Interview with Eric Sands of Truth of Fiction ( www.lionmusic.com   ) by Johnny C of www.loudmetal.com 

Please talk a little bit about the new Truth of Fiction album...
I'd describe it as a hard rock meets bluesy funk, with a healthy dose of good 'ol metal thrown in. Bennard brings a strong R&B influence and I tend to give a nod toward the great guitar heroes of the 70's and 80's. It's material we've written over a few years, and played live many times so, it's really recorded at it peak.Which guys would you consider to be your main influences?I have a variety of influences, some of which you can hear on the album. Ritchie Blackmore has always been a huge influence, also John Sykes, Michael Schenker, Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Hendrix, Tony Iommi,  and some unexpected players like Alex Lifeson and Jamie West Oram of the Fixx.  Lately, I've been going back to my old Pat Travers, Rick Derringer and Johnny Winter albums to hear great players. That was a great time for guitar. They had that whole ADA Flanger thing going on. I recently picked one up. It's totally addictive!

How would you describe your music to someone who is not familiar with it?
It's sort of like Living Color meets Lenny Kravits with much stronger vocals and guitar.  There's a strong R&B influence as well.

How did you develop your style of playing, did you take any lessons?
I started playing with Black Sabbath albums, moved on to Zeppelin, Rush, Van Halen, Foghat, Nugent, etc. I never took lessons. Never had the patience for something so utterly boring. Of course now I realize there is so much to learn about guitar, but the guys I know that went through GIT or AIM (Atlanta Institute of Music) all come out sounding pretty much the same. There's something about it that drains the originality out of player. It would be cool to pick up some new styles, but I'm pretty happy with what I can express through the instrument. I also play fretless bass. Mick Karn, Tony Franklin and Pino are my favorite players.

What is the most important, feeling or technique? can you survive with only one of them?I go through phases with this and it's directly related to what I'm listening to and the instrument I'm playing.  If I'm playing the new Ibanez Artist reissue, they sent me, I tend to have a Zakk Wylde or John Sykes vibe. When I play a Jem or Strat style guitar, I cop a looser Trower/Hendrix feel with a bit of Satriani and modern shred.  It's important to have different techniques at your disposal so you can express yourself  properly.
 

What kind of equipment are you using live or in the studio?I've been switching between Laney and Marshall half stacks live. Sometimes I'll use a Boogie 50 Caliber combo if it's a small venue or it's a difficult load in situation. I'm totally addicted to my new Ibanez Artist AR2000VV. I also have an 89 JEM7PBK which plays great. In the studio I use these guitars too, but I also have a large collection to draw from. You can see them on my website at www.ericsands.com.  Send me an email if you visit!

How was the album recorded?I recorded it on two ADATs in my house. It was originally just going to be some demos for our own use, but there was a great vibe going on, so I had the material mastered and it turned out very well. I sent a copy to Lion Music, a guitar oriented label I had done some work with on the Jason Becker tribute CD, and it was accepted.

Which musicians would you like to play with some day?There are so many, but I would absolutely love to collaborate with David Coverdale. His voice is absolutely amazing. His new CD is glued into my player! He has always written killer songs.  I jammed with Steve Vai when he came through Atlanta on the Ultra Zone tour. That was a total blast. What an amazing gift he has. It would be also fun to jam with John Sykes, Pat Travers and Peter Gabriel too.

What kind of music do you like the least?
Probably what they play in Mexican restaurants. :^)  Also traditional country, yuck.  Anything sequenced on a computer is worthless too. I really dislike much of what's on the radio currently. All the bands sound the same. It's the whole corporate music conspiracy thing. It's ruining young people's taste. They don't know any better because they're never exposed to the really great shit. There are so many famous young guitarists these days making millions of dollars that can't play. It's really sad. 

Do you ever listen to music that is very different from what you do, if so what?
I listen to Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Japan, 70's funk, Motown, Progressive rock and early Rush.  I loved it when Geddy screamed his ass off..."We are the priests..." Great shit!

Are there any plans to tour?
Bennard has some issues with an extensive tour, so we're addressing that.  We're keeping it stateside for now.  Hopefully Truth of Fiction will perform near you soon.  If there is interest, it'll definitely happen. Email our record label!

What other plans do you have for the near future?I'm working on material for a solo CD and preparing for gigs with the Eric Sands Project. We're booked for JemFest next summer in Orlando and will play a ton of gigs leading up to that.

How is the musical climate for hard rock in the USA?Some cities are better than others. Chicago and San Francisco have amazing music scenes. Atlanta has fickle audiences. They only come out in large numbers once you've made it big. people tend to jump on a bandwagon.

What are your feelings about the world we live in and how do you look upon yourself in 15 years from now?
I tell you, it's far less than an ideal world when you have soul-less, ignorant, morons like extreme fanatic militant Islamics slaughtering children and gassing poor innocent dogs in the name of their God. Thankfully there is much love to share and music is a good way for many people to express love. The Truth of Fiction CD has very positive messages for the most part and I feel great about the reaction we've been getting. It really makes people feel good and at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.  In 15 years, I'd hope to have some significant achievements behind me. I hope I can contribute some good to our world. We need it!