Chris Caffery is basically a steamroller fueled
by quality music. For years he played with underground
metal legends Savatage, part of which morphed
into the mainstream’s most unique band,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In addition to his involvement
in both bands, he has found time to record a handful
of spectacular solo albums. Most recently Chris
has been touring with and opening for the reigning
queen of hard rock, Doro, promoting his new solo
album, Pins and Needles, as well as Doro’s
latest, Warrior Soul. It won’t be long though
before he hits the road with TSO for their top
grossing Christmas tour spectacular. That said,
I was happy to catch up with this road warrior
in between the action. Here’s what he had
to tell me…
Mark Fisher: How is the busiest man in the music
business these days?
Chris Caffery: Just that!!! Busy! But I am good.
Never thought I would be this busy, even though
I hoped I would if that makes sense! Right now
I am sitting in a hotel in Cologne, Germany after
a long trip from the US to Prague to play a festival
with Doro after our US tour.
Mark: As I’m writing this you are opening
the Doro tour as a solo act as well as playing
guitar in her band. Are you and Doro both using
all the musicians or do you have largely separate
bands?
Mark: It is just me. Her bassist Nick Douglas
plays in my band when we are not opening for her.
On this tour I have a separate band from her.
I finish my show and get changed and ready to
be back onstage 30 minutes later!!!
Mark: Do you find you share the same fans between
your solo work/Savatage and Doro’s solo
work/Warlock?
Chris: Metal fans are always familiar with metal
bands. Lots of kids who knew me from Savatage
were there to see Doro and vice versa. But there
are lots of TSO fans that had no idea of who Doro
is and they came out and really enjoyed her show.
Mark: Your new album, Pins & Needles, is another
example of how amazingly diverse of a player you
are. Did you approach this project any differently
than your previous ones?
Chris: I approached this one in a more confident
and focused way. I was not really thinking about
things. I just wanted to make a cool new CD that
was fun to write, record, and listen to. No rules,
no BS. I have been doing this a long time, I want
to have fun. 100% of the people will never be
happy with what you do. I was not expecting this
from Pins and Needles, I just wanted to be happy
and I am. From there the real fans can tell the
CD’s honesty and really seem to love it.
Mark: It never ceases to amaze me how you are
one of the few musicians that can walk between
“contemporary metal” and “classic
metal” (whatever that means). How do you
approach the songwriting process?
Chris: First off, thanks! I always like to play
a riff that I have never heard before. This is
difficult since so many songs have been written!
So, I feel as you write more and try to remain
original that is when you become contemporary.
There are only so many ways you can re-write the
same style or riff. I keep looking for new things
to excite me. Sometimes it works, others it doesn’t,
but music is art and it is never perfect.
Mark: The bluesy solo and the sax work in “Worms”
is a great example of how you blend so much together
in each song without losing the listener. Can
you tell us a little about that song and the thoughts/inspirations
behind it?
Chris: WORMS. Weak Offensive Rattling My Sanity!!!
It is about the faceless internet scum that like
to screw with you and your life from behind a
computer screen. I am not afraid to face anyone
or any problem in person. There are people out
there who think it is cool to type slander. Tough
guys. WORMS. The sax solo was really just for
fun at first and we decided to keep it. It matched
the lightheartedness of the music feel. The fun.
I do have a twisted sense of humor and I feel
some people miss that completely in my music.
Mark: Being involved in Trans-Siberian Orchestra,
Savatage, and work as a solo artist, what is your
process for deciding where songs you have written
best fit?
Chris: In each situation you push to give the
best possible music in order to reach for further
heights. In Savatage and TSO we have Paul constantly
pushing us to reach new heights. On my own it
is a bit more difficult because humans have a
tendency to think most anything they do is really
good. It is human nature. So, you have to step
outside of yourself sometimes and try to listen
with foreign ears and then from there follow your
heart and gut instincts. In each situation the
most important thing is to push yourself, not
compromise, and give the fans the best possible
music you can. If you do that you really can’t
go wrong. No every song is going to be “Let
It Be”. There will be hits and misses. Honesty
is the most important thing I feel.
Mark: Trans-Siberian Orchestra has become quite
a popular live show over the years with your annual
tours. Do you often meet TSO fans that stumble
onto your solo work and are surprised by how heavy
or edgy it is in comparison?
Chris: I don’t think they are surprised.
If you see me and read anything of my history
you know I am a heavy metal guitarist. Would some
be happier if I had a CD full of songs like Music
Man…probably, but I think they appreciate
the honesty in my music and even if it is not
something they would listen to every day I have
been surprised at how many TSO fans really like
my solo stuff. “Pisses Me Off” included!
Mark: For you as a solo artist, how important
is it that you make a statement (mean something)
when you release something with your name across
the cover? Does it matter more that you have something
to say or that you simply say something?
Chris: It is important to let people hear you.
It is difficult because there are people who don’t
want to see you succeed on your own. “Solo”
projects are sour notes to many critics. They
are blinded into seeing you for who you are or
were with your past bands. They listen to songs
and have an automatic comparison in their heads
to the past. If I was named Jimmy Fish and put
out my first CD ever and it was Pins and Needles
I bet 99 out of 100 critics would give it a different
review than they would as a Chris Caffery CD.
So, I want to say something and I have and no
matter what I have left a bit of my own legacy
with these CD’s. I am very proud of them.
Mark: What songs are you most proud of musically
and lyrically on Pins & Needles?
Chris: Hmm…musically I am proud of the whole
CD. It is really different. I have a tendency
to make things sound a lot easier than they really
are. I was auditioning musicians for my live band
and they would come to play songs and when I showed
them actually what I was doing some left the room
and said they could never play it. I hide technical
things in simple feel. That is kinda my trademark
n writing. Lyrically, I am proud of the whole
CD as well. It matured a lot from Faces. “Mettle
Eastern” is quite interesting.” 66”
as well. I don’t think many people would
really know what they are about by reading the
lyrics the first time. I like to make things have
2 or 3 meanings in the lyrics.
Mark:…and the obligatory “Any news
on the Savatage front?” question….
Chris: Something will happen eventually. I just
don’t know exactly what or when. I know,
can’t get much more vague. But the speculation
has never turned out to happen the way we say
so I am leaving it at that! I am anxiously waiting
like everyone else for Savatage to do something…anything!!
Mark: Thanks so much Chris. This album is great
and I love listening to it. Do you have any parting
thoughts you would like to leave our readers with?
Chris: Thanks to all of the readers for supporting
music and to my fans for supporting me, my band
and my career. See you on the road!
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