The Greek audience’s favorite Truckfighters return to our country after 8 years in which they were disbanded, reformed, went through a pandemic, changed 2-3 drummers and they are excited to see us again. The last time we saw them was at the first Desertfest in Iera Odos where we ran from one building to another crossing the street and climbing up and down stairs to see all the bands. Now, things will be easier at the AN Club with Potergeist.
About their return to Greece, their reunion, their new album and much more, Yiannis Dolas spoke with Ozo and Dango – popping in a question!
Rockpages.gr: What made you comeback and reform the band after you decided to put things to hold?
Ozo: Well, to be honest I didn’t think I was going to play any more music. I was fed up with it and also being on the road with the Truckfighters. It wasn’t fun at all anymore and our drive have always been to enjoy what we’re doing. But, only after let’s say 4-5 months without any music at all the itch started and you missed it a lot. Been fun since then but it’s important not to lose it again.
Rockpages.gr: How did Covid affect you as a band?
Ozo: Well, not as much as you would expect really, because we reformed just before that and did two rather intense tours. So, we didn’t have that many shows planned when Covid came, only a few. But, then we didn’t realize it was going to last for that long. But, you get a new perspective and you really feel blessed and appreciate what you’re doing after it. I’m trying to enjoy every moment of it these days, not only the stage time but the not so important hours and hours off stage… Suddenly something can change and you can’t do it anymore then you will regret not sucking it all in while you could.
Rockpages.gr: You are back playing shows, but you said that you are writing a new album. Do you have any idea when is out and how would it sound like?
Ozo: We have about 10 songs ready, but this spring have been a bit intense with shows and also albums released on Fuzzorama but I think we need, would like to get this structured up and start recording some stuff this fall. But no rush, we waited for 8 years, we can wait a few months more… The most important it that we really enjoy it and feel an urge writing music. It will sound like a Truck album but all albums sounds a tiny bit different from each other, this will not be an exception.
Rockpages.gr: I guess one of the struggles of musicians is having to balance the music with family life, day job, commitments and stuff like that. How do you manage to handle all that?
Ozo: Luckily we don’t need any day job but are blessed with doing what we love even though it sometimes include boring paperwork we are in a really good position. I can only speak for me regarding family since we broke up more than a year ago I have my kids biweekly and it’s awesome. I can focus on the kids that week and play music the other weeks, weekends.
Rockpages.gr: Apart from Truckfighters you’ve launched a label, Fuzzorama Records, a festival, Truckfighters Fuzz Festival, and even started a coffee label. What is it liked to become a part of the business side of music, as well as the artistic-creative side?
Ozo: I think for me personally I’ve always loved being creative and also explore things. I would totally suck being a musician 350 days a year, cause I would so totally loose the passion for it. I need contrasts in life. Being out in the nature or roasting coffee actually helps me enjoy playing music.
Rockpages.gr: Let’s suppose that the CD player or MP3 player nowadays in your van got stuck and can only play one album, yours of from any artist or band, from start to finish. Which one you wouldn’t mind listening to again and again?
Ozo: Can I say a Truckfighters album haha 😛 I think these days I’m more Broad than ever I listen to all kind of stuff and I would prefer doing my own mixtape/CD for the car, can I?
Rockpages.gr: Lately there’s a lot of talk about AI and music is one of the things that are already affected. What is your opinion?
Ozo: Well, I haven’t really thought of it, we will continue doing our stuff musically and by ourself, but I think it might be a good tool for some? And we use it when re-writing texts for press purpose and it’s a great tool getting some new inspiration.
Rockpages.gr: Every now and again someone says that “rock is dead”, that there are no new great bands coming out, that young people are not interested in rock etc. What do you think?
Ozo: Rock will never die, but I think the days when rock bands where the biggest thing in the world might be dead, or at least asleep. I mean we don’t have any super mega big arena bands these days, not new ones at least. But on the other hand rock and fuzzrock are more vibrant and alive than ever in the underground scene so I have no doubt that it will continue being an important thing in many peoples lives, but maybe these days people listen to so many bands so more bands are growing but none are super big, which is a good thing.
Rockpages.gr: Being in the band for so many years, playing shows and touring I bet there must have been some hilarious “Spinal Tap” moments! Except of having a new drummer long enough What’s the first one that comes to mind?
Dango: Many funny stories from the road. But they usually don’t come up in memory on demand, haha. The first thing I think about must be when Ozo forgot his passport when going by van to the U.K. We drove suuper early like in the middle of the night from Sweden to Rotterdam, NL where we planned to take a night ferry over the ocean. We were denied to go on the ferry because he didn’t have the passport. We had to drive in the middle of night towards the Swedish embassy in Hague to try to get a temporary passport really fast. We arrived maybe 4 in the morning, decided to try to sleep in the very uncomfortable van a bit on the parking of the embassy, only to be woken up by Police just when we managed to relax. The Policeman told us we couldn’t stand there and advised us to go to the beach where noone would care. So we made our way to a parking by the beach, in November or something there was a storm rocking the van the rest of the night. When the passport hassle was over we looked at the time and realized we had a theoretical chance to make it to the gig if we drove as fast as we could and dared to Calais in France for that ferry over to Dover. Said and done we pressed the poor van to the max, made it just in time for the ferry we had calculated we needed to be on, only to sit on the ferry an extra 2-3 hours because the storm had damaged the port and the ships had problems goin in. So we missed the first gig of that little tour anyway. At least the god of rock’nroll saw we really really tried our best to be able to preach his word of fuzz that night…
Rockpages.gr: Your last album “V”, had a Greek influenced cover, what’s your connection with Greece and the Greek audience and how do you feel about coming back?
Ozo: Usually the Greek crowd are amazing and very energetic so we are very much looking forward meeting them again. We had great gigs there every time, plus you have so much more sun and warmer climate that is not a bad thing for a Swede haha! The album cover for ‘V’ came out of painless brainstorming , but we think the kind of ancient vibe is a bit of a statement you know the fifth album we have been playing for so long we are almost ancient 😉 And this was 8 yeara ago so what are we now?
Rockpages.gr: Thank you for your time! See you in Athens!
Ozo: Thank you, see you in the front row
