Last week’s playlist introduced half of VUUR, the new musical project by renowned vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. Apart from Anneke herself, VUR is comprised of musicians and vocalists known from projects like AYREON, STREAM OF PASSION, and RE-VAMP: Marcela Bovio (vocals), Ed Warby (drums), Jord Otto (guitars), Ferry Duijsens (guitars), and Johan van Stratum (bass). You’ve already heard from Anneke, Marcela, and Jord, so this week it’s time to introduce the rest: Ed, Ferry, and Johan. Here is the playlist of their lives!
1. The first song you remember hearing as a child
Ed Warby: My parents loved the EVERLY BROTHERS so the first one that comes to mind is either “Walk Right Back” or “Cathy’s Clown.”
Ferry Duijsens: Guess I was too young to remember, but a few days ago my nephew was listening to a song from our childhood. It was the theme of some Belgian children’s show called Tik Tak.
Johan van Stratum: Since I was not raised in a very musical family, I think the first song I ever heard must have been a Brian Adams song. There goes the neighborhood.
2. The first song you can recall ever really and truly loving
Ed: By now I realise it’s not exactly the greatest song he ever wrote, but 9-year-old me fell deeply in love with Paul McCartney‘s “Mull of Kintyre” and I played the single so often I wore it out completely, staring at the cover image and dreaming about this magical mull, although I had no idea what or where it was.
Ferry: Madonna – “Live to Tell.” One of the songs that I listen to when I’m sad and that recalls a melancholic feeling from the past. I still see myself watching this movie on the couch at the age of 8, seeing Sean Penn diving into some kind of lake in pursuit of true love. That song is so beautiful and I listen to it on 7″ vinyl.
Johan: Though it’s not a very honest love song, I choose “Blind” from KORN. When I first heard the album, the sound, the emotion while being a teenager, I, like many others, had the feeling Jonathan Davis was sitting right in front of me screaming his heart out to me. I will always wake up as soon as I hear the intro on the cymbals.
3. A song that you loved as a teenager/reminds you of high school
Ed: “Grease Lightning” from the Grease soundtrack, I was never part of the popular crowd but when it came to Grease, everyone was on board, play-backing while doing all the moves and stuff.
Ferry: SMASHING PUMPKINS – “Today”
Johan: BON JOVI – “Wanted Dead or Alive.” He will pop up in the guilty pleasures later as well. First song I ever performed live, on vocals for crying out loud; I do remember I was crying out loud.
4. The song or band that got you into metal music (or the current genre you play in)
Ed: That would be the mighty KISS. I discovered them in 1978 when the solo albums came out with much fanfare, although those turned out to be less than great, but once I bought “Double Platinum” my life was changed forever. I decided then and there I was going to be a drummer and luckily my parents went along with my folly, haha! From KISS I went to heavier bands like JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, and IRON MAIDEN and a lifelong love was born.
Ferry: One of my neighbors was listening to bands like IRON MAIDEN, KING DIAMOND, TESTAMENT, SLAYER, DEATH, METALLICA. I just copied the tapes and started listening.
Johan: One song only, “Davidian” by MACHINE HEAD. I mean… jeez… that was a new level. Or… PANTERA… hmm.
5. The most recent song to get stuck in your head
Ed: I’m the perfect victim for so called earworms; the latest one I had on the heavy mental rotation is “Do I Ever” by Dutch band KENSINGTON. Big choruses always do me in and this one is huge.
Ferry: WARPAINT – “New Song”
Johan: Devin Townsend – “Stars.” It’s been a long time since an album and in particular one song truly got stuck in my head in a good way. I play this album almost twice a day while biking. Such power and this actually goes for the whole album.
6. Your guilty pleasure song/band
Ed: I don’t consider any kind of music a guilty pleasure, but I suppose some would scoff at my love for THE CARPENTERS. The slight hint of sadness in Karen‘s voice absolutely slays me and the harmonies in a song like “Close to You” are so beautiful they make me weak in the knees. Oh, and I love country, esp. the “hard” ’50s/’60s stuff such as George Jones and Merle Haggard. Love it as much as metal, sometimes even more.
Ferry: I have a single of the SPICE GIRLS, “2 Become 1.” Does this count?
Johan: BON JOVI, no question there. Not ashamed to admit that. Loving BON JOVI, every song, every album, so let’s take the most cheesy song for this one: “Bed of Roses.” Sigh…
7. The first album you bought with your own money/the first album you were really excited to own
Ed: Jeff Wayne’s “War of the Worlds.” I had seen the cover with the huge tripod blasting fire and was totally intrigued by it, one day I was home feeling ill and to cheer me up I asked my best friend to go to the record store to buy the album for me, to make sure he got the right one I drew the cover on a piece of paper. It’s still my favorite album ever and I was fortunate enough to see the live show a couple years ago which effortlessly took me back to my childhood.
Ferry: FAITH NO MORE – “The Real Thing”
Johan: MACHINE HEAD – “Burn My Eyes.” I started visiting a small CD store (when those still existed) in a little town where I went to school. Joost van den Broek and me (we go waaaaay back, haha!) started our first band and on Fridays after school we’d go to this store. The owner had a good taste, he suggested it to me.
8. A song that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a hot beverage
Ed: “Forever Autumn” from the aforementioned “War of the Worlds” album, beautifully sung by THE MOODY BLUES‘ Justin Hayward. Although I’m afraid the beverage will turn salty from my tears running into it.
Ferry: The JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)”
Johan: Muse – “Time is Running Out.” Love MUSE, especially their older work (I’m still feeling young though!). They bring this epicness extravaganza all over the place all the time.
9. A song to blast at full volume while you’re on the road
Ed: During an unforgettable trip across the Canadian Rockies I found that the best on-the-road music is CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, so I’ll go with “Green River” for its all-out “let’s hit the road” feel. It was also the first song on the mixtape I’d made (we’re talking early ’90s here).
Ferry: DEFTONES – “Be Quiet and Drive”
Johan: AUDIOSLAVE – “Cochise.” Remember that videoclip? Holy schnitzel: power, groove, and energy, combined with one of the best voices in rock.
10. The song you’d most like to be played at your funeral
Ed: There’s only one option – “Dust in the Wind” by KANSAS, a gorgeously sad rumination on mortality. Unlike other chestnuts this one doesn’t seem to lose its power despite hearing it thousands of times.
Ferry: Chris Cornell – “Seasons”
Johan: I’m afraid of death, so I’ve honestly never thought about that. I prefer some mariachi in the summer enjoying a BBQ with friends.
Interview by Bear Wiseman
Musicalypse, 2017
OV: 6910
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