Gary James' Interview With Guitarist
Mark Edwards





Q - Mark, why did you decide to go with an instrumental release for your first record on Metal Blade?

A - At the moment I feel I am working with one of the best vocalists in the world, Kal Swan of Lion. I'm simply not inspired to work with another singer at this time. Apart from that, there is a certain emphasis on the virtuosity of the musicians involved. At times it's really over the top and that might have been sacrificed if there had been vocals involved.

Q - Your album cover features the skull and crossbones. You refer to your music as "Progressive Metal." What is Progressive Metal? You actually look lie you belong in The Rolling Stones. Taking all that into consideration, what are you doing on Metal Blade Records?

A - The skull and crossbones represent a sense of aggression, violence, nonconformity and youth. Things that are very much a part of what I do. I play music. I create feelings and emotions. What I don't do is create labels. I think maybe the record company chose to call my music "Progressive Metal" because it contains elements of sophistication and a level of musicianship that is not normally associated with Heavy Metal. I am a Metal artist. Metal Blade Records believed in what I wanted to do. I have been playing what has become known as Metal for as long as I can remember. It's not something I decided to do because it suddenly became trendy. It is not something I ever had to make a conscious decision about. It's me. It's all I've ever done or wanted to do. I consider it the ultimate art, expression or emotion. Whatever you wish to call it. As a Metal rocker or a typical anything else I strive to be only myself, to be anything but typical. I stand for what I believe in, not what someone else has decided everyone should look like. My appearance has always been the same regardless of any trend or fashion. I think life would be awful boring if every Heavy Metal musician had to wear studs and leather.

Q - You've worked with Steeler and Yngwie Malmsteen. Is Yngwie a hard guy to work with?

A - I never had a problem with Yngwie. Not one! He's only a hard guy to please in the sense that he knows exactly what he wants and refuses to settle for anything less. I really can't say enough about Yngwie. I felt an immediate empathy for him the moment I first picked him up at Los Angeles International Airport two and a half years ago. In the early days I think I was one of the only ones who understood what he was about and what he was trying to do. I think Yngwie is one of the most inspired, driven, talented musicians there is. That's saying a lot.

© Gary James. All rights reserved.

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