Rob Rock

For many years now, Rob Rock's powerful pipes have been a mainstay in the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene. From Project: Driver to Impelliteri, Rock's powerful and melodic voice has managed to blow us away. Now, things are looking better than ever for Rob as he has ventured out on his own with the amazing Rage of Creation and is preparing to record an album with legendary rockers Warrior. Recently, Rob took some time from his busy schedule to share his views on music, Impelliteri, and his killer new album.

HoS: Tell me about the new record, Rage of Creation.
Rob Rock: Rage of Creation is my first solo album and I co-wrote all the songs with Roy Z. Roy also produced the album and I also have a special guest Jake E. Lee who does solo guitar on two tracks. The album also has Butch Carlson on drums, Ray Burke on bass, and Greg Analla helps me out on backing vocals. It's a true metal album with shades of classic Maiden, Priest and early Dio.

HoS: How did ROC come about?
RR: It came about when JVC/Victor Japan offered me a deal, after seeing me "live" with Impelliteri.

HoS: You worked with Roy Z before he became the new King Midas of Metal tell us about that.
RR: I was in a group called Driver with Roy in 1989. It was a band I put together after I split from the Joshua group. It was an L.A. melodic metal band and I had found the best young gun in Roy Z. We remain friends to this day and when we had a chance to finally do a proper recording together, it was a long time dream come true.

HoS: How did you get Jake E. Lee to guest on ROC?
RR: My friend Chris Leibungut suggested Jake and so we called him up. Roy, Jake and I all agreed that his style would fit perfectly with a couple of the tracks that we had recorded and so he came down and let it rip.

HoS: What's your favorite track on ROC? Why?
RR: It depends on what day you ask me! I really like all the songs on the album and they are so diverse that I can get into each one at any given time. My favorites right now are "Streets of Madness", "In the Night" and "Judgment Day."

HoS: What happened with Impelliteri?
RR: Chris and I decided to pursue our careers separately now. I wanted to do both solo albums and Impellitteri albums but Chris was uncomfortable with that.

HoS: Do you still have a relationship with Chris?
RR: We are still friends and keep in touch and I wish him the best with his next album.

HoS: How do you feel about him re-hiring Graham Bonnet?
RR: I think it's a great idea! They made a strong record together before with Stand in Line so it should be cool to hear them together again.

HoS: Who are your main influences?
RR: I'm influenced by the early records of Dio, Foreigner, Styx and (Judas) Priest.

HoS: As a singer and songwriter, what inspires you?
RR: I get inspired by life, what I see in the news, and by reading the Bible, which is a great source of truth, imagery and thought provoking ideas.

HoS: There seems to be a lack of musicality, musical virtuosity and melody in the current mainstream acts. What's your opinion on that? What do you attest that to?
RR: I think the musicians in these acts grew up on rap, which is no melody, and media violence, which is aggression. There is no attention span left to become a master of your instrument, everything in life is "take-out" so it seems to me that this is what a lot of groups are producing by way of their influences all around them in daily life. Plus, this is marketing 101 to record companies...it's all about numbers and trends, not "music."

HoS: What do you think of the current U.S. music scene?
RR: I think it's corporate now. I don't see the hunger to find great musicians or songs, only the hunger to find the latest or next trend to sell to the masses to keep the bottom line strong.

HoS: If we were to look in your CD player right now, what would we find? What are you listening to these days?
RR: You would find alternative mixes of the tracks of Rage of Creation! I'm actually listening to tracks with no vocals so I can rehearse at home for the upcoming shows. I am interested in checking out the new Dio album!

HoS: How do you feel about bootlegs? Let's say a fan comes up to you and hands you a bootleg CD of one of your shows, what do you do?
RR: I'd want to hear it I guess! There are a lot of bootlegs in Japan. I'm glad that fans want to hear these versions but I don't want my fans to get ripped off! What I don't like is when thieves press them and sell them as real authorized CD's. The band has the right to have control over what goes out as "product" and no one else! As an artist we must make sure the quality is good, I think we owe that to our fans.

HoS: Any thoughts on the Napster thing?
RR: I think Napster is great to create awareness, but again, the artist has the right to control his own music.

HoS: Who would you like to work with in the future?
RR: I'd like to tour with a great group of metal bands like Metallica, (Iron) Maiden, and (Judas) Priest.

HoS: If you could have a "Dream Band" who would the members be? Why?
RR: I don't really spend time thinking of these things... So I don't have an answer for you.

HoS: What lies ahead for Rob Rock?
RR: I'll be doing some "live" shows in Germany and in Florida and then, Lord willing, I'll get the chance to tour Europe in March or April.

HoS: Any tour plans?
RR: The plan is to start with the CRN festival in Germany and add as many dates as possible in the first quarter of 2001.

HoS: According to Rob Rock, where do you see Rob Rock in 10 years?
RR: I see Rob Rock continuing to record albums and touring because he had a chart-topping album release somewhere along the way. Even if he never has a hit, I believe he will carry on as a musician and recording artist.

HoS: And the hardest question, the one that we ALWAYS ask (resistance is futile). If you were stranded on a desert Island, and could only have 5 CD's to listen to for the rest of eternity, what would they be?
RR: Rage of Creation, Foreigner's debut album, Eagles greatest hits album, Boston's debut album, Styx classics. Maybe Zeppelin's Greatest or Tribe of Gypsies debut or Dio's Holy Diver... I'd have to listen to each album again first before I make it my "final answer"!!!

So there you have it, words of wisdom from a great vocalist! And to top it all off, he's quoting Regis!!! It just doesn't get any better than this. If you're reading this, go out and score a copy of Rage Of Creation, you'll be glad you did, trust me!

Be sure to check out The Official Rob Rock Website.

Listen to a full track from Rage of Creation here.

The House of Shred would like to thank Rob Rock for his time.