Few
can really claim or perhaps would want to be referred as a legend within any
scene of music; it is hardly the moniker you set out to aspire too, as any
budding musician. “Hey, I’m going to be
the next Jimi Hendrix, or Jimmy Page,” Instead for any emerging artist, you
dedicate yourself to create your art, based upon the inspiration of your
favourite artist or musician and if the plaudits come, well Hey, it can only
help in their endeavors to forge a path for themselves.
Eric
Wagner, current singer with Blackfinger and more recently, The Skull, is
perhaps best known for his work with the band, Trouble formed in 1979. Leaving the band in the mid nineties, to replaced
by Danny Cavanagh, Eric would return to Trouble again some 3-4 years later,
releasing his final album with the band in 2007. Held and revered by many, he
was recruited as one of the many guests for Dave Grohl’s revered side project,
Probot which was released in 2004. Wagner’s
tenure with Trouble would eventually come to an end in the late 00’s. It has to be said that Eric has appeared on
classic doom records, such as Psalm 9, The Skull, indeed the 2007 Simple Mind
Condition by Trouble is a much underrated record. This guy is indeed a legend within doom metal
circles.
Fast
forward to 2014 and Wagner is currently part of Blackfinger and what has been
described as a spin off band called, The Skull, due in no small part to presence of
former Trouble members, messers Holzner and Olson. It is the former, which we are concentrating
on today, Blackfinger. Their S/T debut
issued via The Church Within records back in January, is a classic doom record
in waiting and sees Eric Wagner et al deliver one of the best debut record this
year. Indeed, Richard Maw described it
best in his review “I cannot recommend
this highly enough. The album, as I describe it here, may sound rooted in the
70's and classic rock/proto-metal- but there is much more to it than that.
There are hooks, great performances and so on, but there is also the intangible
“vibe”. I can't define it, but there is something unusual at work here. Give it
a go and you may well think the same. For all those who underestimated this
release: You bastards are gonna pay!”
Well it is not often, we
get to talk to doom metal royalty, until now that is. It gives me great pleasure to present, my
interview with Eric Wagner. So sit back,
light up and Doom on!!
(SL) Eric, a warm welcome
to The Sludgelord. A real pleasure to
talk to you. First of all, Congratulations!
Your new record is excellent. You must reflect
upon it with a sense of a pride?
EW)
Thanks yeah I’m really proud of this record, it took a long time but it's
finally here, the one thing I did learn from all this was patience, because I wasn't born with it that's for sure
SL)
What can fans look forward to from you in 2014? How is your schedule shaping up?
EW).
Well the album came out on the 31st of Jan and we are starting to book some
shows. If
people want to hear this live, I’d be more than happy to oblige
(SL)
You’ve been involved in the music for over 30 years, could you perhaps summarise
your own musical journey (s) to this point and the roots behind the inception
of Blackfinger?
EW).
Wow it's really been 30 yrs? Man time flies when you're having fun and I guess
the Blackfinger album would have never been made, if not for everything that
has happened before it. It has all lead
me right here, right now I am exactly where I'm supposed to be
(SL) What springs to mind
when you think about the completion of your new record, given that they
were perhaps your first original songs?
EW).
That it's finally finished, it took a long time from start to finish and there
were times I thought it would never be done.
I guess I’ll take the blame, I just wanted it to be good.
(SL) Who handled song
writing duties?
EW).
I had a lot of the lyrics and melodies written before I actually put the band
together. Then we all locked ourselves
in a room and worked out the music together. Everyone contributed; I love that
about this album
(SL) How long was the
gestation of your new/current opus from conception to delivery?
EW). 5 long
years. One thing I learned though, was patience because I sure wasn't born with
it.
(SL) Using your time with
Trouble as a reference point, did those experiences form the basis of the
direction you wanted to take the band and how you approached writing for
Blackfinger?
EW).
Not really, I've never tried to write a certain way just the way I feel or what
I see in that particular moment in time.
If you listen to every record I’ve done from start to finish you will
see that it's all one life
(SL) The artwork is
really great, was it designed with a particular physical format in mind? Who
designed it?
EW).
Chuck Robinson, Trouble's former bassist did it. He sent it to me one day and asked if I wanted
to use it, I thought it was great.
Little did I know at the time that it would be a glimpse into the
future?
(SL) As a music fan
yourself and given that music seems to be so disposal at times, how important is
it to offer a great package to your fans, and yet not alienate them by
producing something which is not affordable. What are your thoughts on the
finished physical product? What format is/will be available?
EW) It
is available on CD and Vinyl, that's one of the reasons it took a little
longer. It was a little over time wise
for 1 LP, so they wanted to make it a double.
I didn't do that, I wanted everyone to be able to afford it, so it took
a while to figure it out, but we did it
(SL) . You’re releasing this record via The Church
Within Records, what particularly resonated with you in terms of working with
that label?
EW).
They just made me believe that they wanted the record more than the others that
were interested
(SL)
Over the years what is the best and worst
things about being in a band (s)?
EW).
My favorite thing about being in a band is writing and recording a new record;
I love it. The worst thing is being a poor struggling musician because of it,
but I guess there is a price for everything
(SL) What are your
thoughts on the current doom scene you have been affiliated with for over 30
yrs?
EW). Its
great isn't it? Gives me the opportunity to continue doing what I love. I can't
believe people still want to hear what my big mouth has to say.
(SL) Influences and
heroes, what are turn offs and turn on’s?
EW).
Lennon, Waters and Morrison are my heroes and I love coming across music that I
never heard before or that i forgot about.
It turns me on! What I hate the most is watching TV and a commercial comes
on with the music of a band I grew up listening too. The other day I saw a car commercial playing
a Hendrix song; does he really need the money that bad?
(SL) The last album that kicked your arse?
EW).
Don't know? I think I’d have to say the first Black
Country Communion record, it reminded me of early seventies hard
rock and I thought Glen Hughes sounds better than ever.
(SL)
What was your first musical experience
and how did that influence you in terms of wanting to be a front man?
EW).
When I was about 7 or 8 my parents let me stay up late and watch Jailhouse Rock
and when Elvis came sliding down that pole singing that song, I thought that's
a good job.
(SL) Has their been much opportunity for Blackfinger to do live shows and is playing live still as important today given the influences of the web and social media ?
EW).
I think so, but it definitely doesn’t help me any, maybe more so with the
younger audience since they grew up with it.
Us older fucks still like getting out of the house once in a while,
we've done a few shows around Chicago
(SL) What are your
survival tips for the road?
EW).
Sleeping bag, flashlight, matches and aspirin.
 |
| (C) Sven Mihlan |
(SL) Who are some your
favourite bands you have toured with and what have been your band highlight (s)
thus far
EW)
There is just so much to choose from I still haven't processed it all. It's all been good and I wouldn't change a
thing, but if I had to pick a highlight I'd have to say Dynamo Open Air in 95,
playing for 100,000 people was rush.
(SL) Vinyl Junkie or Ipod
flunky? Discuss
EW
Vinyl junkie, I always loved looking at the album covers and everything, whilst
listening to the record. It was almost
as important as the music and I'll bet my Deep Purple; Made in Japan
(SL)
Finally, do you have any final comments/word
of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?
EW).
Everything is going to be alright, I promise
Words and Interview by : Aaron Pickford
You can check out our review here and for more information check out the links below. Thanks to Eric Wagner for taking the time to talk to us.
For more information :
