Artist:   Blitzkrieg

Date:   9 June 2007

Internationally renowned as one of the few true legends of the original NWOBHM scene, Blitzkrieg trail-blazed the way for many of the metal giants that followed.

With a performance booked at this years Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, together with the much anticipated release of their new album 'Theatre Of The Damned' scheduled for August, what better time to catch up with guitarist Ken Johnson to bring us up to speed with all things Blitzkrieg. 

MM - First of all thanks for taking the time out from what I'm sure is a busy schedule to take part in this interview.
Ken Johnson – No problem at all it's a pleasure.

MM - Would you like to start by telling us a little about the bands history, what the name represents and how the band have evolved into it’s current membership?
Ken - Blitzkrieg was formed in Leicester in October 1980. Their first demo, made in November that year, secured them their first recording deal with Neat Records resulting in the famous 'Blitzkrieg/Buried Alive' single & a track on the Lead Weight compilation album.  The band gigged extensively in England but split in 1981.  The members went their own separate ways but Brian Ross & Mick Moore stayed together to form the heart of Avenger.  The band released 2 singles on Neat, Ross then left to join Satan with whom he recorded the classic 'Caught In The Act' album which was released by Roadrunner & licensed to Neat for the UK.

After the success of the 'Satan' album & European tours, the band’s direction became unclear & Ross decided to leave & concentrate on managing the North East band Lone Wolf (Brian performed vocals on the single Your Move).  Now Ross decided that it was time to record the Blitzkrieg LP that had been planned way back in 1981, entitled 'A Time Of Changes', it was released in 1985 on Neat/Roadrunner with recruits from the previous bands brought in to record the album. 

'Absolute Power' was released in Brazil on Hellion Records & as an LP in Sweden by TPL Records.  Following the release of their double 'Anthology' CD on Sanctuary Records the band released their first live album on Metal Nation Records (again owned by Jess Cox).  Following the release of 'Absolutely' live, the band went on to record the critically acclaimed 'Sins and Greed', which was released in mid 2005. This was also the subject of a Limited edition double gatefold release by TPL records in Sweden and in Brazil.  The band has been gigging extensively throughout 2005 and 2006 touring with both Saxon and Doro in the UK as well as several European festivals. Live dates are being scheduled in Europe.

The band name came about because pre-blitzkrieg the band were called Spilt Image, the band never really liked that name and it was the manager at the time who came up with the idea of BLITZKRIEG ... which means either ..."lightning war" or "fast attack"...

The band are due to release their new album ‘Theatre Of The Damned’ in July through Armageddon Music. 

MM - What territories will it be available in and will these be released simultaneously or staggered?
Ken - 'Theatre of the Damned' will be released worldwide on Aug 10^th  and will be released in all territories, at this time of writing the only difference will be the Japanese release that will feature one extra track to the worldwide release I believe.

MM - How did you come to hook up with Armageddon Music in the first place, what was it you felt they could offer you that the others couldn’t and how do you feel you fit in with the other bands on their label?
Ken - I think it all started when after a chance email to Saxon's management Thomas Jensen (ICS) asking about who was supporting Saxon on their UK tour in 2006 and we were offered the tour, it all began to evolve from just after the tour finished.  As well as being Saxon's management etc, Thomas Jensen is also the MD of Armageddon Music.  We felt Armageddon had a lot to offer us, as with being a European/German Metal label ... and Blitzkrieg's main fan base is based more so in Germany and Europe as of present so it was the obvious choice, not to mention the experience that the Armageddon Music/Wacken/ICS organisation has in promoting metal bands Worldwide.  I think we fit in very well with the other bands on our label ... from the likes of Rose Tattoo and MSG to Suidakra etc.

MM - I believe the album was co-produced by Saxon’s Biff Byford, how did Biff get involved with the project and what was he like to work with?
Ken - Same as the deal really on the Saxon tour both bands got on really well together, and the Saxon lads and their crew were great with us ... when we started work on the label Biff just became very interested in the project and his views and experience have been valuable to us and have been taken onboard.

MM - How does the song writing and music composition work in the band, is it music first then lyrics or the other way around?  Which is your preferred method of working?
Ken - On this album we had the basics of the music first then when the arrangements were sorted we gave Brian the tracks to come up with the melodies and write the lyrics, then after that any necessary tweaks in the arrangements are done. 

MM - How long did the album take from its initial conception and you writing the songs to the final recording?  Were these ideas that had been around for a long period of time or were they fresh ideas?
Ken - We began writing on and off thru the mid section of 2006, but kept being halted as we were playing live nearly every month, we began rehearsing the new tracks just before the Christmas period and we finished the recording sessions at Absurd Studios in Hamburg in March 2007. 

MM - The band are scheduled to play the mighty Wacken Open Air Festival once again, this will now be your third time playing at this prestigious event.  How does it feel to keep being asked back to play the festival?
Ken - Oh it's an absolute honour for the band to be asked back, but that goes for any festival to be asked to play on their bill.

MM - What other festivals/shows will you be playing in promotion of the new album and more importantly are there any UK dates lined up?
Ken - At present and of time of writing this the only ones that are confirmed are Martohell Horns Up Festival, Barcelona, SAT 16 JUNE : Rosetta Bar, Belfast, FRI 27 JUL : Wacken Open Air, Germany, THU 2 AUG : Carling 2, Newcastle SAT 8 SEP ... there might be a Dublin date near to the Belfast show ... also we are planning some UK dates in Nov along with another NWOBHM band, and there's talk of us going back to Greece and Holland before the end of 2007, and some debut gigs in Finland.  We were planned to do Bloodstock Indoor in Sept but as you know it was cancelled and we can't do the open air version because of commitments, so the only UK date at the moment is in our hometown .... CARLING ACADEMY 2, NEWCASTLE, SAT 8^th Sept ... the bill will also feature our friends Elixir as well. 

MM - The last time we caught the band live was on tour with Doro last November.  How did that tour go and what response did you get from the fans?
Ken - The Doro tour like the Saxon tour in the Spring went very well for us, both tours have helped raise the bands profile somewhat here in the UK from what it was ... and the response from the people attending the shows was positive towards us.

MM - What can the crowds expect from a live Blitzkrieg show, will you be mixing any newer material in with the classic stuff?
Ken - Well ... it all depends on the set length but usually we try to mix it up new stuff and classic stuff and sometimes something from Brian's days in SATAN.

MM - With such an impressive back catalogue that the band has, is there ever any conflict of opinion as far as choosing what songs to play live is concerned? Are there any songs that you would personally like to include in the setlist but haven’t had the opportunity to date and why those songs?
Ken - I can't speak for the entire band but personally I would love to bring 'Buried Alive' into the set ..but well wait n see J.

MM - What are your (commercial) expectations on the new album?
Ken - Well we all feel very proud and confident about the new album and cant wait for it to be released, it would be very nice if it does well on a commercial base but more importantly that the fans take to it.

MM - Given that Blitzkrieg were one of the NWOBHM bands that helped to shape the whole metal scene across Europe, is this legacy a double edged sword?  With any release a band will feel pressure but to have such a legacy connected to the band, does this increase the pressure at all?
Ken - I believe in this current climate it doesn't matter if ya Blitzkrieg or Dream Theater or Judas Priest etc, there is always that feel of pressure because you just want to record something of quality that yourself and your fan base will be very happy about.

MM - How important is it to the band to be accessible to the fans, either face to face or via the internet?
Ken - I think you have to use both, as a fan I have always enjoyed it if the band were accessible face to face and that you try to make some kind of time for the public that have paid to put you where you are ... as for the internet ... definitely ... every man and his dog have access to the www now so whether its a case of a simple website or networking it is so important for a band.

MM - What are your views on the current UK music scene as a whole?
Ken - I think in the rock/metal genre there's some very good bands out at present in the UK, bands such as Biomechanical, Dragonforce etc, both of these bands have done very well for themselves.

MM - How long have you as an individual been performing and can you remember the first time you ever played to a live audience?
Ken - My first ever gig was in Blyth at the local community centre in 1980 I think it was, 5 piece rock band doing Maiden, Nugent, Priest covers. 

MM - What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far as a performer?
Ken - Myself personally would be the two tours we did last year with Saxon and Doro in our own country ... in the near future it has got to be Wacken no doubt about it.

MM - Who was the first band that you saw perform live as a fan and did you ever think that one day you would be that person up on stage with everybody rocking out and cheering at you?
Ken - My first concert was Judas Priest in 1978 and thinking back then even though I had just started messing around with the guitar I never thought that it would get this far down the line.

MM - Having been in the music business for some time now you must have seen some radical changes over the years.  Some good, some bad.  What do you think has been the biggest shake up over the years and what if anything would you like to see change?
Ken - I think the biggest shake up was probably the grunge era, but maybe thanks to the powers that be etc it was a little too intense and it resulted in a lot of bands that had been doing well in the ten years prior to the birth of the grunge era suddenly seeming like they nor their era ever existed ... I would like to see hard rock/metal get more mainstream radio/tv airtime and not just the obvious bands ... kinda like the way Dante Bonutto ran the Power Hour on cable tv etc.

MM - What short phrase best describes the band’s mood right now?
Ken - I think we are all very eager to see the final packaged product and to see how the fans and media respond to it.

MM - Finally are there any final words you would like to add or say to all your fans out there reading this?
Ken - Just a BIG thank you to everyone that has stood by the band over the years , we`ll see ya's sometime in 2007/2008 and finally we hope ya like the new cd when it is released J

MM - If you're heading over to Wacken this year make sure you take the time out to check Blitzkrieg's set out, it's going to be a killer.  We'd like to thank Ken for taking the time out to chat with us today and look forward to catching the band at their home gig at The Carling Academy in September.  Also best of luck with the new album guys! 

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