Interview with Guitarist Crown of Desperation BLVD (Italy)

November 19, 2020

Interview with Guitarist Crown of Desperation BLVD (Italy)

Photo by Gabriele Boz

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Crown! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
Crown: It's hard to tell, for me. I can only imagine there are areas where it is more developed than others. The feel for the music in general is too personal. Here in Italy, Heavy Metal is underground, not like in other countries, especially in North Europe, but I can bet we love it like them!

CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
Crown: Heavy metal music is a mixture of power, anger and culture to me. Heavy metal is for smart people even if sometimes metalheads look like 'riot guys'! It unites a lot of great human feelings and there is no space for superficial things. In the end, Metal is for cool people! That's what I think!

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
Crown: Yes there are many sub-genres but this is a cool thing to me even if it can be confusing for some bands to classify themselves as you said. But I don't think this represent a big problem. An artist has to do what he feels! I personally love bands…I don't care if they are Metal, Rock, Pop or other! But this is only my point of view. I imagine that for some musicians and labels this could create a problem to promote some product.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
Crown: Well, I see everything in standby. I think that when this horrible period is over we'll be stronger than before man! We have lost a European tour this year but I can't wait to reschedule the shows again and to play stronger and louder than before! The music business has been damaged anyway but I'm still positive about it! Next year will be a new rebirth for it too!

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
Crown: The love for music man! We are a solid 3 piece act. Everyone brings his own idea and then the songs come out as magic.

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
Crown: Difficult question. I love different genres beyond metal. I love for example Frank Zappa, The Cure, Duran Duran, Jamiroquai etc…I think everything influences me but when I write songs, I don't calculate anything and I'm happy with it. I can tell you that I feel all my influences anyway but it's the listener who has to decide if I'm only another heavy metal act or not.

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
Crown: I think everyone has to write what he wants without calculating and then be happy with the result. This is being an artist to me. I think you can be a unique artists even if you feel you have a lot of influences.

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
Crown: I don't really know…I think it is only a matter of feeling.

CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
Crown: They aretwo separate things in my opinion…there are people who assume to be rock stars when they are not and real rock stars. To me, it is something you can't create but it is something that you have inside from when you were born.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
Crown: I think 2021 will be the year when the shows will happen again! We want to tour as soon as possible!

CV: Thank you again Crown for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Crown: Thanx to you for this fantastic interview and to all the people that will read it and special thanks to Markus Eckat at METALMESSAGE for bringing us to your pages!

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desperation_blvd_official/

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.