| STARCASTLE |
By Willy van Buel
STARCASTLE released 4 albums
during the 70s. Their first couple of albums showed a very
Progressive Rockstyle, while the later records were clearly more
midwest AOR rock oriented a la HEAD EAST and AXE. The band split
up and many years later, like many more 70s Rockbands, they
reformed and are about to release a new record. Time for
Strutter'zine to check out what these guys have been doing all
these years and share with us the information around their new
'project'. Willy van Buel had an interview with bassist Gary
Strater...
Before going to the come back,
please, can you tell us where and how it all started way back in
the early seventies ? How did STARCASTLE formed ?
Starcastle formed out of a couple of other bands that were
working out of Champaign, IL. We all ended up together because we
had simular goals and musical tastes from the beginning.
I always ask myself, how does a
band finds their musical direction or style ? I mean, as like
STARCASTLE, you're 6 guys with 6 different characters, how easy
or difficult was it to hold this line-up steady ? Which were the
bands of music that influenced STARCASTLE in the beginning ?
Our influences ranged from the Beatles, the Who, Deep Purple to
Weather Report, ELP, Genesis and Yes. Also Aaron Copland,
Stravinski and several other classical composers influenced us.
Add in Terry's experience with REO SPEEDWAGON and you get prog
rock.
From '75 to '79, STARCASTLE
released 4 fine albums. Which one was the most successful one and
how was the reputation of STARCASTLE back then. Did the band had
a big following ? Can you please tell us more
bout the scene at that time ?
The first lp was the most succesfull, but we all feel that our
second lp " Fountains of Light ", was musical superior.
About the live shows, at the time, was it
easy to create live the same moods and spheres as you did on the
albums because I find the music then, was fair complex at some
times ?
We played all of our pieces as completely as we could and
performed all of the vocals ourselves live, as well.
The music was indeed complex for the time, but there are a lot of
bands today that play complex material.
Can you remember the best gigs
or tours you did and with which bands? Did STARCASTLE ever played
in Europe ?
The best tour we did was with JETRO TULL when our first lp had
just been released. They were great players and really inspiring,
intelligent people. Their entire road crew was by far the most
organized professional that we ever encountered. Rush and their
people run a close second. We shared several venues with Rush and
had very friendly relationships with them. Of all people I met on
the road, the members of Rush are probably the people I miss the
most. They portrayed no illusions of self importance to me, and
that is rare in any industry. We never played in Europe but we
did record in Chipping Norton, England.
As you now look back, what was
the most nicest thing you can remember of STARCASTLE part one ?
The nicest thing about Starcastle then, as now, was that the
music came first. It came before ego or record sales or politics.
We felt that we were trying to be musical artists and the public
allowed us the time to express what we could. For that I think we
are still greatfull !
Now, 20 years after the last
release REEL TO REEL, STARCASTLE is back. Please, how did it all
started again and was it easy to bring back all the original
members together ? What or who turned the scale for this historic
reunion ?
Now, we just want to release a new cd and bring Starcastle full
circle. Getting in touch with everyone was harder than convincing
everyone in the band to participate. There are a total of 10
musicians that performed under the name and we now live all over
the US. The musicians that composed and performed the different
pieces in the past should perform the same pieces on the new cd.
Their names are: Steve Hagler - Herb Schildt - Gary Strater -
Terry Luttrell - Steve Tassler - Matt Stewart - Ralph Goldheim -
Bruce Botts - Scott McKenzie and Mark Mcgee.
I've heard you've already
written (and recorded ???) new songs. Will the style be a return
to the sound of the first 3 albums or a more AOR approach like on
the last release ?
Several of the pieces are older, one from 1978 ! We may put the
thing together chronologically which would be interesting because
the music does span 20 years of composition. One of the pieces is
a brand new concept piece that is being composed during the
sessions by the original members. It should prove interesting.
The cd will be all progressive material. Hopefully more like the
first 2 lp's. After the horrible experience of our 4th lp ( Reel
to reel), we decided to stick to what we do the best. You must
bear in mind though that prog rock has had many faces in it's
life and our material has too. Because of this time displacement,
we are calling the project " CHRONOS ".
Who did or will do
the production job and what (if you already recorded ?) were his
influences on the bands music style ?
The cd is being produced by me ( Gary Strater ), with the help of
the band, and Mark Rubel of Pogo Records, and will be recorded
here in Champaign, IL. at the POGO Studio. If nothing else,
you'll be able to see what we did without the help or
interference of a major label.
In the US, AERIA
(Eric Abrahamsen, God bless him), signed you, are there also
interests from Europe or Japan releasing the new album over there
? What kind of deal does STARCASTLE have with AERIA ?
I am doing this recording with Aeria because of Eric's enthusiasm
and support and because Aeria is a label that is owned by a
musician and is run for the BENIFIT of it's artists. There has
been requests and nudges over the years from friends and fans and
we finally took the hint and decided to release at least one more
cd. If it goes well and Aeria likes it, maybe we'll do another.
Last question, do you have some
last words for all the fans over here in Europe, and of course in
the rest of the world ?
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their
support. It's more valuable to us than we can say.
(A special thanks goes out to Eric Abrahamsen)