Interview with David DeFeis of Virgin Steele

By Neon Blonde

September 18, 2002

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NB: I love your definition of Virgin Steele. "Fresh approach" sums up, for me, what Virgin Steele is. What does it mean to you, personally?

ANSWER: A new and adventurous, forward thinking ideology/approach to the composition of Music. A new thought process, not mired in the muck of clichés and well worn paths, but boldly lighting out for the wild-lands! To be aware of your roots/traditions, but to not...be a slave to them! To have no fear about bringing in various elements not normally found or widely used inside the Metal Genre.

NB: I know you hate to use labels but how do you feel about how the music industry uses labels? Do you feel like it affects you or the band or do you care?

ANSWER:I personally don't care for the standard labeling process, but I understand the industries need to package what they are trying to sell. However, I do think the Industry could be more imaginative and far reaching in their approach. It certainly does have an effect on how we are perceived, but....it doesn't have an effect on me as a person or composer. I do what I do and...I am quite aware of who I am and what I represent. I am interested in creating sonic landscapes/emotional portraits, and that is what I concentrate on.

NB: You say that there are three terms you like to use to describe VS: Romantic Expressionism, Symphonic Blues Based Metal, and my personal favorite Barbaric Romanticism. That term really comes out in Hot and Wild. Was it your intention for VS to be distinct in it’s sound or did it just happen that way?

ANSWER: It was always my intention to carve out my/our own place within the Metal genre. Hopefully I/we have been successful in this. I am always striving to represent/paint a picture of what my particular take on the Metal Scene is. I try to capture in sound the story of my place in the World and reflect my observations of the World and the people in my World. It is not an accident. I try very hard to craft songs that have their own particular voice/landscape/perspective/etc....What I mean by BARBARIC-ROMANTICISM, is: The Music has the sound, power, and fury of very primal aggressive Metal, what I call the "BONES OF THE MOUNTAIN" Sound, combined with the advanced chord structures/harmonic framework of Romantic Classical Music like...hmmm..Chopin, Liszt, Verdi, Wagner, Debussey...etc..., as well as a Romantic lyrical/poetic sensibility. I always enjoyed the works of Poets like Baudelaire, Byron, Shelley, etc. VIRGIN STEELE, is a fusion of elements that are not traditionally thought of as being able to be fused together. We are Moon & Sun, Darkness & Light, Hell & Heaven, all the opposites now brought together in a mutual attraction, aligned and re-combining to form a new third element!!!

NB: One of the many things I love about VS is the fact you don’t conform to any style or trend. You don’t put out ‘cookie cutter’ music. What are some of the reactions you get due to this way of thinking?

ANSWER: Our Fans truly Love & Respect this!!! Our enemies....well they burn in secret! Ha!!! In all honesty, I do think most people appreciate that we are seriously trying to do our own thing, regardless of the current trend or flavor of the month. Our Fans know that we have always cultivated a Noble and Honest approach to our delivery, that won't ever be swayed by current popular fashion. We make our own Laws for ourselves and are only interested in seriously developing our own brand of Music making. This is something that our Fans can rely on!

NB: Jim Morrison was referred to as Dionysus from a vision that Ray Manzcarek had. Do you consider yourself the Dionysus of the modern world?

ANSWER: Well my middle name is actually...Dionysus, and...I am very well versed in the Ways of the Vine, sooo.....perhaps!

NB: Your love of music goes way back. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

ANSWER: I started playing piano at 8 years of age, and I joined my first Rock Band at 11, so yeah....I have had an interest from as far back as I can remember! I received a small record player as a gift at 2 years old, and I would sleep clutching my favorite records! Music, and Theatre were key components/constants in my environment growing up. My oldest sister was studying Opera, my other sister and brother were in Rock Bands and my Father was active in Theatre, therefore I certainly had to be influenced by this a great deal to say the least!

NB: Who came up with the name Virgin Steele?

ANSWER: I did.

NB: How do you think VS has been received? In the States and in Europe?

ANSWER: The people who know about the Band, enjoy the Band! And more people are turned on to the Band everyday! Europe has always been a stronger market for us, due to the well organized network/structure of the Metal Scene there, but....the States has its share of serious Fans, and more are arriving on our side each day!

NB: Tell us, who is David DeFeis?

ANSWER: Ha!!! He is the songwriter/composer/lyricist/vocalist/keyboard-player/producer of this Epic Style-Beast Metal Group, called...VIRGIN STEELE!!! A Pagan, heart/spirit, who is totally in Love with the process of creating & performing this Music we know called "METAL"!

NB: My favorite Virgin Steele song off House of Atreus, Act I is Kingdom of the Fearless. Tell me how the idea came about for a Barbaric Romantic Opera?

ANSWER: THANKS! It is one of my favorites too! It was the culmination of years of dreaming and actually striving to reach that particular plateau! I was asked by a German Theatre to create something, "Like an Opera", that they could perform. My mind immediately flashed to>>>"THE HOUSE OF ATREUS" Myths! I read them when I was quite young, and I always remembered every detail, and I have always had a strong fondness for this Legend! I think all of the characters whether they be Gods, Goddesses or Humans, all behave in a very realist humanistic fashion. And...the Tale itself is Eternally Timeless and Relevant!!!

NB: Would you ever consider writing another opera? Have you ever had anyone ask you to write an opera or a piece of theatrical-type music? Would you do it?

ANSWER: Yes and I already have done this twice! We staged the HOUSE OF ATREUS work in a German Theatre, with a German Theatrical Company. Due to its success, we also made a second Metal-Opera for the stage, based on the Music & Lyrics/concept of THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN & HELL/INVICTUS albums!!! Now...I am composing another work based around the character of Lilith from Ancient Sumerian Legends. This work will premier in June once again in Germany, with the same German Theatrical Company(Landestheatre-Schwaben), which presented the other 2 works!

NB: Let’s talk about the writing and recording process. How does it work for VS?

ANSWER: Songs/compositions are born in many diverse ways. Sometimes I begin with a lyric, sometimes with the music, sometimes both simultaneously, sometimes with a title. It is always different for each song. But, regardless of how the songs are originally conceived, I then spend many hours developing them until I am satisfied that they are ready to be recorded. I spend hours at the piano arranging and re-arranging my ideas into a coherent shape. Same goes for the lyrics. My goal is to stay true to my original inspiration while fleshing the songs out to a complete form. I want them to be like a novel, or a movie, a Magickal wine, or great sex, with a strong beginning, a great middle, a fabulous climax and a noble finish!!!

NB: Where do you find inspiration for your songs?

ANSWER: From Life itself! My thoughts, my feelings, my observations of my corner of the World, and the people in it.

NB: What would you say the easiest song that you ever wrote is? What would be the hardest?

ANSWER: They all have their moments of difficulty and ease, but...hmm...I think the easiest birth was...FIGHT TOOTH & NAIL, and perhaps the most painful was, EMALAITH.

NB: You have to be very pleased about the way VS has had an impact on music. Especially since a lot of the music out there is without melody, harmony, depth, and any real substance. Everything VS is. How do you feel about this?

ANSWER: I feel very proud & happy with my song-writing contributions thus far! I hope to continue to be able to present worthwhile pieces of Music for many years to come!!! I wish to keep touring and making Music with VIRGIN STEELE Forever!!!

NB: How did the concept for Book of Burning come about? (I love this!!!)

ANSWER: I thought it might be nice to explore the past, present & perhaps future, all on one CD. I wanted to re-visit some of the early tracks with new ears & eyes, a "fresh approach", and today's recording technology and the fire-power of the Band as it exists now. At the same time I had various other new and or slightly older songs that I wanted to re-examine/re-compose as well. We recorded everything in one go last Summer, with a very spontaneous 'Live" type of feeling in the studio. I think the results are quite OK! I also wanted to have our Fans be able to rest awhile and absorb the past/present, before going on into the future with more new sounds. That is also why the "HYMNS TO VICTORY" album was released at the same time.

NB: Tell me about Chosen Ones. It sounds like the song is referring to the children of Israel when they wandered around the desert for forty years. Could you elaborate on this?

ANSWER: It certainly could be about the children of Israel, but also about any other tribe of people,(Native Americans, etc.), that has had to wander without a homeland. There have been many such types of people, throughout the Ages. We wanted it to be universal...yet specific if a listener cares to see it as such. I think this was achieved.

NB: What inspired you to write this song?

ANSWER: Probably the current state of the World and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle-East.

NB: David, are you single?

ANSWER: Ahhh...Yes.

NB: You are in wonderful shape! What do you do to keep fit?

ANSWER: I thank you very much! Hmmm...I swim, and I do throw the weights around a bit, plus singing keeps me in shape.

NB: What sort of hobbies do you partake in when you’re not touring, in the studio, or rehearsing?

ANSWER: Drinking wine/scotch, socializing with my friends. I am a voracious reader, sooo...books, sword collecting, smashing home appliances...etc...

NB: How was Europe? I read that you guys had Doro as traveling companions when you hit Sweden. I love Doro. I have her last three albums and a Warlock!

ANSWER: Europe was great and is still in love with Metal! Yes we did travel with DORO & her Band. They were most excellent traveling companions! They kick ass live and are extremely nice, easy going folk!

NB: Can you give us any details concerning the re-release of VS-I and Guardians of the Flame? This will make my friend, George Call of ASKA, very happy. He’s the reason I’m a Virgin Steele fan!

ANSWER: Both of those recordings will be issued on September 23!!! They both contain Bonus Tracks and very special packaging. This is a most interesting package, and with the bonus tracks you get a rare and often intimate glimpse into the dark past!

NB: What kind of music do you like to listen to?

ANSWER: All sorts! Rock/Metal like...THE CULT, MOTHER LOVE BONE, older things like QUEEN, ZEPPELIN, Classical Music and all sorts of things that moan, groan, and go bump in the Night.

NB: If you can tell us, what’s your favorite VS song and why?

ANSWER: I can't really say, as I have many! I think of all of them as my children, and I care for them all. Perhaps the songs on THE HOUSE OF ATREUS ACT II, are currently the closest to my heart, but...hmmm...tracks like EMALAITH, PERFECT MANSIONS, KINGDOM OF THE FEARLESS...etc..are equally as close.

NB: Do you think VS will ever make it to Texas?

ANSWER: We did once in 1989. We played in Dallas at "On The Rocks", for 3 or 4 Nights! Yes, I think we shall return again!

NB: What would you like for people to say about VS?

ANSWER: That we are straightforward, honest, hardworking fuckers who make great records and deliver onstage!

NB: What would be your most memorable gig in the States? How about European tours?

ANSWER: Too many to list! There have been great moments in the USA & Europe throughout the years! I hope the best is yet to come!!!

NB: Have you ever come to a point where you felt disillusioned or thought maybe it wasn’t really worth it?

ANSWER: I have felt disillusioned several times in my career, but...I never felt like I wanted to give up! Quitting, or admitting defeat are alien concepts to me. I continue regardless! Like I say in INVICTUS, "Manacled, beaten, blackened and burned, cast from the Light of the Goal, I'll never falter, stumble or kneel, thanks to the strength of my Soul"...

NB: Your father is a Shakespearean actor and your sister, Doreen, is an opera singer. What is your background?

ANSWER: Musician, composer, lunatic, warden of the asylum and seeker of esoteric knowledge!

NB: Have you achieved everything that you have set out to do or wanted to do?

ANSWER: No of course not. But...I'm working on it! There are miles to go before I sleep!

NB: David, this has been an awesome treat for me! I want to thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with a new up-and-comer! The floor is yours!

ANSWER: You're very Welcome. My pleasure!!! I just want to say Thanks to all of the Great People out there who have Believed and Supported VIRGIN STEELE throughout the various Eras! Sooo...THANKS TO YOU ALL EVER FAITHFUL, ETERNAL METAL LISTENERS & VIRGIN STEELE FANS!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!! STAY WELL AND REMAIN...INVICTUS!!!!!!!

CHEERS,

DAVID D. DEFEIS

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