Rowan Robertson
The VAST Possibilities
Interview and Commentary by Ken Boyd
When Ronnie James Dio endorses a guitarist you know he’s good. And to be endorsed by such a veteran legend of the hard rock industry at age 16 says something, without a doubt, about your caliber.
I am speaking of none other than Rowan Robertson.
“Wendy just phoned me up one evening—at 8 o’clock—and asked me how I’d feel playing in front of 20,000 people,” Rowan told the camera at a filming of the Lock Up The Wolves studio session from Granny’s in Reno, Nevada. “It’s like any dream come true.”
I asked Rowan personally what he thought about hitting the road on a world tour with the likes of Ronnie James Dio and his troupe of hard-hitting rockers. “Rowan, what was it like rocketing to stardom at [then] 17? Was it too fast?”
“I don’t think it was too fast at seventeen, “ he insisted, “It gave me a foothold in the industry. I feel it has taken until now for me to mature enough to write material with any depth.”
“What about those songs you wrote with Ronnie? Do you play any of those live now with VAST?”
“No [we don’t do any] Dio material live.” Rowan indicated with a smile, this at first hearing I had traveled to two cities and over seven hundred miles to finally meet him. “I am fully into VAST.” He assured me. “I want it to become a big band. I believe in it and want to grow inside it. We can turn this band into so many things.”
“Tell me a little about VAST. The direction, the guys in the band and touring plans.”
“VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater,” Rowan explained. “It is a dark, moody metal/pop sound. The players in the band are Jon Crosby on vocals and guitar, myself doing guitar and back ups [also some impressive keyboards on the live performances, I might add], Thomas Frogutt on bass,” who is an Aussie, Rowan indicated for all the “down-under” We Rock members I told him about, “and Steve Clark on drums. Jon recorded the existing [self titled] album [we are touring] basically himself, with Fred Maher producing.”
“What about the next album? Will you be contributing there in any way?”
“We are all now contributing to new material for the second album,” he indicated proudly.
“How do you feel about writing?” I asked him, “You seem very excited about the prospect. How much did you contribute to Lock Up The Wolves with Dio?”
“The songs I co-wrote with Ronnie on Lock Up The Wolves obviously are basically his songs. He would ask me for riffs and stuff to compliment his vision. This taught me a lot. I now feel at twenty-seven, I’ve had enough life experience to have my own vision.”
“Tell me about working with Ronnie?” I asked him. “What was that like?”
“I have nothing but good things to say about Ronnie,” Rowan assured me, a kindly smile crossing his face. “He is one of those artists who has the personal momentum to be the focal force of anything he turns his hand to.”
“Are you still in contact with Ronnie and Wendy?”
“Yes,” he said, “I am still in contact with Ronnie and Wendy…He has been there for me when I needed him on a number of occasions.”
“What about the rest of the boys from the Dio band? Jens? Simon? Teddy?”
“I
called Jens recently,” Rowan assured me, another fond smile easily displayed.
“He is working with a band called Stratovarius. I’ve lost contact with Teddy
though.”
“Can you tell me a little about what you have been up to since Lock Up The Wolves?”
“Since Lock Up The Wolves, I have done a few things,” he began, “In the ensuing four years—long time I know—I formed a band called Violets Demise with Oni Logan (ex-Lynch Mob).”
“I had heard that, I would be interested in hearing some of that. Is it much like the blues based material you played on the Star Licks video?”
“Violets Demise’s aim was as a Zeppelin, Hendrix-esque, heavy psychedelic rock band,” Rowan answered, nodding vigorously, “My personal aim was always the bluesy side, whereas Oni was constantly pushing for more visual other worldly sound. I can send you a copy of it. I would be interested in hearing what you think of it.”
“That would be GREAT! What happened with that project anyway?”
“The album is finished and collecting dust somewhere in an Atlantic Vault somewhere!”
“What else have you been doing? It’s been almost ten years.”
“We got a deal on Atlantic and recorded an album with Dave Jender (Alice In Chains, Janes Addiction, Anthrax). I played with a band called Cagnet [and] went to Japan. [I also] formed a band called Andromeda which only reached the demo stage. [Then] I did a project with ex-Jeff Beck, Rod Stuart bass player Phil Chen.”
Rowan indicated that he and Phil were close friends and would like to do some further project work together in the future.
“What about working with Ronnie in the future?” I asked, hopeful. “Is it a possibility?”
“Anything is possible,” Rowan told me. “I would love
to work with Ronnie again.”
When asked about his relationship with Rowan Ronnie had this to say, “ Rowan and I turned out to have so much in common, even though our age gaps are a little bit different. After all Rowan was only seventeen when he joined our band, I was only nineteen when I chose him.” Expressing his sense of humor quickly turned to seriousness as the veteran rock legend went on to speak of he thought perhaps he had passed along to his young apprentice. “I think that what I was able to teach Rowan, more than anything—and I think which is going to hold him in very good stead in the years to come—is how to really put together a song.”
Rowan replied to this: “I have picked up so many valuable things from Ronnie. He has the attitude that you learn from someone what they bring you, you know, once bitten? It helps you make people and contacts.”
“If you could pick any one point that you would consider the fondest memory of your career, what would it be?”
“So many memories…” Rowan smiled, staring off, “Friends, jams, touring. It always seems that those times must come to an end…Me and a couple of mates had a Cream tribute band that played clubs in LA, that was fun.”
“For all those technical guys out there, what equipment are you running now?”
“I am mainly using a re-issue Gold Top Les Paul through a Marshall pre-amp and Boogie power amp into 4 X 12 Boogie speaker cab.”
“What influences did you have growing up?”
“Growing up I listened to The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Police, Status Quo, AC/DC.”
“And who are your influences today?”
“As far as now, I would have to say Lennon, Marley, American music (R&B, Country, Blues) A little jazz, [some] classical, …[even] Metallica. I thought Nirvana were great. I just love music!”
“Rowan, what are your opinions on the new Dio sound?”
“The new Dio sound is aggressive and heavy. Tracy has a really mangled, twisted approach to guitar!! Very heavy!”
“I want to thank you so very much for taking the time to meet with me, conduct this interview, and take some time out for a few pictures.”
“Oh, No problem, Ken, it was my pleasure”
“Before I let you go, is there anything you would like to add or tell your fans out there about Rowan Robertson?”
“I strive to be a musician who can always enjoy my music and keep doing it ‘til I crumble!!”
Well, Rowan Robertson, may you never crumble, my friend!
Rowan was one of the greatest, most considerate of people that I have ever met in this industry. It is easy to see why Ronnie chose this fine man considering his talent and his human tenderness.
Rowan is presently pulloing back from the Metal/Gothe scene to work on good olde rock and roll once again!
Here’s To You, Rowan Robertson!