DEREK SHERINIAN’s new solo effort Blood Of The Snake features again numerous famous guest musicians, including Zakk Wylde, Slash and John Petrucci on guitars and Billy Idol on vocals. And he again tried to create an album which offers a broad variety of different musical styles, ranging from classical progressive rock over jazz to heavy metal and experimental soundscapes with oriental influences. In a 16 years spanning carrier DEREK SHERINIAN became one of the most talented and famous key wiz’ ever, time to find out a little more about the person behind…

Dajana: Hello Derek. How are you doing? You got some time to relax after the tour? Too bad, that the planned interview in Bonn/Germany didn’t take place... It was the last show of the Billy Idol tour, how went the tour? Any great/funny stories to tell?
Derek: Hi Dajana, the tour was a lot of fun, as it always is working with Billy and the guys. We got to tour a lot of countries in Eastern Europe that I haven’t been to before.

Dajana: By the way… how you got together with Billy? I mean, you played on his last record and you’re touring with him for quite some time. But musically speaking, he’s not an artist one would first get in mind regarding a “Sherinian-collaboration”.
Derek: We had a lot of fun recording In The Summertime and making the video for it with Slash. As you saw at the Bonn concert, we played the song live!

Dajana: Did you get some new inputs while working with Billy? Is there anything at all that still can give you new impulses technically? I mean, you’re known as one of the most gifted, talented and craziest/freaky key wiz ever… not to mention all that stuff you produce and so on…
Derek: Billy is a very musical guy, and has some great suggestions. I would love the opportunity to work with him again in teh future.

Dajana: Ok, let’s talk about your new album Blood Of The Snake. Ominous title… The cover artwork implies something darkly beguiling. Intended? Any ulterior motives? ;)
Derek: No ulterior motives - I just told my artist to have a cover with naked girls, blood, snakes and skulls!!!
Dajana: Ok, then it must be me with the ulterior motives… *lol*

Dajana: As I just labeled you being a crazy and freaky key wiz, Blood Of The Snake is again a solo album with highest skills, but though most time with key-tricky and twisted music stuff that is not easy to take… You can not or you don’t want to do something one would call “straight”? I mean, Man With No Name is a song I’d call catchy, too limited in its expression for a Derek Sherinian (btw… Zakk has a great Ozzy-voice ;))
Derek: I do not put limits or parameters on my music - I go wherever my muse takes me.

Dajana: I love On The Moon, a great jazz-touched song with wonderful sax-tunes. How you got together with Brandon Fields? What to recommend getting into his work?
Derek: Brandon is a great sax player, he is very popular here in LA, and we have many mutual friends. I would love to use him again.

Dajana: Ok, I guess you’re totally fed up with the Dream Theater story, but I can’t resist… Seeing where you are now as musician and private person, more than 15 years after you got fired, how you think a DT album would sound like these days, if you had to do one with them?
Derek: The closest you will get to an answer is listen to Czar Of Steel on my record with John Petrucci.

Dajana: You worked with (DT ex-mate) John Petrucci on Czar Of Steel, are there more collaborations possible?
Derek: John is always invited to play on my solo records.

Dajana: You said once you were shocked when being kicked out of DT and it seemed that your ego got deeply hurt. Now looking back on your 16 years spanning carrier, do you think you have still to prove yourself and the world what you are about and capable as musician? I mean such incidence might downright cause hunger for fame, success and the need of an ego-boost shortly after. You gained a lot of success; made it to the top of key wizards, did you get your inner peace and balance back? Is there a grimace or a smile on your face right now? (Btw… hats off for being honest in past interviews, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea in such matters).
Derek: It is ancient history, and I have no hard feelings, that’s rock n roll. I am friends with the guys, and am proud to have DT on my resume with all of the other great bands. Life is too short to hold grudges.

Dajana: Is there a feel you could have missed something special or that you have won more than ever expected?
Derek:?
[Ok, here I wanted to know if there is a feeling of having missed something special he could have experienced in DT, if he wouldn’t have been kicked, or if all that he has experienced instead outweighs everything in this matter. Didn’t express me correctly I guess…]

Dajana: What does it mean to you to collaborate with all these “stars”? How would a pure Sherinian album sound like? (referring that you composed “tailor-made” songs/parts for special guest musicians)
Derek: All of my solo releases are pure Sherinian records - the star players are chosen because they best represent the sound I am hearing in my head. They just happen to be famous players.

Dajana: Although you have collaborated with so many (known) musicians, your stylistic direction was always the same (more or less), all sorts of progressive-based stuff anyway. Can you imagine doing something completely different musically? What’s your (musical) vision? What’s still left to be achieved one day?
Derek: There is a lot to achieve - I would like to get a solid band together and tour playing my music.

Dajana: What about a special show with all the collaborators on stage?
Derek: I would love that! Very hard to coordinate.

Dajana: Are there musicians/artists you would like to work with if you ever get the chance?
Derek: Edward Van Halen and Jeff Beck

Dajana: A special place you’d like to perform live coz of its sound?
Derek: Anywhere that is tropical!
Dajana: Rockin’ Man With No Name in Hawaii with hula girls in the front row… nice vision ;)

Dajana: What’s planned for the rest of the year? An outlook for 2007?
Derek: I am finishing up a Planet X record that is sounding amazing! I will also be touring the Pacific Rim, and Australia with Yngwie Malmsteen in November. 2007 I will begin working on solo record number 6.

Dajana: Do you have any other talents outside of music, any other artistic outlets? Which ones?
Derek: All I do is play music.

Dajana: Dunno if that is too personal, but do you have family, wife and kids you spend time with? If you have kids… are they musically talented?
Derek: I have a daughter that will be born in October named Summer. I hope that she will have some musical talent.
Dajana: Oh, congratulation :) Guess, it’s a bit too early then to think about her musical talents…

Dajana: What’s a best atmosphere for you to relax?
Derek: I like chillin' out in my house- I really do not go out much.

Dajana: You’re a beer- or cocktail-like guy?
Derek: I do not drink that much, but I enjoy beer and cocktails occasionally.

Dajana: Ok, that’s all from my part. Thank you very much spending time on these questions. Btw… there is a 10/10 review of Blood Of The Snake to find on our mag… ;) Cheers!
Derek: Wow - thanks for the great review! Check out my website at Dereksherinian.com
thanks
D.