ON THE ROAD INTERVIEWS AND NEWS

Following an interview with the German big band of heavy metal CANNON.
The band is already veteran, and they have a classic album in his discography, the "Thunder And Lightning" and has just launched his new album entitled "Metal Style" by the record label Metal Mayhem. With a title more than appropriate, we went to chat with vocalist Mat Rein Jaehnke.

1 - Hello Mat Rein Jaehnke, how are you? Thank you for granting this interview for On the Road Webzine!
MRJ - Thanks I’m fine. It’s a pleasure for me.

2 - Well, I ask you briefly talk a little about the history of Cannon and its members.
MRJ - The band was founded in 1986 in Hanover/Germany. We released our debut album “Thunder and Lightning” in 1988. For various reasons the release of our second album didn’t take place.
In 1994 Mats Toralf (drums) leave the band. At the end of 1996 the band split up completely.
The reunion of all original members was 2003 (without Mats Toralf). 2004 we released the double CD “The History” (contain the Thunder & Lightning songs and the demos for the second album), 2005 we released the new recording “Back In Business” in Europe and 2006 in the USA.
That’s the story so far. For details look at our official website.

3 - Tell us how you went in a matter of exposure in the media and shows for the band at the time of the debut album "Thunder and Lightning"?
MRJ - In 1988 it was an other music world, an other way of business. The responses for T+L were exited and we got a lot of positive reactions. We had many radio and TV dates and we got offers from major labels.

3 - The band is in the midst veteran hard rock / metal, and launched in 88 of its debut "Thunder and Lightning", which was very well received in
season, and until recently was one of the most expensive albums on eBay in auctions. What happened to the band that seemed to be a great moment in the career, and suddenly you disappear, including the band ended up being separated in 96, would be problems with record labels?
MRJ - In 1991 NIRVANA came and the grunge style swapped over the world. Melodic or metal bands got no more gigs and no record deals. Everybody wanted to see and hear the grunge bands. But we didn’t want to change our style and so we disbanded.

4 - The album "Thunder and Lightning" came to be revived by 4 times and only in 2002 the band decided back in active, which would have motivated the band to continue even after 6 years inactive?
MRJ - After we meet us together again we found out that still loving it to make music together. And so the CANNON Mark II story began.

5 - What is the difference of launching a new album in 2008, compared with the'80s, the business changed much from there to here?
MRJ - In the ‘80s you needed a recording studio, a sound technician, money and time. Today it’s a lot easier to record an album. You need a little bit of music equipment, a computer, software and that’s all. Then you can record a CD by your own (as we did with the last two CDs). If you are able to work with a computer and software you need no additional money – and time is also not the problem.
Of course finding a label is as difficult as it has been in the ‘80s.

6 - In 2004 we had the launch of the double album "The History", marking the return of the band, and once again the revival of the debut, including the second album released only on CD-R in the same year, what was the reaction of fans with this revival?
MRJ - The response of the fans was exiting. We had never expected that reactions. That was one of the reasons to continue with the band and to record the “BIB” CD.

7 - You just launch your new album entitled "Metal Style", what do you could tell us about the styles of music, is still the old and good Cannon of the '80s or the band used any new element in his music?
MRJ - “Metal Style” is more back to the roots – more metal. But metal how bands like Judas Priest, Accept, Krokus and Saxon write it in the ‘80s. The new songs are straight, pure hard and heavy rock. No new inventions, not so much modern influences. You can call it “Old School Heavy Metal”. Some say it’s boring because we made no experiments some say it is music for old people – it doesn’t matter, we love the way we walk and that’s the thing which counts.

8 - I can understand that the band have great influence, of course metal 80s, but also of hard rock. A clear influence, would be the Accept, which other bands were influenced you?
MRJ - The other bands were the important bands in that time: Judas Priest, AC/DC, Saxon, Ratt, Krokus and so on.

9 - Now is space for the closing comments, you would like to leave a message for your fans?
MRJ - I want to thank you and all our fans around the world for supporting us in the last 5 years. Please buy our CDs (no illegal downloads) so that we are able to record further CDs. We are just tying to play live in North and South America and looking for promoters and presenters. If you want to contact us please do not hesitate to contact us via our website.

Contact:
www.cannon-the-band.com
myspace.com/cannongermany

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