Hi Terry. You’ ve recently released “Here and gone”, a collection of rare tracks from the XYZ and solo years. But three collections of previously unreleased stuff over the last couple of years would seem to be a little too many… What’ s different and new in this record, in comparison to Rainy Days and Forbidden Demos?
Forbidden demos is an XYZ cd, Rainy days is NOT AN XYZ CD!
Its a very poor bootleg done by an ex guitar player, someone who played with us even before we got signed or done any shows yet, and managed to gather some old tapes and recording together and told the world it was the lost XYZ cd!Funny he even claimed to have written some of them.songs that were
Written by Pat and I .
Very clever!, I have not seing him since that but I can t wait to confront him! :)

Forbidden demos is cd the fans ere waiting for.
I gathered all those demos from 1985 to 1991,remixed them mastered then .I carefully chose the songs that meant a lot like the original demo version of Inside out ,or After The Rain or Souvenirs.

Here and Gone is all about the songs I have recorded not Just with XYZ but with many of my friends,
members of AC/DC,The Steve Miller Band,Bowie,Black Sabbath,Scorpions, and these songs were here in my drawer.
So I thought the fans deserved to hear them.
You have to understand that many many fans have have contacted me over the years asking me to release those songs..
I guess they have heard about it..
Here and Gone should have been called “For the fans only!
They asked for it! I m very close to my fans in fact I make sure to answer my emails.
And believe me I GET LOTS OF EMAILS !But even if I just write few words I make sure to always answer..

What are your feelings towards Randy Pieper, after his unauthorized release of Rainy Days?
I am assuming you meant Bobby Pieper! :)
My feelings! How would you feel if someone got a hold of something that’s yours and told the whole world it was his?

Bobby Pieper left the band before we got signed before we have even done a show in LA, He never thought we would make it. All his life he felt terrible about it.
That was is decision to leave the band! So I guess XYZ it was not meant to be that is all, By releasing Rainy Days, an awful sounding CD he finally got is 15 seconds of fame.
I think its wrong he lied to the fans, telling them it was the lost cd never released.
This was not the lost XYZ cd, it was just a bunch of songs we demoed. Despite all that I forgive him. He is not a bad guy. Not too clever that’s all. I like the guy anyway. You know Forgiving is the first step of healing

Which songs on “Here and gone” bring you back to your best memories and moments?.
All are great but I tend to like "Waiting for a Girl Like you.”

A little while ago the Foreigner camp asked me if I was interested in joining the band and if so, could I record a demo so they could hear me singing Lou s song.
I did it they loved it, but ultimately I did not emulate his sound enough. I understand what a band would hire a sound a like, but is it right? I guess it s a matter of opinions. Personally I like the approach Van Helen took after losing Dave, they hire just the opposite and guess what?
It worked//

The cover in your last cd is clearly inspired to the oriental world, and a special thanks to your martial arts instructior appears among the credits. In my review of the album, I supposed you’ ve been through a kind of spiritual trip lately, and that this record might reflect your actual equilibrium. How much wrong am I?
I m Zen! I have been practicing Martial Arts since I m 12 years old! I went from Judo to Kung Fu to boxing to Tai Boxing to Wrestling, mixed Martial art with Bass Rutten, a great champion etc etc I tried them all almost :) and yes always thought I was missing something until I joined that Japanese disjoin am more comfortable now practicing an art that clearly teaches you how to respect others therefore your self too.
Through the art I learnt how elevate my self to another realm, I m better now then ever before, but don t get any ideas...... I m not Jesus Christ, yes I will always avoid a fight, and try to walk away from any negative situation, but will do what I have too if my life or the life’s of my loved ones are in danger.

I've been surprised by the presence of a Christmas song on the album, as I know that you had been unfortunately passing through some tremendous familiar tragedies at the time of “Letter to God”, and that on that record you cried your heart out with anger against your sad destiny.

What are your actual feelings towards God, and what do you think in general about these religious wars which are threatening the world?
Religion was created by men to control other men and women!
I believe there is a strong spiritual force around us. Some call is God some Buddha! I don t know what to call it but I know it s around us and its very strong,
I still don t know if we can or can t change our destiny, but I do know that our behavior and decisions have direct consequences on our paths in life.
So religion ... I don t like religions. God did not create religions.... the reasons we have so many wars is because of religions. Mine is better! Yours is dangerous his is..?..
Enough with that nonsense look how many people have died in the name of God! It’s not God its religion! I could go on and on forever about it...
My religion is too respect others and have respect for myself.
To give when I can and help those I can help.
That’s all!

Another bitter question: the first time I happened to read a post from you was on a message board concerning the great Randy Castillo. Would you like to spend some words in memory of your mate, who also appears on a track included in “Here and gone”?
Ah Randy! He was a great guy .A true great spirit, maybe because he has some Indian blood I ll never know, but there were something about him
EVERY BODY LOVED RANDY!

Taking a look at the past, lets start from your more recent one: aside from your sad personal experiences that we mentioned before, how much satisfied are you by the musical contents of “Letter to God”?
Letter To God is a great cd.
The CD I needed to make back then because of what I was going through some heavy emotions after the loss of my son.
God, Faith Justice I hated the whole world; I guess very bitter .I wrote those songs asking my self many questions. I did find some answers.
Letter to God is a rich album, one you only create when going through a storm.
I went all the way to the bottom of the ocean to write it .it was heavy. I would have never wanted to lie to my self therefore the fans and write an album about strippers and sex drug and ... what ever.
I m older and more mature. I have seen the world, experienced joy, and pain. So wanted to talk about all I have felt. Not fiction to please few fans or some journalist wanted to hear another same tripe of songs I wrote when my heart was in a very different place.
I don t do music for you or any one, I do it for me. Music is no fiction to me. Music is passion, music is real. I m blessed to have many fans with whom I can share my passion.

If you could get back at that time, would you now publish the four grungy inedits included in “Take what you can live”?
Sure why not.
Those songs are good enough for the fans to hear! If I feel its right then the fans should hear the tracks
I have when bands have songs in their vaults and never let the fans hear them

And would you shave your hair as a Mohican, such as you did in the early nineties?
I m very spontaneous! If I feel like shaving my whole head I will. Why not life is too short, NEVER DO TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY! YOU MAY NOT GET A TOMORROW.

Let’s furtherly press the pedal on our time machine: at the time of your debut album as XYZ, the band was hugely influenced by Don Dokken’ s role as producer. Do you think that his presence has been an advantage for XYZ, which brought the band under a significant spotlight, or just a sort of obstacle for developing a style of your own?
I would rather not talk about Don Dokken, the sound of the band was bluesier, less white, before meeting him... so you decide for yourself.

I also read somewhere that a fundamental role in XYZ career was played by an Italian friend of yours’ dick: why did’ t use your own (just kidding…)?
VERY TRUE!
My friend Pino was a huge XYZ fan .He was riding a Harley and lost is leather glove at a traffic light.
A girl and she drove the car behind him though Pino was cute <He is Italian") she picked up the glove honked at him and gave it back to him
Well as a good Italian guy always thinking,"hey maybe I can get laid here ") he alsed her out and guess what she then told him she worked for a record co
Pino called me telling she was cute and thought maybe it was a good idea to sleep with her... of course I gave him my blessing and told him to give her the best fuck of her life and then only then talk to her about his favorite band looking for a record deal XYZ/
I guess he must have fucked her real well! Because she signed us! True story!

Let touch the very early days of your career: somewhere you declared that you got to become a rock vocalist just by mistake. Which were your initial ambitions as singer?
It was not a mistake by all mean! I wanted to be a pop singer! Like tom Jones! No kidding I guess I heard all the chicks were throwing their under wears, that must have excited me! Well with Xyz I did get lots of underwear while being on stage thrown at me ... but they were all extra large aah aha //
I guess I am not Tom Jones ;)

Lets now talk about your present and future: I know you’ve got involved in a project named “Monsters of classic rock.” Would you love to tell us more about it?
Sure it s band formed by members and former members of .AC/DC, The Steve Miller Band, Huey Lewis And The News, XYZ and Rod Stewart/
We do some special event type of shows, doing songs we have either written, recorded and are a part of .Its not a cover band. Those guys are a bit older then I and are truly amazing musicians.

In conclusion the question that everyone’ s expecting: any chance to see a new album from XYZ?
I am working on it. Believe me.... and if that happens I hope you know some good Italians restaurant because dinner is on you :).