MM –
Introduce the band members to us and where do you call home?
Earle Lord: Lead Vocals
Dario DiPietrantonio: Guitar/Backup Vocals
Marty Olga: Keyboards/Backup Vocals
Max Vitello: Bass/Backup Vocals
Tony Silva: Drums, Percussion, Backup Vocals
We're all from the Salem/Boston area of MA.
MM
- When was the band first
formed and how has it evolved to it's current member status?
Tony: We formed back in '96 Mark Kolodziej, our old bassist left in '99
and then Max came on board.
MM -
How would you best describe your music and who
would it most appeal?
Earle: Straight forward Rock+Roll and it would appeal to anyone who'll
listen.
MM - What bands/artists have influenced you
the most over the years?
Band: Journey, Eagles, Bon Jovi, Queensryche, any bands over the years
with talent.
MM - Your new album 'Forever's Come and Gone'
which came out last year rapidly caught peoples attention as it stormed up
the AOR charts. Quite impressive you must have been really pleased with
that.
Band: We are very happy in how the fans have reacted and treated us but
now we want to bring it to the next level.
MM - How have your fans reacted to this new
album and how does it compare with your earlier albums?
Earle: The fans really seem to like it and have given great response. As
far as in comparison to previous albums, the writing seems to be maturing
as a unit.
MM - Which Savannah track is your personal favourite and why?
Earle: Live To See Tomorrow is my favourite because there's so much meaning
and feeling to the song.
Dario: Live To See Tomorrow because it's in minor LOL!
Tony: Last To Know takes it for me because there's so many changes and feel
to it.
MM - What do you feel has been the bands biggest accomplishment to date?
Band: Staying together through the whole music biz LOL!
MM -
Do you have any plans to tour outside the US in the near future?
Tony: Yes, we'd like to go play over in Europe a lot more in the very near
future.
MM - What do you love/hate the most about
being out on the road and touring?
Band: We love the fans in how they
react and sing to our music but we just don't like the plane rides!
MM - Have you ever had any scary fan moments?
Band: Nothing we can really recall, everyone has been pretty cool and
civil.
MM -
What in your opinion makes a truly great
performer?
Earle: Any individual or group that can break down the barriers of an
audience.
MM
- Were any of the band members in any
other bands prior to joining Savannah?
Tony: Max was in a few cover bands, Marty and Dario were in a band called
Slyboyz, and Earle and I were in a band called Lord Grey.
MM -
On your new album you had actually used
Michael Sweet from Stryper to produce it, wow! How did that come about and
did you know him before you did this album?
Tony: We were doing preproduction for Forever's Come And Gone and Kenny
Lewis, the engineer, who had worked with Michael before, played our music
over the phone to him and we then met for the first time a few weeks
later. We then discussed the album and worked all summer long.
MM -
Who writes the songs that you perform, is a solo effort or more of a team
thing?
Tony: It's definitely a team thing. Someone will come up with the initial
"riff" then it snowballs from there.
More riffs turn into verses, bridges, choruses and so on, then accents,
melodies and lyrics. I make it sound easy but it's not-----trust me!
MM -
What was the last album that you heard and
liked by a band other than your own?
Earle: Journey's latest CD, "Arrival," it's amazing!
Tony: Disturbed's "The Sickness" is one of the few CD's I like that's
fairly new, that I like from start to finish along with the new Journey
CD.
MM - How has the music media in general
responded to the band over the years?
Earle: Very generously, we are very grateful to all of the media that has
done reviews on our CD's and given us interviews like this one. Thank you.
MM - Is your debut album still available to
your new fans and if so where can it be obtained?
Tony: It sure is and can be purchased from the merchandise section on our
website:
www.savannah.org.uk
MM - What is your most treasured possession?
Dario: My custom made Mouridian guitar.
Tony: The new Pearl Masters kit I just purchased!
Earle: The Mid-Evil sword collection on my walls at home.
MM - How do the band like to chill out when not out on the road or
recording?
Earle: Being in the woods and enjoying the peace and quiet that lies there.
Tony: Relaxing at home because I'm always out doing some project!
MM - What would be your ultimate Friday night
out on the town?
Band: Drinking, feasting and merriment!
MM - When you were growing up who did you used
to imitate in front of the mirror?
Band: None of us will tell each other to avoid a ragging on LOL!
MM - What's the best piece of advice you ever
received?
Earle: The Fans are what it's all about.
Tony: Put your heart and soul into it and people will love it.
MM - Just how far would you sell your soul in
the name of Rock N' Roll?
Tony: It's not really ours to sell now, is it? However, nothing is worth
selling your soul for in the end.
MM - If you could have one supernatural power, what would it be?
Earle: X-Ray vision
Tony: Manipulation
MM - How would you describe the bands mood right now?
Anxious, hungry, and waiting to rock the world with our music!
MM -
Lastly, is there anything you would like to share with all your fans out
there?
Earle: We're one in the same. We write and perform this type of music but
also enjoy listening to it as well.
Tony: Thank you all for everything you've done for us. Give all music a
chance even if it's not the flavor of the month.
MM
- When was the band first
formed and how has it evolved to it's current member status?
MM
- Were any of the band members in any
other bands prior to joining Savannah?
