Masterplan is definitely the new super group that all of us had been waiting for so long. Well anyone that has listened to the album has no doubt about that. We found Roland Grapow the guitarist and the founder of the band - in the middle of the tour - and we asked him as many things as we could. Read below to see what he told us.
Hi Roland and accept my congratulations on “Masterplan”. As you already know we voted Masterplan’s album as the best of January!!! How did the idea to form a full time band come?
R: Of course after the Helloween split, Uli and I decided to stay together and we just formed a new band. We never wanted to leave Helloween at all! Now we are happy, someone decided for us… hehe!
Do you believe that some songs that are included on Masterplan’s album could have been on the forthcoming Helloween album, if you and Uli had never left?
R: Of course it could be, especially the faster melodic stuff. By the way “Into the Light” was meant to be on the “Dark Ride” album, but Andy never tried to sing on that song! “Into the Light” was Roy Z favorite song! (i.n.: Un-freakin’-believable!)
Do you think that Jorn is the ideal singer for Masterplan? Did you have in mind some other singers, like Kiske, for the band or Jorn was the first and the last choice?
R: I guess Jorn is the perfect singer for Masterplan. He was not the first choice. First we asked Russell Allen and Michael Kiske to join our band, but they said no. Jorn loved our music and I guess his influence was also very important to make this album so great! (i.n.: I guess some have to live with their choices… Jorn is the perfect singer for Masterplan!)
Tell me why do you call the band Masterplan? Who thought it?
R: We had a contest on my Brazilian homepage. The fans sent us ideas and names. A guy form Mexico told us: “You are Master musicians and you have your future in your hands, that sounds like a plan, so call yourself Masterplan”! I loved the idea!
How would you characterize the music style that you play? And what are the influences of Masterplan?
R: Our music is between rock & metal. Very melodic and colorful. We don’t like to be limited in any way; music is coming from our heart and soul. If you write a great song, then I won’t ask if it’s metal, hard rock or pop. I’m very modern and old-fashioned at the same time.
Make a comment about the artwork of the album. I think that is wonderful! Do you think that the future of the world is going from bad to worse? Is there any connection with the lyrics of the album?
R: The artwork is just about the 4 elements, inside the old way and on the front the modern way of the elements. The 4 elements are related to each musician… I’m blaze! Jorn is the creator who keeps the 4 elements under control as a ball in his hand. That is the concept for the Masterplan’s future. It is not really a concept album, but we have positive message for our fans.
As far as I know the press reaction for the album was fantastic. How has the reaction of the fans been worldwide? What do you believe about Masterplan’s future?
R: The reaction was unbelievable! Live, emails, talk with the fans! We went into the pop charts in Sweden and Germany very high! It was like a dream come true. In Japan we are No1 right now in the album charts, in front of Bon Jovi and Stratovarius! Playing with Hammerfall was also very very nice!
What are the next plans for the band? I believe that Masterplan is here to stay and offer fantastic music to people!
R: We are writing songs for the next album right now. We will take part in around 8 Festivals this Summer and we still have many offers for touring. But we will try to record our next album on November 03; on February 04 next year it will be headlining for the first time!
Is there a chance to see you for a live show here in Greece soon?
R: If we would have a good offer, we would play tomorrow in Greece! But we don’t have an offer right now!
And some Weird Questions now!!! If you were living in Middle Earth (I hope that you have seen or read the Lord of the Rings) which character would you choose to be and why?
R: Sorry, I have seen it in English but I forgot most of the stuff (I saw it on the plane somewhere!). I don’t have a clue. It must be someone positive who gives mankind hope & luck!
Do you believe in luck and coincidences or do you believe that the human mind and will can affect all the things in life?
R: I believe in both! If you are a good person and treat other humans well, then you will have luck as well. But you have to do a lot to make something happen. Will and mind is the key, without that, you are caught in a cage, maybe without luck.
How do you imagine that the music world could be, one thousand years from now? And why?
R: I can’t really imagine… I guess nobody will have a guitar anymore, just chips and computers will do all that stuff… horrible! Maybe it will be cool if you are born in that time period. What a question… haha!
OK Roland, I wish the best for you and for Masterplan. The last words of this interview belong to you.
R: Thanx a lot and hope to see our fans in Greece soon. Yours Roland Grapow – Masterplan…
R: Of course after the Helloween split, Uli and I decided to stay together and we just formed a new band. We never wanted to leave Helloween at all! Now we are happy, someone decided for us… hehe!
Do you believe that some songs that are included on Masterplan’s album could have been on the forthcoming Helloween album, if you and Uli had never left?
R: Of course it could be, especially the faster melodic stuff. By the way “Into the Light” was meant to be on the “Dark Ride” album, but Andy never tried to sing on that song! “Into the Light” was Roy Z favorite song! (i.n.: Un-freakin’-believable!)
Do you think that Jorn is the ideal singer for Masterplan? Did you have in mind some other singers, like Kiske, for the band or Jorn was the first and the last choice?
R: I guess Jorn is the perfect singer for Masterplan. He was not the first choice. First we asked Russell Allen and Michael Kiske to join our band, but they said no. Jorn loved our music and I guess his influence was also very important to make this album so great! (i.n.: I guess some have to live with their choices… Jorn is the perfect singer for Masterplan!)
Tell me why do you call the band Masterplan? Who thought it?
R: We had a contest on my Brazilian homepage. The fans sent us ideas and names. A guy form Mexico told us: “You are Master musicians and you have your future in your hands, that sounds like a plan, so call yourself Masterplan”! I loved the idea!
How would you characterize the music style that you play? And what are the influences of Masterplan?
R: Our music is between rock & metal. Very melodic and colorful. We don’t like to be limited in any way; music is coming from our heart and soul. If you write a great song, then I won’t ask if it’s metal, hard rock or pop. I’m very modern and old-fashioned at the same time.
Make a comment about the artwork of the album. I think that is wonderful! Do you think that the future of the world is going from bad to worse? Is there any connection with the lyrics of the album?
R: The artwork is just about the 4 elements, inside the old way and on the front the modern way of the elements. The 4 elements are related to each musician… I’m blaze! Jorn is the creator who keeps the 4 elements under control as a ball in his hand. That is the concept for the Masterplan’s future. It is not really a concept album, but we have positive message for our fans.
As far as I know the press reaction for the album was fantastic. How has the reaction of the fans been worldwide? What do you believe about Masterplan’s future?
R: The reaction was unbelievable! Live, emails, talk with the fans! We went into the pop charts in Sweden and Germany very high! It was like a dream come true. In Japan we are No1 right now in the album charts, in front of Bon Jovi and Stratovarius! Playing with Hammerfall was also very very nice!
What are the next plans for the band? I believe that Masterplan is here to stay and offer fantastic music to people!
R: We are writing songs for the next album right now. We will take part in around 8 Festivals this Summer and we still have many offers for touring. But we will try to record our next album on November 03; on February 04 next year it will be headlining for the first time!
Is there a chance to see you for a live show here in Greece soon?
R: If we would have a good offer, we would play tomorrow in Greece! But we don’t have an offer right now!
And some Weird Questions now!!! If you were living in Middle Earth (I hope that you have seen or read the Lord of the Rings) which character would you choose to be and why?
R: Sorry, I have seen it in English but I forgot most of the stuff (I saw it on the plane somewhere!). I don’t have a clue. It must be someone positive who gives mankind hope & luck!
Do you believe in luck and coincidences or do you believe that the human mind and will can affect all the things in life?
R: I believe in both! If you are a good person and treat other humans well, then you will have luck as well. But you have to do a lot to make something happen. Will and mind is the key, without that, you are caught in a cage, maybe without luck.
How do you imagine that the music world could be, one thousand years from now? And why?
R: I can’t really imagine… I guess nobody will have a guitar anymore, just chips and computers will do all that stuff… horrible! Maybe it will be cool if you are born in that time period. What a question… haha!
OK Roland, I wish the best for you and for Masterplan. The last words of this interview belong to you.
R: Thanx a lot and hope to see our fans in Greece soon. Yours Roland Grapow – Masterplan…