Interview with SCOTT ROCKENFIELD
by Beth Foxnews Jordan
1. First, tell us about your start in music. Was there anyonein particular
you looked up to as an influence? What was it about the drumsthat appealed
to you?
SR: I STARTED DRUMS AT THE AGE OF 13....(I AM NOW 42)....ACTUALLYSOME OF
MY FIRST INFLUENCES WERE BANDS LIKE RUSH, VAN HALEN, ETC...HOWEVERMY FIRST
IMPRESSION CAME FROM KISS ALIVE...!!
2. Tell us about the Queensryche's beginning. How did you guysmeet? Tell
us a little about how you came to be signed and the rest bandsearly
history.
SR: QR STARTED WITH MY FRIENDSHIP WITH EDDIE JACKSON AND MICHAEL
WILTON...WE HAD ALWASY WANTED TO PLAY TOGETEHR AND THE MOMENTTHAT WE DID,
WE KNEW WE HAD SOMETHING COOL TO WORK ON...!! GEOFF WAS LATERADDED TO
PICTURE AFTER WE HAD ALL GOT MOVING...
3. Tell us about Operation Mindcrime and how the idea/conceptof the
albums came about?
SR: WE HAD ALL BEEN FANS OF CONCEPT TYPE OF RECORDS SUCH ASPINK FLOYD,
RUSH ETC, AND SO WHEN THE TIME CAME IN THE LATE 80'S FOR US TOSTART TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO ON OUR NEXT RECORD, WE ALL JUST DECIDEDTHAT
WE ANTED TO DIG INTO OUR OWN IDEA OF A CONCEPT PROJECT...OMC WASTHEN
BORN...
4. What can we expect from Operation Mindcrime II? Is it stillexpected to
be released on April 4? Will a tour follow?
SR: IF I TOLD YOU ANYTHING, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO KILL YA...HAHA...!!YES IT
COMES OUT ON APRIL 4, AND WE ARE PLANNING A WORLD TOUR STARTINGIN LATE
SUMMER...
4. Queensryche toured with KISS in the mid-80's. Tell us alittle bit
about meet the band, particularly Eric Carr. What was your firstimpression
of him? Did the two of you ever trade drum secrets? Did you everhang out
while on the road? What was it like touring with such a forcein the music
industry?
SR: WHEN WE GOT THE PHONE CALL IN 1985 THAT KISS WAS TOURINGAND WOULD LIKE
TO INVITE US ALONG, WE WERE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT...I MEANAFTER ALL,
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KISS...!! ERIC AND I HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.HE WAS
NOTHING SHORT OF BEING A COOL GUY TO ME AND MY BUDDIES ALL THE
TIME...THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OUR PATHS HAD CROSSED MANY TIMES,AND HE AND I
ALWAYS LOOKED BACK ON OUR TRAVELS TOGETHER...KINDA COOL TO HAVETHAT KIND
OF RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE...!
5. From Tommy in New Jersey - In an interview, Geoff mentionedthat a
screenplay was being developed for a Mindcrime movie. What isthe status?
Will Mindcrime II be incorperated? We live in a very politicallycorrect
world today, do you anticipate any sort of backlash because ofthe lyric,
"God must be dead 'cause I'm still free. No religion canhold me" from
"Murderer?" on Mindcrime II?
SR: THERE ARE TALKS, TALKS, TALKS...LOTSA TALKING...
6. Ronnie James Dio has been a long time friend of the band.In recent
months, there there have been rumors of a possible Hear N Aidreturn. When
he came in to do "Doctor X" was their any further mentionabout it?
SR: I HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THE HEAR N AID IDEA...BUT THATDOES NOT MEAN
THAT IT COULD NOT HAPPEN...
7. Tell us little about the bands website. What will fans findthere?
SR: THE QR SITE IS A FULL ON MACHINE THAT FANS CAN REALLY GATHER/BUY/ETC
AND THE GOODS AND INFO THEY WANT...!
8. Bobby in Chicago asked if you could tell us who you wouldname as the
Top 5 drummers of all time.
SR; I HAVE SO MANY DIFFERNET TASTES THAT IT REALLY WOULD NOTBE FAIR TO
PINPOINT ANYONE PARTICULAR...AFTER ALL, IT WOULD ONLY BE MY OPINION,AND
THEY ALL DIFFER FROM PERSON TO PERSON...
9. Aside from Queensryche, I know you have a couple of otherside projects
going. Could you tell us about them?
SR: YES I HAVE ANOTHER BAND TOGETHER CALLED---"SLAVE TOTHE SYSTEM"...VISIT
US AT Slavesto the system "STIGMATA" IS REALLY CLIMBINGTHRE ROCK CHARTS RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED
EVERYONE TO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD...! I ALSO HAVE A COOL DRUMFINSIHING
COMPANY CALLED- ROCKENWRAPS
Visit out website Rockenwrapsfor more details.
10. Over the years, Queensryche has developed a very loyalfan base. Do
you have any special you'd like to tell the fans?
THANX FOR LISTENING...!!