Pride Of Lions

Jim Peterik knows how to pen a melodic rock tune, having written songs/played with such luminosities as Survivor and Sammy Hagar. Thus, his new project, named PRIDE OF LIONS, is destined for nothing but greatness. And to up the ante, he has another ace up his sleeve, a new side-kick, in the talented vocalist Toby Hitchcock, whose voice makes a great complement to Peterik's own. The self titled debut album is out now, and offers twelve melodic tunes, that all set the bar for what modern melodic rock is supposed to be. Jim Peterik talks about mutual musical understandings, hope for the world, and a fire that will never go out.

Jim Peterik & Toby Hitchcock

Alex: How did you come up with the name PRIDE OF LIONS?
Jim: PRIDE OF LIONS is a name I thought of a while back. I always said if I did a new rock band, that it would be the perfect name - it has a lot of strength and the image of a lion makes for great graphic possibilities. When I found Toby the name became even more a pro po because what we had was like a small pride of lions with the father-figure lion showing the young cub the ropes. Of course the older lion learned much from the younger lion in the process! The name also represents the great pride I take in the music - getting it just right and carrying on the tradition of meaningful melodic rock.

Alex: As you wrote the songs, did you have any special singer in mind?
Jim: A few of the songs on PRIDE OF LIONS date back to the mid - 90’s- songs I couldn’t quite finish at the time. Therefore songs like It’s Criminal and Love Is On The Rocks were actually started with Jimi Jamison in mind. When I met Toby and heard is voice, I started writing for him - also putting myself into the equation with the lower parts.

Alex: Tell me more about meeting Toby. When did you know he was the right man for the job?
Jim: I knew he had great possibilities the first time I heard him behind the studio mike. He sang a duet with my niece Kelly Moulik. I heard echoes of so many great singers- from Jimi to Bobby Kimball. He had a certain believability that came across. By the way, it was Kelly who brought him to my attention having met him at a Dick Clark audition night.

Alex: Are you going on tour, and if so, are the musicians who played on the album going with you?
Jim: It will be the same band touring behind PRIDE OF LIONS. These are the same guys who make up my World Stage Band: Ed Breckenfeld - drums, Mike Aquino- guitar, Klem Hayes- bass, and Christian Cullen- keyboards. On this record we augmented the drum line- up with Hilary Jones also.

Alex: Do you find it hard to write songs, seeing as you've been in such famous bands before? Do you feel pressure?
Jim: I love the pressure. I always try and beat myself. The day I get complacent is the day I stop writing. I always feel my best song will come tomorrow.

Alex: What inspires you? Do you get your inspiration from other musicians as well?
Jim: I love reading life stories of other heroes of mine. I’m reading Bruce Springsteen’s biography right now. The Beatles continue to inspire me as well as Crosby, Stills and Nash, Simon and Garfunkel, The Rolling Stones and so many more. But I get inspiration everyday from just common things - getting up in the morning and seeing the sun, going over to my piano and hearing the ringing tone of the sound, driving my car, hanging out with my wife, driving my 14 year old son places - all of this stokes my creative fires. Of course performing on stage may be number one at keeping my juices flowing.

Alex: Two of my favorite songs on the album are It's Criminal and Interrupted Melody. Could you tell me more about the genesis of these two songs?
Jim: I started It’s Criminal way back in ’84- we were in Sausalito doing overdubs for Vital Signs when I came to Ron Nevison and asked him to come over to the piano. I played him the seed of It’s Criminal- he really dug it - but being so far into the recording process he asked me to save it for the next record. Well I then kinda forgot about it till I stumbled across it last year in an old box. I started Interrupted Melody in about ‘89. I was trying to come up with a bonus track for the first Survivor greatest hits album. Again, I couldn’t quite put it to bed at the time - but when I heard Toby’s voice I know I had to finish it for him.

Alex: If you could choose any band/musician to tour with, who would it be?
Jim: It would be great to go out with Toto. Their audience would be great for PRIDE OF LIONS and they are the consummate musicians and great people. Also I would just sit and watch their show every night and get knocked out!

Alex: Lastly, what do you wish for of 2004?
Jim: I wish the world would lay back and relax and enjoy the music. There’s too much tenseness and violence. I hope sanity prevails this year and from now on. I wish that love could be the main word on everyone’s mind. As I say in the last verse of We Wish from my World Stage album – “there is a cure for our affliction - but a mind that’s closed is hard to treat - hope is a powerful addiction- nothing can heal like love - works like a wonder drug- when you can find it on the street”.

Alex: Oh, one more question: What can we expect of PRIDE OF LIONS in the future?
Jim: We are doing live dates in America also we are going to Barcelona to do an unplugged show on April 1st also some press in Spain. We are looking at a club/ small hall tour in the fall or winter also. I am already writing new songs for the next PRIDE OF LIONS and feel I have some great starts. I want the next one to raise the bar even higher. At least that’s my goal.