by Behshad » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:03 am
Here's an interview with Jeff from a while back(Yngwie Forum):
Jeff Scott Soto is a name that needs no introduction to long time Yngwie fans. To many Jeff is still the definitive voice to counteract Yngwie's melodic metal finesse. This exclusive interview with Jeff gets his thoughts on his time with Yngwie, his subsequent projects and his forthcoming solo album.
Hi Jeff, thank you for agreeing to this interview, can we start by asking who or what inspired you to start singing and when did you first realise you had the facility to make a living in the business?
I've been wanting 2 be a professional singer ever since I was old enough 2 sing & emulate all of Michael Jackson's vocals during the Jackson Five years....it was innate without even realising or caring what it took 2 get there. Receiving praise & compliments at such an early age (I'd say about 5-6) only motivated & made me realise I was pretty damn good! Honestly though, I believe an artist is born with the drive & ambition that's creates the desire 2 perform & entertain.
You first came to prominence in Yngwie's band on the two vocal tracks on the 'Rising Force' cd, what led to you hooking up with Yngwie way back in 83/4?
I was living temporarily in Colorado, singing with a Top 40 cover band (only 18, just graduated from high school) & not making a single dime, pretty much stealing food from 7-11's 2 eat that day, when hanging out at a friend's house watching MTV, a news report came on that had mentioned Yngwie's departure from Alcatrazz....the VJ reported he was looking 4 a singer 2 complete his new solo project & 'that person could be u' (pointing finger at screen...at me, maybe?). I immediately sent the demo tape I had recorded with a band called Kanan when I was 16 (had 2 borrow the postage from my friend, i was THAT broke!) & within 3 weeks of dire times, moved back 2 LA. Within my 1st 2 weeks home, I get a call from Yngwie's manager that explained I had been chosen from a box over 100 cassettes 2 meet & audition 4 Yngwie....I nearly pissed my pants, imagine what u would have felt like getting a call at 18 years of age 2 not only meet, but audition 4 the next upcoming, premier guitarists in the world. Hell, if anything I could tell all my friends I got 2 meet Yngwie Malmsteen....look at how it all turned out! 2 move ahead a few weeks after finally being invited 2 join the band, I was brought in as a last minute decision 2 sing the 2 songs on the 1st album, as Yngwie was slated 2 sing them originally. The band convinced him 2 give me a shot & in a nutshell, Yngwie gave me 24 hours 2 learn & prepare 4 my studio debut...if I were not 'confident' sounding enough, he would continue 2 sing them himself...look at how i all turned out!!
Did you get to tour on the back of 'Rising Force' or were you basically back in the studio right away to do 'Marching Out' when 'Rising Force' started to get critical and commercial success?
My start with Yngwie was great, yet unfortunate. The 1st album came out in Sept. '84 & sold 10,000 copies on import, in New York city alone!! Marching Out was supposed 2 be the American debut of Yngwie (as well as us as an official band as opposed 2 just Yngwie as a solo artist) on Polygram, but after witnessing the demand 4 the 1st album, the label rushed 2 release it domestically while postponing Marching Out. We finished mixing the album in Jan. '85 & immediately performed 2 shows in California, then a Japan tour (which is the 'Live In '85' video....that show only 5th live performance as a band EVER!). We then went out 2 tour (all over the world, playing shit clubs & small theaters, a little bit rough 4 your 1st 'major tour', I might add), playing a lot of Marching Out material, which the audiences had only been exposed 2 Alcatrazz & the 1st album. I departed the band a month b4 Marching Out's release & Mark Boal's 1st shows were in stadiums & arenes performing 'my album' 2 10's of thousands...1 of the many rock & roll slaps in the face!
How do you view those two albums now getting on for almost 20 years later?
Well, production-wise, they're almost intolerable 2 listen 2....I'd always wished Yngwie would have surrounded himself with more competent studios & sound engineers back then. 2nd, sorry 2 all of u who love my singing on that stuff, but that too makes me cringe hearing how 'forced & unnatural' some of what was coming out of my mouth was. I thought I was sounding like Dio & Bruce Dickinson, where 2day I hear it as sounding like a poor JSS/Yngwie tribute singer, ha ha! In all honesty, I'm extremely proud of what we all did, I mean, we were all kids on those albums, the oldest then our drummer at the ripe old age of 22! It's strange 2 reflect on yourself as 'pioneering', but look at how many bands & influences spawned from that genre...it's quite flattering.
What is your fondest memories or nightmare from those early days with Yngwie?
My fondest memory was on the Trilogy tour in '86, Sacramento, CA, where I had come back 2 the band after Mark Boal's exit...no one really cared about the band members still at that point, unaware of who was singing. Within the 1st 2 numbers of the set, there was a huge sign with big bold letters held up about 3 rows from the front of the stage the 2 guys were holding that read 'Welcome Back, Jeff!!" it was my 1st real fan appreciation & I was really touched. The worst night with those guys consists of a personal encounter I'll save 4 an autobiography some day!
What led to you being replaced for the 'Trilogy' album by Mark Boals, yet returning to do the tour?
I saw the opportunity 2 get my deserves of the 1st year with him & perform 'my' songs with him live. As well, the venues were enormous then & I wanted 2 experience it, if never again 2 have that opportunity. Yngwie was a bit more appreciative of me that time around, so it was a bit more pleasant, & I emphasize 'a bit'.
What did you think of Mark Boal's lip synching on the video 'I'll See The Light, Tonight"?
Absolutely despised it!! I thought, why couldn't they at least put him in the studio 2 re-do the vocals 4 the video version?
Again, most didn't recognise (especially the chairs & powers that be) the band in any focal respect...it was all about YNGWIE.
Do you have a favourite song/s from that era?
Ironically, I loved performing the Trilogy songs almost more than the Marching Out stuff. I'd always been a more pop/rock singer in earlier bands & found it more appealing 2 sing the commercial side as opposed 2 the darker, dungeon stuff. I really had fun singing the Alcatrazz stuff as well.
After you worked with a few bands that are probably less well known than those to follow later, can you tell us a little about 'Panther' and 'Carrera'?
Panther was a band that an old high school buddy of mine was in & I helped finish their demo so they can find a singer 2 'be in the band'...I was never in it, but that demo, which eventually became an album, surely convinced people I was in that band. I thought the music was trite & silly.
Carrera was a group I joined after a manager of theirs at the time got my number & convinced there were big things about 2 happen with the band which enticed me 2 look into it. Needless 2 say, nothing was happening with the band, but I liked the songs & the guys in the band enough 2 rough it out with them. Nothing really panned out of it 4 us, but still a fond memory.
'Talisman' came next with whom you released 3 albums, is it safe to say this is the one band until that time you that felt comfortable with?
Absolutely!! Talisman is 1 project that never became stale or boring 2 me. I'm 4ever trying 2 challenge my own musical preferences with what I can convincingly create (it's the whole Queen influence-thing) & that's 1 band that's allowed the freedom 2 do so with. It's also 1 of the only bands I've ever been with talented & capable enough of pulling it off.
I know the 'Takara' situation came about more as a favour to Neil Grusky, how do you see that band now and have you heard their new album with James Byrd's vocalist Michael James Flatters?
I've always wanted nothing but the best 4 Neil, but unfortunately as much as my involvement helped establish the band, it also hindered it since I could/would never commit 2 being in the band full time. I've heard the new album & I feel they've finally found their sound & I'm happy 4 them.
In conjunction with 'Talisman' and 'Takara' you hooked up with german guitarist Axel Rudi Pell in 1992. What led to you two meeting?
It was 1 of the many cases where I'd be type cast as the 'guitar hero's singer'...so many of the guitar prodigy's appproached me based on my involvement with Yngwie & it became very stereotyping after a while, which was the main reason I tried 2 focus on 'band oriented' projects. But some that I did greenlight turned out 2 be fun & polar opposite experiences than my 1st guitar hero 1, I'm glad I said yes. Axel was yet another solo artist who had released several albums with other singers & originally, I was just asked 2 do a tour with him as the singer from his latest album was not interested in touring 4 it. It was good timing 4 me as i had nothing much booked at the time so after hearing the material, agreed 2 do it. Obviously, it flourished into quite a few records & such with Axel...great guy!
You produced quite a few superb cd's in amongst other 'Between The Walls' and 'Black Moon Pyramid', do you have a favourite album with Axel and why?
I liked elements of all the albums I did with him, but not 1 in it's entirety. Axel's & my influences are very opposite, therefore the music he writes was never in my field of what I listened 2 or wrote. It worked great that I pretty much gave him what he wanted out of the songs, but there were quite a few that I remember enjoying singing, especially live.
Was 'Human Clay' meant to be a new version of Talisman but a little heavier?
Not necessarily. Human Clay was an outlet 4 Marcel & I 2 continue being creative whilst Talisman was on hiatus. We were at a standstill with Talisman, 2 many wrong deals, no promotion or marketing, internal member indifferences which led us 2 put it in the cryogenic locker 4 a few years until we thought it was time 4 thawing again. Human Clay material was a lot of unfinished & throwaway Talisman material we dug up & completed 2 stay busy, yet not bastardizing the Talisman image.
You then contributed vocals to Yngwie's cover album 'Inspiration', the feeling I got from your vocals on their were stunning and I kind of hoped for a reunion between you, was that ever hinted at around that time?
I made Every effort 2 make that happen!!! It was 1995, which would have been the marking of a 10 year reunion with Yngwie & I contacted the whole original band, including Yngwie, & everyone was all 4 it. Things never quite got off as Yngwie then got booked with a tour, etc., I've since decided 2 wait 2 be asked 4 the possibilty of a reunion instead of anticipating it.
Did you record your vocals for 'Inspiration' at Yngwie's home studio and how was it being involved with him again?
Yes, we recorded it in his home in Miami. It was an AMAZING time we spent 2gether, & ironically enough, 4 1 main reason alone. We were all (Yngwie, Marcel & I) down 4 the count with terrible flu's & there was no drinking, partying, bitching, rock star bullshit in the room...just 3 sick guys catching up on old times & passing around the Kleenex! I had just sung 3 gruelling nights in Lake Tahoe with a disco band & had a day 2 get some kind of voice working 4 that album. We had many laughs & I'm sure Yngwie himself would probably say it was 1 of the most comfortable, laid back times we ever had in each others presence.
How did you get Yngwie in to play lead guitar on the track 'Jealousy'?
Easy, we bartered each other's services...3 songs sung on his for 1 solo on ours.
Apparently you offered to fill the vocalist slot on Yngwie's recent tour when Jorn Lande quit/was fired. Is this true and if so how close did it get to the green light?
Absolutely true, but his touring schedule conflicted with some earlier commitments I couldn't get out of. I knew they would be hard 2 factor out, but Yngwie's sincerity & desire 2 create the magic we once had again was hard 2 say no to....we really put our best efforts into making it happen.
Can you ever see yourself joining Yngwie's band again, would there have to be any others factors to get you to do so e.g. a classic RF line-up?
Yngwie knows how 2 reach me!! I couldn't think of anything more fun right now as we are more a retrospect of what was as opposed 2 something that could once be huge again. It would be great 2 once again feel the adulation of the 'heavy metal trophy' we once raised.
Human Clay's second album 'U4iA' built on the foundations of the debut, however, this was the bands last album, did you and Marcel feel that the band had run its course and hence started 'Humanimal'?
Not at all, we basically sold 3 copies of it & there was no real interest from the outside parties 2 continue. no point in releasing albums no one is buying. Humanimal is a whole other question/topic.
Can you explain why you and Marcel Jacob have lasted so long togeather, from 'Yngwie to Talisman to Human Clay the present day in Humanimal?
Marcel & I in many ways share the same brain, musically & mentally. We always know when we're barking up the wrong tree musically & we're usually musically bored & disinterested about the same things, so it's almost like we motivate each other. He's 1 of my dear, true friends & I value every detail of my friendship & brotherhood we share.
Humanimal has recieved great press pretty much everywhere and has also been performing well for an indie label, has the success of the project suprised you at all?
Very much so. 4 once, I've sung on an album I exected 2 end up the same way as some in the past, not by fault of the label or music, but by the descending interest in this field of music. It would be great 2 have a sleeper hit album on our hands.
Are you looking forward to the upcoming Z Rock live shows and can we expect anymore dates in addition?
Yes & yes....I look 4ward 2 any outtings with the Swedes & we're slated 2 perform another Z event in Oct (Germany). I would really like 2 get this band out on the road as it would give us a chance 2 sneak in the sister band's songs, meaning Talisman, of course.
Where do you see the future of Jeff Scott Soto heading over the coming years?
I hate 2 sound cliche', but I haven't even started yet!!! I've been around 4 a while, but I still have more than enough years in me 2 prove yet. U aint seen shit yet!
Available @ LuluBooks.com
An interview taken one year ago,on 12/22.
lol 
