Interview

(Progressive Newsletter Nr.30 05/00)

Even more than 22 years after the first release of your one and only album, there is still huge interest in your kind of music, even if it's just in the underground progressive rock scene. Do you still feel proud looking back to your music or do you see it more as a nice approach of searching for an own musical idenity?

Proud yes, but he remembers the struggles of dealing with differing views on music, so somewhat tainted. It was certainly a stepping stone to where he is taking his music now. Gary always had a deep spiritual connection to music whereas the others were less connected in that way.


Babylon’s music is often compared to early Genesis. How can you live with this reproach or do you see it more as a compliment?

Back then, it was a compliment and still is now. Peter Gabriel is probably Gary's strongest influence in many ways, not just musically, but his life path and choices he has made, albiet not all.


Your only studio album is just over one half hour long. Was it because of financial reasons to release just a Mini LP or why didn’t you record more songs, because when listening to your live album, there was more material already written waiting just to be recorded properly?

Yes, financial. Of course, the band members to this day has probably only made a few hundred dollars total from their collaborations. There was more material and there is a new release that Steve Repetti put together of some of this material. This is available from Syn-Phonic also. There was some recorded on tape, like 8 hours worth, but it seems to be missing along with the guy who recorded it.


The band split just after just two years of existence. What were the reasons for this split?

Gary decided to leave, he wasn't fullfilled and the rest of the band wanted to go in other directions. Some of them left and formed Helicoptor - a short lived group. Gary went on a solo path following the music and sound.


What happened to the other members of the band after spliting and what are they doing now?

Rick & Rodney both own AV businesses in FL. Rod works setting up AV shows traveling around the country, based in FL. Dave works in some pet related business in New Mexico. Gary and I are living on a mountain top in NC following our creative path of music & multimedia projects.


Any chance for a reunion, even if it was for just one gig as for example at the Progfest?

Not with Gary, but the others seem to talk about it from time to time.


You choosed a different artwork for the CD re-release transforming a human head into a alien one. What was the reason for that? Do you feel kind of an alien in the current music scene?

No, Rod took over the art design and he is into aliens - so he thought it would be an evolving statement. Don't think it was a real deep decision.


Do you still take a look at the current progressive rock scene and if yes, what do you think about today's bands?

Gary listens a lot, pretty much likes The Flower Kings the most. Other than that, mostly italian groups such as Banco, PFM, etc.


Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 2000