The band “Planet of Zeus” is a Greek heavy rock band, famous not only in Greece but internationally. They gave us a versatile and heavy rock interview! You can enjoy it:
1. Three members (total 4) of the band are friends from Secondary School and at the same time you are musicians in the same band. How do you feel about this? What would you identify as positives and negatives of this familiarity in the band?
Actually, all members of the band are friends from Secondary School unless you know something else. Actually, Planet of Zeus started with three members. Obviously, there aren’t any negatives. Our friendship is a blessing because we spend half of our lives on the road. A 24/7 cohabitation can add a strain in the band, especially when we face bad conditions (for example 2 months away from our base), even if we are buddies. So think about the troubles when members of a band have only a business or artistic relationship.
2. Tell us details about your album “Loyal To The Pack” which is the most “calm”, “dark” and “rock n roll” of your discography. We like the bands which can show versatility and also they are not clung in the kind of music with which they became famous. Why did you decide on the song “Athens” for the music video?
The album “Loyal to the pack” is the most hard album of our discography. Ιt is not necessary to swear to someone in order to offend them irreparably. This happens with music as well. It is not essential to “scream” an album so as to break bones. Original fans of Planet Of Zeus seem to have understood this already. For us, the history of guitar is one in 2016. Our tradition is the route from Little Richard to Meshuggah (either it is called classic rock or it is called post noise aboriginal black metal). We feel that our band’s aim is to create a beautiful, unique and bastard alloy and with it our listeners will be introduced to our music and songs which are unknown maybe.
3. It is impossible for you to play music on the planet “Zeus”. So, tell us one tough terrain on planet Earth on which you want to do a concert.
Maybe, in an impressive cave for only a few people.
4. Have you never felt pressure in order for the interest of your fans to stay undiminished ?
As a band, we feel the need to shoot our personal limits and goals higher and higher. Also, we have the need to try things which were unattainable in the past, for example from the music to the organization of our concerts. We do not feel pressure from anyone. We have an unlimited, lusty and group hunger for creativity and travels.
5. Which Greek bands stand out in your kind of music and generally in the (greek) rock scene?
We like Rotting Christ, Nightstalker, 1000 Mods, Vodka Juniors, Suicidal Angels, Chronospere, Whereswilder, Tuber, Stonebringer, Despite Everything, Wish upon a star, Insect Radio, Blame Kandinsky, Moa Bones… The list goes on and on..
6. Do you agree with the opinion that the small Greek rock scene is due to the lack of Greek record labels?
Under no circumstances are the record labels at fault. This cliché is old already. People create conditions for themselves and they should not wait for them to arise. When someone is 15 years old, he should not start playing music in order to strike it in riches. Start playing music because if you don’t you feel like you will jump off the cliff. On the one hand, David Bowie deals with every single detail from the music to accounting. On the other hand, there are bands in Greece which have not been able to save two pennies as a group of friends in order to record a demo. Also, these bands trumpet that they want to dedicate themselves to “artistic vision”. We are full of “artists” and “talents”. We lackgroups of friends and people who wish to implement their dreams..
7. Finally, should musicians support a clear political opinion at all costs? For example, Electric Litany clarified that they will not give concerts in city Piraeus and in city Volos due to the results of municipal elections (in Greece).
This is a personal affair. I do not want to speak generally about this. Personally, I support and admire people who take a stand through their choices, music, statements and lifestyle. I believe that these people do not pretend and not premeditate and for this reason they do not shout. These people are active citizens and socio-politically sensitive in their nature. About Electric Litany’s decision, I deem that they had clear intentions and they are a consistent band in many fields. A concert of Electric Litany, anywhere in the province, could change the course of two 15 years old teenager’s life choices. For example, they (young people), could take up music, become sensitive citizens and they will not feel that they have only the choices of drugs, hooliganism and fascism.
8. How do you like the transfer of Axl Rose in AC/DC for their upcoming concerts? Which musician would you like for a few lives with you?
The first video proves that Axl is excellent. When a band changes so many members, we lose our interest and our emotional bond with the band. We prefer teams over soloists. We wouldn’t want a musician in Planet of Zeus. We admire and appreciate many but our team is complete.
9. What else do you do except your music? What other hobbies do you have?
We are quite unsociable and the music occupies us 24 hours a day.
10. Can you tell us your concert schedule over the summer?
On May 13 we are playing at Piraeus 117 academy with band “Lionize”, on the 14th in Patras, on the 21st in Cyprus and in the summer we are going to take part in several festivals abroad.
We thank very much the drummer, Seraphim Giannakopoulos, of Planet of Zeus for giving us this interview.
You can visit their site: http://www.planetofzeus.gr/