EMQs With HighWay
Ever Metal – EMQs With HighWay
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Ben Chambert (guitar): Hi Ever Metal! I’m Ben, guitar player and songwriter for the French Rock band HighWay. I’d say HighWay is an authentic, passionate, and heartfelt Hard-Rock band that unites people and transcends borders. We’ve been a “band of brothers” sharing the same passion for 25 years now. We started out playing traditional Hard-Rock, but our sound has become more open and eclectic over the years. Our music has matured and grown alongside us, thanks to more than 500 shows across Europe and 6 albums under our belt.
How did you come up with your band name?
At the time, we were looking for a simple, one-word name, like “Kiss”, “Journey” or “Extreme”. I remember we were in my brother’s bedroom (Romain, our drummer) brainstorming ideas, and we saw the “Highway to Hell” album; it just seemed obvious. It’s a simple name that inspires freedom, peace, speed, and self-confidence. It also reminded us of songs we love (like Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”, AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” or Judas Priest’s “Heading Out to the Highway”) and iconic road movies.
What Country / Region are you from, and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from Sète in the South of France, right by the Mediterranean Sea. France is a wonderful country for art and culture in many fields, but that hasn’t always been the case for Rock and Metal music. There are many excellent and creative bands in France, just like everywhere else, but this style is rarely supported by mainstream media and often remains under the radar. As they say, “No one is a prophet in their own land…” French media only became interested in us after we had toured extensively across the rest of Europe (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, UK, etc.). It’s tough to be recognized in France for this style of music. Nevertheless, that had the merit of making us work even harder on every aspect of our music and business, pushing us to promote our country beyond our borders! That’s also one of the reasons why we sing in English, even though we love our beautiful native language. That said, some French Metal bands have become massive worldwide, like Gojira and now Landmvrks.
What is your latest release?
We’ll be releasing our 6th album on April 24th. It’s called LAST CALL FOR ROCK’N’ROLL. Three singles have already been released with music videos: “HI-WAY”, “¡BANG BANG!” and “D.K/D.C.” The feedback worldwide has been great so far. We can’t wait to release the full record. We worked so hard on this album and we’re particularly proud of it in terms of songwriting and production. It’s a great record!
Who have been your greatest influences?
So hard to choose! The main ones are AC/DC, QUEEN, AEROSMITH, THE BEATLES, GUNS N’ ROSES, VAN HALEN, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, and SKID ROW. In Heavy Metal, I’m a hardcore fan of Judas Priest, Metallica, and Pantera.
What first got you into music?
It was my brother Romain who infected me with the “rock virus.” As a kid, I always loved music and listened to it all the time. My first heroes were Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and Elton John… then Romain bought some AC/DC records, and I fell in love with Hard Rock! I’ve been exploring every sub-genre ever since.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
We’ve had the chance to collaborate with some of our childhood idols like Michael Schenker or Jeff Scott Soto (who recorded the song “WAKE UP” with us on our 4th album: https://youtu.be/BWetN5BgR1k). But I’d love to have Russell Allen from Symphony X on a song; he’s one of our favorite singers ever. And on guitar, Doug Aldrich! He’s a fantastic player and a great human being. We’ve had the chance to hang out with him several times.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Hellfest! Because it’s the coolest festivals in the world and it’s right here in France! We have to do it!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Something I can’t explain here haha! Guess what!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you for your support over all these years! It’s what keeps our engine running and motivates us to work hard to give you the best albums and shows possible. Writing music is our passion, and we share that same love for Rock’n’Roll with our fans. We’re just like them. I can’t imagine my life without HIGHWAY, without the team, and without creating music. It’s been the soundtrack of my life since I was 14. I’ve never wanted to hang up my hat; on the contrary, I’ve never been more motivated! With each album, we reach a new level, and I’m certain that with this lineup and this new chapter, we’re going to go even higher. HIGHWAY is a dream shared with my brother Romain and our singer Benjamin. We’ve been nurturing it since 1999. To have our songs performed across Europe and meet our idols… it’s an incredible feeling. And the best is yet to come!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Bon Scott! The ultimate Rock’n’Roll singer and star. A brilliant lyricist and performer.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The best part for me is the writing process. It’s cathartic. It’s so satisfying to create a piece of art. It’s vital for me. Music is a universal language that allows me to express things I couldn’t say any other way. It connects people across the world. Then, playing those songs on stage and seeing people from all walks of life singing along is absolutely exhilarating. What do I hate? The lack of sleep haha!! This passion is all-consuming and can be a curse. It sometimes cause collateral damage in personal relationships. You have to find the right balance.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I’d like to erase streaming platforms! I’d want people to stop treating music as a fast-consumption commodity. I wish people would take the time to really listen to an album as a piece of art again, rather than just scrolling through tracks. The old-fashioned way!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Aerosmith – Get A Grip. A masterpiece produced by Bruce Fairbairn. This was our “totem” album while recording LAST CALL FOR ROCK’N’ROLL. In terms of production, songwriting, and harmonies, it is fantastic. We wanted a “modern vintage” sound for our new record, and Get A Grip inspired us on so many levels.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl! I personally love the experience. Taking the time to sit down, put the needle on, and devour the artwork and photos while the music tells its story.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
A sold-out show at Razzmatazz in Barcelona (Spain), supporting the Michael Schenker Group! That venue is legendary. I’ve seen so many concerts there. Just weeks before we played, I went to see “Extreme” there and they were magical. To be on that same stage shortly after, supporting one of my heroes, Michael Schenker, was insane!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
A Radiologist! Because that is actually my “second life” for real, haha!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
For a fantasy rockstar dinner, I’d love to chat with Gene Simmons (for the business side of things), Nuno Bettencourt (to learn some guitar tricks), Nikki Sixx (for the juicy anecdotes), and Brian Johnson and Sebastian Bach to down a few beers with!
What’s next for the band?
Our album and our next single/video for the song “MAYDAY” will be out on April 24th. Then, it’s time to get back on stage! We’ve just announced our first French dates, and we’ll extend the tour across Europe in 2027, and hopefully the rest of the world. With our new lineup, including a second guitar player and two fantastic backing vocalists, you can expect a massive sound! We’ve got vocal harmonies like you haven’t heard live since the Eagles, Queen, or Def Leppard! Energy, fury, and big production. We are also working on a new stage set that will blow your mind. We want to move up to the next level and become an essential international act.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
We’re everywhere. You can find us on your favorite platform here: https://linktr.ee/highway_the_band
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake
Dammit! I’d say a roll?! #rocknroll
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you to all the readers of Ever Metal! Thank you for your attention and for supporting the rock scene. Buying albums and going to shows is what allows this scene to thrive. I hope you enjoy listening to the album as much as we enjoyed making it. Pure passion! See you at a show! Santé et Merci!
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