By Kelley Simms
LIGHTS OUT, CHICAGO!
C
hicago and UFO have always been real tight. In fact, if you go back and listen to the band’ s 1978 double LP album Strangers in the Night— still considered to be one of the greatest live albums of all time( and recorded at the now demolished International Amphitheatre), you’ ll hear vocalist Phil Mogg give us a shout out during that iconic moment in“ Lights Out.”
During their 40-year existence, UFO has seen numerous personnel changes, a couple of hiatuses and a few underachieving albums by their standards. Along with Mogg, UFO’ s current lineup consists of original drummer Andy Parker, longtime guitarist Paul Raymond, guitarist Vinnie Moore( who joined in 2003) and bassist Rob
UFO
DeLuca( joined in 2008).
Growing up as a UFO fan, Moore has grown into a formidable guitarist and songwriter throughout his 14 years with the band. Moore spoke to IE ' s Kelley Simms about first joining the band, their new covers album and why the band and Chicago go so well together.
Mosh: UFO has always had a great relationship with Chicago. What do you like most about playing here? Vinnie Moore: You can just tell that the fans are awesome. They’ re definitely different. They seem more into music and more excited. It’ s just an odd phenomenon, I don’ t know why that is. You can tell Chicago fans.
And I’ m not just saying that because I’ m talking to you.
Mosh: You always make it a point to return to play here and you have two nights at Arcada Theater with Saxon. How did this bill come about? Vinnie Moore: It was suggested by our booking agent who also books those guys. I think we were first approached about it about six months ago and it seemed like a really good idea. We hadn’ t really done anything like this before. We’ ve opened for other bands like Judas Priest but we’ ve never had a two-band billing anywhere in the world like this.
Mosh: Is this just a month-long tour that’ ll keep you busy in March? What are your plans after that? Vinnie Moore: We’ ve finished recording a new UFO record. We’ ve done a covers record and that’ s going to be coming out sometime soon. We have to get it mixed. That’ ll be the next thing after the tour. And I’ m working on a new solo record soon after the tour also. There’ s a lot of things to keep me busy.
Mosh: Which cover songs will be on the new album, if you’ re allowed to mention them? Vinnie Moore: I’ m not supposed to say anything. But I think the one Phil did say something about is“ It’ s My Life,”( an The Animals song covered by David Johansen of New York Dolls).
Mosh: Your first album with the band was 2004’ s You Are Here. For a new guy and an established musician coming in, it seems like you already had some big responsibilities, especially replacing Michael Schenker. What was it like joining the band under
those circumstances? Vinnie Moore: Phil wasn’ t just looking for a guitar player, he was looking for a writing partner. And he heard some of my solo stuff so he knew I was a songwriter. So I think that’ s what kind of appealed to him at least as much as me being a guitarist, he needed somebody to write with. When I came into it, it was just a cool thing. It was great that I had gotten the gig and to know I was going to be playing with the guys and doing the record. I was very excited and open minded and really looking forward to it.
Mosh: Of course the Michael Schenker era was a historic time for the band. However, Ilove all the eras of UFO, and you’ ve made the latest UFO era into something cool and different from the other eras. You’ ve fit in so nicely after all these years. What do you think you bring to this era of the band? Vinnie Moore: I’ ve heard a lot of people say that it kind of recharged the band so to speak. Some new blood. Maybe Phil and the band kind of needed a change. I can’ t say for sure, that’ s just me kind of guessing. We’ ve toured continuously since I’ ve been in the band, we’ ve done many records now. We’ re just having a lot of fun with it and enjoying what we’ re doing with it and that’ s why we continue to do it.
Mosh: The band’ s last album was 2015’ s A Conspiracy Of Stars. What do you remember about the writing process for this album? Vinnie Moore: I remember we got together in Hannover, Germany to rehearse and to work on songs for this record. And not a whole lot happened. Sometimes you try to plan things and engineer them. When it comes to art and being creative and writing songs, it doesn’ t always follow a plan. Not
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34 illinoisentertainer. com march 2017