Rock Time : You are the main composer of POL ; so why did you release a solo album between 2 POL albums ?
Jim Peterik : The "Above The Storm" album was my chance to explore the more bluesy and southern rock elements of my Songwriting. Don’t forget that my first big hit "Vehicle" was blues/ soul based. Also there were a lot of personal messages I wanted to get out like "Above the storm" and "The god in you".
On the "Above The Storm" album, we can hear another version of "Hiding from yourself" which we could find on the last 38 special album. You were not satisfied with the don barnes singing version?
JP : I love don’s version but I had a slightly different vision of the song. Its not better or worse, Ijust different.
I love this song, don’t you think it could be a good idea to play it on stage when tobby is taking a break like he does when you play "Vehicle" ?
JP : I think that might be a good idea !
A little flashback if you agree… When you played in the parisian store Gibert Joseph, you were playing and singing with the record playing behind. Strange idea, why didn’t you play in the simple way guitar / voice like you did for the radios or TV? It would have been more natural.
JP : I think you are right. It was just an idea. Some people liked it, some didn’t. I think the simpler approach may be better.
Thinking back, what do you think about the Lokeren concert ? Are you satisfied? I think yes ‘cause you were so happy to play in front of such a crowd, am I wrong? Is there something you would change on the DVD ?
JP : Overall, yes I am satisfied, given the extemely tight circumstances of travel and show. The crowd really made us play to our potential but it took a few songs to get on our feet totally. I would have edited out the minutes of me trying to get my shit together on keyboard before that one song if I had it to do over ! Why they left it in is beyond me !
Same question about the United Forces Of Rock as headliner...
JP : Wow, what a night ! By midnite the whole crowd was well, lubricated and ready to rock. I thought it was a great night.
If I ’m not wrong, the night before the UFOR festival you did a jam with terry brock in a bar (damned i missed that !) Is there any chance that you and Terry work together in the future? Your collaboration with a guy like Mike Slamer would be a bomb ! (my opinion)
JP : Always a possibility. I've written with Terry in the past and love his voice ( "We invented love" - Back To Eden) and Mike is one of my favorite guitarists ever !
Dave Bickler, Jimi Jamison and Toby Hitchcock are awesome singers. I want to know if you work in the same way with each of them or you act differently because they have their own style? Can you tell us the différences?
JP : I write differently for each singer I work with. I dont consciously try, it just happens naturally. With Dave it was very raw and street, with Jimi : more pop, with Toby - a bit more theatrical. It just fits their voice to do that.
Why didn’t you share the vocals with Dave Bickler or Jimi Jamison during the Survivor days? Didn’t you believe in your vocal capacities?
JP : I believed in my voice but Frankie Sullivan wanted to stay with the single vocalist concept. When I put together POL it was one of my goals to see through my original vision of Survivor.
8 years flowed between "Too Hot Too Sleep" (88) and your break with Survivor. Even you were still touring, no new Survivor album saw the light of day. Why, comparing with Pride Of Lions who released 3 studio albums + a live cd/dvd since 2003 ?
JP : I like to work and produce. It's like breating to me. I have a lot of songs in me and they need to get out. As long as I can stay fresh and people are digging it, I'm gonna stay inspired.
Can you tell us more about the Sunstorm project (the best 2006 record with the Slamer for me) ? This album contains 6 songs written by you (This is my heart, Strength over time, Another you, Danger of love, Making up for the last time, Arms of love) ; how does it happen? A request from frontiers?
Why didn’t you keep these songs for your personal projects?
JP : I have always loved Joe Lynn’s voice and wrote with him when he was in Purple. Serafino at Frontiers asked me for songs for his record and I sent him these. Most of them I wrote in the 90’s. I always believed in these songs and was happy for the chance to hear them sung by one of the best.
By the way, what are the factors making you to decide what song you will keep for yourself or what song is for other artists?
JP : It’s a close call sometimes. With "I'm alive" (title track from the new Kelly Keagy album) - this song was earmarked for "The Roaring Of Dreams" but when Kelly heard it he loved it and helped me finish it. I'm glad he got it because he did it so good.
The title track "The Roaring Of Dreams" sounds a bit strange; can you enlighten us about the meaning of this concept ?
JP : To me a dream is like a roar in my head. When I get a vision of something I can't sleep until it comes to fruition. I think we all have dreams, the guy who works and crummy job and hates his boss is secretly dreaming of the week end or the chance to quit and start his own business.Tthe housewife trapped in an abusive relationshit dreams of true love. These are the hopes that keep us going in life.
Looking at the album cover art, we can notice the POL logo changed. Ffrontiers' idea? The previous one was so nice and more personal ! Why did you change it ?
JP : My art director thought it was a bold look the new way. I like them both actually.
The songs from "The Roaring Of Dreams" are completely new or some of them were composed during the Survivor days? (Songs like"Language of the heart", by his tempo, or "Let me let you go", which reminds obviously "Popular girl", sound like Survivor)
JP : Tthese songs are all brand new except for"Ffaithful heart" which I started in the 80’s. Obviously on the songs like the ones you mentioned I drew inspiration from the wrok I did with Survivor in the 80’s. It was a part of the design of this album to go back to that sound a bit and be more hooky and direct.
We already knew Kelly Moulik’s voice ; now Toby’s sister, Tori hitchcock, sings on "Turnaround" which ending the album. How did it happen? Don’t you thing it’s unfair that God shares all the talents among the members of a same family? (smile)
JP : Tori did and amazing job for sure. I am considering doing an album with both of them this year, together as a duo, most likely modern christian which reflects their desires.
I’ve read somewhere that u will come back in Lokeren on august 6 with Wolrd Stage with guests like Kevin Chalfant, Kelly Keagy,Toby and Kip Winger. Can you confirm it to us cause we wouldn’t miss it ?
JP : It is true ! Add to that Jimi Jamison, it will really rock !
What kind of setlist should we waiting for ?
JP : The big hits from all the artists and a few current things as well and a big jam at the end, "Eye of the tiger" or "Don't tell me you love me" probably.
You already know Kevin and Kelly because you recorded with them in the past and played with them at the gods 2000, but how did you get in touch with Kip Winger ?
JP : Kip is a friend and great artist. He did World Stage with me in 03 and we had a ball.
Any chance to see Pride Of Lions on stage in Europe again and be able to hear the new songs live ?
JP : The album is doing very well so far. So the possibility is there. We are looking into a Japan run now afterLlokeren too.
Do you listen to music outside your own compositions? What bands or artists do you like? Is there an artist coming from the new stage who impressed you?
JP : I like Wig Wam, Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Sunstorm, 5 for fighting, Train, The Darkness, Swing Out Sister (early stuff), China Crisis, The Rasmus, Asia, Journey, Heart, Collective Soul ... So many more.
Thanks Jim for taking time to answer our questions !
JP : Always a pleasure Eric. Thanks for the questions and always keep rocking !!
