EMQ’s with FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE
EMQ’s with FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Greek power Metal band, Fortress Under Siege. Huge thanks to Fotis Sotiropoulos for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
We are FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE and we are a power prog metal band. Formed in the early 90’s, we had a very successful start with our self-titled debut mini cd in 1996, but due to personal conflicts the band split up in 1998. After that, we reunited in 2010 and circulated three full length cd’s, “The mortal flesh of love” in 2011, “Phoenix rising” in 2014 and “Atlantis” in 2020.
How did you come up with your band name?
It is a combination of two old movie titles, “Under siege” with Steven Seagal and “Fortress” with Christopher Lambert.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We come from Athens, Greece. The metal scene here is really amazing, a lot of cool bands from all styles of metal.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our latest release is “Atlantis” in 2020 with three video/singles, “Love enforcer”, “Atlantis” and “Seventh son”.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I cannot think of one greatest influence. We grew up listening to all the great bands of the 80’s whose music cherished and became a great influence for us.
What first got you into music?
My parents that pushed me to start playing classical guitar.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
DREAM THEATER. I consider them as the biggest rock band of all times, it would be a lifetime experience to learn from them.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I would probably choose Wacken, it is one of the biggest festival in Europe and is based in Germany which is the biggest European metal market.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
An item of underwear from a female fan!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Always believe in our music and we will never let you down.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Cliff Burton. He died very unfairly young at METALLICA’s most fruitful period. Their sound would have been totally different with him on bass.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The fact I can convey all my creativity and share it with other people. There is nothing to hate in this.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Despite the fact that I am not a backward guy at all, I would have reversed all the digital era, it literally destroyed the music industry. Music as we knew it became a collector’s item, for buyers and listeners as well. We listen to music we haven’t paid for to mp3 players, cell phones, laptops etc.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
JUDAS PRIEST’s “Defenders of the faith”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
It depends on what you are looking for. For people like me that grew up listening music in the 80’s, vinyl and cassettes era is the best era of my life.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
In 2015 in Gagarin Venue, Athens opening for the mighty ACCEPT.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
The job I have always been doing, running and owing an art gallery.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Five of my ex-girlfriends that liked the most, each one at a time.
What’s next for the band?
We are in the mixing process of our next album. Meanwhile we will try to arrange as many gigs as possible.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
People can find us on all social media platforms available.
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Copying from Google’s Wikipedia “Jaffa Cakes are a cake introduced by McVitie and Price in the UK in 1927 and named after Jaffa oranges“.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for the interview, stay heavy!
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