Interview with Apollo of Firewind

Hey guys, I mentioned this on the show so for those of you interested, here's the interview written up. Writing credits go to Michael Newbold Smith, who did a fantastic job. This is pretty much verbatim, word for word as I went along. Photography credits go to Anthony DeCrisantis Photography (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Middlebury-VT/Anthony-DeCrisantis-Photography/100380056700042)

 

Interview with: Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) – Montreal, QC – Sunday, November 7, 2010

 

Is Apollo your stage name?

 

It’s my middle name.

 

Were you friends with Firewind before you joined the band?

 

I’ve been with Firewind since September 2005. Before that, I’d met [Gus G., guitarist/songwriter] in Sweden when I moved to Gothenburg. I was introduced to him at Studio Fredman, and he liked my singing style. The first time he made the offer to join the band, I turned it down, because I had a lot of other things going on and wasn’t totally sure if this project would work out.

 

And how does being in Firewind feel now?

 

It feels great!

 

Were you a fan of theirs prior to joining up?

 

I hadn’t really heard their stuff. I guess I don’t really think in that way; I saw it as a fun job to do.

 

Gus is pretty well known for his role in Sweden’s Dream Evil as well. Do you see a big difference between them and Firewind?

 

Yes. Dream Evil is more of a goofy band, the kind that jokes around all the time. I don’t really like that kind of music, though they are a good band. I saw Firewind as more serious and straightforward.

 

How’s the dynamic between band members these days? Smooth?

 

Absolutely. Firewind is like family. Some of us are from different countries, so we all can speak different languages to each other. For example, I can speak both Swedish and Greek to Gus. Of course, we all speak English as well. Our fill-in bassist tonight [Marios Iliopoulos of Nightrage], we’ve been friends with him for a long time. He’s part of our family too.

 

How’s Marios working out on stage [temporarily replacing bassist Petros Christo]? Does it feel the same?

 

Sure. It’s been awesome. We all know and respect each other, and we’ve been working and playing together really well.

 

Do you see much of a difference between crowds at European shows and North American shows?

 

Hmmm. That’s kind of a tough one. I guess audiences here are a little more “hardcore.” It’s hard to explain, actually.

 

I think I know what you mean. One of the best live albums of all time is by my favorite band, Iced Earth – Alive In Athens. When you listen to it, you can literally feel the awesome energy from the crowd. I’ve witnessed the same thing here in North America.

 

Exactly. When we toured with Dragonforce, Firewind was basically unknown, but people loved us.

 

Since you’ve spent so much time in both Sweden and Greece, where do you feel most at home?

 

I feel more at home playing music in Greece. Otherwise, I’m more at home in Sweden.

 

Do you see a big difference between the two?

 

Greece seems more relaxed to me. There don’t seem to be too many time schedules, for instance. In Sweden, things are a lot more organized. When it comes to music, though, Sweden has a very tight circle of bands, and that’s not such a good thing. It’s hard for “outsiders” to get a lot of attention there. Firewind is not known in Sweden. Sure, people know about us, but they don’t want to push us. Then again, there are a lot of bands that know each other and help each other out.

 

How many bands were you in before Firewind? Have you had to change your singing style much, based on the different music being played?

 

Six or seven bands. Yeah, I tend to change a bit, depending on the music. I’m in a band called Evil Masquerade, from Denmark. You could sort of describe them as a “heavy Rainbow.” I’m now in the band Spiritual Beggars, started by Mike Amott from Arch Enemy. They play ‘70s stoner metal. In Firewind, I usually stick to the low-level pitches; I don’t like to sing too many high notes. I don’t want to show off. I just want to do what I CAN do.

 

Do the guys in Firewind let you explore much, musically?

 

Yes, and I’m very happy about that. I’ve written several songs for Firewind. My favorite album has to be The Premonition, because that was the album where every song seemed totally solid and 100% to me. Of course, our new album Days Of Defiance takes things one step further.

 

Who do you consider your main inspirations?

 

I really like Russell Allen from Symphony X. Of course, Ronnie James Dio is a huge inspiration. And lots of others, mostly old stuff, ‘70s stuff.

 

Are there any newer, modern metal bands that you’ve really liked?

 

I don’t listen to newer bands too much, but I’d have to say I really like Slipknot.

 

Really? That’s surprising, because they’ve always been accused of being “too commercial.”

 

But they write good songs. That’s what’s most important. Good songs, and a big, heavy sound.

 

Are there any bands out there that you hate?

 

No. I like all bands!

 

How about guilty pleasures? For instance, a radio band like Nickelback?

 

I think Sting is great. As for bands like Nickelback, I think that they write certain specific songs for the radio that aren’t representative of the rest of the album. So it doesn’t all sound like that. Nickelback, they’re a good band.

 

What do you do in your time off?

 

I’m a music teacher at a school. I teach guitar, piano, bass, and drums to teenagers.

 

You can play everything? What’s your favorite instrument?

 

I can play everything, but not well! Guitar would be my favorite, though.

 

And on a random note, your favorite food?

 

Moussaka!

 

Do you have any hobbies?

 

Only music. That’s my passion. I played guitar in school bands since I was ten. My first band was more of a punk band. Then when I first heard Kiss, that really stuck with me.

 

I noticed your wedding ring. How long have you been married?

 

I’ve been married eight years now. My wife is Swedish, and we met in Gothenburg. We have two small kids. Aside from music, I love travelling with the family and meeting friends in different places.

 

Had you ever been to North America before you started touring?

 

No. Firewind has only been here twice. We were here in 2008, and now we’re back. I’d love more of a chance to explore North America while on tour, though. I like ancient places and really old buildings, but America and Canada aren’t very old countries, so there aren’t too many of those!

 

What are your favorite places in Greece and Sweden?

 

My favorite place in Greece has to be Santorini. And I get a lot of my inspiration from the north of Sweden. In summer there, it’s daylight almost all the time, and in winter it’s just the opposite.

 

Do you ski?

 

Yes.

 

Are you good?

 

Yeah!

 

What do you like to do for fun when on tour?

 

Being on stage is fun! That’s what I love. It’s a job that’s also a lot of fun.

 

Do you like to read in your downtime?

 

Sure, all the time. Right now I’m reading Dan Brown’s latest book, The Lost Symbol.

 

Do you and the other guys ever have any tension while on tour?

 

No, never. In Firewind, we like to work together to resolve issues. If someone has a problem that’s affecting the rest of us, we talk about it openly and try to fix it. We’re a family.

 

What was your worst stage experience?

 

The last time we toured North America in 2008 with Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity, and Divine Heresy, I went to the cinema one day. We were playing that night, but I lost track of time. The guys couldn’t reach me because I had my cell phone turned off in the cinema. When they finally got a hold of me, I had to rush to the venue at the last minute. Then when I walked out on stage, I was so distracted that I started singing the wrong song [laughs]. But the guys responded pretty quickly and switched over to the song I was singing, so that actually worked out okay.

 

Do you party a lot on tour?

 

Sometimes. In the middle of a long tour, yes. I remember one stop in Austria where every one of us was just gone. But partying and drinking, those are things that come naturally. Sometimes it happens, sometimes no. That’s a good thing too, because I’m not a beer drinker.

 

What do you drink?

 

Whiskey. Mostly Scotch!

 

How do you take care of your voice? Do you worry about getting sick?

 

The best way to take care of your voice is to get a lot of sleep. But even if I’m sick, I still have to go onstage and do the show for the fans!

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Apollo and I during the interview	4.33 MB