Robby Valentine is one of the most amazing musicians in the European continent and part of his genius was revealed when he debuted quite a long time ago. Chart topping ensued and there was much merriment, but once he as well as fellow Dutchman Valensia (who’s not too dissimilar), sort of fell from grace and weren’t that fashionable anymore, recording budgets went South and our hero had to re-think the entire plan and settle for a much more scaled down version of what they were doing. This however hasn’t stopped Robby from writing and performing some top notch music – the latest example being the “fantastic” and highly acclaimed “Bizarro World”, which is getting a new lease of life, being released as a vinyl and in Japan among other things... we contacted the phenomenal frontman, singer, musician and here’s what he had to say...
Hello Robby. “Bizarro World” is your latest album and you initially did it “yourself” but now it appears to be picked by an increasing number of licensors.
R: Especially the release in Japan through King records I’m pleased with. They released a double album, both “Bizarro World” and “The Queen Album”, a 25 track Queen tribute CD.
Give us a few details about the album and its recording?
R: “Bizarro World” is rather divers in musical styles. The title track is a Muse/Queen minded song. Vaudeville, pop, a bit of metal, dance-pop. It’s a bizarre mix of styles but in my opinion go together well.
Also speaking of “BW”, you seem to have a vinyl and a Japanese release coming out, quite a while after the initial release, how did it all happen and given your previously high stature in Japan, how didn’t the latter manifest, instantaneously?
R: I just loved having “BW” on vinyl, to get that authentic feeling of experiencing music. The double folded sleeve with the artwork getting the space it needs. Vinyl is getting more popular nowadays. So in my opinion a release isn’t complete anymore without having it on vinyl. A friend of mine in Japan told me to send “Bizarro World” and “The Queen Album” to Burnn! magazine. They send it to King and they were interested.
Why “Bizarro World”? (Superman parallel universe reference, where everything is “upside down/reverse)? Are you discontent with the current world?
R: Yes, that’s exactly it. I feel like I’m living in a parallel world. This is not the world I thought it was gonna be when I grew up. I spent 2/3 of my life feeling like an alien and being misunderstood. Though I’d rather turn it around. But the terrible thing is: it’s getting worse and worse. The people who did get it have been taken away one by one. Even now with shocking speed. Not so long ago Michael Jackson. But this year the king of us all: David Bowie. And now Prince??!!
Also how do you think your current material stands up compared to your earlier material?
R: On every album I made there are songs, which I really hate now, and compared to them I think every single track on “BW” is better. But there are also songs that, in my eyes, stood the test of time. Songs I still love to play live on stage. Songs like: “Fear of Heights”, “Dear Dad”, “4th Rate Razorback”, “No Turning Back” and “Over and Over Again”. “BW” is different. A whole lot different than the first (AOR minded) album. I still like many things I’ve done in the past but the recent material reflects where I stand at the moment. But I don’t know… it’s all about what mood you’re in. And what works in a live situation. Recently I listened to a Tori Amos minded track of mine called “Believing is Seeing”. I thought: fuck, I gotta play that live. But maybe it doesn’t work live on stage. Aah… we should try.
You did release “BW” as well as a couple of more things on your own VS through a company. I know via a reliable source that despite being awesome “The Most Beautiful Pain” probably the last album you did through a label, fared poorly sales wise… what are the pros and cons of each scenario and will you keep on releasing stuff like that in the future?
R: Universal Japan released “Falling Down in Misanthropolis” (FDIM) in 2007. That was the last through a label. The lower the sales, the lower the advance money you get. And many times it’s all about poor promotion why sales are low. And the advances are really low anyway; you don’t have to do it for that anymore. But what you expect from a label, in return of giving your album away for almost nothing in return, is a good promotion plan. But when you end up with losing the rights of your own music, without any money in return, without anybody knowing you got a new album out, what’s the fucking point of signing to a label then? The whole music industry doesn’t exist anymore.
You’ve recently done a couple of Queen tribute albums plus a third sort of definitive version of those with some added tunes, what prompted this and is there going to be more of it ?
R: I’ve been a Queen fan since 1975. It’s the music I love the most. In 2011 I was asked to perform at the Dutch Queen fan club convention. I could have sit behind the piano and sang a couple of songs, but I wanted to do more. I ended up recording a backing tape, all the instruments and choirs, where I played and sang to on the event. After three months in the studio I thought it was a waste just to use those recordings as a ‘backing tape’ live. So I decided to put it out. That was no 1. The next year the QFC asked me back. For 2 hours that time. So… another 3 months in the studio to record backing tapes, and a second tribute CD for the same reasons as the first. Then I got asked for the UK Queen convention, but it had to be a whole band performance. Luckily my band wanted to do it. There were some Queen songs I didn’t record yet but were a ‘must’ to do live. So I recorded them, 5 in total. The first two Queen tribute albums were sold out by that time. So I decided to combine the two and add those 5 new recordings. That became “The Queen Album”. But last summer we moved house. A new home studio included. I didn’t have new songs of my own to record but I wanted to test the equipment. That became “The Queen EP1”. Three more Queen songs. Maybe in the future I will record some more. But first I need to get my own stuff out of my system.
Also do you ever think that a Valensia VS Valenine album, might be realized? And what about the projects you have with your lady, Aniday and the acoustic stuff and updates on any of those?
R: Difficult to say. Right now I gotta concentrate on writing a new Valentine album. That’s difficult enough as it is having a demanding 4 year old little diva in the house. I haven’t got time for any other musical adventures in between for the moment.
Would you ever fancy of doing a totally classical album like piano + orchestra?
R: Actually that’s also on my wish list since 2009. If there only was more time.
Apart from obviously Queen, what other artists inspired you musically and when did you decide that you wanted to be a musician professionally?
R: ELO was my second favorite, the Beatles, Billy Joel, and later The Babys with John Waite. I adore his voice. Recently 30 Seconds To Mars. I think I must have been 9 years old when I told myself I’m gonna be a pop artist.
What does the future hold for you?
R: Things that I don’t expect…
You’ve slowly but surely started to venture out of The Netherlands, to Germany and the UK for gigs. How’s the response there? Also is there any hope in the world we might see you perform in Greece either as a solo artist or with a full band line-up?
R: The response in the UK was magical. In Germany as well. But in Germany we only did acoustic shows, just me and Maria, that’s totally different than a band show. Oh yes, 23 years ago I supported Brian May in Germany. But being a support band is totally different than being the headliner. Nobody cares for you. Although that was a great experience as well, of course.
The English people are outrages. Singing, cheering, making us feel like big Rock stars. Just like the Spanish. We only had the privilege to play in Spain and Italy once, a couple of years ago. They were amazing as well. Perhaps we’ll go to japan, they are fantastic as well. Andre Borgman and Luuk van Gerven, my drummer and bass player played in South America many times before with their former band After Forever. The stories they tell me…wow, they are wild!
Actually we were talking about doing some gigs in Greece with a promoter but it didn’t happen yet. I hope it will. I’ve never been to your beautiful country.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! If you were a God for a week – what would you do?
R: I’m too dumb to play God.
If you could travel to the future or the past, what choice would you make and why?
R: I would go back to early 1990, when I signed my first solo contract, and tell them to hurry the fuck up releasing the album before that horrible grunge will ruin everything. And get back in time to the same time Marty McFly went back in Docs Delorean, to 1955. But in my case, Amsterdam. To prevent my teenage dad from smoking and make him stop working, or warn him never to work with all the stuff that killed him, which was unknown in those days. I would also go back in time to stop myself going to that horrible hospital that made me half blind. I would go ruin my ex’-wedding after she never told me it was over and punch myself in the face and tell me to move the fuck on. I wasted 6 years of my life with waiting and crying until Maria woke me up and pushed me back on stage.
If you could be anybody else (man/woman/fictional or historical character) who would you want to be and why?
R: I want to be Lady Gaga. Who doesn’t?! Or better, let me be Johan Cruijff at the time he was the best player in the world. You know, as the strange musician as I am, I’m still mourning over the death of David Bowie and Prince. They were role models. There will never be anybody as complete as a musician and artist like Prince. He could not only play every instrument, he mastered them all. He killed as a singer. Producer, engineer. Fantastic dancer. The instruments he designed were awesome. He played the most beautiful grand piano in 1999 and on. His clothes, his style... he had it all. Bowie was a God. His sense of fashion, change of styles, re-inventing himself all the time. Bowie was more than music, he was art.
But I cried over Johan Cruijff. Many days after he died. And I still do every time I read something about him or see someone talking about him on TV. I was too young to see him play with Ajax in their world domination years ‘71, ‘72, ’73, and too young to see the World Cup 74. But I was there with his return at Ajax, December 6th, 1981. He was magic. With my father I went to see many games, go to training sessions with schoolmates, to watch him and the new guys, Kieft, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Vanenburg, Olsen. He’s the most famous Dutch person ever. And such a nice, down to earth, fantastic human being as well. It’s cold, empty and strange in a world without Johan Cruijff.
Was the piano your first instrument or not?
R: Yes it was. We had a piano at home, my mother used to play. Her dream was to marry a concert pianist. Instead she married a working class hero with no musical skills whatsoever. The greatest dad on earth. My big brother showed no interest at all. But I did. And I seemed to have a bit of talent. But later on the guitar appealed to me more. A much cooler instrument. Much more rock ‘n roll. But lazy as I already was at the time, playing piano came natural to me. With guitar I needed more practicing, which I didn’t. And my hands aren’t really suitable for it, still aren’t. I love to play guitar, especially on stage. But it’s a big challenge. Which I practiced more as a kid.
If your lady smashed your piano or sold your most prized albums (this is just hypothetical silliness) how would you react?!
R: I would say: “Well done, I needed a new one anyway”….
Thx for talking to Grande Rock, Robby… close this as you wish. Take care!
R: Thank you for the questions. God bless you. See you in Greece, hopefully.
R: Especially the release in Japan through King records I’m pleased with. They released a double album, both “Bizarro World” and “The Queen Album”, a 25 track Queen tribute CD.
Give us a few details about the album and its recording?
R: “Bizarro World” is rather divers in musical styles. The title track is a Muse/Queen minded song. Vaudeville, pop, a bit of metal, dance-pop. It’s a bizarre mix of styles but in my opinion go together well.
Also speaking of “BW”, you seem to have a vinyl and a Japanese release coming out, quite a while after the initial release, how did it all happen and given your previously high stature in Japan, how didn’t the latter manifest, instantaneously?
R: I just loved having “BW” on vinyl, to get that authentic feeling of experiencing music. The double folded sleeve with the artwork getting the space it needs. Vinyl is getting more popular nowadays. So in my opinion a release isn’t complete anymore without having it on vinyl. A friend of mine in Japan told me to send “Bizarro World” and “The Queen Album” to Burnn! magazine. They send it to King and they were interested.
Why “Bizarro World”? (Superman parallel universe reference, where everything is “upside down/reverse)? Are you discontent with the current world?
R: Yes, that’s exactly it. I feel like I’m living in a parallel world. This is not the world I thought it was gonna be when I grew up. I spent 2/3 of my life feeling like an alien and being misunderstood. Though I’d rather turn it around. But the terrible thing is: it’s getting worse and worse. The people who did get it have been taken away one by one. Even now with shocking speed. Not so long ago Michael Jackson. But this year the king of us all: David Bowie. And now Prince??!!
Also how do you think your current material stands up compared to your earlier material?
R: On every album I made there are songs, which I really hate now, and compared to them I think every single track on “BW” is better. But there are also songs that, in my eyes, stood the test of time. Songs I still love to play live on stage. Songs like: “Fear of Heights”, “Dear Dad”, “4th Rate Razorback”, “No Turning Back” and “Over and Over Again”. “BW” is different. A whole lot different than the first (AOR minded) album. I still like many things I’ve done in the past but the recent material reflects where I stand at the moment. But I don’t know… it’s all about what mood you’re in. And what works in a live situation. Recently I listened to a Tori Amos minded track of mine called “Believing is Seeing”. I thought: fuck, I gotta play that live. But maybe it doesn’t work live on stage. Aah… we should try.
You did release “BW” as well as a couple of more things on your own VS through a company. I know via a reliable source that despite being awesome “The Most Beautiful Pain” probably the last album you did through a label, fared poorly sales wise… what are the pros and cons of each scenario and will you keep on releasing stuff like that in the future?
R: Universal Japan released “Falling Down in Misanthropolis” (FDIM) in 2007. That was the last through a label. The lower the sales, the lower the advance money you get. And many times it’s all about poor promotion why sales are low. And the advances are really low anyway; you don’t have to do it for that anymore. But what you expect from a label, in return of giving your album away for almost nothing in return, is a good promotion plan. But when you end up with losing the rights of your own music, without any money in return, without anybody knowing you got a new album out, what’s the fucking point of signing to a label then? The whole music industry doesn’t exist anymore.
You’ve recently done a couple of Queen tribute albums plus a third sort of definitive version of those with some added tunes, what prompted this and is there going to be more of it ?
R: I’ve been a Queen fan since 1975. It’s the music I love the most. In 2011 I was asked to perform at the Dutch Queen fan club convention. I could have sit behind the piano and sang a couple of songs, but I wanted to do more. I ended up recording a backing tape, all the instruments and choirs, where I played and sang to on the event. After three months in the studio I thought it was a waste just to use those recordings as a ‘backing tape’ live. So I decided to put it out. That was no 1. The next year the QFC asked me back. For 2 hours that time. So… another 3 months in the studio to record backing tapes, and a second tribute CD for the same reasons as the first. Then I got asked for the UK Queen convention, but it had to be a whole band performance. Luckily my band wanted to do it. There were some Queen songs I didn’t record yet but were a ‘must’ to do live. So I recorded them, 5 in total. The first two Queen tribute albums were sold out by that time. So I decided to combine the two and add those 5 new recordings. That became “The Queen Album”. But last summer we moved house. A new home studio included. I didn’t have new songs of my own to record but I wanted to test the equipment. That became “The Queen EP1”. Three more Queen songs. Maybe in the future I will record some more. But first I need to get my own stuff out of my system.
Also do you ever think that a Valensia VS Valenine album, might be realized? And what about the projects you have with your lady, Aniday and the acoustic stuff and updates on any of those?
R: Difficult to say. Right now I gotta concentrate on writing a new Valentine album. That’s difficult enough as it is having a demanding 4 year old little diva in the house. I haven’t got time for any other musical adventures in between for the moment.
Would you ever fancy of doing a totally classical album like piano + orchestra?
R: Actually that’s also on my wish list since 2009. If there only was more time.
Apart from obviously Queen, what other artists inspired you musically and when did you decide that you wanted to be a musician professionally?
R: ELO was my second favorite, the Beatles, Billy Joel, and later The Babys with John Waite. I adore his voice. Recently 30 Seconds To Mars. I think I must have been 9 years old when I told myself I’m gonna be a pop artist.
What does the future hold for you?
R: Things that I don’t expect…
You’ve slowly but surely started to venture out of The Netherlands, to Germany and the UK for gigs. How’s the response there? Also is there any hope in the world we might see you perform in Greece either as a solo artist or with a full band line-up?
R: The response in the UK was magical. In Germany as well. But in Germany we only did acoustic shows, just me and Maria, that’s totally different than a band show. Oh yes, 23 years ago I supported Brian May in Germany. But being a support band is totally different than being the headliner. Nobody cares for you. Although that was a great experience as well, of course.
The English people are outrages. Singing, cheering, making us feel like big Rock stars. Just like the Spanish. We only had the privilege to play in Spain and Italy once, a couple of years ago. They were amazing as well. Perhaps we’ll go to japan, they are fantastic as well. Andre Borgman and Luuk van Gerven, my drummer and bass player played in South America many times before with their former band After Forever. The stories they tell me…wow, they are wild!
Actually we were talking about doing some gigs in Greece with a promoter but it didn’t happen yet. I hope it will. I’ve never been to your beautiful country.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! If you were a God for a week – what would you do?
R: I’m too dumb to play God.
If you could travel to the future or the past, what choice would you make and why?
R: I would go back to early 1990, when I signed my first solo contract, and tell them to hurry the fuck up releasing the album before that horrible grunge will ruin everything. And get back in time to the same time Marty McFly went back in Docs Delorean, to 1955. But in my case, Amsterdam. To prevent my teenage dad from smoking and make him stop working, or warn him never to work with all the stuff that killed him, which was unknown in those days. I would also go back in time to stop myself going to that horrible hospital that made me half blind. I would go ruin my ex’-wedding after she never told me it was over and punch myself in the face and tell me to move the fuck on. I wasted 6 years of my life with waiting and crying until Maria woke me up and pushed me back on stage.
If you could be anybody else (man/woman/fictional or historical character) who would you want to be and why?
R: I want to be Lady Gaga. Who doesn’t?! Or better, let me be Johan Cruijff at the time he was the best player in the world. You know, as the strange musician as I am, I’m still mourning over the death of David Bowie and Prince. They were role models. There will never be anybody as complete as a musician and artist like Prince. He could not only play every instrument, he mastered them all. He killed as a singer. Producer, engineer. Fantastic dancer. The instruments he designed were awesome. He played the most beautiful grand piano in 1999 and on. His clothes, his style... he had it all. Bowie was a God. His sense of fashion, change of styles, re-inventing himself all the time. Bowie was more than music, he was art.
But I cried over Johan Cruijff. Many days after he died. And I still do every time I read something about him or see someone talking about him on TV. I was too young to see him play with Ajax in their world domination years ‘71, ‘72, ’73, and too young to see the World Cup 74. But I was there with his return at Ajax, December 6th, 1981. He was magic. With my father I went to see many games, go to training sessions with schoolmates, to watch him and the new guys, Kieft, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Vanenburg, Olsen. He’s the most famous Dutch person ever. And such a nice, down to earth, fantastic human being as well. It’s cold, empty and strange in a world without Johan Cruijff.
Was the piano your first instrument or not?
R: Yes it was. We had a piano at home, my mother used to play. Her dream was to marry a concert pianist. Instead she married a working class hero with no musical skills whatsoever. The greatest dad on earth. My big brother showed no interest at all. But I did. And I seemed to have a bit of talent. But later on the guitar appealed to me more. A much cooler instrument. Much more rock ‘n roll. But lazy as I already was at the time, playing piano came natural to me. With guitar I needed more practicing, which I didn’t. And my hands aren’t really suitable for it, still aren’t. I love to play guitar, especially on stage. But it’s a big challenge. Which I practiced more as a kid.
If your lady smashed your piano or sold your most prized albums (this is just hypothetical silliness) how would you react?!
R: I would say: “Well done, I needed a new one anyway”….
Thx for talking to Grande Rock, Robby… close this as you wish. Take care!
R: Thank you for the questions. God bless you. See you in Greece, hopefully.