Originally published in Rock FM-Amadeus Valle YT channel · April 2022
Mike Mangini interview
InterviewMike Mangini4 min read
Rock FM: Speaking of the concert you have this Saturday in Madrid, what do you have planned? You’ll obviously be revisiting your classics, but you’ll also be playing songs from the new album, like ‘The Alien’.
Mike Mangini: All I can say is that this particular show is really our most powerful for the way that we feel. The new material is very difficult to play and make sound melodious, groove, locked, unified and again powerful. It’s very difficult music to play and when we mix this with older material or we try to hit different albums, the show has its own personality and this is what we bring. We bring a show where we can’t just change a song, because each song is picked to tell a story – from the old material and the new material. This is why we have the songs chosen that we did. This is why we don’t switch them out, because then we have to change the whole story. And we feel so powerful about this. We want to give this. So that’s it. We have the new songs – ‘A View From The Top Of The World’ is a very, very, very long song and it’s a whole experience to try to actually play it right. So we’re bringing this and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to get to Madrid because we’re going to play the concert, then I’m going to have that lovely red wine afterwards, tapas or whatever else I eat. And it’s gonna be wonderful.
RFM: Of course, because we know you also have a very special affection for Spain, and that you have a huge legion of fans here. What do you like most about Spain, specifically?
MM: Well, it’s an experience. What I like the most is that Spain is Spain. In other words, when I go to Spain, I don’t want Spain to try to be America. I don’t want Spain to try to be Norway. I don’t want Spain to try to be Czechoslovakia, I want Spain to be Spain. It’s unique. The warm weather, the combination of the food, the way people dress and look. So I have to answer that I just like that Spain stays Spain, stays unique. And I enjoy that. If I go to Spain to have the food from Spain, I want the food from Spain. I don’t want it mixed with anything else. Does that make sense? I like it. I like what it is. I enjoy it.
RFM: Absolutely, since it’s April 30th in Madrid, at Paseo Vista Alegre, what final words would you like to convince those who are still undecided about attending the concert?
Why wouldn’t they wanna be there? We have so much fun. Look at my face smiling. This is what we do all night. The show is amazing, and it’s so tight. What I will say, seriously, is that we care so much about every note that we play every night that we’re very alert and aware of everyone around us – ourselves, the bandmates, the audience – and we get better and better and better and play the show so well, we want everyone to see it. In other words, we play live and we play meticulously well. It’s really, really an amazing night for us, just to play well. And this is what we wanna bring every night. In other words, we don’t wanna try a different show; we wanna bring everyone this amazing show so everybody witnesses it. And there’s nothing like it live. If you’re asking me to speak to everyone in Madrid to say, “Hey, come down,” what I have to say is “Don’t look at it on YouTube. YouTube’s horrible – it’s horrible! You don’t feel it. It doesn’t sound anything the same live and you don’t feel it in your stomach. And to see us really playing and the way that we look at each other, you have to be there. So if you are interested in an experience, and you wanna experience five guys and all of our crew just really trying for excellence, then come and feel that – you need to come feel that, because it’s real and it’s amazing to us.” I know I can’t wait till we get there. I love walking around Madrid before the show, so I can’t wait to go. I always love the food, so you’ll see an extra big smile on my face. And of course, the girls are all beautiful, everyone’s good-looking, the clothes, the atmosphere – it’s wonderful.
RFM: Well, it will be a pleasure for us to host you here. Mike, thank you so much for this time with Rock FM. We wish you the best of luck with your remaining concerts today, for example, in France. And we wish you the best of luck for Madrid next April 30th, this Saturday, here at the Vista Alegre Palace.
MM: Thank you very, very much. I can’t wait to get there. We can’t wait to get there. And again, it’s just gonna be fantastic and a lot of fun. The show is so good and we’re having so much fun. Just let’s all get together and have a good time.