Interview with Kurdt Venderhoof (Metal Church)

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 09:30) Written by Steve Parker Sunday, 31 August 2008 17:40

Kurdt Vanderhoof is the guitarist and founding member of legendary heavy metal band Metal Church, and also Presto Ballet that is a progressive rock band. We interviewed him to find out what he was upto these days.

Kurdt Venderhoof

IS) How much the music scene has changed for metal since your early days of Metal Church?

KV) Its mostly due the fact that the industry has changed so much.  There really isn't a music "Scene" anymore.  Record Companies are run out of accounting offices rather than by people who love music.

IS) What do you think about the role of media in promotion of Metal during 80s and now? How much it has changed?

KV) Well, its the fact that the media doesn't cover it nearly as much as they did then. And America is very trendy place. If something isn't considered "cool" then its not covered by the media. Unless its in specialty mags etc..

IS) About the name "Metal Church"; what was the story behind the name?

KV) It came from the apartment that I lived in, in San Francisco. We would all hang out there and party and listen to all the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal stuff. We soon started calling it "The Metal Church" . Eventually people just started calling the band that( because we didnt have a name and couldn't seem to come up with anything. So  , we just decided to go with it LOL!

Kurdt Vanderhoof performing live at Gernika, Spain.

IS) Tell us something about your rig & equipment; do you use something special for the extra punch of your tone?

KV) I dont use anything special at all. All I do is plug my Les Paul Custom into a Marshall JCM 900 and thats it. I may use a chorus for my clean sound but nothing else. Im VERY "Old school" and dont like alot of junk in my tone.

IS) In short; what was the story behind the breakup and reunion of Metal Church?

The break was due to very bad management at the time and the fact that the "grunge" thing became "The" new thing and metal was not considered cool anymore.
The "reunion was a good idea but unfortunately it didnt work very well.

IS) Well something other than music, so what do you do in the free time you get apart from music? Any special hangout or hobby?

KV) I dont do much else but make as much music as possible other than ride my Harley.

IS) How did the idea of "Presto Ballet" came into your mind?

KV) Progressive music was always a fav music style of mine. So the "Vanderhoof" project kinda morphed into  Presto Ballet. So I think the next Vanderhoof album will be just straight forward old school guitar rock.

IS) The album "Peace Among The Ruins" is just AMAZING! what your new album would be like? Should we expect anything different ?

KV) Thank You Very Much! The new Presto album will be the same style( Very 70's) but the songs are bigger and more epic sounding. We start the recording of the new album on Monday and Im VERY excited about it!

IS) You are a musician, writer & producer and everything you do seems to be you are the right guy for it, How do you manage it all?

KV) I guess i never really thought about it. I just do it. It basically came from the need to get things done and I love the creative process of building a record and not having anyone else tell us how it should be.

IS) Overall Metal scene has declined, If you agree, what is the main reason behind it?

KV) I think like I said earlier, the industry is so different now and Metal isnt considered cool anymore. It could be popular again if the media would support it.

IS) Any special message you want to give to your fans through Infernal Scream?

KV) Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it!!
Cheers to all!!

It was a real pleasure talking to you and good luck for your future project from Infernal Scream 's team.