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| Jeff Pilson |
"Livin' The Life He Was Born To Live"
HE WENT FROM DOKKEN TO DIO, TO MSG, TO ROCKSTAR THE MOVIE!, AND NOW FOREIGNER. JUST LIKE THE STEEL DRAGON SONG SAYS - JEFF PILSON HAS BEEN ‘LIVIN THE LIFE HE WAS BORN TO LIVE’
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Jeff is well known for bursting onto the scene as part of Dokken’s debut album Tooth and Nail. After they established themselves as the forerunner for all the bands that followed, Dokken went their separate ways in 1988 after 4 hit albums and countless tours. Pilson continued with various other projects, before teaming up again with Dokken guitarist George Lynch on his album Sacred Groove. He later joined up with legendary metal pioneers Dio. Dokken subsequently re-united, and Pilson juggled between both. Eventually Singer Don Dokken took his namesake band and continued alone, with hired guns. George and Jeff teamed up again for the great Lynch/Pilson release – Wicked Underground in 2003.He also managed to co-star in the major motion picture Rockstar with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Anniston!
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Taking the time to sign a fans guitar |
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Jeff worked with plenty of other bands, such as his own War & Peace, the blazing Michael Shenker Group, and is now touring and looking forward for a new release with a beefed up version of Foreigner. I caught up with Jeff recently while he was on tour.
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September 2006
THANKS FOR TALKING WITH US JEFF. ITS GREAT TO SEE YOU'RE STILL GOING STRONG?
Yes, all is well on the road with Foreigner. Lots o touring.
YEAH, I’VE BEEN HEARONG GOOD THINGS, BUT AFTER ALL THE BANDS YOU'VE BEEN IN, NOW YOU'RE IN FOREGINER?
Yes- but a heavier more aggressive version of Foreigner- it's way cool!
WELL, HOWS THE TOUR GOING SO FAR? ITS BEEN GOING ON FOR WHILE NOW!
Going well- crowds are great- and chemistry with the band is incredible
GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF AN ALBUM WITH THESE GUYS?
We're discussing that now, trying to work in writing while touring is difficult, but we'll do it. We definitely plan on releasing at least three new songs next year.
WELL I GUESS A FEW NEW SONGS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING FOR THE HARDCORE FOREIGNER FANS.
ANYWAY, JASON BONHAM (YES, BONZO’S SON!) IS PLAYING WITH YOUO GUYS AS WELL; YOU DID ROCKSTAR WITH HIM, RIGHT?
Yes, we were the rhythm section for Steel Dragon- funny, huh!
I LOVED THAT MOVIE. IT WAS VERY COOL THAT YOU GUYS WERE IN IT. THE ROCKSTARS DID THE BEST PERFORMANCES! HA, HA
Thank you- we're a bunch of hams at heart!
THE NEW SONGS WERE EXCELLENT; STEEL DRAGON WOULD'VE BEEN A KICK ARSE 80'S BAND!
We would've been scary heavy!!
DID YOU GUYS EVER CONSIDER DOING LIKE A ONE OFF SUPERBAND CONCERT?
We actually did, sort of. For the filming we did do a real show in front of a real crowd. Megadeath, Great White and some others "opened" (I say that in quotes cause they were actually the draw- no one would've known who Steel Dragon were!). It was fun, but must have been strange for the crowd cause we did the same songs over and over- multiple takes!!!
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Jeff & the boys in Steel Dragon |
HA, HA. THAT WOUL’VE BEEN A BLAST THOUGH, WITH ALL YOU GUYS. ZAKK WYLDE WORKED ON THAT TOO. HOW DID YOU END UP WITH THE GIG?
I was originally hired to play bass in the studio for the soundtrack, but the director watched the rehearsals and liked the chemistry of the band, so they offered me the gig. Very cool.
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TINDEED.
SO YOU SEEM TO HAVE PLENTY OF PROJECTS. YOU PLAYED ON DIO'S LATEST, PLUS WAR & PIECE AND LYNCH/PILSON BEFORE THAT. WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
Foreigner, for the next few years. Maybe somewhere in there I'll get to produce another Benedictum record, and maybe another Linch/Pilson record. No sleep for a while, that's for sure!
WELL, WHAT ABOUT YOUR OLD MATE DON DOKKEN, HES OUT ON THE ROAD WITH WHO BLOODY KNOWS WHO; AS DOKKEN.
Yes, and I wish him well. I applaud him for keeping the franchise alive.
WELL, THAT’S VERY JOVIAL OF YOU. I GUESS THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE SOMEONES NAME.
Well, after our lawsuit a few years ago, we settled things so he can now use the name as he wishes.
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Back In '89 for Monster Of Rock |
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I GUESS ITS PITY THAT IT HAD TO COME TO THAT, I ACTAULLY PREFER YOUR VOCALS.
Thank you, but Don does have a beautiful instrument. I do appreciate that, though.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHIES JEFF?
Moral or musical?
WELL, BOTH I GUESS!
Moral- family first! Musical- most of Foreigner's catalogue!
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ANY GUILTY PLEASURES?
Frozen Yogurt!! And I love the new Christina Aguilera track, and the new Beyonce track!!
FAVORITE SONG?
Claire de Lune by Debussy
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Lately it’s V for Vendetta, Constant Gardener and Syriana. But in the 90s it was more like Total Recall and Wall StreetFAVORITE TV SHOW?
It was the West Wing- I was SO bummed when it retired!
YOU’R STARTING TO WORRY ME JEFF!
Ha, ha |
Doing the accoustic thang |
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FAVORITE PAST-TIME?
My family
IF YOU WERE A SUPER HERO OR CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Spiderman
WHAT’S YOUR DREAM CAR?
It's not the car- it's the sound system- it would be amazing!
WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE HOTTEST NEWS READER ON TELEVISION?
Norah O'Donnell
AND FINALLY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD -
Just hope everyone's heard the Foreigner Live CD, and if not, it's available at Foreigneronline.com- Go to the Gift Shop, you can get two bonus tracks, and the CD signed by everyone in the band- it's a great deal!
IT'S BEEN AN HONOUR JEFF. HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH UP AGAIN. MAYBE WHEN YOU'RE IN AUSTRALIA NEXT.
Hope so- thanks so much and take care JL.
THANKS AGAIN TO JEFF, HE’S A REAL NICE GUY, SO GO CHECK HIM OUT ON TOUR WITH FOREIGNER, OR GO VISIT HIM AT:
http://www.jeffpilson.com
J.L.
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