3 Lions are a superb little band from, well as you might have guessed it, Britain and as you might have also guessed by now they are also a Trio, comprising of Mr. Vinny Burns on guitars, that you might recognize from his tenures in Ten, Dare, Asia and other places as well, Mr. Glen Moran on drums (Dare, Ten) and one Mr. Nigel Bailey on bass and vocals, a fella that used to be doing solo gigs covering classic rock standards and performing some of his own original material around the UK for years without finding any great success in the past (which is a shame really). Let’s see what the proud and hard to track down Vin, had to say, after his holidays in of all places Greece!
Well Vinny Thanks for doing this interview.
V: My pleasure…
Can you introduce the band to the readers and tell us a few words about the eponymous debut?
V: The band consists of Nigel Bailey, Greg Morgan and myself. I was approached by Ale and Serafino from Frontiers about making a new band and album with a singer they had in mind. To be honest, I really didn’t want a new band but once I heard Nigel sing, I was on-board. He has a world class voice and I was surprised he had never had any kind of success before. After that, there was only going to be Greg involved. He is such a talent and I love working with him.
I remember years ago, on Myspace (blast from the past) that there were 3 instrumental demos, did those songs (that I no longer remember, where I’ve stored – must be somewhere) end up being the basis for some 3 Lions songs if so, which ones ?
V: Oh, I can’t remember. Possibly the instrumental “Sicilian Kiss”.
How do you feel about your reunion and collaboration with Greg again after all this time? Do you have any idea if he was active musically in the meantime?
V: It’s been great working with Greg again. He brings so much to the band. We work very well together and we hear things very similarly. He is also a great guy too. He has been a friend for almost 25 years now. He was working on sessions and teaching in between.
Speaking of taking a “break” (so to speak), you took your time before projects, since your “last” recorded, material, which might have resulted in the “Lions” being absolutely stunning, but why so long?
V: Well, after all the effort Sam Blue and myself put into Burns Blue, it was a big blow when the record company went under after only two weeks of the album being out. We spent two whole years putting that together. We recorded and mixed in 26 days and we were so happy with everything. Then, we handed it over and it never even got the chance it deserved. It’s a not a unique story, it happens to lots of people. At that point though, I had enough. My heart was not into it anymore. I needed to get away from the industry and just enjoy myself for a while. So, I just wrote the odd song, played a bit if guitar and keyboards every now and then and spent more time with my children. Also during this time, I became hooked on photography and was happy to just be out with my cameras. In the meantime, Darren got in touch and asked if I would like to come and do a few Dare gigs. We had talked about this on and off for years and the time was right so I started playing gigs again with Dare. The first was headlining one of the stages at Sweden Rock Festival in 2008. We have a lot of fun these days with Dare. It’s a great vibe and everyone has a good time onstage and off.
Since your collaborations in the previous bands you were in, were long lasting and resulted in some pretty “cool” some would even consider genre classic, albums, what prompted you to exit those bands and in one case re-enter on a limited capacity?!
V: It’s quite simple. Once I am not happy in a situation, I am off (haha). When you start to dread getting together with the band and it’s keeping you awake at night, it’s time to find something else musically.
Had you not found Nigel Bailey, who’s a great “discovery”, would the various songs you had remained demos for a while longer? Just out curiosity, how old and how new are the songs on this album? And which ones were the ones that ADV, co-wrote with you? Also does he play keyboards on the album, or is it one of you guys responsible for “those sounds”?
V: I don’t know what would have happened with the songs. Three Lions just happened. I was quite happy with my cameras and the gigs with Dare. I stopped chasing things in this industry in the early 90s.
Which are your favorite songs from the album?
V: I think my current favorite is “Holy Water”. Really love the groove. Goes down great live too. Have to say that live, we are Five Lions haha. We have Nigel’s brother Andy Bailey on keys and backing vocals and James Screaton on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals. It’s great to see people’s faces when more than three people walk on stage!
Did you get 3 Lions, inspired by the English National football team (hello Cpt obvious!)
V: It was a friend of Nigel’s suggestion. Three Lions in England is much more than just the football team. It is an English identity. Our Rugby team is also known under this banner. It’s about being English and we thought it was a good name.
Who were/are Vinny’s personal heroes both in life and as a player (inspirations)….
V: I don’t really have any heroes anymore. Growing up and probably still today, Michael Schenker is a big influence. Listening to him when I was starting out made me want to be a guitarist. He was so cool and original. It’s hard to imagine now but back then, no one sounded or played anything like him. Since then, everyone stole his sound and his style. I remember “Lights Out” and “Obsession”. It was a revelation. He sounded like no one else. The deal was also sealed after watching Ed Van Halen when Van Halen opened for Sabbath in 78 at the Manchester Apollo. My brother Russ took me for my 13th birthday present. When Van Halen hit the stage, I said to myself “that is what I want to do”.
With rampart piracy and a general apathy towards music as a product as a whole, how does one survive? You still seem to be about your business and churning out some pretty amazing albums, but how does this “situation” make you feel? How much have you been affected?
V: Well, everyone is on about 10% of what they used to get. That’s how bad things are. I was lucky with Dare to see the very last glory days of the record industry before it all collapsed. There is no industry anymore. With Dare, we were one of the last few to get real advances and major record company support. There is no recognizable industry left. Just a few scraps here and there. Anyone can make an album now. It seems like everyone is...
What are your future plans with 3 Lions and I suppose Dare, respectively? Are you involved in any other projects we should be aware of?
V: No, I am not looking for anything else. With Dare and Three Lions, will just carry on as we are. Greg Nigel and myself will be getting together soon to blow the cobwebs off and jam some new ideas.
How was MRF? Is there a possibility for more dates? If so when? Any hope of any performances in Greece?
V: We are having a hard time getting gigs. Still trying to pin a manager and agent down. We had a great time in Milan at the Frontiers Rock Festival. Three Lions have a gig with my old mates FM later in the year so looking forward to that. Then, we have HRH in Wales next March with Dare.
V: My pleasure…
Can you introduce the band to the readers and tell us a few words about the eponymous debut?
V: The band consists of Nigel Bailey, Greg Morgan and myself. I was approached by Ale and Serafino from Frontiers about making a new band and album with a singer they had in mind. To be honest, I really didn’t want a new band but once I heard Nigel sing, I was on-board. He has a world class voice and I was surprised he had never had any kind of success before. After that, there was only going to be Greg involved. He is such a talent and I love working with him.
I remember years ago, on Myspace (blast from the past) that there were 3 instrumental demos, did those songs (that I no longer remember, where I’ve stored – must be somewhere) end up being the basis for some 3 Lions songs if so, which ones ?
V: Oh, I can’t remember. Possibly the instrumental “Sicilian Kiss”.
How do you feel about your reunion and collaboration with Greg again after all this time? Do you have any idea if he was active musically in the meantime?
V: It’s been great working with Greg again. He brings so much to the band. We work very well together and we hear things very similarly. He is also a great guy too. He has been a friend for almost 25 years now. He was working on sessions and teaching in between.
Speaking of taking a “break” (so to speak), you took your time before projects, since your “last” recorded, material, which might have resulted in the “Lions” being absolutely stunning, but why so long?
V: Well, after all the effort Sam Blue and myself put into Burns Blue, it was a big blow when the record company went under after only two weeks of the album being out. We spent two whole years putting that together. We recorded and mixed in 26 days and we were so happy with everything. Then, we handed it over and it never even got the chance it deserved. It’s a not a unique story, it happens to lots of people. At that point though, I had enough. My heart was not into it anymore. I needed to get away from the industry and just enjoy myself for a while. So, I just wrote the odd song, played a bit if guitar and keyboards every now and then and spent more time with my children. Also during this time, I became hooked on photography and was happy to just be out with my cameras. In the meantime, Darren got in touch and asked if I would like to come and do a few Dare gigs. We had talked about this on and off for years and the time was right so I started playing gigs again with Dare. The first was headlining one of the stages at Sweden Rock Festival in 2008. We have a lot of fun these days with Dare. It’s a great vibe and everyone has a good time onstage and off.
Since your collaborations in the previous bands you were in, were long lasting and resulted in some pretty “cool” some would even consider genre classic, albums, what prompted you to exit those bands and in one case re-enter on a limited capacity?!
V: It’s quite simple. Once I am not happy in a situation, I am off (haha). When you start to dread getting together with the band and it’s keeping you awake at night, it’s time to find something else musically.
Had you not found Nigel Bailey, who’s a great “discovery”, would the various songs you had remained demos for a while longer? Just out curiosity, how old and how new are the songs on this album? And which ones were the ones that ADV, co-wrote with you? Also does he play keyboards on the album, or is it one of you guys responsible for “those sounds”?
V: I don’t know what would have happened with the songs. Three Lions just happened. I was quite happy with my cameras and the gigs with Dare. I stopped chasing things in this industry in the early 90s.
Which are your favorite songs from the album?
V: I think my current favorite is “Holy Water”. Really love the groove. Goes down great live too. Have to say that live, we are Five Lions haha. We have Nigel’s brother Andy Bailey on keys and backing vocals and James Screaton on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals. It’s great to see people’s faces when more than three people walk on stage!
Did you get 3 Lions, inspired by the English National football team (hello Cpt obvious!)
V: It was a friend of Nigel’s suggestion. Three Lions in England is much more than just the football team. It is an English identity. Our Rugby team is also known under this banner. It’s about being English and we thought it was a good name.
Who were/are Vinny’s personal heroes both in life and as a player (inspirations)….
V: I don’t really have any heroes anymore. Growing up and probably still today, Michael Schenker is a big influence. Listening to him when I was starting out made me want to be a guitarist. He was so cool and original. It’s hard to imagine now but back then, no one sounded or played anything like him. Since then, everyone stole his sound and his style. I remember “Lights Out” and “Obsession”. It was a revelation. He sounded like no one else. The deal was also sealed after watching Ed Van Halen when Van Halen opened for Sabbath in 78 at the Manchester Apollo. My brother Russ took me for my 13th birthday present. When Van Halen hit the stage, I said to myself “that is what I want to do”.
With rampart piracy and a general apathy towards music as a product as a whole, how does one survive? You still seem to be about your business and churning out some pretty amazing albums, but how does this “situation” make you feel? How much have you been affected?
V: Well, everyone is on about 10% of what they used to get. That’s how bad things are. I was lucky with Dare to see the very last glory days of the record industry before it all collapsed. There is no industry anymore. With Dare, we were one of the last few to get real advances and major record company support. There is no recognizable industry left. Just a few scraps here and there. Anyone can make an album now. It seems like everyone is...
What are your future plans with 3 Lions and I suppose Dare, respectively? Are you involved in any other projects we should be aware of?
V: No, I am not looking for anything else. With Dare and Three Lions, will just carry on as we are. Greg Nigel and myself will be getting together soon to blow the cobwebs off and jam some new ideas.
How was MRF? Is there a possibility for more dates? If so when? Any hope of any performances in Greece?
V: We are having a hard time getting gigs. Still trying to pin a manager and agent down. We had a great time in Milan at the Frontiers Rock Festival. Three Lions have a gig with my old mates FM later in the year so looking forward to that. Then, we have HRH in Wales next March with Dare.
Funny / Weird Questions! Vinny Almighty – what would you do if you were god for a week?
V: Get rid of all the wars and the people who want to start them.
If you were not Vinny, but could be anybody else (man, woman, fictional character, historical personality, who would you like to be and why?
V: I don’t really know. Would have liked to have been around in a band in 50s America as the music scene was breaking wide open. That would have been fun.
In the music business, who deserves to be slapped in the face?
V: I didn’t follow the music industry. My record collection ends in 1991.
Tell us something that really upsets you...
V: All the wars and money being spent on weapons. It makes me very angry. We live in very dark and dangerous times. I worry what kind of a world my children are growing up in.
In all your years as a pro musician, there must have been some incredibly funny/embarrassing/spinal tap moments that stick out and you still might remember and laugh about, care to share with our readership?
V: They are all too rude or incriminating to mention (haha). There was a time where we all nearly got arrested with Ten in Munich. The tour bus was too cold so we found a hotel that had a whole loft that could accommodate the band. It had a big roaring log fire. When we got back to the hotel after the gig, the guy from reception called one of the girls from the record company a hoar and would not let her in the bar to have a drink. He kicked her out and we were all pissed off at him. When we got to our room, we were all sat round the fire. When it needed a few more logs, everyone was too lazy to get up so we started throwing all the books on from the bookshelf as we could reach them without getting up. In the end, anything that came to hand went in that fire including at one point the TV remote. We all crashed out and were awoken with a big explosion. Apparently the batteries in the remote had exploded and shattered all the glass in from of the fire. The guy we had been arguing with in reception 6 floors below was convinced it was a gun going off, so got a police chief who staying in the hotel with his wife involved. Fortunately, our tour manager calmed it all down before reinforcements were sent for. There are too many to mention (haha)!!!
How would you react if your gf/wife sold your records or guitars or gear to buy herself an expensive ring?
V: I would never be with anyone who would do that.
Please salute the readers of Grande Rock… Thx for the music!
V: Hi everyone from Grande Rock. Thanks for all the support over the years. Hope to see you all at a gig sometime soon. Vinny.
V: Get rid of all the wars and the people who want to start them.
If you were not Vinny, but could be anybody else (man, woman, fictional character, historical personality, who would you like to be and why?
V: I don’t really know. Would have liked to have been around in a band in 50s America as the music scene was breaking wide open. That would have been fun.
In the music business, who deserves to be slapped in the face?
V: I didn’t follow the music industry. My record collection ends in 1991.
Tell us something that really upsets you...
V: All the wars and money being spent on weapons. It makes me very angry. We live in very dark and dangerous times. I worry what kind of a world my children are growing up in.
In all your years as a pro musician, there must have been some incredibly funny/embarrassing/spinal tap moments that stick out and you still might remember and laugh about, care to share with our readership?
V: They are all too rude or incriminating to mention (haha). There was a time where we all nearly got arrested with Ten in Munich. The tour bus was too cold so we found a hotel that had a whole loft that could accommodate the band. It had a big roaring log fire. When we got back to the hotel after the gig, the guy from reception called one of the girls from the record company a hoar and would not let her in the bar to have a drink. He kicked her out and we were all pissed off at him. When we got to our room, we were all sat round the fire. When it needed a few more logs, everyone was too lazy to get up so we started throwing all the books on from the bookshelf as we could reach them without getting up. In the end, anything that came to hand went in that fire including at one point the TV remote. We all crashed out and were awoken with a big explosion. Apparently the batteries in the remote had exploded and shattered all the glass in from of the fire. The guy we had been arguing with in reception 6 floors below was convinced it was a gun going off, so got a police chief who staying in the hotel with his wife involved. Fortunately, our tour manager calmed it all down before reinforcements were sent for. There are too many to mention (haha)!!!
How would you react if your gf/wife sold your records or guitars or gear to buy herself an expensive ring?
V: I would never be with anyone who would do that.
Please salute the readers of Grande Rock… Thx for the music!
V: Hi everyone from Grande Rock. Thanks for all the support over the years. Hope to see you all at a gig sometime soon. Vinny.