ION INDIE MAGAZINE June 2015, Volume 13 | Page 120

Interview with Fernando Ribiero
Interview and Photography by Michael Rushton • Rockshow Pics • www.rockshowpics.com

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MR: Can you talk a bit about the differences between touring Europe and the U.S.?
MOONSPELL: For any European band the U.S. has been a hard nut to crack. It’s almost Rock history that it
doesn’t matter if you do well in Europe, when you come to the states you start again. It’s hard work and you
can’t give up. In the U.S., especially with European Metal, they (fans) like our extreme stuff because it is
also melodic in a way. So things are slowly growing in the states, which is why we decided to tour with our
current package of SEPTIC FLESH and DEATHSTARS. While it’s not the biggest scene and still underground
in many ways, this is for the fans that can’t afford to go to Europe, so we do this for them.
MR: Small clubs versus large venues—do you have a preference?
MOONSPELL: There are few Rock bands from Portugal and even fewer that work on an International level.
We are lucky to have fans in different places, which is why we travel so much. At the end of the day, we’ve
been together for 20 years as a band. We know not everyone is going to be a METALLICA and the reality is,
the career of a band such as MOONSPELL always balances between months of pure glory and then the
other stuff. We feel at ease in both worlds, and sometimes playing the smaller shows are even better and
more personal. As a concert goer I’ve always liked big festivals, like playing for 60,000 fans at Hellfest.
The reality of a band like ours though, is to always play clubs. Coming from Portugal, we never thought
we’d be doing things, such as playing in El Paso, TX, for instance. I’d have never believed this 20 years ago,
yet here we are for our 2nd time playing El Paso.
MR: How would you describe your music and musical style?
MOONSPELL: We don’t really care what we are labeled, although I know it is necessary. I guess Dark Metal
is not the worst label, yet sometimes I think it works against us. When I was in High School, I used to listen
to a lot of Metal like KING DIAMOND and some Rock as well, and I had a bunch of friends who were
listening to Dark Wave Music and Gothic Music. Groups like SISTERS OF MERCY, BAUHAUS and JOY
DIVISION…so I always got caught up in those 2 worlds. And then in 90’s, bands like PARADISE LOST and
TYPE O NEGATIVE…they were fusing this dark Gothic thing with Metal Hardcore roots. Since we were just
starting as a band, we were heavily influenced by that music and spirit.
MR: From where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics?