EZ Livin are back after 23 years! That was quite something, as the band had released a great album back in 1991. Now after all these years the band is still here rockin’ us hard. Hans Ziller the mastermind, songwriter and guitarist behind EZ Livin talked to Grande Rock about the past, the future, the years the band was absent… and many other things.
Hello Hans. I’d like to welcome EZ Livin! How did you decide to put the band back on track after 23 years?
H: Well, EZ Livin never was disintegrated it just was in a very long sleep. And the idea the reunion EZ Livin was in my mind for years. I also had a lot of songs written, which I couldn’t do with Bonfire. So when there was a 5 month break of Bonfire from October last year on, I spontaneously decided to look for musicians to make everything real. As I already mentioned, I had songs and we were writing new ones during the recordings.
What is EZ Livin to you and why did you return now?
H: Well EZ Livin is my solo band where I can do things I cannot do with Bonfire. We had a break with Bonfire and so it was the perfect time to start the things.
From the moment you started working on some material for EZ Livin did you have in mind to feature the band’s old members or you started looking for new ones? Why?
H: The problem was that they don’t make music anymore. Only Bam Bam is playing with Megaherz. So there where not many options…
What are the music relations between the debut album and the new one?
H: The new one is sounding like an album should sound in 2014. The music is pretty much the same. Melodic Hard rock. The keyboards are more featured because of Paul Morris from Rainbow.
It seems that you have a thing for “fire”. The debut album was called “After the Fire” and the new one “Firestorm”. Isn’t it so?
H: Yes this is right… it starts with Bonfire… “Fireworks”... after the fire was my first album after Bonfire and firestorm fits to the lyrics of the new album... that the world is full of corruption and standing on the edge...
What does “Firestorm” declare? What’s the meaning behind the album’s title?
H: As I said… you cannot close your eyes against the horrible things happening around us. So we would do a typical rock ‘n roll cliché. Cover and title... therefor the dead as a woman playing cards with the future of the world.
How did the guest appearance by Chris Lyne (Soul Doctor, Heartlyne etc.) come about? In which tracks did he participate?
H: He was meant as the 2nd guitar player but during the recordings we saw that the chemistry was not right. So he played a few solo and rhythm parts. Well EZ Livin is my solo band where I can do things I cannot do with Bonfire. We had a break with Bonfire and so it was the perfect time to start the things.
Since you’re the man behind the band do tell us a bit about each song…
H: Well I think everybody should do his own picture of the album. Here are a few statements. “That’s How He Rocks” is the perfect starter with his prayer “our father” in the intro. The style is a bit like “Staring Eyes” and “Rock Me Now” of Bonfire.
“Loaded Gun” is a new harder recording of the Bangalore Choir song, which was always a hit song for me.
“White Lightning” has the touch of Ronnie James Dio and Black Sabbath. But all the songs have the distinctive sound of EZ Livin.
How did you come up with the idea to cover “Easy Living” by Uriah Heep and change the tempo as well?
H: Well to cover it was an idea I had already in mind on the first record. People sometimes say the word EZ Livin wrong... cause it is American like ZZ Top. So with the song “Easy Living” everybody should know how to say it! I wouldn’t do a one to one cover. So I had that reghea thing in mind and do it like a heavy shuffle with toms in the verses. So we jammed around and that was the result. I think it’s great.
Are there any tracks that didn’t make it on the album? Do you feel that its total running play is a bit short or it’s OK?
H: Well it’s always the same... when you are doing more songs people and press says this three songs at the end where unnecessary if you are doing nine they say it’s too short. In the 80s 8 songs was normal... but I think we will do more songs on the next album…
How did the cooperation with Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Edge of Forever etc.) occur? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?
H: Yes he is a great guy and the result was awesome. I knew him from his work with Hardline. And he very excited to do it when I asked him.
How do you see the second coming of EZ Livin? What are your thoughts and expectations for the future?
H: This is a band which really exists. So we start playing live in July on some Festivals in Germany and are doing a Germany Tour in September. Dates we follow soon.
Are there any confirmed live dates yet? Will you tour with the band?
H: Yes there are confirmed dates and they will be released at the end of February.
What went wrong back in the day and EZ Livin didn’t make it at long last? Is time & conditions now better for a hard rock band than they used to be back in the early 90s?
H: It was the only reason that Claus and me came together again to do Bonfire. So there was no time anymore for EZ Livin…
H: Well, EZ Livin never was disintegrated it just was in a very long sleep. And the idea the reunion EZ Livin was in my mind for years. I also had a lot of songs written, which I couldn’t do with Bonfire. So when there was a 5 month break of Bonfire from October last year on, I spontaneously decided to look for musicians to make everything real. As I already mentioned, I had songs and we were writing new ones during the recordings.
What is EZ Livin to you and why did you return now?
H: Well EZ Livin is my solo band where I can do things I cannot do with Bonfire. We had a break with Bonfire and so it was the perfect time to start the things.
From the moment you started working on some material for EZ Livin did you have in mind to feature the band’s old members or you started looking for new ones? Why?
H: The problem was that they don’t make music anymore. Only Bam Bam is playing with Megaherz. So there where not many options…
What are the music relations between the debut album and the new one?
H: The new one is sounding like an album should sound in 2014. The music is pretty much the same. Melodic Hard rock. The keyboards are more featured because of Paul Morris from Rainbow.
It seems that you have a thing for “fire”. The debut album was called “After the Fire” and the new one “Firestorm”. Isn’t it so?
H: Yes this is right… it starts with Bonfire… “Fireworks”... after the fire was my first album after Bonfire and firestorm fits to the lyrics of the new album... that the world is full of corruption and standing on the edge...
What does “Firestorm” declare? What’s the meaning behind the album’s title?
H: As I said… you cannot close your eyes against the horrible things happening around us. So we would do a typical rock ‘n roll cliché. Cover and title... therefor the dead as a woman playing cards with the future of the world.
How did the guest appearance by Chris Lyne (Soul Doctor, Heartlyne etc.) come about? In which tracks did he participate?
H: He was meant as the 2nd guitar player but during the recordings we saw that the chemistry was not right. So he played a few solo and rhythm parts. Well EZ Livin is my solo band where I can do things I cannot do with Bonfire. We had a break with Bonfire and so it was the perfect time to start the things.
Since you’re the man behind the band do tell us a bit about each song…
H: Well I think everybody should do his own picture of the album. Here are a few statements. “That’s How He Rocks” is the perfect starter with his prayer “our father” in the intro. The style is a bit like “Staring Eyes” and “Rock Me Now” of Bonfire.
“Loaded Gun” is a new harder recording of the Bangalore Choir song, which was always a hit song for me.
“White Lightning” has the touch of Ronnie James Dio and Black Sabbath. But all the songs have the distinctive sound of EZ Livin.
How did you come up with the idea to cover “Easy Living” by Uriah Heep and change the tempo as well?
H: Well to cover it was an idea I had already in mind on the first record. People sometimes say the word EZ Livin wrong... cause it is American like ZZ Top. So with the song “Easy Living” everybody should know how to say it! I wouldn’t do a one to one cover. So I had that reghea thing in mind and do it like a heavy shuffle with toms in the verses. So we jammed around and that was the result. I think it’s great.
Are there any tracks that didn’t make it on the album? Do you feel that its total running play is a bit short or it’s OK?
H: Well it’s always the same... when you are doing more songs people and press says this three songs at the end where unnecessary if you are doing nine they say it’s too short. In the 80s 8 songs was normal... but I think we will do more songs on the next album…
How did the cooperation with Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Edge of Forever etc.) occur? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?
H: Yes he is a great guy and the result was awesome. I knew him from his work with Hardline. And he very excited to do it when I asked him.
How do you see the second coming of EZ Livin? What are your thoughts and expectations for the future?
H: This is a band which really exists. So we start playing live in July on some Festivals in Germany and are doing a Germany Tour in September. Dates we follow soon.
Are there any confirmed live dates yet? Will you tour with the band?
H: Yes there are confirmed dates and they will be released at the end of February.
What went wrong back in the day and EZ Livin didn’t make it at long last? Is time & conditions now better for a hard rock band than they used to be back in the early 90s?
H: It was the only reason that Claus and me came together again to do Bonfire. So there was no time anymore for EZ Livin…
By the way what’s going on with Bonfire? Are you planning to release a studio work anytime soon?
H: Yes a new album is planned for November!!
It’s time for the Weird Questions!!! How did you come up with the name EZ Livin?
H: Well what do you think?! Therefore we did a cover of “Easy Living” from Uriah Heep... that’s where we have the name from. It has no deeper reason... just a good sounding name and it was always one of my favourite songs when I was young.
The Internet can help a band become more known and gain new fans but on the other hand it can “destroy” a band due to illegal downloading. So what’s there in the end? Is it a great promotion tool for any band or a curse which will lead nowhere eventually?
H: I think the first one it is a great promotion tool what you never could afford if you have to pay it. Our fans are still buying the original album so we don’t have that trouble as others. Rock fans are very true.
Which are the top 3 hard rock albums of all time?
H: Bonfire – “Fireworks”…
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Second Helping”…
The Rolling Stones – “Beggars Banquet”…
What is missing from today’s music industry? What are albums missing? Is it that quality they used to have back in the 70s and 80s?
H: I mean the productions where much more high quality in the 80s because there was more money for studio time and so on. There were no MP3s, which sound really terrible against a record. It’s a shame the young people cannot listen to the music anymore. They miss a lot. But we can do nothing against it. That’s the modern world!
Best 3 ballads that can help you to seduce any lady?
H: Bonfire – “You Make Me Feel”…
Scorpions – “Still Loving You”…
Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”…
You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie-celebrity/porn-star of your choice. Who would it be?
H: Nobody, cause I wouldn’t do it…
Imagine that your wife/girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
H: I’d throw her out of the window…
Those were my questions Hans. Thx for the music! Close this interview in your way… Take care!
H: Hi Metal Heads watch out for “Firestorm” on 28th, Feb. 2014!! Keep on rockin’… Hans Ziller
H: Yes a new album is planned for November!!
It’s time for the Weird Questions!!! How did you come up with the name EZ Livin?
H: Well what do you think?! Therefore we did a cover of “Easy Living” from Uriah Heep... that’s where we have the name from. It has no deeper reason... just a good sounding name and it was always one of my favourite songs when I was young.
The Internet can help a band become more known and gain new fans but on the other hand it can “destroy” a band due to illegal downloading. So what’s there in the end? Is it a great promotion tool for any band or a curse which will lead nowhere eventually?
H: I think the first one it is a great promotion tool what you never could afford if you have to pay it. Our fans are still buying the original album so we don’t have that trouble as others. Rock fans are very true.
Which are the top 3 hard rock albums of all time?
H: Bonfire – “Fireworks”…
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Second Helping”…
The Rolling Stones – “Beggars Banquet”…
What is missing from today’s music industry? What are albums missing? Is it that quality they used to have back in the 70s and 80s?
H: I mean the productions where much more high quality in the 80s because there was more money for studio time and so on. There were no MP3s, which sound really terrible against a record. It’s a shame the young people cannot listen to the music anymore. They miss a lot. But we can do nothing against it. That’s the modern world!
Best 3 ballads that can help you to seduce any lady?
H: Bonfire – “You Make Me Feel”…
Scorpions – “Still Loving You”…
Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”…
You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie-celebrity/porn-star of your choice. Who would it be?
H: Nobody, cause I wouldn’t do it…
Imagine that your wife/girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
H: I’d throw her out of the window…
Those were my questions Hans. Thx for the music! Close this interview in your way… Take care!
H: Hi Metal Heads watch out for “Firestorm” on 28th, Feb. 2014!! Keep on rockin’… Hans Ziller