Interview: Perttu from cello-metal band Apocalyptica, August 11th 2006
Those of you who have followed The Bullet for a while will have seen Apocalyptica reviews on the site quite regularly. These masters of cello are one of our favourite bands and whenever there’s something happening in Apo-land, we’re more than happy to write about it. We have several gig reviews, accompanied by great live pictures, an album review and a review about their new live dvd. This latest release was the perfect excuse to talk to the band, but unfortunately we didn’t manage to get an interview at their exclusive club show in The Netherlands in July. Luckily Perttu – the dark haired one that gets naked on stage a lot – was willing to do an interview through e-mail.
Life Burns tour 2005
Imre: You all seem a little nervous during the first half of the show that was recorded for the dvd, but after one of the faster songs, everyone (except for the statue-like Antero of course) has loosened up. Why were you so uncomfortable?
Perttu: Well, not nervous really, but of course when you record a dvd everything should be as perfect as possible, so we were probably more like extra concentrated.
Imre: Whose decision was it to have fireworks during the show when the dvd was recorded?
Perttu: I actually got the idea first and the others were okay with it. But we wanted to use a minimum amount, because it’s about the music and not about the huge effects.
Imre: What is your least favourite song to play live?
Perttu: Hmm, I'll not answer to this. It varies... My favourites are now, Seemann. I have such a wonderful opportunity to use my best skills with the melody. Inquisition Symphony for sure is good to play live. Basically there is not a boring part in the show.
Imre: During the Life Burns Tour you opened with the thrilling Path, while during the last tour it was One. Do you prefer to open with an exciting and fast song, or with slow and mysterious like One?
Perttu: I think One was a really cool song to begin with!
Imre: Speaking of songs, we saw you at the club show in Holland a few weeks ago where you performed the fastest ever version of Hall of the Mountain King. It seemed like a challenge. Can you play it even faster?
Perttu: I always try to lead it until the ultimate tempo...
Imre: Apocalyptica is hardly ever featured in music magazines, only when you work together with other bands you will find interviews or articles. Do you collaborate with for example Ville [HIM] and Lauri [The Rasmus] to get more media attention?
Perttu: Well not only because of that. We are written about in metal and rock magazines only by ourselves as well, but mainstream papers always want something special. When we plan co-operations, we are still far from thinking that it will get us into a magazine.
Imre: Though you are not often in magazines or on tv, you have a large group of girls following the band around who seem interested in the band over your looks rather than your music. After the show they want to go on pictures with you and ask for your autographs, and often they are the same people wherever you go. Do you ever think I went on a picture with you yesterday and last week and now you can fuck off!? I mean, do they ever get annoying?
Perttu: There are people following us around, but I appreciate our fans - my existence as a musician is for them, that's the reason I love my/our fans. I find it annoying only if I feel really tired and sick, and then people might even think that I’m an asshole. But that's a natural human virtue, and I should be allowed to have bad days/moments.
Imre: After a show, do you gossip about the people you saw in the crowd, who did something silly, or the people you met after the show? Be honest, girls do it all the time, dont tell me you boys are all perfectly behaved saints.
Perttu: Gossip... Well I try to talk about facts. I hate when "someone has heard something from some other that might be true but noboy knows excactly" but, yeah, boys are into rumours as well.
Imre: Did you work together with Max Cavalera to scare the teenie fangirls away? *hehe*
Perttu: Yes. Hehe... No, we just felt it was time that we did something a bit harder.
Imre: What was it like to work with Max?
Perttu: He's a really cool guy. Professional in what he's doing and easy to work with.
Imre: There are more bands that play cello-rock/metal like Apocalyptica, for example Third Eye Open who covered Tool. Do you find that you have to compete with those bands to get a place on a festival or a tour in a certain -
country?
Perttu: No. We were the first ones, pioneers of cello rock. Our self-confidence as a band is strong enough. It is of course nice that people love to do the same, but we are who we are and will always be. And we give our all to make better and better albums.
Imre: I know you played some festivals in Finland this tour, but when I was in Finland in May, a lot of people were complaining that Finnish bands hardly play in their country anymore once they are known throughout Europe. Do you think this is true? If so, why is this happening?
Perttu: We played only one festival in Finland this season, the biggest one called Ruisrock. So many people miss their favourite bands, but we easily have 60 countries where people would like us to perform every year. You know it is impossible, if you want to see us still after many years...