[Griffith]

Chaos-Music: Hi how are you doing?

Fine thanks for asking. I hope all is well with you.

Chaos-Music : First, Let me tell you it's a total honor to have this opportunity to interview such a legendary band like yours.

I Thank you kindly.

Chaos-Music : So can you present yourself to the audience?

Greetings, Cheers & BY THE HAMMER OF ZEUS...this is David DeFeis from VIRGIN STEELE here speaking with you.

Chaos-Music : When did this band first form and did you have some member changes at the beginning?

The Group formed on October 31st in the 80's, and yes we have changed a few members since then. However, the lineup has remained constant and strong for such a long time now. Edward Pursino our guitarist has been with me since '84, (we actually met as kids long before VIRGIN STEELE), Frank Gilchriest our drummer has been with us since '94, and Josh Block our bass player has been with us since 2000. This is the strongest and best lineup to date. It is also the most stable line up in the history of the band, and everyone is very respectful of each other, and is also an admirer and Fan if you will of the next guy. We have spent many days and nights together rehearsing and performing, so we have an understanding of each others habits, likes and dislikes, etc., and we have achieved a fine and Noble chemistry over the years, that really works. Onstage the Group is extremely focused, ferocious, fearless and wild. It is a law unto itself, and quite unlike anything else that I have experienced out there. It is very special. The band is very, very strong. Edward is an amazing guitarist, who keeps his Great Spirit alive and is always ready to go forth and spread the Sound Of Steele! Frank is a master drummer, who is very much at home onstage and in the studio. He is a real drummers drummer, and a very gracious human being. Josh our bass player, is a very talented guy, with a great ear, and a very positive outlook on Life. He is always up for a run over to Europe for concerts and is a great fan of traveling. Our live show is over the top, Barbaric, Symphonic, Romantic, brutal and beautiful! We have been performing a Set that runs over 3 hours now, where we try to incorporate tracks from a wide selection of the History. We perform the songs as people will remember them of course, but we also have spontaneity and improvisation in the concert experience. We are not slaves to the recorded Work. We will change things around here and there, and leave in room for the mood of the Night and the moment. In addition we all get to stretch out a bit. There are guitar and vocal solo moments; also Frank always does a drum solo, which is always unbelievable. Josh will do a solo turn it is all structured quite nicely.

Chaos-Music : Let's talk a little bit about the name of the band, what's the Meaning of Virgin Steele?

It means, new Metal pure and fresh from the Fire, newly forged from the Flames, and ready to cut through webs of lies and all bullshit. Ready to be tested. Ready to kick ass.

Chaos-Music : What metal bands have been the biggest influence or inspiration for Virgin Steele?And what are your fave metal CDs until now?

I would say that bands like LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW & DEEP PURPLE, were big influences, along with many others....I enjoy many things today. all that I just mentioned, plus THE CULT, TYPE O NEGATIVE, KATE BUSH, TORI AMOS, BRYAN FERRY, UFO, T.REX...the list goes on & on...

Chaos-Music : What's the difference between the Virgin Steele of 1982/1988 and the one of 2005/2006?

We have become infinitely better at what we do. I am a much better songwriter now than I was back then, and the entire style, energy, and ideology of the group is more focused than it was back then. We have matured into a proper Noble Beast!

Chaos-Music : What happened to the first Virgin Steele member guitarist Rock Starr? Are you still in touch with him ?

We never had a member named Rock! That is a mistake. No I am not in touch with the guy who played on the first and second album. His name was Jack, not Rock.

Chaos-Music : After the Sucssessful "Noble Savage" you recorded "Age Of Consent" witch faced some problems with the label ect...Please can you tell us the details?

AGE OF CONSENT was sent out into the World, like a soldier out into a war zone, without any weapons, to die...naked and alone...The manager we had at the time was also the label, which was bad news for us...We got royally screwed on that one. But...we bounced back and continued on. AGE OF CONSENT has since been re-isssued and has made itself known to many more Fans now.

Chaos-Music : Tell us a bit more about the releasings of "The Marriage of heaven and hell Part1 and Part 2", like in wich studio were the albums recorded ,by whom were the songs and lyrics written,what were the lyrics all about, what do you think about the songs, sound, cover artworks etc.....?

Sure. The albums were recorded in a place called Media Recording. I also did INVICTUS there and THE HOUSE OF ATREUS albums there. I wrote all the lyrics on those albums, and I wrote the bulk of the material myself or on some tracks I collaborated with Edward on the music. The lyrics are based around the concept of the search for a Love from beyond the grave...that bond that is stronger than death. It also discusses the conflict or struggle between Humans & Gods. I am a big fan of those albums, I think they contain great songs, and strong performances. The covers are interesting. They capture the spirit of the music.

Chaos-Music : Which songs seem to be the biggest audience pleasers when you play out live?

A SYMPHONY OF STEELE, KINGDOM OF THE FEARLESS, EMALAITH, GREAT SWORD OF FLAME, THE BURNING OF ROME, GATE OF KINGS, THROUGH BLOOD & FIRE, WINGS OF VENGEANCE, etc....

Chaos-Music : After touring in the European countries did you find a big difference between the European fans and the U.S fans?

All Fans are great everywhere! If they like you, they sometimes have different ways of expressing that, but all the audiences we have played to in every country, have been really great and supportive.

Chaos-Music : Can you remember any Excellent bands from those years which delivered great sound but were just too unlucky to carry it up to the listeners?

Yes. There were some great NY bands that were successful here, but never were able to break out of the scene here, and cross over to Europe, such as ZEBRA & THE GOOD RATS, and some who broke up without ever releasing a full length album, like HARLEQUIN.

Chaos-Music : In all those years, did you ever hear a band cover a Virgin Steele song?

Yes many times now. To name a few, a Swiss band named EMERALD has covered "ON THE WINGS OF THE NIGHT", a Brazilian group named FEANOR has recorded, "NOBLE SAVAGE", and a Polish group called CRYSTAL VIPER has done, "ARMS OF MERCURY". All were very well done.

Chaos-Music : I would like you to comment on "House of Atreus Part 1 and Part 2". I'm interesting in what you think, respectively what's your opinion about the songs, covers, lyrics, sound etc?

I love those albums. I think they contain some of the finest moment we have ever recorded. The songs are well thought out, and finely crafted. The performances are inspired and classic. The covers are great. I own that shield. it has been in my Family for years. The production is clear and clean, and I think the lyrics are well thought out. I stand by those albums as a powerful example of some of our best Work.

Chaos-Music : Now i'll give you some Member's name, and you tell me what comes to your mind :

Bruce Dickinson: Good strong voice.

Gary Driscoll: Do you mean the first RAINBOW drummer? Good solid player. I liked his style.

Blaze Bayley: Nice guy. I met him once. Very nice voice too. I heard him at a festival in Italy. I don't know his "Maiden" work though.

Rob Halford: Great. A very unique voice. Lots of power & passion.

Andi Deris: I don't know his work very well. I did see them once in New York, and he was excellent.

Geoff Tate: A really Great singer. I always enjoyed his vocal work.

Chaos-Music : Who are some of the current metal bands that you enjoy today?

TYPE O NEGATIVE, THE CULT, hmmmmm...RHAPSODY are a very good band.

Chaos-Music : And you are thinking about recording the next album? If yes What kind of stuff can we expect from you guys ?

It is done. It is called..."VISIONS OF EDEN". It will be released on September 8th. It is Epic, Bombastic and quite over the top. It has Power, and Might and also a great sense of Melancholy to it...The album is based on what happened regarding the destruction of Paganism and Gnosticism and the desecration & eradication of the Goddess principle, due to the rise of the "Father-God" principle and then later the rise of "organized" religions. It concerns LILITH and Ancient Sumerian Myths. It is a very Dark Work.

It is perhaps even darker than the darkest VS moments. It is more Nocturnal, Autumnal, Celestial, Vampiric, Paganistic, Lunar, Underground and in general more Extreme. The brutality is if possible even more brutal, (especially mentally speaking), and the tender moments are incredibly Melancholy, Tortured, Forlorn and Torn. It is a Music full of eternal longing, suffering and regret. Long Smoldering passions, lust and despair ignite, consume and die... In the end... a type of hope arises. Not always the "All Conquering Triumph Ideology", but a sense of merging with the perennial consciousness of the Universe, where one day.... a rebirth of sorts might follow... a Beauty born of Grief. I am using more piano or acoustic guitar combined with very deeply tuned heavy guitars. Vocally it is very, very melodic, and I can be tender, aggressive, and bluesy. At times the vocal style is like the bluesy singing on the Life Among The Ruins album, only the Music and Melodies here are very, very different.

"VISIONS OF EDEN:, is very atmospheric. There are big Epic Anthemic pieces, with always sing-able, & memorable "hooks", but there is also a Dark, Brooding, Moody, Impressionistic, quality that manifests itself throughout. There is over the top orchestration, yet simplicity. Nothing is done for the sake of overindulgence, or complexity for complexities sake. Everything is in proportion, balance and effective for the feelings/sentiments in question. It is a new development I think. A further progression of my compositional style.

These Works are Epic, Bombastic and totally full on Metal, sort of like Conan the Barbarian meets Wagner in a Dark, Black Cave! Perhaps it sounds like.... Cold Moonlight on a Haunted Cathedral. It screams out like a frightening Apparition, a Banshee, or it moans Tragically like the Wailing of the Wind through Accursed Ruins... Images of stark bare trees, clutching at a Dark, Pregnant, Grey/Black Cloud covered Sky while fog stalks the streets are conjured. Several tracks contain a very eerie, haunting quality that would be very much at home in a Horror Movie such as "The Omen", "The Ninth Gate" or "The Exorcist" ... ! All are extremely heavy, moody and melodic. It is music to accompany either the Ending of the World, the Birthing of a New World or both!!!

Chaos-Music : These Last words are yours.So what do you want to say to your Moroccan fans and to the readers of this interview?

I thank you kindly for listening and I am grateful for your Belief, & Support! Keep well and remain Forever...INVICTUS!!!

BY THE HAMMER OF ZEUS...Cheers,

David DeFeis-VIRGIN STEELE

Chaos-Forum : Thank you so much for taking the time to answer us,we appreciate that.

Members:

David ``The Lion/Young Zeus`` Defeis - Vocals, keyboards, orchestration
Edward ``Van Dorian`` Pursino - Electric/acoustic guitars
Joshua ``The Sorceror`` Block - Bass
Frank ``The Animal/The Baron/The Kraken`` Gilchriest - Drums

Albums:

Virgin Steele 1982
Guardians Of The Flame 1983
Noble Savage 1986
Age Of Consent 1988
Life Among The Ruins 1993
The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell: Part I 1994
The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell: Part II 1995
Invictus 1998
The House Of Atreus: Act I 1999
The House Of Atreus: Act II 2000
The Book Of Burning 2002
Visions of Eden 2006

Links:

http://www.virgin-steele.com/
http://www.myspace.com/virginsteele[/center]
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http://www.myspace.com/chaos_music

[black_in_black]

Thank's Griffith for this interview . Thank's to David Defeis for giving us his time .

Keep on given us a good Metal
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I will hope, my soul will fly, so I will live forever
Heart will die, my soul will fly, and I will live forever

[Zero Tolerance Webzine]

Really i can't find the words thank you so much for this interview this is the honor for us to doing interview with a band as you so keep working more and more i hope u playing someday in our scene
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http://zero-tolerance.110mb.com

http://www.myspace.com/alorchi

http://zero-tolerance.allgoo.net/index.htm "Forum"

[MetalorD]

it's really awsome Man !!!!
Thanx david for this amazing interview... Virgin steele is a wonderful band (something like a dream team ) and after this interview we have a clear idea about the band and it's carrer....
Again thanx david for the interview and hope you (from the bottom of my heart) a good luck in your future project and hope one day we'll see ya in our realm

Thanx Griffith


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[Bulldozer]

this band is above all, a source of inspiration for all the bands which want to play a good music..
Thanks Mr.David Defeis for this interesting interview which gave us a major idea about Virgin Steele
and thank you griffith for this great job
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Old TestAmenT

[Abbath]

Thanks Virgin Steele for all the rythms which inspired our dreams and senses.. thanks for leading in a great scene.. thanks for all.. Virgin Steele is indeed one of the leaders of the metal scene which maintain a good sense of creativity and melody.. they are the kind of bands which keeps innovation in a certain style..