Jeez is it really that time of year already?  Hard Rock Hell iV was like weeks ago right?  All that snow and freezing our metal nuts off in those pesky Pontins chalets.  Nope it really was a whole twelve months ago, and that time has literally flown by for most of us in a year crammed full of Uber Rock delights. 

 

One delight we were sadly denied at last years Hard Rock Hell was the first live performance from American Metallers Lizzy Borden on UK soil in god knows how long.  This was something that disappointed more than just I as URHQ as many of my fellow scribes could be seen openly weeping into their copies of ‘Menace To Society’ and ‘Visual Lies’.  Copies they had brought along especially to be signed by the band I might add.

 

Thankfully for us Jonni and the Hard Rock Hell team also saw how gutted many fans were that day so Lizzy Borden are back on this year’s line up and that’s why I thought it was a perfect time to have a quick Transatlantic chat with my old friend AC Alexander, to find out what really did happen just 52 very short weeks ago.

 

 

Hey AC, we had a great time catching up with you at Hard Rock Hell last year, even if we didn’t get a chance to see you guys play live. Remind us what happened and why so many Lizzy Borden fans were frustrated?

 

It started out being snowed in at the Amsterdam airport forcing our HRH set to be pushed further and further back. When the band finally arrived to the UK we had were held up in customs for hours. They informed us that out paperwork was incorrect and we were not permitted to perform in the UK-I can’t tell you what a crushing blow this was to us.

 

Fortunately as you all know the very kind folk at HRH are having us back to remedy the missed performance

 

So you’ve got a main stage slot this year? What time are you on and what can we expect?

 

Not sure of the exact time (its 00:30 on the Saturday morning), but what you can expect is a Lizzy Borden show that will be firing on all cylinders. We are very excited to be back in the UK!!

 

Why should anyone who doesn’t know Lizzy Borden check you out rather than go to another stage?

 

Lizzy Borden is not just a musical performance; it is an experience where the audience becomes the 6^th member of the band. It is a transfer of energy kissed with rock ‘n’ roll decadence- and bottom line fun! Besides, where else will you get to see a Marten Andersson bass solo?

 

What have Lizzy Borden been up to in the last year?

 

We finished up the US/CAN ‘Summer of Blood’ tour in August and have been writing for the next album.

 

I hear there is new material in the pipeline! What can you tell us about that?

 

The next record will be very song oriented. Everyone is contributing ideas and really pushing the capabilities of our individual songwriting. Instead of writing ten songs to get one good one, we are taking 10 of the one good ones and getting one from that! The trend is downloading singles now, and we aim for the next record to be a collection of songs worthy of that.

 

On a personal level, what about you’re other projects Warrior and H8x9?

 

I have been working on the next H8x9 with the other guitarist, but it is on hold for now due to the momentum that surrounds the Lizzy Camp. The same has been for Warrior even though there is written and recorded material I did with Flo (Joe Floyd).

 

Give us an insight into what it’s like to be a LA rocker: I can’t help notice that Lizzy seems to continuously tweet from the Playboy Mansion!!

 

For how much Lizzy is there I think he might have his own parking spot, and be responsible for naming the peacocks & spider monkeys! Its just another one of his hangs though. There is so much to do in LA that one can never get bored…and being in a band does have certain perks at times.

 

 

Introduce us to the rest if the band! Who’s got the worst on the road habits?

 

Besides Lizzy there is Joey Scott, Marten Andersson, and Dario Lorina. As far as worst road habits I can’t really say…come aboard the bus and find out!

 

So, you’re known as a hard partying band…Give us a preview of your worst chat up line for the laydeez of Pontins, and London?

 

This band loves to have a good time, no matter how sleep deprived, hung over, and under the weather we may be…we just can’t say “no”. As for the ladies of the UK- we look forward to meeting her majesty’s finest.

 

At Hard Rock Hell, you’re sharing the bill with Ace Frehley, did you ever wire up your guitar with a smoke generator and rocket fireworks?

 

Hah-Yes, one of my first bands I had a device that attached to the back of my headstock that would shoot a ball of fire via flash paper…that was fun and definitely Ace inspired!

 

So what does 2012 hold in store? How is Lizzy Borden taking on world domination? Any plans to return to Wacken or Bang Your Head, what about the UK’s Bloodstock?

 

Yes, yes and yes! We want to take the Lizzy Borden show everywhere next summer- Europe, South America, Australia, and Japan.

 

What are you looking forward to doing in the UK, apart from the 2 gigs?

 

Would love to take in some sights, but it looks like the shows in the UK are followed by more dates so the one day off is a travel day to Finland.

 

Lizzy first reached prominence in the 80’s when the sleaze rock scene was blowing up the Sunset Strip and he’s now one of the few remaining guys still grinding out new music. What do you think is the secret to his longevity?

 

It is his work ethic and ability to always present fresh ideas. Even when older material is played in the set, it is done in a way that makes it viable today. Lizzy does not look to live in or hold on to the past, this leaves the future as the only alternative.

 

Next to metal/rock, what’s your favorite style of music to play and what does it do for you?

 

I love playing country music. It is a bit of a departure from playing progressive metal or Lizzy material, but it is fun. I love guitar players like Chet Atkins, Danny Gatton, and Brad Paisley- plus the different technique that goes into that style of playing.

 

In your opinion, what are the three qualities of a great rock song?

 

The killer Riff, the great Hook, and the perfect Solo… Nail all three of these and you got something.

 

You’ve collaborated with a fairly impressive list of musicians. Is there one you have yet to play with who you’d love to work with in the future?

 

Would have to go with an artist that has been a huge inspiration, Paul Stanley

 

If you had to spend ten years on a desert island, and that island mysteriously had a stereo system and the power to run it, and you could only have one album to listen to during those ten years, what would it be?

 

That is a hard question with an easy answer….KISS Alive!

 

What’s the difference between a great guitar solo and a balls-out killer of a lead?

 

A great solo is memorable and can evoke the emotion carried throughout the song. It speaks in a language that the human voice cannot achieve…it can give you chills and make you cry. A Balls out lead would be off the cuff and tough-one that smacks you in the face with a take no prisoners attitude.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us AC, and see you this weekend at Hard Rock Hell 5…we can’t wait!!

 

http://www.lizzyborden.com/

http://www.acalexanderguitar.com/