Interview With Bob Katsionis, FIREWIND: Bloodstock 2013; “Apollo was never into it, he was always losing it rather than adding to his performance…Kelly becomes one with the band, he’s a cool guy.”

Interview by Ali Blackdiamond

Bob Katsionis
Bloodstock 2013

Greek metallers FIREWIND, created by guitar virtuoso Gus G were formed back in 1998 but really hit the headlines with their fourth album release “Allegiance.” The band have had a very busy few years touring and recording and also Gus also plays guitar in Ozzy Osbourne‘s band.

FIREWIND released their latest album “Apotheosis – Live 2012, recently as a celebration of the band’s 10th anniversary. It also marked a new beginning with the departure of vocalist Apollo Papathanasio and the entrance of temporary (or maybe not?) vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter.

Blackdiamond caught up with keyboard player and guitarist Bob Katsionis following FIREWIND‘s storming show on Friday afternoon at Bloodstock 2013.

Read several excerpts from the conversation here and listen to the audio or watch the interview in full below (and see Bob recording a jingle for Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem!):

Discussing vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter, Bob expressed:

“He has good points and these become more and more and more, because he becomes one with the band, with the attitude we have, with the mentality. You know, it takes time.

Apollo, actually he was never into it, he was always losing it rather than adding to his performance. Maybe people couldn’t see it, but we try to evolve as a band. We want to make every gig have one more thing and Apollo was not doing this. It’s good that we see Kelly feeling comfortable in the band; his voice is there, he doesn’t lose the tone, he knows the lyrics. That’s what we need, he’s a cool guy.”

On latest release “Apotheosis – Live 2012” Bob said the following:

“First of all, it closes an era, this era with Apollo and the first ten years of the band. I think in the end it’s a very sincere and honest live album because we didn’t fool around with it in the studio. There are a lot of mistakes inside you know, but it is what it is. WE picked the best songs and made one CD as a present to our fans, it’s a very good ‘get to know the band’ CD, like a compilation. It’s definitely not a business move, just a cool thing to give back to our fans.”

Talking about upcoming plans for the band and also Bob’s own projects, he revealed:

“I know Gus is making his solo album but I cannot speak about it because he knows better. But we’re gonna be still around doing what we have to do and at some point we’re gonna start writing a new album, because there are some new ideas. But there is no rush this time, we take things easy.

OUTLOUD are making a new album. Actually at this moment George Kollias from NILE, he’s a good friend of mine, he’s recording the drums. Chandler in America, he’s recording the vocals, I go back and do some guitars. And there are big plans about this album, I’m very happy about it. I also started doing my fifth solo album – that’s going to be different; more piano and more new age stuff.”