Live performances of Derek Sherinian and Glenn Hughes in Yerevan and Artsakh’s capital city Stepanakert last week have been welcomed. While they stayed in Armenia for a week, gourmets were anxious about the setlist a month in advance: Variations of Burning My Soul or New Millenium? Planet X harmonies? Platypus-style jazz licks? Sherinian doesn’t mind to be part of onstage democracy with an Armenian Dorians band and contributes to their tracks onstage. Apparently there is more than meets the musician’s eye: Sherinian is open to producing Dorians’ next recording and to eyeing more Armenian bands, he told in the interview to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Half of Black Country Communion – you and Glenn Hughes – was there in Yerevan and Stepanakert. Did you think about performing BCC with Dorians?

Dorians wanted to do BCC songs and Deep Purple songs. They pretty much knew how they wanted their set to go, and it looked pretty good. I rehearsed with the band for a week, just prepared for the show. I thought the show was great; it was a fantastic concert in Yerevan, having Glenn come up with a bonus. Then we had a travel to Artsakh, which was quite a drive, and the show there was great as well. And then we had a meeting with the President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan.

Is he a rock music fan?

Yes, of course.

So the trip was cool, and I hope I can come and perform in Hayastan [Armenia] much more in the future. There is a lot of talk about me producing the next Dorians’ record, which I am very excited to do. And I would like to start working with more Armenian artists in a production capacity.

Is the sound of Dorians close to what you are used to produce?

Yes, they are progressive rock, so I think it’s great. I think Gor, the lead vocalist, is incredible, and he’s gonna be a superstar. I think they need a great record to take them to the next level, and I hope I can help them with that.

Frankly, there was slight disappointment about your piece of the performance. There were only two large solos for the entire show…

Well, they have a great keyboard player, Arman, and I didn’t want to step on his toes at all. So my role was to lay a lot of B-3, and some B-3 solos.  I thought it rounded out the sound nicely.

Still it was great… But wonder how that would sound on your trademark Nord synth.

Oh no, I didn’t bring any equipment. I just played what they provided.

But you took your Monster lead pad?

Yes.

Can you please tell about the upcoming album of Black Country Communion, the Afterglow? Is it already finished?

It is, and it will be out on October 30th, you can pre-order it now online. The record sounds great, we listened to it driving to Artsakh, and it sounded great. I think this is the best BCC release.

But it is not going to be the last one, is it? Glenn Hughes once told that it could be the final record...

Yeah, in rock’n’roll you never know. I hope not. We’ll see what happens.

Is it like the previous two albums, bearing Deep Purple/Led Zeppelin signature?

Yes, there was no departure from the sound.

...and the same dramatic lyrics by Glenn Hughes?

Yes.

Any guest performers?

No, just the band.

Can you tell about your new tour with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine?

Yes, actually I am practicing the songs now in my hotel room in Yerevan. I’m very excited, I think this is going to be a great tour, everyone is great, I have worked with all of these guys in some capacity in the past, and I think we’re going to have fun time.

How did you decide to team up?

Mike called me and Tony and Billy last January and asked to play at two shows that were related to drum events. We played, and it was great, a good vibe. And so we figured that it would be nice to bring the show up to the world. And we put it together, which is very exciting.

You have been playing with MacAlpine for years. Has he changed in style since?

He plays an 8-string guitar now, and is constantly getting better.

Has the lineup changed the architecture of the band?

Well, Virgil is a different drummer than Portnoy. So the music is not like Planet X. We’re doing a Planet X song, Apocalypse, from my first solo record. But overall, it’s a different band, and it’s good thing working with Tony. We work together for many years, and we know how each other plays. It’s a good thing.

Did you rehearse a lot together for the tour set, or have you composed an entire setlist from scratch?

Mike pretty much figured out the setlist, he set us the songs, and we’ll have 2 days to rehearse in Poland before our first show.

Did you think about paying keyboards on Mac Alpine’s self-titled 2012 LP?

Well, Tony plays his fantastic keyboards. I think he does all he needs.

What about a keyboard battle? As far as I remember, you have never performed one on stage.

Oh, no. I’m battling him on guitar (laughs).

Would you like to have a more dominating keyboard sound, maybe in some ELP-type power trio? 

I don’t know: I make music that I like to listen to. If you listen to my 7 solo records, even though it is my record and I am in charge of writing and producing it, I always have guitar as being a dominate sound. I am just a fan of that. I don’t listen to keyboard albums, I get bored. I think keyboards have their place. Definitely I’m an aggressive player, and I want my sound to be heard, but I don’t want to have everything backing me. I’m more of a team player. As long as I am able to apply my style, I am content with that.

Still do you think there is any room for a keyboard hero in progressive or metal world?

You know, keyboard hero is more like 70s – Keith Emerson etc – but you can be a strong force in a band, be a keyboard player that is not just some guy in the background. If that is what they call a hero, it’s OK.

What do you think of the latest Dream Theater’s A Dramatic Turn of Events with Mike Mangini on drums?

I honestly haven’t heard it. But I’m sure they put a lot of work in it, and I’m sure it sounds great.

With exception of BCC, you have been performing instrumental music for the last 12 years. Don’t you miss vocal compositions, after parting with DT and Platypus?

I love working with great vocalists, that’s what I preferred. But a lot of times I liked doing instrumental music. So, there are both. It’s cool working with Glenn in the Black Country Communion because he’s a fantastic singer.

Would you like again to lay a keyboard part on a piece of sophisticated lyrics, like A Change of Seasons, or an entire concept album?

I don’t know. Not really. I’d rather just play more ‘normal’ songs. I’m finding my tastes are getting less and less progressive as I get older. I just want to play more straightforward and memorable stuff. I played a lot of notes in my career, and Planet X was even more progressive, in some ways, than Dream Theater. That’s just my tastes changing as I’m getting older.

Would you like to be a leading force in some keyboard counterpart of G3?

It would be great, I would definitely be open to that. But I honestly think that it’s all been talked about before, and I don’t think this will be successful enough to tour and that enough people will come.

But they come for Joe Satriani and others in G3.

It’s different. Guitar is a different animal than keyboard. And I don’t think that a K3 would work. But if someone put it together and it made sense, I would definitely be involved.

Have you thought about playing guitar parts of your own on your albums? You play some guitar…

Me play guitar?..

Yes, in Nightmare Cinema…

Yes, but I’m just messing around, I don’t play for real.

Any guitar players of the older generation you’d like to play? Jimmy Page?

I’d love to play with JimmyPage. I think he’s one of the greatest ever. I’m always up to play with great musicians.

What about Jeff Beck?

I’d love to, I do all the time. I hope that it happens.

What’s his first song on your wishlist to perform with him on stage?

Well, any of the classics: Wired, Blow By Blow… It would just be great for me to play with my hero.

Has the music of the 60s influenced you in any way?

Absolutely, my parents always played The Beatles in the house when I was a kid, so it’s very present in my musical upbringing. Bob Dylan, The Doors were in my house.

Have you ever thought about playing Fender Rhodes like Ray Manzarek?

I have a beautiful Fender Rhodes in a 1974 suitcase, I just bought it six months ago. That’s gorgeous, I love it. I won’t take it on tour, but it’s in my studio for recording. I play Rhodes on Oceana and some on the new Black Country record.

Do you think that the usage of Rhodes is fading?

Maybe so, but l love it. I have all vintage instruments – a beautiful B-3, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, clavinet, mellotron. I do love the sound of these vintage instruments, it’s great.

What about playing harpsichord on synth?

I’d  love to. I played a real harpsichord, it’s great.

We are anticipating your appearance on stage in Yerevan with Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonham.

I hope so, I hope we can put it together soon because we’ve already talked about it.

By Aram Gareginyan