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Progressive Rock Interviews

Creation’s End

Interviewed by Gary Hill
Interview with Rudy Albert and Dario Rodriguez of Creation’s End from 2010
MSJ:

Can you catch the readers up on the history of your involvement in music – both individually and as a band?

Rudy Albert: I started playing piano when I was 4 years old and studied classical music for most of my life. When I was 11, I got my first guitar and formed the band with Dario. We’ve been playing ever since.

Dario Rodriguez: I’ve been playing music since I was a kid. After a very brief stint on the cello, I started on the saxophone, and then moved on to drums and guitar when I got a little older. I met Rudy in grade school and have been playing drums in a band with him ever since.

MSJ:

If you weren't involved in music what do you think you'd be doing?

Rudy Albert: I’d probably be doing something in marine biology.

Dario Rodriguez: I’d be an experimental social psychologist.

MSJ:

How did the name of the group originate?

Dario Rodriguez: We actually wrote the song “Creation’s End “several years ago under a different band name. When we decided to make this album, we knew we wanted to change the name of the band and we figured Creation’s End sounded pretty cool.

MSJ:

Who would you see as your musical influences?

Rudy Albert: James Hetfield, Tony Iommi, Jerry Cantrell

Dario Rodriguez: Lars Ulrich and Metallica, Sean Kinney and Alice in Chains, Mike Portnoy and Dream Theater, Devin Townsend

MSJ:

What's ahead for you?

Rudy Albert: I want to get out there and play some more shows and continue writing new material for the next CE album.

Dario Rodriguez: Rehearsing for some more shows, and always writing new material.

MSJ:

I know artists hate to have their music pigeonholed or labeled, but how would you describe your music?

Rudy Albert: Dark, progressive power metal

Dario Rodriguez: I don’t know  - Arena prog?

MSJ:

Are there musicians with whom you would like to play with in the future?

 Dario Rodriguez: I’d love to play with Devin Townsend, Jerry Cantrell, and Jem Godfrey.

Rudy Albert: Derek Sherinian, Devin Townsend, and Alex Skolnick

MSJ:

Do you think that illegal downloading of music is a help or hindrance to the careers of musicians?

Rudy Albert: Both – it helps bands get exposure relatively easily because people are more willing to give new bands a chance if they don’t have to spend their money on something they’ve not heard of before. But it also keeps bands from benefiting financially from their music, which keeps them from being able to really promote themselves and advance in the industry.

Dario Rodriguez: It’s cool in some respects because it helps bands get their music out there to a very wide audience. Unfortunately, it detracts from album sales and because labels aren’t seeing the same returns that they used to, they’re becoming less willing to invest in bands (particularly new bands), making it harder for the bands to actually sustain themselves by making music that the fans want.

MSJ:

 In a related question, how do you feel about fans recording shows and trading them?

Rudy Albert: I have no problem. I grew up listening to Metallica bootlegs and I also think it’d be cool to see how Creation’s End sounds from the audience perspective.

Dario Rodriguez: I think bootlegging shows is a whole different issue. Go for it!

MSJ:

If you were to put together your ultimate band (a band you'd like to hear or catch live), who would be in it?

Rudy Albert: Mike Portnoy, Jerry Cantrell, Maynard Keenan, Jason Newsted

Dario Rodriguez: Trent Reznor, Danny Carrey, John Myung, Bruce Soord, Jem Godfrey

MSJ:

If you were in charge of assembling a music festival and wanted it to be the ultimate one from your point of view who would be playing?

Rudy Albert: The ultimate music festival is Wacken – I don’t think I could pick a better array of bands than they choose.

Dario Rodriguez: Devin Townsend, Tool, Frost*, Pain of Salvation, Pineapple Thief

MSJ:

What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately?

Rudy Albert: Lately, I’ve been listening to Frost*, Devin Townsend, and Andromeda

Dario Rodriguez: Really loving Devin Townsend, Tesseract, Pineapple Thief, and Demians right now

MSJ:

Have you read any good books lately?

 Rudy Albert: I don’t read.

Dario Rodriguez: John Dies at the End by David Wong – one of the best I’ve ever read

MSJ:

What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment?

 Rudy Albert: Devin Townsend/Tesseract

Dario Rodriguez: Devin Townsend/Tesseract at Gramercy Theatre – absolutely incredible show

MSJ:

Do you have a musical “guilty pleasure?”

Rudy Albert: Lady Gaga

Dario Rodriguez: Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley

MSJ:

What has been your biggest Spinal Tap moment?

Rudy Albert: Thankfully, I don’t think I’ve had one yet.

Dario Rodriguez: It’s coming up, I’m sure.

MSJ:

If you could sit down to dinner with any three people, living or dead, for food and conversation, with whom would you be dining? What would be on the menu?

Rudy Albert: Ozzy, Christian Bale, Jack Nicholson – We’d have seafood, wine, and plenty of liquor.

Dario Rodriguez: Gary Wells, Devin Townsend, Jem Godfrey – we’d have Indian food, I guess.

MSJ:

 Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there?

Rudy Albert: Listen to our album!

MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.
 
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