I have to say the promo photos scared me - like a cross between Rogue Male (remember them?!), Mudvayne and Lost Horizon ha ha! I'm glad you don't play live like that (oh, you will now that I've asked you...?) but is there a concept to be said about the 'image'?

SS: What! We do dress up like that on stage too in fact, maybe a bit scaled down. But anyway, about this image, we simply needed something eye catching and cool for the latest video and me, Fredrik and super duper video director Patric Ullaeus sat down and discussed what would be cool and would also fit our style of music. Personally I´ve always had a penchant for image bands, growing up with glam rock, shock rock and heavy metal. Me and Patric both grew up being diehard KISS fans, which helps communicating with the same sort of references etc. I vaguely remember Rogue Male but I don´t think I´ve seen what they looked like. People have said I look like some guy from Mad Max II in the video, but I haven´t seen that one.

Gus G was a talent - no doubt - you could hear that when he was in Firewind! But that's the problem with these virtuosos - they make their mark, often leave an indeligible impression and leave! So being a founder member does this mean that Dream Evil's direction and sound will change?

SS: No, not at all. Gus is very talented solo guitarist and one of my best friends, no doubt about that but Dream Evil music is the product of 5 people not one. I think it´s way harder if the lead singer leaves a band than a bassist or whatever, especially if he´s the main writer, which hasn´t been the case with Gus, at least not since the first album. I wrote probably 80% of the latest album and Gus was only involved in writing 2 songs.

I think that your new album 'Book of HM' is the heaviest thing you've done to date - are you likely to get heavier?!

SS: I think we´re quite satisfied with the mix of melody and heaviness as it was on The Book.. so we have no intention of going in another direction really. I had a couple of real heavy hit songs for this new album but for one reason or the other we couldn´t quite cut it as a band, apparently it was too brutal for Dream Evil, so I don´t think I will repeat that mistake.

Do you think that with all the different classifications of metal - black, death etc - pure heavy metal (as it was simply classed in the old days) will come back?

SS: What do you mean come back? It never went away as far as I know. People have insisted on calling us a power metal band up until just recently when they saw more heavy metal and rock influences in it. What defines power metal is maybe the dungeons and dragons lyrics which I have tried to steer us away from since day one. I used to be really into that stuff and worshipping the early Manowar albums but for quite some time I´ve been sick of all that.

Where did you find Mark U Black and what's in his name (i.e. Mark U Black)? He looks like Marc Bolan...

SS: ha ha! I never heard that one before, people have been saying he reminds them a bit of Ace Frehley visually. He sure drinks as much anyway ha ha! He told me he used to call himself Mark Free as short for his Swedish name and I said well, great, the only problem is that there used to be a guy in King Kobra with that name who is now a girl ha ha! Maybe you don´t wanna be mixed up with ...her. Mark (Free) was a friend of a friend, and I heard he was a great solo guitarist so I just called him up. He played with a King Diamond tribute band just before filling in the gap after Gus. Bolan had curly hair by the way.

I think Dream Evil must be the first band where a producer (Fredrick) has formed a band. Usually its the other way around i.e. band members struggle to learn the business and then sorta 'retire' (having acquired their experience) into the technical side. How easy has it been to make that transition in reverse? Were you just frustrated at seeing musicians fuck up and said to yourself "dammit, I'll them how its done!!".

SS: Yeah, maybe it was a bit like that, something like "these guys don´t understand what ordinary people want, and I do". It was the second breath for Fredrik, I think he put his rockstar dreams aside in the early 90s and became this studio guy instead, because he had more interest in studio equipment and pushing buttons. Look what a successful producer he became. Seems like it was a wise decision. Fredrik is a living proof it´s never too late. I follow your theory though, dunno about the rest of the world but I figured out that all the studio guys here in Gothenburg are loser guitarists, each and everyone and there are at least a dozen professional studios. Well, Andy La Rocque may not be a loser but anyway.

Did you guys all know each other before? Why did you initially decline and later reconsider firstly to be a session player and then a full blown member - that's quite a change of mind!

SS: Quite a change of heart yes! I joined basically for social reasons after agreeing to do a couple of festival shows as a session drummer, where we had so much fun, drinking, laughing and playing some nice old school 80s heavy metal. To be honest that was the reason, which is quite unusual for me, but I made sure I was allowed to contribute in the song writing and have a say in everything. I knew Fredrik a little bit. Nicolas and Peter had been friends for many years before Dream Evil. I initially declined because I was busy with my own band Notre Dame and the songs Fredrik and Gus had done wasn´t really my cup of tea.. there was way too much cheese in that tea for my taste.

Is Dream Evil a full time band for everyone - some of you have side projects and are session players....do you have other commitments that get in the way? How will this affect your touring?

SS: yeah, interesting point. All the guys except me are family men with good ordinary jobs. It does affect our touring and it is becoming more and more difficult, it´s really hard to get it all to work properly. It´s been quite a hectic year for me too playing with 3 bands, where non of them has a proper manager and no one is in charge of organizing things. I´ve been playing two gigs with two different bands on the same day, in two different cities!

So what's the best way to be a rock star?

SS: I would say the ideal situation is to be 20-ish, unemployed, no wife, girlfriend or kids and to live home with you mom. No attachments nor responsibilities, otherwise it just gets too fucking complicated.

Is Ronnie Dio aware of how inspirational he's been to your band - I mean, 'Dream Evil' is the name of his album or is that just pure coincidence..?

SS: It´s no coincidence, but it´s just a name. It´s nothing new to borrow an album title and name your band after it. There are tons of them but I don´t know if bands like Demons and Wizards sound much like Uriah Heep or not. I personally think Ronnie is god-like, especially the Rainbow and Sabbath stuff but I don´t think Dio have had such a big influence on Dream Evil apart from the name.

Ok, that's it - Battlehelm thanks you for for your time Snowy!

SS: no problem. If you want anymore tips on how to be a rock star, give me a call ha ha!

visit: http://www.DreamEvil.se