Alice Cooper, KISS, Billy Idol, Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen and many others have recruited him in order to provide his undoubtedly musical services behind the keyboards and sometimes behind…the stage! The Greek-Armenian musician came to Athens, Greece for three concerts with Planet-X and we wouldn’t miss the chance to sit down with Derek Sherinian and make a retrospect of his illustrious career and talk about his future plans…

Interview: Sakis Nikas, Dimitris Kazantzis

Rockpages.gr: Derek, you are here with Planet X…an outfit that was born really out of your first solo album in 1999. What made you decide that you should form a band with that name?

Derek Sherinian: Well, when I made my first solo album it was a great experience as I had met Virgil (Donati) and we wrote the record together. The fruit of this collaboration was, as you know, Planet X. You got to remember that I was a member of Dream Theater at the time…but one thing led to another and before the record came out Dream Theater let me go from the band. I felt that I had to come back strong with a real progressive band and that’s when I called Virgil and I told him that we should form Planet X. So, the name of my first solo record was the launching pad for our group.

Rockpages.gr: You said that Dream Theater let you go from the band…would you like to elaborate a little bit on this?

Derek Sherinian: The relationship ran its course and they wanted to make a change and…you know, that happens a lot of times in the music business. I saw it as an opportunity to start my own thing.

Rockpages.gr: A year and a half has passed by since the release of the last Planet X record. How do you view this record in comparison with the rest of your studio albums?

Derek Sherinian: I think it is a great record…The band has a great time when we play these songs live and the audience reacts really good on the songs.

Rockpages.gr: You had worked with many artists…would you say that with Planet X you have fulfilled your ambitions as a musician?

Derek Sherinian: No, I don’t think I ever will! I am constantly searching and trying to do new things and to tell you the truth…that’s how I think an artist grows!

Rockpages.gr: You are of Greek-Armenian origin and you were born in the States. Do you think that if you had been born in Europe, your career would have been different?

Derek Sherinian: I think so…I think that there are far bigger and better opportunities in the States and specifically in Los Angeles. A lot of people move from Europe to L.A. in order to seek a more prosperous future or a chance in a career. Having been born there is truly an advantage.

Rockpages.gr: How about your influences? Were they shaped by the fact that you were born in the States?

Derek Sherinian: Definitely. I think that the Americans have a certain attitude from birth! (laughs) But, I am very proud of my roots! The Greek blood gives me strength to carry on in difficult times…I think I have the better of two worlds!

Rockpages.gr: Your name is linked with the progressive and fusion sound. Yet, you had collaborated with more straightforward rock n roll bands like KISS, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol (just to name a few). Which are your musical roots and would you ever see yourself recording a pure hard rock solo record?

Derek Sherinian: I don’t know…I mean, that’s a really difficult question to answer, because I don’t really put a label on my works…mainly, due to the fact that I played –as you said- many styles of music. For example, I played simple songs in KISS and Billy Idol and more difficult and demanding stuff in Dream Theater and Planet X. So, wherever the winds take me that’s where I go!

Rockpages.gr: Is there any musician that you still haven’t worked with and you really want to?

Derek Sherinian: Yes, I’d love to play with Jeff Beck. That would be fantastic. I was fortunate that…I’ve been asked this question throughout my career and I always came up with the name of Eddie Van Halen. In 2006 I collaborated with Eddie and that was a dream come true for me. In my career, I’ve been blessed to have worked with a lot of my heroes that I had as a kid…KISS, Alice Cooper, Eddie Van Halen etc.

Rockpages.gr: Are you feeling more comfortable as a session musician or as a permanent member of a band?

Derek Sherinian: It depends on the situation…I’ve done it all…I’ve been a permanent member, a session musician, a sideman…you know, I always do my best in order to provide an excellent musical service!

Rockpages.gr: What do you remember from the Dream Theater concert in Greece back in 1998?

Derek Sherinian: People ask me about memorable concerts…that was definitely a memorable concert for me as I was playing, of course, in Greece. That was a beautiful show and the band really liked the view up to the hills! One of the top 5 shows of my career!

Rockpages.gr: You were the keyboardist in the “Revenge Tour” with KISS. What do you remember from that experience and do you know by the way that you were born at exactly the same date…

Derek Sherinian:…with Gene Simmons!

Rockpages.gr: Exactly…only 17 years later!

Derek Sherinian: (laughs) Yeah!

Rockpages.gr: Tell us a few things about the members of KISS…

Derek Sherinian: Eric Singer is a dear old friend of mine…we had played together in the Alice Cooper Band and he is a great guy! I didn’t get to know very well Bruce, but he is a really talented guy. Gene is Gene! (laughs) Both he and Paul are funny…they have a great sense of humor! You have to respect them just for the fact that they have been around for more than 35 years and still create a buzz over their name! In 1992, I got the gig and I tried as much as I could to learn from the masters! KISS was school time for me!

Rockpages.gr: Was there any concert during that tour that KISS let you up on stage or you were constantly behind the stage?

Derek Sherinian: I was behind the stage during the whole tour…but it was really cool to see the guys one month before the start of the tour…I mean, during the rehearsals. I couldn’t believe that I was on the same stage as Gene and Paul. That’s a great memory…Years later, they called me and asked me to play with them on the Ramones tribute (ed.note: KISS recorded “Rock N Roll Radio”)…very cool song, by the way! It’s always nice to see the guys in L.A.

Rockpages.gr: Yngwie Malmsteen is an excellent guitarist but many people tend to think that he is a little bit arrogant and remote with his fellow musicians. Given the fact that you have worked with him, is there any truth on this?

Derek Sherinian: I know what you mean…let me say this: Yngwie is one of the greats! He is not only a perfect guitar player but he also knows exactly what he wants and nobody and I mean nobody can change his mind. He writes the music on all of his songs and he presents them to the other musicians so as they can copy his vision! Yngwie is like AC/DC! He will never change…In my eyes, he is like a modern composer of classical music! Yngwie was one of my heroes as a kid and needless to say that I had a great time working with him in the studio. It’s a good friendship!

Rockpages.gr: What’s your favorite Yngwie record?

Derek Sherinian: Probably, one of the early ones…maybe, the first one!

Rockpages.gr: Armenia has a long and turbulent history…one of the bands that openly supported the Armenian rights were System of a Down. Do you think that music can make a difference regarding the perspective of people on certain things?

Derek Sherinian: That’s a good one…I think so! It can definitely help…it can wake up people or make them aware of a situation. I am totally supportive of System of a Down…they are great and I am very proud of their success!