is. So, how this happened and are you satisfied from the result of the song with the Cypriots?
Tony Martin: Hahahaha.. Yes.. great fun.... I like the guys .... I was approached via the internet and was quite taken with the song they sent me... I told them i would want to change it slightly and do it Tony Martins way and they agreed so i did it..!!! I had fun creating all the voices for the choir.. hundreds of vocal takes.!! great fun. ....
Rock Overdose: Finally, what should we wait from Tony Martin for now on?
Tony Martin: I have 5 projects running and The Cage is the first to be released but i also did record another Giuntini album and i have a new project running with a band called Silver Horses a kind of blues Zepplin type sound . very English sound but ANOTHER Italian project..... and there are solo albums and i hope a tour and lots of TM related things happening in the next few years. And i will be happy to talk to you about these as they happen along the way.
Rock Overdose: Mr Tony, it was a real honor to have this interview with you! The last words are yours for the Greek fans who are having difficult times in Greece…
Tony Martin: Thanks ... Yes we see here in the UK that Greece is under quite some pressure.... I have to say its not only Greece of course... the problem is world wide.... i can say you are not alone!!.... Many people feel the same way ... I dont know intimately the Greek system but i "feel"... that the Greek people are strong LONG surviving people.... and i think they will come through the pain and be stronger on the other side..... Greece has given the world so many teachings and language and history it is not possible for it to disappear or fail....... it may change .... possibly???.... but it will keep the affection many of us have for the great country it is. .. Don't give up!!! Keep Rockin m/ m/
For RockOverdose.gr,
Antonis "Jey Key" Katsaros
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