


– Silver RISC has a long career behind his back. Can you tell us what the Greek scene was like in 1989?
Spiros Fousekis: Things were simpler than today, but it was harder as well in terms that each band had to communicate its presence in more physical ways first of all by establishing performing and using word of mouth in the first steps and then using advertising through radio. But surely what made the difference comparing to today’s day is that creating music was more spontaneous based on creator’s feelings and talent.
– What was the reaction like to your first album Anything She Does in 1993?
Dimitris Gasparatos: “Anything she does” was welcomed by fans with excitement setting the base to the Greek scene for hard rock groups who were trying to produce the sound of US Hard Rock with some trends of European hard & Metal music.
– Around that time grunge was really popular, did you find any problems to promote the album back then?
Tony V.: Actually no, because we followed our musical instinct to keep on the same road ignoring any signals that could distract us. Clubs and venues were packed by people who loved hard rock and supported us in various ways.
– Knot Over has a very peculiar front cover image. Can you explain the meaning of the album title and front cover?
Spiros Fousekis: It’s a human/personality that remained in silent mode in the dark for such a long time and after a crack of time he decided to leave his comfort zone and return to the light changing his appearance to today, but still remaining the same person. The title is a play on words. An original expression that Tony V. came up with. The bond that unites us and the fact that we are still rocking.
– Listening to the album, the first bands that bring to mind are Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Can you add other influences to describe your sound?
Dimitris Gasparatos: Our influences are variant we can also add Whitesnake , Van Halen, Mr Big , Rory Gallagher and Deep Purple but at the same time funk and Blues.
– Scrolling the track list, there are a couple of song titles such as The Sinner and Trapped Under the Ice. At first, we thought they were cover versions of Judas Priest and Metallica, did you name them to give the listener a precise musical reference?
Dimitris Gasparatos: Honestly that was not happened on purpose, it was random. When we write music& lyrics we don’t use a formula, everything is created based on inspiration and mood. “Trapped under the ice” is an old song. It was also included in our first album. We liked it a lot and we orchestrated it in a completely different way. “The Sinner” is inspired by Oscar Wilde’s “Woman of No Importance”.
– Why did you split the band in the 90’s?
Spiros Fousekis: At that time we reached a crossroad that we had to decide the professional path we needed to follow and we could say that we were a bit skeptical. But truth is that there was no particular reason of splitting the band … it just happened, although we never stopped being friends or meddling to each other’s life since we were all childhood friends.
– When you put the band back together was it easy to find the old chemistry between you?
Spiros Fousekis: It was like never stopped playing, things felt the same from day one. What we could say is that throughout the years one with each other were met musically in various other musical projects and bands so our connection never stopped. We all had a common factor – The SILVER RISC – common factor.
– Apart from Greece, in which countries do you have the strongest following?
Tony V.: Over the years we have received very positive messages and impressions from many regions outside of Greece. We have seen the first album “Anything she does” exist in Russia, Japan, Europe and even the USA. We aspire the same and even more with “Knot Over”
– You’ve released the video for Cry No More, why have you picked this track?
Tony V.: It’s a catchy tune that combines a memorable melody and riff that connects the past with the future of SILVER R.I.S.C. on the same way that will connect old with new fans.