INTERVIEW WITH MORGANA LEFAY

MORGANA LEFAY REVIEWS

This is a record of my conversation with Charles Rytkonen during the two day Chicago PowerFest, April 8-9, 2005.

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So, you are back from the four-year hiatus. What happened prior to and during this break?

It's like a marriage, you know. Every now and then you face problems, and then you just need to take a break.

Not in front of my wife, please! And now you're back to the old name of "Morgana Lefay" too.

We were always "Morgana Lefay." The "Lefay" thing was only necessary because the name was owned by Black Mark. But now we are back on Black Mark. We have mended all of our problems with them, and they are treating us very well. It feels right again, and I'm optimistic about the whole thing.

Rumor had it that somebody in the band had substance abuse problems and that led to the split.

I can just say that it was not me.

What's up with Tony's hair? [during the show, guitarist Tony Eriksson wore rather strange-looking hair extensions]

You'll have to ask him.

Well, let me ask you this: what exactly happens in the second half of Maleficium? The main character, Chief Magistrate, is burned at the stake, and that awakens the entity from another world...

Oddly enough, what happens there is up to the listener to decide. Does he get the revenge on the Inquisition in this life or the next, does this happen in his mind or in this world or beyond the grave, you don't really know. I'll tell you this, though: for me, this "devil" creature is not evil. Evil is not really "evil"; it's just the antithesis to... well, not "good," but to something that claims to be "good," in this case -- the Inquisition, who really is evil. Let's just say that I like it when people wonder about things a lot! Let the end be the way each and everyone wants it to be.

OK. I have heard you are good buddies with Tad Morose?

Oh yes, we live close by, and we are pretty good friends.

Do you take care of your voice the same way Urban Breed does?

On, no. In fact, nobody that I know takes care of his voice the way Urban does it. I am really bad at it. But then again, we have completely different singing manners, and I don't have to be doing what he does. We're still good friends though.

I became a fan of Morgana Lefay in 1998, when I've heard the name, and somebody recommended Fata Morgana compilation to me.

This was purely a record company thing, after we split with them, and we had nothing to do with it. But I guess it's good as a starting point.

I am really surprised you have no ballads in your setlist. I consider you to be the best ballad band out there. Your ballads are so passionate and yet completely non-cheesy!

Thank you. I try to make them personal to me. But we decided not to do any on this show, and just rock. We kept "Moonlit Night" until the last moment, but dropped it anyway.

You're breaking my heart. It's one of my all-time favorite tunes!

I love it, but, you know, we don't want the public to start, you know, dozing off, falling asleep.

Still, shame on you. Another song I wanted to hear is "Madness."

I love this song, it allows me to act a little bit with my voice, with different characters. Next time, perhaps.

How do you, overall, rate your experience of playing in the USA? Did it surprise you that the crowd actually knew your songs?

It was a very, very good feeling to play here. And it was fantastic to hear the audience sing along. The crowd's reaction made us give even more energy to our performance. We'll be back!

It was a magnificent performance. You truly gave it a 100%.

We must, otherwise why even bother?

It's bizarre how you were just standing here, chatting with me, and then, the next moment you'd just get up and go on stage, without preparation.

I just try to keep it natural, real, you know. I'm just all about myself being out there and performing, not really trying to emphasize it with anything. There are bands out there that try to put on a show...

Like Running Wild?

I like them, I do, but I don't understand the whole thing with costumes and stage props, and stuff. I think the only band it really works for is Kiss. I'm just getting up like this and going, on the street or on the stage.

Now let's talk about the new album, Grand Materia. First of all, what is up with not having a list of songs on the back cover? Whose idea was that? Now I can't go to my favorite songs, and neither do I know which song is which!

Pick out the booklet and count the lyrics. I' don't know who's idea it was, but it looks better without a list.

What would you like to tell us about it?

It's a concept album, dealing with alchemy, and, specifically, with Nicolas Flammel. It's his story. We think that Grand Materia is a very good album. We have worked with it for a long time, and I think it is very "Morgana-ish" but with some kind of new touch in it.

What is your personal favorite song from that album?

"Operation of the Sun" and "Angels Deceit," which we played.

Now, one more memory of the past: tell me about "Voulez Vous."

I really like this cover. But if I could go back to it and redo it, I would not eliminate those "a-ha"s. Back then, I was like: "No fuckin' way am I singing those "a-ha"s!" And now, I think, I would like to sing them as well.

Again, I disagree. I think you did a great job getting rid of those annoying "a-ha"s. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it here in the US! Thank you.