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MM -
What primarily got you into playing music?
CU - Greg and I
were in an advanced English class in 7th grade where we met. He was
learning how to play the guitar and I always wanted to be a
drummer. He turned me on to a bunch of really great music probably one
of the 1st albums was Mountain Climbing. This got the ball rolling and
we decided to start a band. Jerry was a friend of ours and he was taking
guitar lessons also. I saved up my money and bought a cheap drum
set we started jamming. That was basically how it started! I was intrigued
by the heavy sound of the groups at that time and wanted to be part
of that sonic attack!
MM - Is it
strange knowing that even though you’ve split up, that people are
still buying your records?
CU - Not really, if you consider
that I'm still buy music from bands that broke up way before us.
I've replaced most of my albums CDs and instead of downloading
music I actually bought mostly remastered CDs. It is sad but I'm
actually in the process of selling my album collection to raise
money to pay off bills.
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MM - Was the
split hard on each of the members or was it more amicable?
CU -
At the time when each member there was never any anger or animosity, however
I personally feel that I could've handled some of the episodes better.
Our 1st singer Neil was a great guy and we basically told him that
we wanted to find a new singer. He was okay with that but I still feel
badly about the way that went down. When Jerry left the band most of
us were very sad and what is unfortunate is he did not leave to join
another band but to quit music altogether. He never played in another
band, although I know he did have his guitar always handy, and sometimes
when I would go visit him he would pick it up and play it a bit.
Mike left the band, and then realizing his mistake rejoined only to
quit shortly after that. I've said this before but if Jerry and Flint had never quit the band I think we would've really had a chance of
making some more great music.
MM - Who took on
the song-writing duties?
CU - It was always a cooperative
effort however Greg wrote a lot of the material and brought to the
band room almost complete, sometimes even with lead solos. Most of
the time however We would take to settle lyrics, come up with
some good riffs and base the song on that. even though we were
great friends sometimes I remember arguing over one part of the
song or another, usually with me being the antagonist trying to get
the greatest or heaviest possible part cast in stone.
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MM - Your
influences are very much the granddaddies of rock and metal now, who
do you think would influence you now if the band were just starting
out?
CU - Wow, that's easy is a lot of bands out there that
are really great and if I were just starting out playing the bands
that would be influencing me now would be bands like Powerwolf from
Romania, ASKA from Texas, Falconer from Sweden!
MM - While wave
you achieved everything you wanted for 2011? If not, what didn’t
you do?
CU - Metal Blade Records re released
"Servants of Chaos" with the video disc which was
pretty cool. That actually took quite a bit of work to get wrapped
up. you have to remember that all the band members are still
working full time trying to make a living this doesn't leave a lot
of extra time left over for anything else. That is why always say that
music is a young man's game, because the younger you are the less commitments,
and restrictions you have on your life.
MM - What are
your goals for 2012?
CU - I'm hoping the Metal Blade Records
will re-release "Frost & Fire" and or "King of
the Dead", with some extra packaging and/or some more video.
There are a few more videos from that early era that could be released,
and I'm hoping this can happen.
MM - Are there
any long term plans for Cirith Ungol or is it just re-releasing
records?
CU - Not really there's lots of talk about getting
the band back together to play a big concert in Europe, however
this really never goes farther than just talk. I for one would
really like to do this however I really don't see this ever
happening. I'm just hoping that our music will stay available to
those who are actually searching for something different, and are
interested in the history and legacy and evolution of hard rock
& heavy metal.
MM - There have
been a lot of members over the band’s career, was it easy to get
them to play your style of music?
CU - The majority of the
original members stayed with the band for a long period of time and
even when Greg left it wasn't like adding a member but losing one,
so we kept on with the plan which was to place heavy music as
possible. Jimmy fit the band great, but I think the original members
having grown up together, gone to school together, and worked together
so long formed a more cohesive unit.
MM - Did any of
them bring something more to the band than just their musical
ability?
CU - I was doing artwork and graphics, and I did all
the layout for the 1st 4 albums. I'm thinking about your question
and I find myself wishing that one of the members would've had rich
parents! Ha.
MM - Was there
any band member, who, in your eyes, gave the most to the band?
CU
- No, I think that is why we were always a good team, because everyone carried
their own weight and added not only their talents but also their
personality to the band.
MM - How hard
was it to continue when the bassist died?
CU - Actually,
it was our original guitarist Jerry Fogle who died. He died
many years after you left the band, however it was hard for all of
us, and even hard for me to think of it today. he was such a great talent
and you can hear that by listing to his solos on all the albums.
My favorite solo is a one on our 2nd album "King of the Dead"
the song is called "Cirith Ungol", the guitar solo he did on
the song is simply amazing, it has so much soul and feeling to it
every time I listen to it, it brings me close to tears. I would
encourage you and everyone else to listen to his double leads solo
on this song. It is fantastic.
MM - Have you
ever had any moments where you haven’t wanted to continue?
CU
- Well, considering the band has been broken up since 1991 I haven't really
thought about that. I will tell you this that I think about being
in a band everyday and wish I was still playing drums. I have dreams
about it, or maybe you could call them nightmares but I'm haunted
by the fact that only thing I ever wanted to do with my life was to
play drums. After the band broke up I never touched another drumstick
to this very day. This is not only a personal tragedy for me but
very depressing considering it was my dream.
MM - Do you have
any parting words of wisdom or messages you’d like to share with
our readers?
CU - I would hope the readers would go pick up
copies of our music especially the new re-release of "Servants
of Chaos", I think we were part of a very special time
in heavy metal and I'm proud of the fact that we helped contribute
to this great legacy. Metal Blade Records has really been good to
us and we're very proud to be on such a great label and to be
associated with Brian Slagel its founder who has put out so many
great albums, CDs and promoted and introduced so many bands over
the years! Without their efforts including Metal Blade
Germany I would hate to think what the Metal scene would be like
.... Thank you and your readers for your interest in our band. It
was our dream to come play in Europe and I would like to apologize to
our fans for not being able to succeed in this dream.
Interview by: Kerry H
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