German power metallers GAMMA RAY have posted a new interview by RockOverdose with drummer Michael Ehré on their official Facebook page. The band are due to play in Greece soon as part of their tour. Some excerpts from the interview can be read below:
RockOverdose: You portfolio as a drummer is remarkable, you have toured with Uli Jon Roth, Vinnie Moore and Kee Marcello among others, how is being with Gamma Ray at the moment?
Michael Ehré: It´s perfect! To join Gamma Ray was really the best that could happen to me. It´s not that easy nowadays to be in a band and being a musician because of the bad economic situation. But Gamma Ray is a well-known band, so this was like a lucky punch for me and I´m really, really thankful that they gave me the chance and chose me.
RockOverdose: Less than two years ago you have replaced Dan Zimmerman, who was in the band for 15 years, given that you are also slightly younger than the other guys do you feel like the new guy or are you fully incorporated by now?
Michael Ehré: The band accept me as a full band member. They wanted me to bring in my ideas for the new album and always ask for my opinion. I can tell you that was not always the case in former bands. I mean that was okay as I was the “new guy” in those bands but I can tell you that it´s more comfortable when you know that you´re really accepted. And by the way: I´m not that much younger…(laughs).
RockOverdose: I was watching some of your videos online and I love your drum work on the instrumental track called “Seven”, I want you to tell me about your preference on the right hand hi-hat and what’s your position on the grand debate of double bass drums or twin pedal?
Michael Ehré: For me it always feels better to play the hi-hat on my right side as I don´t have to cross my arms. At the moment I´m practicing the open hand technique, what means that I also play my left hi-hat with my left hand, so I don´t need to cross my arms. That makes a lot of things a lot easier and more comfortable. I prefer to play two pedals instead of a double pedal because it has a great effect on the sound of the bassdrums. Especially when you play the fast stuff as we do with Gamma Ray the bass drums still have a real punch.
RockOverdose: Are there any weird, funny or even embarrassing stories from your career that you could share with your Greek fans?
Michael Ehré: The whole music business is weird, funny and even embarrasing…like in everybody´s real life, hahaha…but if we´re talking about the best things that happen I am always surprised how these things happen. In 2009 I played with Uli Jon Roth in Italy and we had Tobias Sammet from Edguy and Kai Hansen as guests on stage. We performed some Gamma Ray/Helloween-tracks which was really cool…a few years later I became a member of Gamma Ray. Isn´t that cool?
RockOverdose: Is there anything that you would like to add, as a concluding remark?
Michael Ehré: I hope to see you all on tour as we´ll play two shows in Thessaloniki on March, 28th and in Athens on March, 29th! Stay metal my friends!!!
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GAMMA RAY‘s new album “Empire Of The Undead” is due for release on March 28th.
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