BEN JACKSON GROUP - Ben Jackson
Ben Jackson Group, featuring Crimson Glory ‘s guitarist Ben Jackson, after receiving very positive reviews for the albums “ Here I come” and “All Over You”, is working on the 3rd album, “Gold and Dragons” with Crimson Glory members as special guests once more . Metalzone conducted an interview with Ben and let’s see what he told us. \r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Hello Ben. Your new album “Gold and Dragons” is almost finished. Tell us a few things about it. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: Well, I believe we have made a special piece of work this time with a record full of versatility that covers many sides of the heavy metal/hard rock style. It is very powerful both in the writing and production, it really rips house! We were pleased with the first two records but making the new one gave us a chance to spread our wings and grow a bit and improve ourselves. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Why did you choose that title, is there some special meaning behind it? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: That is the title track and it seemed a wise choice to use for the album title. The Gold signifies elite status and the Dragons being the players could be a take on it. Also, C.G. had a song on the first record (Dragon Lady) and one on the second record (Where Dragons Rule) so I thought it may give us luck to have our Dragon song as well! \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Some samples from your new songs can be found at your website, and from what we have heard so far, I think you‘ve done a great job. According to a recent update, it took you about three years to finish it. That’s quite long, isn’t it? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: Yes, I agree but we just took our time with it and worked when we could staying consistent and financing it ourselves. It is worth the wait and better not to rush when you are recording songs that are special to you and we do feel that we have to be very pleased with our own work if someone else is going to love it too. Many bands will take six or more years to complete a record, Boston, Def Leppard, Yes. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Shall we expect to hear something different this time than what we did in the previous albums of yours? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: I think the writing has gotten better and my vocals are stronger. Other players input has been a key also like my guitarist, Mark Borgmeyer has been co-writing with me a lot. We have two awesome female vocalists on the record this time, Rose Sexton and Emily Munger. The C.G. guys joining in has been intense and they write their own parts which is very cool. Rich Tabor on drums did a fantastic job with his parts. \r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Some fans may expect to hear some Crimson Glory-like stuff, since Jeff Lords, Dana Burnell and Wade Black are participating in some of the songs. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: There is a lot of Crimson Glory like stuff, “Gold and Dragons” and “I Stand” are very powerful. There is a lot of different things of my own influence in there too like us covering Steely Dan’s (Black Friday) was a blast for us to try and give it our own signature. I played a bit more piano this one too. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Even though “Ben Jackson Group” has already released 2 albums, you still call it a “Project” instead of a full-line up band. Why? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: I seem to look at each album I have done as a project of a certain space of time. We are a band with a line up but players have been added or re-arranged from time to time. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Ben, most of the times it’s a bit difficult for a musician to promote his own music, when his name is associated with a legendary band’s name. Do you think that being a CG member has helped your personal career or not? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: It has helped, people want to hear what we all do on our own and it opens doors. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: It’s not the first time that other CG members join forces with you. From your perspective, since, one way or the other, some of you work together once in a while, what makes the release of a new CG album that difficult? Do you think that the main problem is finding a “suitable’’ frontman? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: That is not really a problem, we can work with Wade Black or Midnight or maybe both. It will happen when everyone gets together and gets it going. There are many songs already in creation from each of us. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Your future plans? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: I would like to make all of my albums available through my own website and steer clear of the crooks out there if possible. I am looking for label interest (honest people) for the records as well. I hope to keep making music for a while. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: What is your opinion about the heavy metal scene nowadays? What kind of differences do you see between the past years and now? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: The sound of the music changes but certain parts remain, I don’t follow all the new bands that much but some of what I hear on the radio is very good and heavy. Some of the new singers screach a little too much for me though. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Is it difficult to be dedicated to your music, when having to deal with every day routine and obligations? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: Yes it is but I have always had the dedication to it to just balance time and find ways to write and record and get it done.
\r\nIt does take patience but if you stay with it things get finished. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Would you like to share with us one of the best moments you had throughout all these years as a musician? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: There were several great times playing with C.G. and meeting with fans. Some of the bests moments were the behind the scenes things like the recording sessions and writing or practicing. Some of the famous venues we’ve played were also very memorable. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Thank you for the interview and best wishes for your new album. Would you like to give a message to your fans? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nBen: I love all you fans and thanks from everyone in Ben Jackson Group! Look for our new C.D. “Gold and Dragons” coming soon and crank it up loud!!! \r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\nNicoleta Sarantou \r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n
\r\nOfficial Website: http://www.benjacksongroup.com
\r\nOfficial myspace: http://www.myspace.com/benjacksongroup \r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n