Hello Friends! Here is my Instant Messenger Interview with Lars Larsen!!! I Hope you enjoy it!

JonnyD: What was your start in music, and how was the band formed?

Lars: I began singing in a youth club where some friends of mine were rehearsing in this "band". I just grabbed the mike and began shouting and that's what got me off on this. It turned out to be my first band, called Stoney Pony. Sucked, but nevertheless, it was a beginning. When that band stopped in '92, I spoke to a band called Fear Itself, they needed a singer, so I tried out and they wanted me. Kristian came aboard on that band 3 months later, and we played for 4 years (3 demo's). It also sucked, but it was a good learning experience, stage performance wise, and getting to know the business. Then, in '96, we split up, and Krille and I got Mads as a drummer (I lied to Kristian about Mads being interested, as K had received offers from other bands...so he stayed with me, hehehehe)...the best lie I have ever made!!!! The rest is history...

JonnyD: What are some of your influences and what are some of the influences on the band? What was you favorite band growing up?

Lars: Our main influences are the bands that we grew up with: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Savatage (Kristian), Slayer, Testament, Morbid Angel (Mads), ...in general Bay area thrash, and European power metal (Blind Guardian, Helloween, Gamma Ray etc.), but we also take influence in a lot of other kinds of music, as long as it has energy in it....listen to Vivaldi's "4 Seasons" and you got all the energy you need......My own favorite bands were Slayer, Metallica, Maiden, King Diamond and The Cult

JonnyD: What kind of impact has music made on your life?

Lars: Well, it kind of rules my life and has done so for more than 10 years. I am always searching for new music within my own head....getting funny inspiration at the strangest times and places. Without music, my life would be a lot poorer....

JonnyD: What is your Favorite Manticora album? Could you rank them from favorite to least favorite?

Lars: 1: Hyperion (because of the technicality of the whole album. I wrote a LOT of the album, and that's the one that has the biggest "Lars" stamp on it). 2: 8DS (obviously the best production we ever had, and a bunch of very strong songs....I love the choir stuff). 3: Roots...(debut, and therefore always have a big place in my heart). 4: Darkness....(Not a bad album, but we are moving in too many...different directions, musically. It was a matter of being 6 people writing music instead of 4. I still like the album though).

JonnyD: What where your thoughts on Progpower USA VI? What where some of the surprises?

Lars: There wasn't that many surprises, since I had already visited the festival the year before, but I'd say that the audience was incredible. I didn't expect SUCH a fanatism for an opening act. It was pretty overwhelming. Also, the signing session was out of this world. I can't imagine people standing in line for 45 minutes, just to get my autograph!!! It's something I still can't comprehend......we are a little bit more used to "relaxed" fans here in Europe. They don't care THAT much for autographs, etc. So, we really felt like kings at the festivals, and that was kind of new (not kings of the festivals, but in our own smalll area, hahaha).

JonnyD: Hehehe that's cool, I'm glad you guys felt so welcome.

Lars: Pleasure was all ours...

JonnyD: What did you think of America?

Lars: I like it! I like the way of free thinking and America is one of the places that has that....

JonnyD: What did you guys do while you were here? Besides performing?

Lars: Well, we drank a lot, hahahahahahaha.

JonnyD: Hehehe.

Lars: Mostly, we just spent a lot of time in the swimming pool, and hanging out at the festival site. We also visited a mall, to buy some stuff for the people at home.....

JonnyD: At this time, are there any plans for a tour within North America?  If not, what is preventing this from happening?

Lars: There are no plans of that yet....the key issue here is money. If we are to tour America, we would need to be the support band of a larger European act, and it costs a shitload of money to do that. It all comes down to us having a small record label that doesn't have the financial support for it to be possible. I hope that with our new album, we will sell an amount of CD's that would make the record label see the possibilities in getting us over to tour in the States/Canada, but it's a vague hope that we are clinging to. We'd need to sell at least 5000 CD's there....

JonnyD: Hehehe, the street team will try and help make that a reality.

Lars: I am more than grateful for that!!!!!!

JonnyD: So I know you guys have been working hard on the new album, how has the process been going? Do you have a working title?

Lars: The working title is: THE BLACK CIRCUS. It has been very stressing for the last couple of months. We had the issue of trying to get Stefan worked into the band, but it just didn't succeed. While working with him (no harsh word...he's a GREAT kid), we didn't really get to write that much music, so we were suddenly in a hurry...well, we have always worked best under pressure, and so we did this time as well. We still need to write 1 song, and with only 6 weeks to go, it's pretty stressing, but we'll manage, and come out stronger than we ever were. Martin's contributions have been marvelous this time, and the 4 of us in the band are getting to know each other so well now, that we understand each other's ideas instantly. This gives the calm that makes you create even more intriguing music, while maintaining the focus, which is of course always: POWER!

JonnyD: What made you guys decide to do a double album? Will this be sold together or seperate?

Lars: After getting home from the recordings of the last album, Mads told us that he had a GREAT concept for the next disc. It took me 6 months to get it out of him, but finally the concept was revealed and fell into place. We then worked on how to do it, and found out that this was WAY bigger than Mads had ever thought of. We wanted to make a double album, but realized that the record labels would never release it as a double, with us being the somewhat "small" band that we are. So we decided to split the album into 2......which made us write even more material on the lyrical side, so the decision to split it up actually made more material for the fans!!! We expect the 1st part to be released during the end of summer/beginning of autumn and the 2nd part to be released approximately 9 months later. The first part will be based mostly on Euro power metal (happier tunes) and the 2nd part will be the EVIL part, where we really experiment with new and dark stuff (Kristian listened a lot to System Of A Down, and you can actually hear it). It is of course ALL Manticora one way or another!

JonnyD: That's cool! What is the concept?

Lars: A guy is getting a job as janitor in a traveling circus in New England, 1896. The circus is filled with gypsies, and all the lyrics are written as letters to some friend of the main character (we don't explain who the friend is...it's up to people to find out). He is thrilled about his new job, but also finds out along the way that something is very wrong with this circus....the people that come out of the carousel are smaller than they were when entering....people are disappearing in the different tents...a lot of bad shit is taking place. He ends the first album by having to decide if he wants to be part of this circus or be one of the victims.....on the 2nd part, all hell breaks loose....demons, evil gypsies, HP LOVECRAFT, etc!

JonnyD: Martin Arendal is back, was it a natural choice for him to rejoin the band?

Lars: Yep. Martin has always been a friend of the band. We have had our controversies, but it all boils down to us, liking Martin's way of playing VERY much, and since he is local, we can rehearse together, speak every day face to face etc. He also knows all the old songs, and so it would be totally stupid of us to look elsewhere. If he wasn't up for it, we'd be forced to do so...but as it is now, Martin is back with renewed strength, and it seems like we have all grown a bit older, so we work 200 etter today than we did 2 years ago. It's really a blessing, since we also don't have a permanent keyboarder. So, we are rid of one of our problems, so to speak.

JonnyD: Will he be joining permanently?

Lars: As it looks now, we will work on the upcoming album, and then we will have a serious discussion about having him back as a full-time member. I'd like him to be totally into the band, but it also depends on what he wants, himself. My estimate is that within one year, we will be a permanent 5-piece!

JonnyD: Fantastic! That's exciting.

Lars: Definitely!!!! Martin is fucking funny to be with....

JonnyD: Hehehe that's great, I was really hoping he would be on the new album

Lars: Well, what he has done "for" the last 2 albums can't be turned down, just out of pride or feeling let down or anything...no one here holds a grudge towards anyone, so it's great to see him back in the fold...

JonnyD: So you guys made Hyperion based on the first novel of Dan Simmons' Hyperion series, are there any plans to record the Fall of Hyperion? what are some of the problems with doing it?

Lars: The plans of doing that have been put on hold for now, since it doesn't look like Mr. Simmons would ever let us do the "Fall Of Hyperion". He seems pretty pissed off at us for doing the first one, even if we actually offered him royalties, etc. I would absolutely LOVE to do the disc, but I just don't think it's something we can do in the near future....

JonnyD: Hehehe. I want to send him a copy of Hyperion every day for a month just to get him to listen to it! You guys put a lot of work and heart into that record!

Lars: We definitely did, and I even offered him to send him a copy, but he never responded after his agent told us no....just too bad...for him, hehehehehehe.

JonnyD: It is!!

Lars: I mean.....his loss, hehehehehe.....wouldn't hurt to get a free copy of a disc. I didn't even ask him to comment on it, but what the hell... I actually understand his reasons for not letting us have the opportunity to create the 2nd one....I just don't understand that he doesn't want to hear what someone was inspired to do, when reading his books....and he hasn't said NO to us on the 2nd part, as we haven't asked officially yet, but I also know the answer.....like having Osama asking Georgie to convert into Islam....hehehehe.

JonnyD: Hehehehe, good point!!!

JonnyD: What is the status of the DVD? Will it include the entire Progpower USA set?

Lars: The whole show will be featured on the DVD. We will be taking each song as a separate thing and putting small bits of our stay in Atlanta in between the songs. This way, people can just breathe in between watching the songs. There will be a shitload of different stuff on that DVD...spanning almost our entire career so far (10 years...can't believe it)!!!!

JonnyD: How are the sales for Manticora albums? Have they been getting better from album to album?

Lars: Honestly??

JonnyD: Hehehe, you can lie if you want!

Lars: Sales are falling....we sell as many albums now as we did of the first album. I don't want to make any assumptions on how this can be, but I have my thoughts....

JonnyD: Hmmm! I can edit out that question if you want.

Lars: Nope....rather want the truth out there, than lying about our sales....I don't want to be a self-promoting dick, if you know what I mean..?

JonnyD: I do indeed! That's good because it leads it into the next question.

JonnyD: How do you feel about where Manticora's career is headed at this point in time?

Lars: Well, for me it's all about the creation of music now. In the beginning everybody wants to be world famous and sell millions of albums...have the extreme attention of all people on the globe. This feeling kind of quickly was replaced by the love of actually making the music, and the satisfaction it is to see your ideas converted into a CD. The albums are all our little babies, and that is far more satisfying than the indulgence of having 200 fan letters every day. I am not saying that I don't like the response of people, but it's secondary to me at this stage of my life, and I think it goes for all of us. I do feel that we are growing stronger as a band for every day that's passing, but I also see the difficulties we are facing in today's overcrowded market!

JonnyD: That's what it's all about! The love of the music!

Lars: Exactly....everybody with their full senses can hear that on a disc. If you haven't got the heart in the music, the music will suck big time, if you ask me. We do make music FOR ourselves. If fans like it - COOL! If not, so be it....then we'll survive some other way.

JonnyD: I personally feel you guys are one of the more unique power metal bands out there.

Lars: Thanks.

JonnyD: Speaking of surviving, what do you guys do for work?

Lars: I'm a fitness instructor and I work as a music manager on Intromental Management. Kristian is a laboratory worker (biology and that stuff). Mads works in the biggest record chain store in Denmark. Kasper is working with kids and Martin is working kind of the same as Mads, but with hi-fi's and TV's and that stuff.

JonnyD: So what would you change about Manticora's, or your own career in music, if anything?

Lars: That's a hard question, as it's always hard to look at the "if's". I would probably have worked even more focused, if I got the chance to change stuff. Sometimes I feel that we could have done more in a shorter time to promote and "sell" ourselves, but then again, it might not have turned out to be as great as it has been now. I'm not really looking so much into what COULD have been done, but rather what I can use from past mistakes for alterings in the future (damn, I'm getting deep here, heheheheh).

JonnyD: Hehehe it's true though, you have to learn from your mistakes.

Lars: The only way!

JonnyD: Indeed!

Lars: Not that I made any, hahahahahaha.

JonnyD: No, of course not! 

JonnyD: Do you have any last words, anything you want the people to know?

Lars: Just want people to know that I appreciate the nice words from every one of you. It's nice to see that people care. And I'd like to thank YOU for making the Myspace website for us (and all the other stuff you are doing). It's not everyday that you find people, willing to actually do something for you, just because that person WANTS to do this...HOPEFULLY, we'll see you in a venue near you, where we will tear you apart with our music (and then we'll drink beer together afterwards!!!!).

JonnyD: Hehehe. Thank you for letting me help out!

Lars: ....naaah...I am definitely the one thanking you, JD.....not the other way around!

JonnyD: Hehehe, I am Honored!

Lars says: ...you are making me blush, hehehehehe.

JonnyD: Hahahaha

JonnyD: Well its not every day that I get to really help out one of my favorite bands, it feels nice to do!

Lars: I surely hope so.....I hope you recognize how it feels to have someone caring so much as to do those things for you? We all feel incredibly humble when this happens...same thing with our French, Japanese, Brasilian and Russian websites. People that don't do this for money or acknowledgment, but because they WANT to......can't really explain the feeling...

JonnyD: I think I can speak for all of us when I say you guys make it easy to support you.

Lars: That's the least we can do....

JonnyD: You really seem to care about your fans! That means alot.

Lars: I see it as caring about people, that cares about me....There's a big difference to just buying an album, and then to actually sit down and take the 3 minutes it takes to write a short message in a band's guestbook. It takes a lot to come to that part, and I feel warm every time I see new encouraging messages...it's about people caring about my life and what I do....

JonnyD: The fans are just as important as the band.

Lars: Precisely!

JonnyD: It's a working relationship.

Lars: A symbiosis, if you want...

JonnyD: Absolutely! I'm glad you get it! It seems that sometimes bigger bands forget that.

Lars: Well, when money takes over, 95f people lose their judgement. More wants more and you live for the next check from the record label/copyright organization. We have vowed in the band to stay true to ourselves and the fans, and never to lose that spirit of wanting to make music for the making and not for the money....I'd be choosing a whole other business for sure then! That's also why we split EVERY income evenly in the band - even if for instance Kasper doesn't write any lyrics. We still split 4 X 25n the copyrights...same with the music, where Kristian is the main composer...

JonnyD: That's great! It's all even.

Lars: Oui, monsieur.

JonnyD: Anyway, I bet the Lovely Federica is breathing down your neck right about now.

Lars: Kind of, hehehehe.

JonnyD: Thank you very much for Lars's time Fede!

FEDE: No problem...I'll survive....if Lars gives me *a good time* afterwards.

JonnyD: I am sure he will!

Lars: Hmmm..that's a statement...!!!! I'll better get that tongue worked up, hahahaha.

JonnyD: Damn right you better!

JonnyD: Seriously though, thank you very much for taking the time to do this, Lars! It's been a pleasure!

Lars: I am the one thanking you. It is always nice to talk to people who are at the same level as your self, and I feel that we definitely are there.

JonnyD: Ah, geez your gonna make me blush now.

Lars: I guess that we'll meet again at some point.....and we will SURELY be meeting again in real life - count on it!

JonnyD: Absolutely! I look forward to when we can discuss Hyperion in person!

Lars: Me too.....my bro is growing tired of me always talking about that book, so I need someone who is as much of a fanatic as I am.....

Lars: speaking of books, If you want to get into the mood for our new album:

Lars: HP LOVECRAFT: The Shadow Over Innsmouth, read it and be forever sucked into the world of H.P. Lovecraft...

JonnyD: I will do that!!! I have been curious about HP since I heard Darkness...

Lars: He was a weirdo, but a good one...

Lars: Ok...better end the transmission here....Fede wants me now...

JonnyD: Yep!

JonnyD: Take care and be safe my friend!

Lars: Take care, ok? Good luck with the college application....let me know how it turns out....and I'll send you that pic of Claus and I tomorrow morning...

JonnyD: Thanks! I will let you know!  Later dude!

*Lars and JD at Progpower VI*