Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.37 11/01)
excerpts from an interview with Nick D'Virgilio (Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards)
I've been wanting to do this for what seems like forever. I didn't do it in the past because I didn't believe I could then. I think I was right. I always knew I could play drums but I wasn't sure about writing songs. I only seriously started writing songs when I was 18 or 19. I've been playing drums and other things since I was 3 or 4. So the playing and performing has always come very naturally but the writing has come along much later.
Do you have any favourite track on the album, maybe one track where you put a lot of energy and feeling in it?
Well I really like "Dream in red". I just feel like really wrote a good song there. Very satisfying I think. But I feel I put the same amount of energy in all the songs.
Wasn't it kind of strange for you to use posthumous an unreleased track of Kevin Gilbert?
No. I been trying to get that piece of music together since the day we recorded those parts in his studio. Lyrics were the hardest things. I wanted the song to be about him in some way but for the longest time everything I came up with sound really cheesy to me.I couldn't figure out how to say what I felt.Those lyrics came to me very recently and it was the first time that they sounded really honest to me. Like I wasn't forcing it.I feel blessed to have him on my record. It's not strange at all.
Is the wide musical range of your music a kind of reflection of all the artists you've played so far with?
Some is that I think but I think it's mostly because I grew up listening to all kinds of different music growing up and when I started playing out at around 15 or 16 years old I tried to play in as many different kinds of bands I could. To me there is so much great music of all kinds out there. I wanted to experience as much as possible.
Are there any artists you'd like to work with or who should have contribute on your solo-album?
Yes there is a lot out there. Phil Collins, Adrian Belew, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Rob Halford, Herbie Hancock. I mean there are tons. It's almost impossible to answer that one.
You play a great variety of instruments, ranging from drums, guitar, bass, keyboards even to trumpet and french horn. So is there besides the obvious drums something like a favourite instrument for you?
Definitely guitar. I've always been jealous of great guitar players wishing I was one of them. I love the instrument and all the sounds it can make and passion there is in it. In the more recent years I've been getting into it a lot more. Studying and learning more.
Are there any plans to play the music of your album live, e.g. on Spock's Beard concerts or maybe on another unplugged Irish Pub Tour?
Funny you should mention that.I am planning to play this stuff live. A multi instrument entertainment explosion!! Or something like that I hope. I'm going to Holland with Mike Keneally - who played on "The river is wide", "Dream in red" and "The waters edge" on my record and has been the guitarist for Frank Zappa and many others and has his own amazing band which I play drums in called Beer For Dolphins - in October. And after that if things work out I am going to do some shows with Rick Mussallam. Rick played guitar all over my record and also plays with Mike. We have a really cool duo thing together and will try to get this whole thing started that way.
Now for something completely different: what was the reason for the extreme change in your hair-style, getting shorter and shorter every year?
I am just weird. That's all. This short thing is pretty good though. A lot easier to manage.
Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 2001