Illinois Entertainer March 2017 | Page 34

By Kelley Simms

LIGHTS OUT , CHICAGO !

C

hicago and UFO have always been real tight . In fact , if you go back and listen to the band ’ s 1978 double LP album Strangers in the Night — still considered to be one of the greatest live albums of all time ( and recorded at the now demolished International Amphitheatre ), you ’ ll hear vocalist Phil Mogg give us a shout out during that iconic moment in “ Lights Out .”
During their 40-year existence , UFO has seen numerous personnel changes , a couple of hiatuses and a few underachieving albums by their standards . Along with Mogg , UFO ’ s current lineup consists of original drummer Andy Parker , longtime guitarist Paul Raymond , guitarist Vinnie Moore ( who joined in 2003 ) and bassist Rob
UFO
DeLuca ( joined in 2008 ).
Growing up as a UFO fan , Moore has grown into a formidable guitarist and songwriter throughout his 14 years with the band . Moore spoke to IE ' s Kelley Simms about first joining the band , their new covers album and why the band and Chicago go so well together .
Mosh : UFO has always had a great relationship with Chicago . What do you like most about playing here ? Vinnie Moore : You can just tell that the fans are awesome . They ’ re definitely different . They seem more into music and more excited . It ’ s just an odd phenomenon , I don ’ t know why that is . You can tell Chicago fans .
And I ’ m not just saying that because I ’ m talking to you .
Mosh : You always make it a point to return to play here and you have two nights at Arcada Theater with Saxon . How did this bill come about ? Vinnie Moore : It was suggested by our booking agent who also books those guys . I think we were first approached about it about six months ago and it seemed like a really good idea . We hadn ’ t really done anything like this before . We ’ ve opened for other bands like Judas Priest but we ’ ve never had a two-band billing anywhere in the world like this .
Mosh : Is this just a month-long tour that ’ ll keep you busy in March ? What are your plans after that ? Vinnie Moore : We ’ ve finished recording a new UFO record . We ’ ve done a covers record and that ’ s going to be coming out sometime soon . We have to get it mixed . That ’ ll be the next thing after the tour . And I ’ m working on a new solo record soon after the tour also . There ’ s a lot of things to keep me busy .
Mosh : Which cover songs will be on the new album , if you ’ re allowed to mention them ? Vinnie Moore : I ’ m not supposed to say anything . But I think the one Phil did say something about is “ It ’ s My Life ,” ( an The Animals song covered by David Johansen of New York Dolls ).
Mosh : Your first album with the band was 2004 ’ s You Are Here . For a new guy and an established musician coming in , it seems like you already had some big responsibilities , especially replacing Michael Schenker . What was it like joining the band under
those circumstances ? Vinnie Moore : Phil wasn ’ t just looking for a guitar player , he was looking for a writing partner . And he heard some of my solo stuff so he knew I was a songwriter . So I think that ’ s what kind of appealed to him at least as much as me being a guitarist , he needed somebody to write with . When I came into it , it was just a cool thing . It was great that I had gotten the gig and to know I was going to be playing with the guys and doing the record . I was very excited and open minded and really looking forward to it .
Mosh : Of course the Michael Schenker era was a historic time for the band . However , Ilove all the eras of UFO , and you ’ ve made the latest UFO era into something cool and different from the other eras . You ’ ve fit in so nicely after all these years . What do you think you bring to this era of the band ? Vinnie Moore : I ’ ve heard a lot of people say that it kind of recharged the band so to speak . Some new blood . Maybe Phil and the band kind of needed a change . I can ’ t say for sure , that ’ s just me kind of guessing . We ’ ve toured continuously since I ’ ve been in the band , we ’ ve done many records now . We ’ re just having a lot of fun with it and enjoying what we ’ re doing with it and that ’ s why we continue to do it .
Mosh : The band ’ s last album was 2015 ’ s A Conspiracy Of Stars . What do you remember about the writing process for this album ? Vinnie Moore : I remember we got together in Hannover , Germany to rehearse and to work on songs for this record . And not a whole lot happened . Sometimes you try to plan things and engineer them . When it comes to art and being creative and writing songs , it doesn ’ t always follow a plan . Not
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