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Alina
Katalova(AK:) Hello mr. Re Bethe! Knowing about that band RITUAL prepares
new number album it would be desirable to set to the band some questions.
Do you agree to answer them?
Gypsy
Re Bethe(GRB): Hi there, hi Alina, yes of course... my pleasure...
AK:
Can you tell us about exact date of band creation and what was an incitement
to its foundation?
 GRB:
RITUAL was formed in 1973 in the September,to give you and idea of that
time,AC/DC were formed in the November -same year and Motorhead around
the same time...I had the idea that four piece bands sounded a little
"confused" and sometimes they were chasing commercial success a bit too
hard.even FREE who were very good were still chasing the singles market,thats
why AC/DC and Motorhead etc,were really not interested inn commercial
success but aiming to create something different,for myself i had a vision
of a powerful and majestic sound that had a haunting quality..with space
for the players to work in. Three piece bands like Cream and Jimi Hendrix
had used the formula in numbers of musicians but in a more bluesey way,as
all the bands then were not termed rock but "progressive Blues"...i just
wanted a more hard and powerful rock sound,even bands like Deep Purple,as
rocky as they were,were still too Soft edge for me. It seemes to me there
were not many guitar players around then that could lead the sound by
the sheer dominance of the playing,perhaps Tony Iommi [Black Sabbath]
was about as near as you could get,but his guitar work was always to distorted
foe me..i dont use effects or pedals and never have,the fingers do the
work,and i have the devil in my fingers and rock in my blood. haha..so
really RITUAL was my vision of how rock music should be..not the same
as other people,but mine. and i think unique in its own way,because of
the simplicity of arrangements and songs.
AK:
What structures band had and who were its former members?
 GRB:
RITUAL was formed initially as a four piece with a vocalist, Graham Fox,
and we worked in this format for a year .He suffered a lot of throat problems,and
was not happy so he left....and i reluctantly took over the singing,and
its been that way since. during the settling down process of the band
in the firsr year although John Gaster was playing drums other drummers
would fill in,also during the eighties John O leary,filled in for about
a dozen gigs..but other drummers were Steve Smith,who did all the original
rehearsals while i was forming RITUAL. Replacement bass players Steve
Audsley , Les Hains,John Frost,and Mick Loughran all did short stints
for the band..but none worked for me for more than a couple of months...the
present line up is as it has pretty much always been. Until his Death
in 2001 John Gaster had always been the RITUAL drummer live ,and in the
studio.
AK:
Each name of band can be described with the words from song Living For
The Night: "Every little conor has its tail..." So what has defined the
name of band - RITUAL?
GRB: well thats a hard question as there are too many things that define
music and musicians... and i think others would be more qualified to answer
than i...but i suppose what has defined RITUAL is the album "Widow" i
think it set the tone and mood and the style of which has become the trademark..
AK:
It is known that you were in band from the beginning of its foundation.
Whether the band had any difficulties at the first stage?
 GRB:
Well all bands here in the UK at that time playing rock were having difficulties.as
the radio would not play the music and there was a lot of hostility towards
rock and the people involved..and no financial help from the greedy commercial
record companies,that were only interested in making a buck and not promoting
anything musically worthwhile... so it was hard, and the only way to survive
was to play every gig we could get, even places where others would not
consider playing..this along with no chance of a record deal or any financial
support made life very hard..it costs a great deal of money to run a band
and make recordings,..so we had to work very hard to make enough money
to survive.as bands such as AC/DC and Motorhead who were in the same situation....We
used to play a pub called The RED COW in 1975 ..[ Hammersmith] London
near the Apollo.. AC/DC were on Saturday we were on Friday and i think
it payed very little,...and AC/DC had five members,so beacuse there were
only three of us,we made slightly more money.but not much . and thats
how it was...i think i got paid 10 pounds for that gig...haha...
AK:
What basic subjects of songs and whether you are going to change something
in music and in lyrics?
GRB:
No The music will be typical RITUAL style with some instrumentals and
the usual leaning towards.i think ..a more hard hitting album than the
last haha....thats the aim. i can't say too much as my contract prevents
me saying too much..here...[its a good get-out] for interviews yes? haha
but seriously on the new album there will be reference to the past while
looking to the future. THe only track i can tell you is "Fall in the dark"
will be on there as it has not been released previously,and was recorded
in 1990..it may come as a bonus vinyl.
AK:
RITUAL there is very long time and it is considered classic and even Legend
of NWOBHM. Can you tell about full discography of the band, all production
let out by band?
GRB:
Here is complete discography what I could remember:
1."Pandoras Wish"-single cassette (1974)
2."Carmilla"-live single cassette (1975)
3."Jorney"-live single cassette (1976)
4."Madeleina"-live single cassette (1977)
5."Fires Of Hell"-live cassette (1977)
6."Burning" 7" vinil (1981)
7."Widow"-full-length LP (1983)
8."Gypsy"-cassette (1985)
9."Never Look Back"-cassette (1985)
10."Cry In The Night"-cassette (1987)
11."Lady Night"-cassete (1988)
12."Into The Night"7" -vinil (1989)
13."Early Years Compilation"-cassette tape (1990)
14."Valley Of The Kings"-full-lenght CD (1993)
15."Widow"-full lenght + 4 bonus songs LP and CD re-issue (1983/2008)
16."Valley Of The Kings"-full-lenght + 1 bonus song LP and CD re-issue
(1993/2008)
AK:
Why you have decided to re-publish albums "Widow" and "Valley Of The Kings"?
 GRB:
OK a US Record company - Shadow Kingdom - approached me initially through
a friend of mine and expressed their wish to release the original "Widow"
album and "Valley Of The Kings.." they had of course heard of the problems
we had had with the original release of "Widow"...after some negotiations
i agreed to a re-issue of all the original tracks with some bonus tracks.....on
vinyl and CD...it really gave the albums a second chance for people to
hear them,as the first time around there was only a limited number made,and
Valley of the kings was not on vinyl... so they produced a really good
packaged product,and Tim at shadow Kingdom is real professional, so it
was all done properly,with great new artwork and masters,history great
sleeve notes and interviews etc..so in retrospect although the financial
rewards were never going to be substantial,i think the decision to re-issue
was the right one.
AK:
What band's album you consider as the most successful?
GRB: It depends on how you define success?..well if its financial none
of them ha ha..thats the rock biz im afraid,but successful in terms of
accomplishing the goal of making a good album i think "Valley Of The Kings"
because it really is a good all round album completed within the time
we set and has stood the test of time...however as you know managers and
record companies define success rather differently. The most successful
record in terms of airplay was the single "Burning"[1981]
AK:
Whether the band has videoclips, concert videos?
GRB:
no not really we did not video any concerts but intend to in the future..there
is of course the video to Naisha, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0DxMpYSjyE
but it's a promo not a live video... I don't understand why but somehow
the management we had just never bothered with filming....bad management
over the years I suppose.... something which has affected many things...
that if course I am now left to explain haha.
AK:
With what record companies you worked earlier?
GRB:
We were with Legend Records in the eighties, and our own label Romany
Records through the 1990s We were almost signed to Jet Records in the
eighties but they signed Mamas Boys instead. RITUAL were turned down by
at least 12 record companies in the eighties. So in the end we decided
to release in future on our own label Romany.
AK: And with what record companies you are going
to to work today?
GRB:
Sorry, unfortunately i'm not at liberty to discuss that as negotiations
are still not 100% complete. with the proposed record company but i can
tell you its a major company in the business. and i am sure they will
promote RITUAL in a new and bigger way.
AK:
Let's talk about forthcoming album. What has induced you after long rest
to renew the vigorous activity and to undertake record of new album?
GRB:
haha i never rest,RITUAL is always in the wind..and over your shoulder......we
have had a lay off for a while, i needed to complete some solo stuff and
really just take stock of where RITUAL is now, and i think with the renewed
interest in Nwobhm stuff,although we were around before that even, it's
time to move forward. RITUAL is as much a part of British music History
as any type of music. Bands of our era the 1970s such as RITUAL or Motorhead/AC/DC
will be around for a long time yet... we will keep at it as long as we
can...why not? its what we do best. we still have much to give.i have
the devil in my fingers and rock in my heart as i said.
AK:
I have such question to Gypsy with Devil in fingers and Rock in the heart
(Rocker Gypsy Re I am afraid for you, be more cautious with expressions
:))). Inquisition time has left, but the world is full of fanatics, I
don't want, that such musician as you, have appeared into the fire ;).
) And the question is such. You consider as the most successful album
in any sense "Valley Of The Kings" * by the way I think so too*, but why
the greatest popularity was received by album "Widow" ? *to be honest
the great album too*. And what problems were with release of "Widow"?
GRB:
The "Widow Album was ahead of its time, and encompassed the original sound
and style that i wanted for the band,it was raw and almost live, and gritty,
and i think people like the honesty and basic production. the track "Widow"
was recorded in only one day at PSL Studios in London on 16 track analogue
and was one of the first recordings to use the then "new " Lexicon reverb
,,the rest of the album was recorded in five days at Wickham Studios in
Surrey on 24 track analogue, this is the key to those old recordings they
were all on analogue 2" tape not digital...and we continue to record this
way. The initial problems with the album were finance but when the album
was packaged many of the albums we received had no "Ritual" logo on and
some were sent mistakenly out to press and other destinations...so it
caused great confusion people thought the band was called "Widow" and
not Ritual. so the rest of the albums were kept back. there are still
a few of these in circulation,and are now deemed illegal copies. but greedy
collectors still get the occasional one and sell it for a ridiculous price..i
have a few copies myself. but we had rest destroyed. as they were useless,
the really bad press the album received prevented us from getting any
distribution... and the confusion surrounding it only added to the mystery
of who it was so the album gained a reputation...for 25 years no-one was
quite sure who the band were who recorded the album but of course now
everyone knows at last due to the re-issue. I'm glad that at long last
the album is receiving the attention it deserves because it is a classic
album of that era and really sums up the music that was coming from the
Nwobhm at the time. One thing is for sure it set the name of RITUAL in
stone forever,and for that i'm grateful.
AK:
What album subjects will be, whether there will be in album together with
tool guitar compositions also bass solo, drumms solo? Or it contradicts
to RITUAL style?
 GRB:
RITUAL albums usually follow a theme,and this one will be no different
we do not make a big thing out of drum or bass solos or even guitar solos,only
in their place and not for the sake of demonstrating the best musician...too
many bands spend far too long with endless solos and indulgent guitar
effects etc...so i lhave always preferred the honesty of a good solid
melody,it is difficult for many bands to attain the hard rock sound without
compromising the harmony of the song volume does not equate to power,style
does, and its not what you play its the way you play it... RITUAL music
will always lean towards artistic and creative themes and song but of
course by the same sword they will always be within a structure that is
powerful and haunting.There will be instrumentals we always put one or
two in but the rest will be easlly recognisable as RITUAL material most
of my writing os done on acoustic guitars so there are some beautiful
intros to some,as i have said one must mix the beauty with the power they
go so well together.its the male and female of music. all good music has
both elements.
AK:
What today's band structure?
GRB:
Same as always for the foreseeable future too,we have a new drummer Steve
West thats the only change for the moment.All the rest without changes:
Gypsy Re the Bethe-vocal, all guitars and Phil Mason-bass...
AK:
What can you tell about the new drummer?
GRB:
He been around for a while,and an old friend. and an amazing Drummer...he
used to be Johns drum Tech for a while and has been to many gigs with
us,so he knows our set very well...he has been playing for many years
and played drums on "Fall in the Dark" this was a test run and we decided
to use him. He has worked mainly in sessions for about 25 years.and played
on many good rock albums for other bands..too many to mention.
AK:
There're only 3 musicians in the band. Do you wish to increase band structure?
GRB:
Not at the moment i would never dream of more players as Phil and i work
very well together and we dont want to lose that chemistry ......perhaps
a vocalist?....but it may be possible in the future to perhaps have a
RITUAL that is a four piece,if we found a vocalist that was right -who
knows we could be tempted to return to four-but he would have to be good
as i can do the job already hahaha....who knows,,never say never ..vocalists
are replaceable, but i dont know how the fans would react to it...i have
been lucky with no throat problems but its always an option if i did.
AK:
When album release is planned?
GRB:
We will begin recording in June for three weeks,and of course then another
month at least with all the cover design post production packaging etc..
it will probably have a release date in the end of July or beginning of
August...if it takes more time...well we will see but at this point its
hard to give exact dates but the schedule is pretty tight. so it should
be on time...
AK:
Whether release of new album will be accompanied by concert tour to its
support? If yes then in what places or countries?
GRB:
The UK and Europe have planned dates but again this may change ,record
companies and agents have a habit of adding dates or places as they go
along,but the UK is certain and Germany..its a while since we've been
on the road but we're ready to go the warm up gigs will be in the UK..they
will release dates nearer album release time.
AK:
In what countries the band had concerts?
 GRB:
RITUAL has played in Germany, Sweden, France, Belgium, Italy, and the
US but mostly in the UK. With the advent of the internet there is not
the need for so much touring. you can pick the countries more specifically.
In Fact the other day,i was looking a some of the gigs we did in the 1970s..it
was nice to remember we played at the Red Cow in Hammersmith, london in
1974-75-76 same time as AC DC and other bands like the Jam....Also every
other famous london gig we did,like the Roundhouse,chalk farm,the Greyhound,
Fulham and of course our regular gig at "The Cafe Des Artistes" ah nostalgia...
AK: Where most of all it was pleasant to you also
what countries band would like to visit with concerts?
GRB: I like the gigs we do in the UK as its my home,and when we travel
around this country we get a great reception,but i love all the places
we gig and all the people we meet are really great... I would like to
visit Russia,and more of Eastern Europe. As I admire the culture and the
people.
AK:
You are known as the guitarist-virtuoso. What guitars you prefer to use
and what guitars you have in stock?
GRB:
I have two vintage SG Gibson standards,, which i use for regular RITUAL
work...a 1967 and a 68 which is my back up spare guitar...these i use
on stage for RITUAL and in the studio i also use my acoustics again they
are vintage Eko 12 strings 1973 and 72 dont keep a lot of guitars as i
get very attached to using one, that i get comfortable with.... i always
laugh at guitarists that have many guitars,as you can only play one at
a time hahha ...why? most virtuoso violin players only have two excellent
violins. vintage instruments are too expensive to have too many hahaha..i
have had my same guitars for many years. i have built one myself,and used
it for the album work but it was a bit too fragile and heavy for taking
on the road.. i dont believe the value of a guitar is important. a cheap
guitar is just as good,if the player is committed. We all started with
cheap instruments. It's not important.
AK:
You write all music for band. There is no song written by someone another.
And can be all the same there's songs in which creation someone else has
brought some contribution , the bass player or the drummer?
GRB:
No not really i always write the material,and there is no other reason
other than i always have plenty of new songs and ideas,my Bass Player
Phil Mason is invaluable as co-producer and is a great second pair of
ears in the studio. also he is very good at choosing which songs work
on albums so its makes it easier that i have help in that way....but i
am the boss and and they are happy to let me make the decisions and take
the helm. I'm always open to ideas and i always insist that the Drummer
and Bass are allowed exactly to play as they please therefore allowing
artistic input,and it works well this way- their contribution is what
they play because in that-they have complete freedom......the bass lines
although basic are a key ingredient . also the way we approach tuning,and
pitch are vital and i believe quite unique. This creates the "Ritual "
sound.
AK:
You are known as the guitarist-virtuoso. At what age you took guitar in
hands and at what age you have written your first song?
GRB:
I started playing around nine years old when my Father who was a theatre
impresario would take me to many different UK theatres where he was running
a variety show and i would play during the 10 minute intermission between
shows..And i think i wrote my first song around the age of 12 just simple
little instrumentals on the guitar.which my mother would give me a shilling
to play for visitors. The first real song i wrote,with lyrics for RITUAL
was "Carmilla" but i never recorded it.
AK:
Whether there were any bands and executors which have made certain influence
on your creativity? It would be especially interesting for knowing, because
your music isn't similar to someone's another.
 GRB:
Not really bands but friends that were in bands that i liked who were
around in the seventies...who i admired as performers and as friends Bon
Scott [AC/DC]is a good example, i met him in the seventies socially and
i admired him as a performer and front man,he had amazing charisma. and
Paul kossoff [ FREE] a really inspired player,and lovely guy... i am not
influenced by their particular types or genre of music or even certain
songs... but in the way they are performed or the spirit in which they
are performed. I do not like those which sound entirely different to what
they have sold on a record,the record should be a true and honest reflection
of the live sound.These performers which i like you cannot tell if its
live or recorded.-thats just sheer professionalism not studio trickery.
I was brought up listening to a wide variety of music and non of it i
really liked. so i just played what i liked,.as i said the friends who
enrich your life shape your memories and for me my music is merely a reflection
of my me.i hope it also serves as a fitting tribute to those who are no
longer with us.
AK:
What kind of activity you like more: concerts or creativity of music creation?
GRB:
Both of course but performance are the moments in time when you can enjoy
the actual live experience..Creating music is a long and arduous task
...so when you get to play it live.,its usually already been recorded,
and the live presentation is a chance to run the song and connect with
your audience,the two dont really compare,but i like both. Both have their
rewards.
AK:
Tell one of especially cheerful cases wich was at band at the concerts.
GRB:
Canterbury College in 1984 we were playing and the back part of the stage
collapsed. Our drummer and the kit slid five feet lower so all you could
see was his head hands and sticks haha but he kept playing and we finished
the number...And the very next gig in Wales,was in the middle of nowhere
and we were in the coach and lost in the fog,and we saw torches,,,in the
distance and were amazed to see many people the whole village had marched
out with torches in the fog to come and find us....it was unreal...hahahaha-wonderful...
AK:
Whether you keep friendly relations with somebody from with whom you communicated
at the beginning of RITUAL career?
GRB:
Yes a few people,friends are still around from those early days, our first
manager John Marley is,and fans who have followed us from day one..but
because of the nature of the rock business many friends and business associates
are not with us or around now.I dont think any of us expected RITUAL to
last as long as it has
AK:
Whether there were sometimes at band such unpleasant cases when the band
didn't receive advance payment for concert, didn't receive money for concert
when concerts unexpectedly have been broken for various reasons?
 GRB:
Well all bands experience this at some point hahah but we had the occasional
problem in the early days,when we were playing pubs,clubs in London..some
of the people running them were unscrupulous characters,but my Road manager
John Usher is a big guy,and usually they didn't argue. He is still with
us. the only major problem we had with this kind of thing was when we
recorded "Cry In The night" an album we did at EZEE studios in London,the
engineer made a really bad job technically of the actual recording and
i asked for another one engineer to be brought in,So Guy Bidmead [Motorheads
engoneer] Came and tried to sort it out but by this time i had walked
out in disgustand refused to work with anyone there....so they took us
to court for the costs.We won the court case and they were ordered to
hand over the 2" master tapes which they did after they had wiped them
clean of all music.....a months work destroyed...but we put it down to
experience.
AK:
Gypsy Re! Everyone remember you as classical rocker, dressed in all black
and with long black hair. Last time you act at concerts with invariable
hat on the head. On the one hand it shows the high status of Gypsy! But
on the second hand this's disrespect for ladies.:))) Gypsy Re, and what
it's means at you: new style, the high Gypsy status or... Don't you respect
ladies? :)))
GRB:
hahahahahahahahaha ok well yes of course i do,i love them..but the hat
is a reference to my culture,and its only a recent thing..left over from
the solo gigs i did,,.Jimi Hendrix wore a hat,so did Stevie Ray Vaughn,Carlos
Santana,Angus young and many more so its not that unusual.....i have a
fedora which i wear a lot...i have always worn hats but only recently
worn them on stage.....i was wearing a top hat when slash was still in
short pants....hahaha....
AK:
Let's pass to new album. What can you tell shortly about coming album?
 GRB:
only what i've already told you,its very difficult to predict everything,often
things can change in the studio, i do fair amount of pre-production before
i go in so i have a good layout of the work to be done,however as and
musician will tell you some songs however great they sound in rehearsal
do not record well,so some songs you may have planned to use you don't,and
others which you never dreamed would work do. so i like to keep an open
mind and try to keep a live feel which means not too much planning and
keep it loose.We work very fast once we are there. That helps to make
it fresh and spontaneous. Yuo have to have the overview and thats difficult
when you are close to it,so often we will take a couple of days off as
we go along to review what we have done and give the ears time to rest.Everyone
tends to work at my pace,so i try not to overwork them hahaha
AK:
What guitars will sound in album and in general what tools there will
be?
GRB:
There will be the usual 12 string intros which i use a lot,and perhaps
some on flamenco guitar, and the usual instrumentation arrangements Although
i think this album will be harder and heavier than before, the instrumental
parts will be sweeter, so to effect a greater dynamic,...there wil also
be percussion in one song...not drums. and sound effects.
AK:
How you think, what role of this new album for the band?
GRB:
I think with the re-issues finally the story of the "Widow" album was
revealed and at last it has received the attention and great reviews.
Being heralded as one of the seminal Nwobhm albums was indeed a bonus
that i never expected. At last everyone got to hear it, and despite the
collectors,who were selling rare original copies for high sum, anyone
can now buy it, this new album signals a new era for The band in the 21st
century. also its a chance to get some new stuff out there for the loyal
fans who have waited a while for a new album..Also its difficult to make
albums like "Valley of the Kings" as its very well done, so i have hopefully
risen to the challenge of making the new one in the same sentiment of
quality,and innovation.
AK:
Question to rocker with the long-term experience. What your opinion about
today's rock music, that which broadcast everywhere?
GRB:
MMM haha well thats a really tricky one,i'm not a huge fan of thrash or
Black metal,but then again some of it is good,generally i like many of
the newer heavy metal bands coming through,as long as its hard and heavy
ROCK its ok with me,i just dont like the rubbish studio-created POP music
we hear all the time in the UK its just trash, sung by record company
puppets,who eventually end up as bad TV actors or usleless celebrities.
AK:
How you consider, style NWOBHM still expects repeated blossoming and especial
splash of popularity? To be honest, it is my favourite style of music
and I would like it very much! And I'm assured that it's not only my desire.
GRB:
Good music is timeless and not subject to trends or change, Nwobhm has
survived many changes and trends..and is now set in history as a popular
genre,and will always be around,of course like any genre it will have
ups and downs,but remember people still like blues ! how long has that
been around? well i think Nwobhm is now here to stay after a long an difficult
history its a special alchemy of rock which was created in a few short
years,thats why its special, this movement will echo in time.people will
be listening to Nwobhm bands long into the future,long after we are all
dust..
AK:
And summing up. What would you wish to all listeners?
GRB: Thanks,i wish all your listeners and readers worldwide, good health
and happiness, and to keep the faith!.Dont let anyone steal your dreams.or
put you down , keep rocking for 2010 ! and way beyond.
AK: Thanks for the interview.Very pleasant and interesting
to talk to you.All the best to the band and to you personally!
GRB:
No thank you! its been a real pleasure,i would also like to take this
opportunity to thank all the great RITUAL and Nwobhm fans out there for
their support...!
For
your pleasure here goes RITUAL song "Into The Night"
for free downloading and listening http://www.sendspace.com/file/6u512w
RITUAL
on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ritual1973
Alina
Katalova
MetalKings.com
(February, 2010)
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