QUARTZ - MICK HOPKINS

#interview

MICK HOPKINS - Quartz

💿 Hi, it’s a pleasure for us to have on Hardrockheavymetal MICK HOPKINS of QUARTZ… Welcome!

On May 20th, 2022 was released your new full-length entitled ON THE EDGE OF NO TOMORROW. The album has received positive feedback on our pages. What's the meaning of the title?

MH: IF YOU LISTEN TO THE SONG “DEATH OR GLORY” THERE’S THE LINE THAT GEOFF NICHOLLS WROTE: ..... CAN WE EXIST, ON THE EDGE OF NO TOMORROW, WE SURVIVE AND LIVE WITH FEAR! ..... AND THAT CAN MEAN MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE​. ALSO THE WAY THINGS ARE IN THE WORLD TODAY AND AT OUR AGES WE MAYBE ON THE EDGE OF NO TOMORROW!

💿 Can you tell us something about the composition process? After the passing of the not to be forgotten Geoff Nicholls, you have found many treasures at his home studio…

MH: GEOFF HAD WRITTEN, OR PARTIALLY COMPOSED NINE SONGS, SOME NEEDED MORE LYRICS, SOME NEEDED EXTRA PARTS ADDED WHICH I DID.

DEREK WROTE SOME ADDITIONAL LYRICS.

WE ADDED GEOFF’S VOCAL, KEYBOARDS AND HIS GUITAR SOLO’S ON “FREAK OF NATURE” PLUS THE OTHER SONGS: “ANGELS AT THE CROSSROADS,” (VOCAL/KEYS) AND “HIGHWAY TO MADNESS (VOCAL/KEYS ALSO).

THEN IT WAS A CASE OF ADDING EVERYTHING TO THE QUARTZ BACKING TRACK AND GETTING EVERYTHING IN ORDER AND IN SYNC AND BALANCING THE LEVELS ETC.

💿 David Garner gave his smart contribution as lead vocalist in three songs on the new album; What were the reasons for his split from the band?

MH: DAVID HAS HIS OWN BUSINESS, AND WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON THAT, ALSO HIS DAUGHTER IS ILL, AND HE WANTED/NEEDED TO BE AT HOME MORE.

💿 Among the other singers on the album, it was a pleasure to have GEOFF BATE involved in this new venture; We always thought that AGAINST ALL ODDS was an underrated full-length release. What do you think about it?

MH : I PERSONALLY THINK IT WAS A GOOD ALBUM APART FROM THE STUDIO PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED US SOME HEADACHES ,WE HAD TO USE THREE STUDIOS BEFORE FINISHING IT.

HENCE THE TITLE “AGAINST ALL ODDS”GEOFF DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE VOCALS ON THAT ALBUM AND ALSO ON THE NEW ALBUM TOO.

💿 You have Tony Martin as special guest singing on the amazing EVIL LIES. How did this collaboration come about?

MH: WE KNEW TONY MARTIN FROM WAY BACK THROUGH ALBERT CHAPMAN.

MALCOLM COPE ACTUALLY HELPED TONY GET THE JOB WITH BLACK SABBATH BY RECOMMENDING HIM TO TONY IOMMI WHEN HE WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW SINGER.

OBVIOUSLY GEOFF NICHOLLS AND TONY MARTIN HAD BEEN BAND MEMBERS IN SABBATH AT VARIOUS TIMES AND THEN GEOFF WAS IN THE TONY MARTIN BAND LATER AND HAD BECOME CLOSE FRIENDS. MALCOLM AND I WENT TO SEE TONY TO ASK HIM WHETHER HE WOULD LIKE TO SING ON THE TRACK, AND HE SAID YES STRAIGHT AWAY. ​

💿 ON THE EDGE OF NO TOMORROW is avalaible on HNE RECORDINGS? Can you tell us somethin' about this partnership?

MH: WE APPROACHED HIGH ROLLER RECORDS, BUT THEY WERE NOT SIGNING GROUPS AROUND THE PANDEMIC TIME, SO MALCOLM SPOKE TO CHERRY RED RECORDS OF WHICH HNE RECORDINGS IS A SUB DIVISION AS THEY HAD BEEN INTERESTED PREVIOUSLY IN OUR BACK CATALOGUE.

WE MENTIONED IN CONVERSATION THAT WE NOW ALSO HAD A NEW ALBUM AND AFTER SOME FURTHER NEGOCIATIONS WE SIGNED FOR THEM.

💿 Here at HARDROCKHEAVYMETAL we are strong defender of classic format. Our love is for vintage release on vinyl or do you feel there isn't a future outside of digital?

MH: I STILL LIKE CLASSIC AND PREFER FORMATS FOR RECORDING AND RELEASES.

I FIND SOME OF THE DIGITAL SD/MEMORY CARDS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN PLAYING BACK MUSIC AND CAN HAVE ANNOMALIES.​

💿 Is there a chance to see the vinyl version of this new platter?

MH: IT IS REALLY UP TO CHERRY RED RECORDS, THE PROBLEM IS , BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TRACKS (14) THAT IS TOO MANY FOR A SINGLE VINYL ALBUM.

SO POSSIBLY A SINGLE ALBUM WITH AN EP SINGLE OR EVEN A DOUBLE ALBUM? WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO. WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

💿 We love the cover of OTEONT. Can you tell us somethin'about?

MH: TIM PERRY GOT IN TOUCH WITH ANDY WAINWRIGHT WHO IS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER ARTIST WHO HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY A FRIEND. ANDY TOOK ON THE PROJECT ON OUR BEHALF AND OFFERED US A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COVER IDEAS AND WE EVENTUALLY DECIDED ON THIS ONE.

💿 Can you tell us something about your next projects? Also you'll be part of the new edition of KEEP IT TRUE on Saturday1st October 2022 in Germany. Any thoughts?

MH: WE ARE CURRENTLY BACK IN THE RECORDING STUDIO LAYING DOWN TRACKS FOR THE FOLLOW UP ALBUM TO ON THE EDGE OF NO TOMORROW. GEOFF BATE IS NOW BACK IN THE BAND FULL TIME AND WE ARE ALSO REHEARSING TRYING TO PUT A LIVE SET TOGETHER.

LOOKING FORWARD TO KEEP IT TRUE RISING 2. ​

THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE A GREAT GIG AGAIN, WE PLAYED THERE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND ARE HONOURED TO BE ASKED BACK. IT'S ONLY FOUR MONTHS AWAY NOW SO I'D BETTER GET BACK TO PRACTISING!!

💿 Thank you so much for your time! See you soon on Hardrockheavymetal!

MH: THANK YOU FOR A GREAT REVIEW, MUCH APPRECIATED!

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Live pics #hardrockheavymetal

Thanks Tim Perry for the cooperation.

HNE Recordings Ltd