Ark / Kamelot interview

Hi, Tore! That was one magnificent performance! I'm a huge fan of your playing, and you were terrific tonight!

Thank you, thank you.

This is your first time in the USA, isn't it?

Yes, it is. I like it a lot. The public is very nice.

You know, I have only heard one song from Ark, because it's nearly impossible to get here.

Yeah, it should be out in America in February.

I'm sure you know, we were all hoping you would do something with Khan here, like maybe a Conception song.

We got many requests for that.

Well??

Oh, you know, it just can't sound right without Ingar and Arve.

That's understandable. But can we hope that you will still work with Khan in the future?

Yes we will. And I promiss you, this will be something VERY different!

Can hardly wait! By the way, I am getting married in March.

Cool. Congratulations.

And me and my fiance chose "Hold On" for our wedding song.

(with eyes completely round): "Hold On"? From "Flow"?

Yep. It's one of our favorite songs. Thank you very much for that one!

Tore loses his speech for a second.

So, are you planning to tour the US at some point?

There are talks about coming here early next year, maybe in February.

That'd be awesome! I know, the climate is not very conductive to metal and all...

Actually, we are getting some press. Billboard magazine wrote about this festival, so I think the progress is being made.

Really? That's great that you're gaining popularity! Next thing you know, you might be on MTV!

Tore makes a gesture and a grimace like he just saw a ghost.

OK, so, do you still talk to Khan?

Oh yeah! We're still good friends! Actually, when I was playing a set, I saw Khan in the front row! That was totally unexpected! I was like "WOW!" When Kamelot is playing, I'll do that on him!

What about DC Cooper? You still talk to him? (DC Cooper is walking by that very moment)

(Tore pointing at DC): Who the hell is this guy?! (Tore hides behind my back)

DC: Yeah, get the fuck away from me, man! (DC runs in the opposite direction. Everybody laughs)

Don't you think that you have worked with some real vocal talent? DC, Khan, and now Jorn.

Oh, definitely.

I saw Jorn singing with Yngwie last year... you know, it's strange to see him standing next to you after watching him stand next to Yngwie.

Well, it's like I'm not quite *that* big of a guitarist! (makes a couple of obvious hand gestures. Everybody laughs)

Would you kindly sign me an autograph? (I give him two booklets: from "Burn The Sun" and my Korean release of "In Your Multitude." He signs "BTS" and looks at "IYM" with surprise)

(Tore flips through the pages) Whatta hell is this?

It's "In Your Mulitude", Korean pressing.

Cool! (slides the booklet into his pocket, points behind me) OK, next!

Hey, give it back!

Give what back? What are you talking about?

Alright, you can keep it, but only if you sign it first!

(Tore signs the booklet and returns it): Here you go. (Everybody laughs)

Well, thanks a lot, Tore, I really hope to see you again. You were my favorite guitarist of the festival, sorry to break it out to you.

(Tore leans towards me like he wants to give me a kiss): You know what? You're absolutely right!! (Everybody laughs)

Best of luck to you, Tore! If you play in New York, you'll definitely see me there!

I caught Khan in the garage after the Festival was over.

Hello, Khan! Awesome performance, it was so great to finally see you live!

Oh, thank you, this was really cool to play in front of the "home" crowd.

This was your, what? second gig on US soil?

Yeah, we played with Crimson Glory once last year in Florida before the European tour.

You toured a lot in the last couple of years, is there a difference between American crowd and European?

Well, it's hard to compare, this was just our second time here and all, but the reception on the Festival was great, I mean, people knew our songs and responded very well. Songs like "Forever" and "Lunar Sanctum" went very well.

Yeah, "Lunar Sanctum" was a request from the public... Who did you tour in Europe with?

Axxis. They were really cool guys.

Hmm, interesting combination, they've been around for a long time, but they're probably a smaller band right now than you are. Who was headlining?

In Germany they were headlining, everywhere else - we were.

Did people ask you if you and Tore would team up for maybe one or two Conception songs?

Yeah, many people have.

Well? Where is it??

Oh, you know, it would be cool, but just not the same without Arve and Ingar.

So, what exactly happened in Conception that lead to a breakup?

You know, wasn't anything big. We didn't really fight, it just kinda iced over. Tore started the Ark project while he was still in Conception, and I hooked up with Thom... But we're still good friends with Tore, we live not far from each other in Oslo.

Any hopes to work with Tore in the future?

Definitely. First of all, we want to do something for the fans, like a greatest hits compilation with some other stuff thrown in there or something. Then we'll see.

Let me ask you something: how does the songwriting process work in Kamelot?

Oh, it's hard to say, really. I live in Oslo, Thom lives in Florida, we mostly communicate by email. I fly there maybe several times a year, if we're not touring, do some demos, that sort of stuff.

Must be tough. Do you like America?

(smiling): The weather in Florida is nice.

By the way, we're from New York, flew in yesterday. Have you been there?

Yeah, I've been there once. Very impressive.

Let me share something with you. I'm getting married in March, and the song "Hold On," from "Flow," will be our wedding song!

(Khan loses his calm for a second, looks absolutely stunned): "Hold On"? Really?!

Yeah... me and my fiance were thinking the other day how cool it would be if you and Tore could perform it live on our wedding :))

(laughing): Oh, we don't do many weddings anymore :))

But still, let me thank you for writing such a wonderful piece, it really means a lot to me.

My pleasure... actually, this is a very pleasant thing to know that it can be this important to somebody.

Now we just need to come up with a dance for it (Everybody laughs)... What do you think about the state of musical affairs in USA today?

Any plans for a longer tour?

It all depends on the record company, but we would love to tour here, in America.

Well, thank you one more time for a beautiful performance! (My fiance hands Khan her lawyer business card)

What is this? Oh, this is...

Well, it's like I'm not quite that big of a guitarist! (makes a couple of obvious hand gestures. Everybody laughs)

Would you kindly sign me an autograph? (I give him two booklets: from "Burn The Sun"* and my Korean release of "In Your Multitude." He signs "BTS" and looks at "IYM" with surprise)*