FALLEN ANGEL – Interview with John Cruppe

Twenty-one questions with guitarist John Cruppe discussing FALLEN ANGEL’s debut release – “Crawling out of hell”

I understand that the conceptual storyline that begins with “Crawling Out of Hell” spans over a minimum of three cd releases. Why such a bold move with the band’s first cd release?

We’ve always admired the bands that have gone the extra mile for their fans, and we wanted to create a whole new world for our fans to dive into. Doing that in the fashion of a single cd release would not have been enough to relate the epic story I was trying to create.

Is it true that there will be a trilogy of novels to relate the complete story of your characters beyond the release of the cds, and that you are the author?

Yes that is accurate. Book one is complete and has the same title as the first cd release, “Fallen Angel – Crawling Out of Hell”. The second cd is completely written and we are at the beginning stages of the recording. I am simultaneously writing book two, and both works will be entitled “Fallen Angel II – Cast Out of Heaven”.

There are rumors of a comic book series being released as well. Can you shed some light on that?

Yes the comic book series was part of the initial plan, and each cd is expected to have twelve separate issues. However the time restraints in completing all twelve chapters to coincide with each cd release was becoming a major concern. I have at least thirty of the thirty-six issues loosely scripted, but with all of the artwork involved it was impossible for the artist to keep up. There are still plans to produce and release the comic book series as each issue is completed but they will be released at a later date than the cds and the novels will be.

Why are you cross marketing the storyline for three separate mediums?

We are doing that for a number of reasons. First of which is there is a lot of story to tell and a novel is the best way to relay a vast amount of information with a fictitious story. Also artwork has always been a big part of music for me in addition to the actual music. Bands like Iron Maiden, Rush, and many more have incorporated great works of art to accompany their music and that is also very important for us to help relate the story to the listener as well as the reader. In addition to the novel and the associated artwork, the lyrics reveal additional details to help complete the full story. The cool thing about this project is that a fan can become enticed by the music and the lyrics and want to know more about the story. Once the listener becomes aware of the additional material related to the cd he or she might decide to read the novel, the comic series, or both. In addition to that someone unaware of the musical link may in fact read the novel or comic series and decide to investigate the musical side of the project. Once again this stems from wanting to provide the fans with that little something extra. As far as I know this is uncharted territory in using all three mediums to tell our epic tale. I am aware of other groups tapping into the comic book market that Kiss paved the way for in the mid-seventies but this approach is truly something different.

I understand that your co-lead guitarist Robb has worked with former Anthrax lead singer Joey Belladonna in the recent past. Can you elaborate on this?

Robb is good friends with Joey and he worked closely with him during his 2008 solo tour, as well as laying down some loose tracks with him in his studio. I am not sure what the plan is for those tracks, you will have to ask Joey about that. The three of us did have a chance to hang out together at a local Sevendust show, and it was a great time. Joey’s a legendary singer and a great guy.

Do you know if Robb will be working with Joey in the future?

That is something I can’t answer at this time. I know Joey and Robb are on good terms and are still in contact with one another, but only time will tell if they will work together again.

“Crawling Out of Hell” has a total of twenty tracks, three of which are referred to as cinematic pieces, as well as also having three instrumental pieces. Please elaborate.

The cinematic and instrumental pieces are meant to give the listener that epic movie type of feeling. Two of the pieces are entitled “March into Hell” and “The Grinding Wheels of War” and are intended to bring the listener into the heart of the battle in-between the vocal tracks. Another is called “Ashes to Ashes” and is intended to give the listener the warped feeling the character Mary feels as her haunting begins during a funeral.

What was the inspiration for the “Crawling Out of Hell” storyline, and are any of the characters based on actual people?

Many things inspire me as a writer, things that occur during day-to-day events or even a great piece of artwork that I might see. The idea for the Fallen Angel saga has been stirring around in my mind for a few years now and it was inevitable that it would become a reality. I am a huge fan of an assortment of writers stemming from J.R.R. Tolkien to the likes of Stan Lee. David Lynch, Anne Rice and Michael J. Straczynski also come to mind. The incredible works that these writers have been a part of spans from full-length novels to screenplays and comic books. Lyric writing has always been a great love of mine and lyricists like Neil Peart, Steve Harris, Peter Gabriel and many others, have always intrigued me with their fantasy writing abilities. I wanted to take our lyrical subject matter to the extreme and allow it to tell parts of the story instead of just repeating the novel’s content. By doing so I’ve been able to create a four-legged animal to tell the complete story by combining the music, the artwork, the lyrics and the novel to paint an enormous landscape for the Fallen Angel saga. Some of the characters are loosely based on people I know or have known in my life, but none of them are specifically portrayed as a character in the story.

How long did it take to complete everything you have to date and when should we expect to see the next novel and cd?

Everything we have done at this point has been self-produced and self-financed. We wanted to approach this project without being rushed, and truly give it the time we needed to write and record the first segment of the Fallen Angel saga. Keeping in mind that we built our studio from the ground up prior to starting the project, combined with all of our individual hectic schedules, it has been close to three years since we began. That would include writing the cd, writing the novel, creating the artwork and recording everybody’s parts. As it stands it seems that a good estimate would be 24 to 30 months until the second novel is written and the second cd is recorded. That may seem a little longer than the norm, but there is a lot more to this project than the average cd release. Hopefully we’ve given the fans enough to digest until part two has been completed.

In a few words can you please describe what it’s like working with each of your fellow band mates?

Great question. First off I’ve worked with both Robb and Frankie since our teenage years, and to be quite honest I wouldn’t have it any other way. Robb is the best co-lead guitarist anyone could ever hope to work with and he’s like a little brother to me. Our individual guitar parts compliment each other incredibly, and together I feel that we create a chemistry that is very hard to find. Frankie is like having an octopus meshed with a fierce Tasmanian devil behind the drum kit and he is also like a brother to me. I’ve known Robb and Frankie for years, and we’ve grown up together enjoying all of the happiness and struggling through all of the turmoil life has thrown at each of us. Joe couldn’t be a more solid addition as the band’s bassist. We’ve become very good friends since he’s joined us, and he is exactly what we wanted to round out our rhythm section. We’ve also known Joe since our teenage years, and Robb and Frankie have both worked with him on various projects in the past, however this is the first time all four of us have worked together in one band. As far as Steve goes, I have to say he is the most level headed, sincere and professional vocalist that I have ever worked with. He is incredibly talented and amazes me every time he picks up a microphone. Every member has stepped up to the plate and delivered as far as I’m concerned, and each of our individual friendships continue to grow. I have always felt that it’s hard to be in a band with someone if you don’t consider them a true friend, and I value each member’s friendship as much as I value each of their individual talents.

Is it true that early on in his life Joe had an injury like Tony Iommi did with his fingers and he had to re-invent his style of playing?

Yeah that’s a crazy story. There was an accident involving a table router used for woodworking and Joe had to have three of his fingers on his picking hand re-attached surgically. He permanently lost the tip of his index finger, which forced him to alter his style of playing. I know it was a very traumatic time in his life for him and he almost gave up playing altogether, but he pushed forward through the healing process and adapted just like Tony Iommi did after his accident. He adjusted his approach to the bass and succeeded in becoming an accomplished player. If you watch him play today you would never know he had the accident.

Is it true that within the music, the lyrics, and the storyline you have made subliminal tributes to many of your musical and artistic influences and intentionally created a musical Easter egg hunt within the writing?

Well … I was kind of hoping to let the fans figure that out for themselves. I think many groups in today’s industry credit their influences both intentionally and unintentionally with their music and their lyrics. It’s unavoidable in this day in age. However I think I will take a note from Roger Waters on this one, who truly is an inspiration to me as a writer. When an interviewer once asked him if “Dark Side of the Moon” was truly intended to be synched up to the “Wizard of Oz” intentionally he replied, “I will neither confirm nor deny that possibility and let the fans decide for themselves”. I’m paraphrasing of course, but I think that’s a fair response. After all we don’t want to reveal any spoilers nor do we want to take any fun away from the fans. That would be like telling all the kids where the eggs were before the hunt begins, and where’s the fun in that? I will say that there are many things woven into the story beyond the surface, and the reader or the listener may find something new every time they read or listen to the project.

Why did you decide to utilize backwards-masking techniques on certain parts of the cd?

I’ve always been intrigued by backward masking since the Beatles did it and Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, and Ozzy were all accused of doing it. To this day nobody knows for sure if Zeppelin purposely did it or if it was just a fluke. Seeing as our saga is a fantasy based horror story, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to utilize the technique. It definitely adds a very eerie feeling to the pieces we’ve applied it to, and it’s a lot easier for someone to reverse the masking these days than it was when you had to physically spin the record backwards by hand. Once again it’s just a little something extra for the fans to have fun with.

The band has a pretty intense visual appearance on stage. Is it true that each of you represent a different character from the storyline with your appearance and costuming?

I see you’ve done your homework. Yes that is accurate but to be more precise each of us portrays one of the saga’s many villains. Each villain is a member of a group called “The Fallen” and someone the primary character crosses paths with during his perilous journey through the realms of the underworld. They were each horribly cruel beings in their mortal lives and committed atrocious crimes of violence. Someone once asked me why we play the villains from the story instead of the heroes, and the only way I can answer that question is that a hero is only as good as his villains are. Take anything from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings or even comic book super heroes like Spiderman or Batman. Would Luke Skywalker be half as interesting without Darth Vader, or would Frodo be as entertaining without his wide array of antagonists? I really don’t think so. Batman and Spiderman have some of the most diabolical enemies one could ever think of, and that’s one of the big things attracting their audience from the comic book industry all the way to the movie screen. If the villains are lame, then who cares if the hero bests them? I’ve attempted to create some of the most wickedly evil villains that the mind could think of and pit them against our protagonist Luke. I personally think that portraying them onstage is what the true fan would rather see, and it makes the show a bit more gothic and exciting.

What would you say to someone comparing your look to bands like Kiss, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth or King Diamond?

I would say thank you. Those are four very cool bands that sound very different, but all have a similar visual approach with their look. Once again in today’s day and age it’s inevitable that we will be compared to others with a similar look or sound. With all of the make-up and masks from band to band, you just have to try to do your own thing and if it works then it works. You’ve got Mushroomhead then you have Slipknot. You have Kiss then you have Motley Crue. You have King Diamond then you have Dimmu Borgir. You have Gwar then you have Mudvayne. The list goes on and on, and for us this is just another way to intrigue the fans. The music is first on all levels with us, but we grew up listening to all of those bands and love them just as much as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin or Metallica. If we sprayed our hair like a lot of 80’s bands did, people would compare us to those bands regardless of what our music sounded like. We’re looking to create our own niche while allowing our music to speak for itself. It may seem like a similar approach on some levels, but if you dig a little deeper you will realize just how different our approach actually is. For the record I’m a fan of every band you referenced and being compared to any of them is an honor.

Can you describe in a few words what the conceptual storyline is about and if there is a message you are trying to send to your audience?

In a loose description the story arc reflects the journey of one man’s soul through a near death experience, and ultimately his final demise where his adventure truly begins. He learns that the mysteries surrounding the dead surpass the mysteries that surround the living, and that every mortal being has their own cross to bear in one-way or another. As he struggles through the realms of the damned attempting to follow the proper path, he learns that unity and coexistence is the true way to salvation and that segregation no matter if it is applied to race, religion or political views is the wrong path for anyone looking to achieve peace or divinity. It’s tough to reveal any more than that without giving up any spoilers. Once again I have tried to create a whole new world for the fans to dig into, and the brief description I’ve just given you barely scratches the surface of what the primary character experiences during his intense travels. Some fans may want to leave the light on when they go to bed after reading certain parts of the novel.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I have a broad range of influences, as do all the members of the band, but for me personally I would say that as far as metal goes Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Metallica and early Rush are a must mention. As far as lyricists go the names I mentioned earlier are just a few of the writers that I truly admire. Neil Peart, Steve Harris, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters are all incredible lyricists, and they are each brilliant in their own way. Pete Townsend is another excellent lyricist. There are many others on my list as well, but we could be here all day if I were to mention them all.

Who are some of your favorite guitar players?

As far as hard rock and metal goes I would have to say Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Frank Marino, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Chris Oliva, Dime Bag, and John Petrucci just to name a few. In the progressive genre I admire Steve Howe very much. Over the last couple of years Robb has turned me onto Greg Howe who is very inspirational, and we got a chance to see Alan Holdsworth play recently who is out of this world with his style of playing.

Seeing as you are currently writing a trilogy of cds and novels, what is your favorite novel or movie trilogy?

With literature it would have to be “Lord of the Rings” hands down. I started reading those books in the 6th grade and J.R.R. Tolkien is an absolute genius. He captures the hearts and minds of both children and adults alike with his legendary tales, and he dedicated his life to creating a fantasy world that will exist forever in the annals of time. With movies I would have to say “The Godfather” if we are talking about drama. Part three was a little weak but it’s still a great trilogy overall. In the science fiction genre I would say the original “Star Wars” trilogy still ranks at the top of the list, and with fantasy there’s nothing better than “Lord of the Rings”. Peter Jackson is amazing and I can’t wait to see his interpretation of “The Hobbit” on the big screen.

You said earlier how important it is for you to give the fans that little something extra. What are your thoughts of digital downloads and economy packaging for cds?

I’ll answer that from two points of view. First off it’s great to be able to find the music you want easily with a “click and buy” option on the Internet. It’s also cost effective for the average artist to put out a simple package without a booklet or any photos of the band. Some fans just want the music and they don’t read lyrics nor do they care about the packaging, and there’s truly nothing wrong with that. However there are many people out there like myself who come from the old school way of thinking that appreciate a specially packaged item with lyrics, photos, artwork etc. Bands like Kiss, Yes, Rush, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper and Dream Theatre have gone to great lengths to give the fans something extra with their purchase. Some artists, like Judas Priest for example, are releasing vinyl again and combining it with the cd and various band merchandise in a deluxe package. Personally that is the path I would like to follow. I feel a vast majority of the fans appreciate that sort of thing. The first time I purchased a cd that directed me towards a website to download the cd booklet I was stunned, and began to wonder what the world was coming to. Don’t get me wrong though, if you are sampling an artist’s material for the first time you probably don’t want to buy the whole cd or a deluxe package, and a download would be the easiest and cheapest way to sample an artist for the first time. It truly depends on the fan in question. Choices are great to have for the fans, but I don’t think we’re in any danger of losing the deluxe packaging mindset any time soon.

In closing is there anything you would like to say to the fans?

Yes, I would like to thank everyone for their support, and we hope to see as many of you as we can when we play in your area. “Crawling Out of Hell” has been a long time coming for Fallen Angel, and I hope everyone enjoys part one of our epic saga.

FALLEN ANGEL:
www.fallenangelofficialwebsite.com