The Answer

June 17 2011 (Hellfest - Clisson)

Just a couple hours after their show at the HELLFEST in the beginning of the afternoon, I met Irish band THE ANSWER’s vocalist Cormac Neeson for a fifteen-minutes chat about their current events, their new dvd, their new opus named “Revival” and their tour experience with the biggest bands on earth. Formed in 2000, this combo delivers a very efficient rock’n’roll, as the good reaction of the audience can confirm.

Fab: So, are you happy to be here at the 2011 edition of HELLFEST?
Cormac Neeson (Vocals): Very happy, and I really enjoyed playing rock and metal festivals around Europe. It draws a particular type of persons: for example, ALTER BRIDGE were just playing, and it was raining heavier than in the last month, but yet, thousands of people were there. The world is definitely a better place when rockers and metalheads are around the block. Everyone has a great attitude, so very happy to be at HELLFEST.

Fab: Did you heard of the HELLFEST before?
Cormac Neeson: Yeah, I think it was last year when ALICE COOPER was headlining. It was said that it was a little bit like WACKEN, with two main stages side by side, and that’s really a good way to do festivals.

Fab: I just saw you onstage a few minutes ago, and I really found that the vibe was definitely there for you. What’s your feelings after the show?
Cormac Neeson: Yeah, I felt a good vibe as well. It’s sometimes hard to tell at festivals, because everybody’s usually in good form… that’s why I enjoy doing festivals, because you get up (early) and play rock’n’roll, throw in a little Blues and people tend to be really get it you know? It was raining until we step onstage, and the sun just miraculously came out so, I think that everybody was generally in good form, so. I was really happy with the reaction we got from the crowd.

Fab: You last album is called “Revival”, which will be released in september. Is there a special reason? Or is it just that Rock’n’Roll will never die?
Cormac Neeson: Well, it’s not so much that Rock’n’Roll will never die, it’s more like we’re trying, us, with some other bands, to keep our genre alive, you know? I think it’s a genre that is in danger of being in decline, you know what I mean? It needs an injection of energy, it needs a fresh twist, and I think that, this album that we’re about to put out will hopefully give it that fresh twist, you know. And I think that whether it’s the industry pressure, or the pressure that the record companies put onto them, but too many bands are more concerned about the way they look than the way they play. I think it’s time to get back to classic good musical values, but at the same time, you gotta take a massive step forward and keep things interesting for the listeners. That’s why THE ANSWER is real.

Fab: Did you use a different approach for the songwriting of “Revival” than for “Everyday Demons”?
Cormac Neeson: Well, kinda similar. The difference being that whenever we step back in the rehearsal room, all the line-up, we just came off from the AC/DC tour for the previous year and a half, so I think we were better people and better songwriter, as a result of all those experiences. We were coming off the road with this positive spirit. We felt that we got to get right in there, we got to translate that energy into songs, and that’s what exactly I think we have done, I think it’s a very good album. “Everyday Demons” was slightly more negative because we were going through tougher times back then. But this album is a very good time rock’n’roll.

Fab: You juste released a dvd called “412 Days of Rock’n’Roll”. Could you explain to us its concept?
Cormac Neeson: It’s basically the life on the road with AC/DC and beyond. 412 days was the time between, from start to finish, jump onto a train to New York to head up to AC/DC, to finishing our headlining show home in Belfast, one year and a half later. It’ a documentary about our life on the road with the biggest rock’n’roll band in the world, on the road on our own, in America, in clubs… With a mix of different live songs from supporting AC/DC shows in Texas to our headlining shows. And it’s in Belfast that we played our very last show, on the 412 day. That’s where it all ended. So, there’s also a live DVD and an audio cd. So, it’s a good package.

Fab: Back to “Everyday Demons”, I really love the song “Comfort Zone”. What’s the story?
Cormac Neeson: That song is inspired by a notion that my brother put in my head. We were philosophizing one day over a bottle of Whisky, about the comfort zone. He’s a great believer that you should be stepping out of your comfort zone whenever it’s possible, because the end results are so much more exciting. I woke up the next day and remembered our conversation, and decided to write a song about it. It’s not so much about maintaining a comfort zone, it’s the opposite. It’s about taking your chances.

Fab: You supported very big bands like DEEP PURPLE, ACDC or THE ROLLING STONES. What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned touring with this giants?
Cormac Neeson: That the most simple gesture can go a long way when you’re playing in front of so much people. It’s easy to get carried away on the intensity of the moment, and go a little bit overboard. Don’t try too hard to impress. As the years kicks by, I trust in the band abilities and you know, just try to connect with the audience.

Fab: What is the most important quality to have when opening for such big bands?
Cormac Neeson: I don’t know (laughter). I suppose you just got to have belief in yourself, in the band you’re playing in. That’s about it. It’s still nerve wracking as a motherfucker. I can still be nervous, doubt about getting up there, but in the dressing room, you get psyched up, we’re all into this together to put an awesome show. And 50 minutes after, you know that you’ve done well. It’s a great thing. But for instance, it’s easier to play today at the HELLFEST than supporting AC/DC, because here, people came to see a lot of different bands, are more open-minded. And hopefully we’ll come away with a few more fans (laughter).

Fab: You have one song “Never Too Late” on Guitar Hero, so, did you made it?
Cormac Neeson: (laughter). It’s a good thing to have a song on the most rock’n’roll oriented computer game you can find on the market.

Fab: In a era when downloading is the rule, and that physical item for music as cd or vinyl are not the trend, you seems to be into collection stuff, like in the beginning of the 70’s… Nostalgia? Or just the way to do it?
Cormac Neeson: I think the rock fans like to have the physical product in his their hands. It’s nice to go to music shops and purchasing rare items, records or vinyl, and just look to the photographs, read what the musicians have said about the process of making this album. I think it’s all important to rock fans. As far as the cd goes, we make sure that we release impressive product. For example, we’ll be releasing a special edition of our album in September with, you know, a lot of bonus material, lots of photographs, to make the purchase worthwhile.

Fab: As you’re from Belfast, how is the Northern Ireland Metal scene nowadays?
Cormac Neeson: Pretty healthy. In Belfast and in Northern Ireland in general, there’s a lot of bands kickin’ around, with a lot of different genres, you know, most of which have a pretty healthy scene. But I think Metal in particular, you know, there’s still in Belfast, there’s a scene called the “Distortion Project”, there’s a bar in Belfast just put on Metal bands from two o’clock on the Saturday afternoon until like twelve o’clock at night, every week. And then you’ve got numerous Metal shows around the city during the week. There’s definitely enough to keep Metal fans and Metal musicians interested in Belfast for sure.

Fab: Favorite band on the bill?
Cormac Neeson: CLUTH, THE CULT and ALTER BRIDGE.

Fab: Any musical guilty pleasure?
Cormac Neeson: Being an Irishman, I’d say Irish traditional music.

Fab: Is there a question that you would have love for me to ask you, but that I didn't ask?
Cormac Neeson: (laughter). How does it feel to be the best looking member of the band? (more laughter). It feels good!

Fab: Is there a non-musician person who is/was a huge inspiration for you?
Cormac Neeson: Bill Clinton. He’s a rock star in a president’s body (laughter).

Fab: A last word for your French fans, and the new ones?
Cormac Neeson: Allright, hey guys, enjoy our new dvd “412 days of Rock’n’Roll” and you can look forward to the greatest rock’n’roll album ever to be released in your time, in your generation, it’s gonna be brilliant. We’ll come to see you in a very near future, thank you for your support, rock’n’roll!