*When did you really get involved into music in general and into metal specific? Who was responsable for your interest in (metal) music?

I started playing guitar when I was 13 years old. My father plays as well and is a hard rock fan, so I can credit him for my initial interest in playing music. Some of my earliest memories are him putting KISS records on and giving me the record sleeve and watching the spark begin.

*Which artists or bands did influence you the most?

There are more than I can count, but some of the most deeply influential are Metallica, Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols, KISS, Rush, Bad Religion, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mayhem, Morbid Angel….

*Which instrument do you play and how and when did you learn to play? Did you had lessons in school or private lessons? If so, was that because your parents expected that from you? Or did you learn to play the instruments by yourself? Do yo still follow some lessons?

I play guitar and started at 13. I’ve never taken formal lessons, but I bought every guitar magazine I could find as a kid and absorbed everything I could from them. I also had a few mentors along the way. I am still obsessed with playing guitar and play every single day in hopes of improving and creating something special.

*Do you listen to or are you intrested in other styles of music beside rock / metal? If so, what is the kind of music you prefer to listen to?

Absolutely. I think it would be quite boring to only listen to one type of music. I like early country music, fusion, even some classic pop music. The only thing I require of music for me to respect it is honesty and sincerity.

*Is music a full time job for you now or do you have a job beside music? If so, what kind of job are you doing? If you would be really succesful with music, would you quit your other job?

Currently, all my sources of work and income come from various aspects of the music industry. Over the years, I’ve worked at guitar stores, record labels, taught guitar lessons and worked in recording studios. Most non-music jobs aren’t very understanding when you need to take time off for recording and touring, so I’ve managed to spend most of my adult life in the music business.

*If you could start a complete new band (something like an all star band) with other musicians on other instruments, which artists would you pick for wich instrument and why? Would you still go for a hard rock / heavy metal band?

That’s a hard question to answer since I currently play in two bands with some of my best friends and am already living the dream in many ways. I suppose there are some styles I’d like to explore on my own. One day, I plan to write and record an instrumental acoustic album, and there’s a part of me that wants to do a power-pop hard rock project like Cheap Trick or KISS. But for now, I’m busy enough with the bands I have.

*If you had been banned to an uninhabited island and you may pick 5 albums to listen to, wich albums would you choose and why?

I would want a good variety of sounds, and I would want records that are great from start to finish. This list might look different if you asked me yesterday or tomorrow, but here’s what I’d do today: Metallica ‘Master Of Puppets’, ZZ Top ‘Tres Hombres’, Bad Religion ‘Against The Grain’, Morbid Angel ‘Formulas Fatal To The Flesh’ and Blue Oyster Cult ‘Secret Treaties’

*Every new album of a band or an artist is the best one, so they say. So here is a chance to promote your album. Why should a music lover buy your album? What are the standout tracks for you on this new album and why?

I’d like to think that each song on this new record stands out in its own way. We work hard to make sure each song has its own vibe while still fitting in the context of the album. We’re lucky that anyone is interested in what we’re doing. At our core, we write the music we want to hear. If you’re a fan of hard rock and heavy metal but want something that’s fresh while classic sounding, then we may be a band you will enjoy.

– See “CD-Review” for a review (written in Dutch) for the new Sanhedrin album ‘Lights On’ (Metal Blade Records) –

*Is there a chance that you will promote these songs through live concerts? If so, would you prefer small clubs or big festivals? And is there a chance we can see SANHEDRIN in Belgium?

We prefer playing anywhere that has a crowd that connects with us. We love sweating it out in the club, and we also love the massive energy of a festival stage. We will be doing a small run in Germany in May with our friends Stallion, and we are working hard to get shows throughout Europe and North America and anywhere else we can in the coming months.