Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently conducted an interview with METAL CHURCH’s returning singer Mike Howe who was away from the music business for 21 years. Mike Howe also fielded some fan questions in the interview.
Asked how things have changed in the last 21 years that he has been gone.
“I can’t say things have changed for the worst, honestly it’s all good. Things have changed in the way of recording, in the way that we deal with record companies and the way that and the way that we are enjoying the process of writing and recording and playing our music compared to the 21 years ago. Electronic computers to aid the writing process, keeping the chemistry from not having to stop and re-do things that is an advantage that way and a small record label.
We can speak to the owner Joe O’Brian at Rat Pack anytime we want to on a daily basis and see what is going on with the work they are doing for us. That is a huge advantages from the past of being lost in a gigantic record company and not knowing if anybody cared or was doing anything for you, you weren’t actually allowed to talk to anybody. Just having control of your destiny.”
When asked what was the turning point to coming out of retirement.
” It was Kurdt Vanderhoof’s power of persuasion and hearing the amazing riffs and songs he put together in the demos stage. The allure of getting together and having that magical writing and chemistry that we had back in the late 80’s.”
When asked about his favourite songs that he sang on and that he didn’t sing on
“I really prefer to sing brand new songs, the ones we have written are the most exciting for me to sing. The ones of Dave Wayne era my favorite is Beyond the black.”
When asked at what point did he had enough of the music business that caused him to retire
“Hanging in the Balance was very difficult for us cause it was the beginning of the end .All the things that were going to get in our way to dismantle the band, break it up came together in the perfect storm. The last straw was the album cover of Hanging in the Balance it was a very big sticking point for me. I didn’t not like the album cover it was embarrassing for me. It was forced upon us.”
When asked about his thoughts about Axl Rose joining AC/DC
“For me, I was a Bon Scott fan for ACDC so he was a huge influence when I was young, I wanted to be Bon Scott and Rob Halford in the mix as a singer so of course there will be no other singer and especially not Axl Rose”
On his thoughts on the US presidential election
“It’s an embarrassment for me, the United States has become a reality TV show and I wish it was a little more professiona”
Watch The whole interview here: