Over the course of 2014, as with other years, Rock Sins was privileged to talk to many of the great and the good from all kinds of bands big and small. For anyone who may have missed them, or for anyone wanting a reminder and another chance to read some of them again, here’s a summary of the best rock and metal interviews Rock Sins conducted in 2014:
Our most popular interview of the year by some distance was Jamie’s very revealing interview with Shadows Fall’s founding member Matt Bachand when Shadows Fall were in the UK for their last tour in early September before going on hiatus. Explaining that they were definitely not breaking up, Matt clarified the band’s future and many other things – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/09/shadows-falls-matt-bachand-interviewed-london-breaking-just-hibernating-little-bit-22554/.
As part of a series of features focusing around the metal musical maestro that is Mr Devin Townsend, Nick Holmes conducted a hugely in-depth two part interview with the man himself. Each part focused on different topics, ranging on everything from touring to Devin’s hugely well received Casualties Of Cool projects. The links for both parts are right here. For part one – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/09/devin-townsend-speaks-interview-part-1-return-ziltoid-22442/ and for part two – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/09/devin-towsend-speaks-interview-part-2-life-ladies-casualties-cool-22473/.
Catching up whilst on the road on their awesome co-headline tour with Killswitch Engage back in February, Jamie caught up with Trivium frontman Matt Heafy on the phone in Newcastle to discuss life on the road as a heavy metal singer who’s also a martial arts practictioner and a serious foodie. You can read all the good stuff here – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/05/interview-triviums-matt-heafy-21223/.
Also on that same tour in the confines of a Brixton Academy dressing room, James and Fran were able to spend some time with Killswitch Engage’s returned hero and frontman Jesse Leach. Find out about how Jesse had readjusted to being back in the band, his time away from music and other things right here – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/02/interview-jesse-leach-killswitch-engage-19546/.
One of many interviews our Lisa conducted at Sonisphere’s 40th anniversary of rock celebrations at Knebworth, The Defiled’s notorious party man The AvD told Lisa a very interesting story or two about living the rock n’roll lifestyle to the fullest – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/10/interview-avd-defiled-2014-sonisphere-22247/.
In mid October, Jamie was able to catch up with Wovenwar’s Josh Gilbert in London to discuss the former As I Lay Dying man’s new band and how things had been going for them since forming their new band – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/11/interview-josh-gilbert-wovenwar-22944/.
Another of our best to come from Lisa’s work behind the scenes at Sonisphere, she got some great information from the legendary Richie Kotzen of The Winery Dogs, including the news that the Winery’s would be working on a new album in 2015. You can check that out, along with the rest of the interview here – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/09/interview-richie-kotzen-winery-dogs-2014-sonisphere-22244/.
Some times good old fashioned journalism pays dividends. This was certainly the case when our Will approached Neck Deep’s Ben Barlow at Hit The Deck Festival in Nottingham and asked if he’d be able to have a few minutes. One yes later and we had ourselves an interview, and here it is – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/04/interview-2014-ben-barlow-hit-deck-festival-20951/.
Long term friends of ours here at Rock Sins, Sylosis have always given us very good interviews over the years. This trend was continued when our James sat down with Sylosis conjurer Josh Middleton when the band were touring with Devildriver and Bleed From Within back in the Spring, check that interview out here – James with Josh of Sylosis – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/04/interview-josh-middleton-sylosis-20628/.
Last but not least, after years of trying to pin him down for a chat, Jamie finally succeeded in getting some time with Download Festival’s head honcho with the cowboy hat, Mr Andy Copping himself. A great look at the past and future of Download ensued – read the interview here – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/02/interview-download-festival-promoter-andy-copping-19618/.
There were many other great interviews conducted by our team throughout the year, so here’s a few more of our interview highlights in brief:
Sam with Trevor and Nick from Unearth – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/10/interview-trevor-phipps-nick-pierce-unearth-22773/.
Sam with Matthew & Anthony from Dead Harts at Hevy Fest – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/09/interview-matthew-baxendale-antony-allen-dead-harts-2014-hevy-fest-22535/.
Sam with Empress AD’s Alex and Tom at Hevy Fest – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/08/interview-empress-ads-alex-loring-tom-meadon-hevy-festival-22136/.
Sam with The Hell at Hevy Fest – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/08/hevy-festival-interview-the-hell-22157/.
Jamie with Brian from Alter Bridge at Download – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/07/interview-brian-marshall-alter-bridge-2014-download-festival-21937/.
Jamie with Paolo from Trivium at Download – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/07/interview-paolo-gregoletto-trivium-2014-download-festival-21931/.
Lisa with John & Gordon from Raging Speedhorn at Sonisphere – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/07/interview-gordon-john-raging-speedhorn-sonisphere-21772/.
Fran with Andy and Joshua from We Came As Romans – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/06/we-came-as-romans-interview-andy-glass-joshua-moore-21199/.
A Q&A with Nothing More’s Jonny Hawkins – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/06/qa-nothing-mores-jonny-hawkins-21405/.
Jamie with Jack of Chasing Cadence – Red Bull Download Contest 2014 – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/05/interview-chasing-cadences-jack-harris-red-bull-download-2014-contest-21207/.
Sam with Buried In Verona’s Richie & Sean – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/05/interview-buried-veronas-richie-sean-21185/.
Jamie with Atlantis‘ Gilson Heitinga – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/05/interview-atlantis-gilson-heitinga-21111/.
Will with Phil of Whitechapel – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/04/interview-phil-bozeman-whitechapel-20689/.
Lisa with Josh of Halestorm – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/04/interview-josh-smith-halestorm-20631/.
Laura with Timfy James of Hacktivist – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/03/interview-hacktivists-timfy-james-takedown-festival-20449/.
Danni with Bjorn and David of Soilwork – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/03/interview-bjorn-david-soilwork-sound-control-manchester-20384/.
Lisa with Chris of Heaven’s Basement at Takedown Festival – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/03/interview-chris-rivers-heavens-basement-takedown-festival-20370/.
Lisa with Jamie Lenman at Takedown Festival – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/03/interview-jamie-lenman-2014-takedown-festival-20359/.
Fran with Matty Lewis of Zebrahead – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/02/zebrahead-interview-matty-lewis-19805/.
Lisa with Tony and Kyle of Battlecross – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/02/interview-battlecross-19506/.
Sam Stowe with Butcher Babies – https://www.rocksins.com/2014/02/butcher-babies-interview-carla-heidi-19659/.
There were yet more interviews conducted by our team last year, this is just a sample of our favourites so please feel free to browse the archives, and stay tuned to Rock Sins throughout 2015 for more of the same (such as our biggest interview yet – with Chris Fehn from the mighty Slipknot which you can read here). You can also follow us on Twitter at @Rocksins or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rocksins.
