Jeff Scott Soto began his career at age eighteen,
singing for metal guru Yngwie Malmsteen. It didn’t take
Jeff long to realize that this was not the dream gig he
had hoped for as Malmsteen, as famous for his attitude
as his guitar prowess, taught the young singer how not
to treat people.
Soto went on to front the band Talisman and his own
Jeff Scott Soto band and forged a successful career
outside of the his home country, the United States of
America. Finally, a break came when Journey vocalist
Steve Augeri was ousted from the band and Jeff was named
as Journey’s new singer. This proved to be short lived
and Soto found himself, once again, on his own. While
the States have not made Jeff Scott Soto a household
name, his European and beyond fan base worships every
note the singer has ever uttered, making him one of the
most well respected singers in his genre.
The latest release by Soto is a live concert recorded
at the Firefest Festival. Soto reaches back into his
solo catalog as well as his Talisman past all the while
also heavily promoting his latest studio album,
Beautiful Mess. The result is a power packed concert
that ranges from emotional ballads to fist pumping
rockers.
In this interview Jeff and I discuss the live album
as well as some of the highlights from his past career
with Yngwie, Journey and his current gig as a member of
the traveling holiday concert extravaganza, the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We also discuss Talisman
founding member Marcel Jacob and his tragic suicide and
how Jeff misses playing with his friend and that band,
in particular.
At the end of the day, Jeff is a unique personality
who is open and honest and above all, a nice person who
has had a lifelong love affair with music.
Enjoy!
Jeb: Tell me about Firefest. Not everyone in the
USA knows about this.
Jeff: I believe the idea started back in the late
90’s called The Gods of AOR, then simply
shortened to The Gods Festival. It was an outlet
for many favorite cult following AOR bands that seemed
to either disappear or fall into obscurity. Mainly it
was for artists/bands who never made their way abroad
leaving hoards of fans disgruntled they didn’t get to
see these bands in their heyday. The Gods organization
fell under and fans and friends of those promoters, who
actually volunteered their services for a number of
those shows, felt the desire to keep the torch lit,
hence the new name and movement forward. They have done
a stellar job, a lot of blood, sweat and tears later and
they finally have a name and reputation with the fest.
Jeb: Your last studio album shows more of what I call
the Glenn Hughes Funk Rock style. Is this a musical
direction you want to go in?
Jeff: I personally don’t agree, I love Glenn’s brand
of funk and style but Beautiful Mess for me was
more pop and contemporary sounding in terms of what
younger artists today are doing. I didn’t want to lose
all the rock appeal so basically the songs are pop with
that rock edge. I didn’t want something to be ‘funky’
per se as that label is the kiss of death in most bands
in this genre, I wanted something that was commercially
viable as well as something my fans kid’s would listen
to, not just the older demographic that have followed my
career.
Jeb: I assume the live album was contractual with
Frontiers but you seem to have taken it very seriously.
Some artists don’t get too excited about ‘must do’
albums. But you put on a great show.
Jeff: I take all of my releases seriously, even “Best
Of” releases, I am behind every graphic and font before
it gets approved. I didn’t know the album would get out
so soon after my last live release but I was amped about
this one because although the setlist is similar to last
year’s release, it was a completely different band which
gave it a different perspective on the songs, very
dynamically separate from each other.
Jeb: Does it bother you that despite some great
breaks you have never broken huge in the United States?
Jeff: You know, I really don’t have time to dwell in
what could or should have been, I am quite content that
my peers around the world, from my classic rock heroes
to the new generation of music, know who I am; it’s
amazing to have this sort of cult legacy although
someday it would be nice to reap the rewards of
commercial success. Hell, I’ve been here 25 years
professionally already; I have another 25 easily in me.
Jeb: I am not saying you have not had a great career
as you have and you are very well respected. But when
it comes down to it you have to travel a lot more than
if the USA didn’t have their heads up their ass
concerning promoting true music instead of a bunch of
crap. Do you know what I am saying?
Jeff: It is what it is. At the end of the day I can
say I had a great life, accomplished many dreams and
fulfilled my ambition of making a living at something I
love; not many can exclaim this and I am very fortunate.
Anything else I can do to add to it or even someday
become that household name is icing on the cake.
Jeb: I have heard that getting to festival was crazy
because you were in the USA doing the Trans-Siberian
Orchestra gig. Is it true you only got one rehearsal?
Jeff: Yes, the last we’d played together was towards
the end of the year 2007, a month before the Firefest
show, we did a rehearsal in LA then we booked a
rehearsal the afternoon of the show. Traffic prevented
me from getting there on time. The guys went through the
motions through memory and notes, I showed up the last
30 minutes and we went over some quick changes and
things, literally packed up and went to the venue and
did the gig within two hours after. I hadn’t slept and
was already adjusted to a different time zone so it was
interesting to get through to say the least. I ended up
staying up all night as we had to leave at 4:30AM to
drive back to London, about a three-hour drive, then hop
on two planes back to Omaha and be ready for rehearsal
Monday morning. It was hell and very fatiguing but a
good story to tell...and a live album to tell it with!
Jeb: You are able to pull from many facets of your
background but the live songs I admit I loved the most
were from your band Talisman. I think that was a great
melding of melodic rock, progressive music, pop and good
old-fashioned hard rock. Do you miss that band?
Jeff: Absolutely, even before Marcel left us, I
missed doing more with those guys. It had gotten to the
point where everyone took off to other bands and
commitments disabling us to continue with any momentum.
We were a week away from starting up what would have
been our 8th album before Marcel took his
life. It makes the disbanding of this group even more
tragic but I certainly don’t have any desire to continue
without him, not recording anyway. He was the life’s
blood and sound behind Talisman, it makes no sense to do
something without his input so better to let it rest. I
would love to someday do a tribute tour for him and the
fans but until the others can find openings in their
schedules, I have no idea when that day will come.
Jeb: When will we get a new studio album? Any hints
if of what it will sound like?
Jeff: I have a few things on my plate at the moment,
one of them being a new solo album but, yes, it will
definitely be the heaviest solo album to date. I like
shaking things up and keeping it interesting. My fans
know what I am capable of but repeating myself seems
redundant to me so I plan to blast it out next time out!
Jeb: Do you find there is a section of your fan base
that wants you to rock harder than you like to rock? In
other words they may not appreciate that you went to see
the Bee Gees in concert or were inspired by Michael
Jackson...
Jeff: Absolutely, and this is why I mix it up. I
don’t want to be known solely as a metal guy. One of my
favorite singers, Freddie Mercury, was known as someone
who could cover all the grounds and do them well, this
is my idea of how I would rather be remembered. I would
like to be known in the same circles of people as Steve
Perry, Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey as much as Rob
Halford, Ronnie James Dio and Bruce Dickinson. It is
totally achievable in my eyes.
Jeb: What will happen with W.E.T.? Do you feel
there is a future with that band or will it be more of a
once in a while project?
Jeff: We’re in discussions at the moment for a new
album and possible tour to follow.
Jeb: I have to ask you about a few of your more high
profile gigs. Let’s start with the current
Trans-Siberian Orchestra tour. Are you shocked at the
success this has had? Ticket prices are cheap and they
sell like hotcakes.
Jeff: TSO ticket prices are the fairest out there for
any arena tour that I know of today. TSO founder Paul
O’Neill is more about families coming together and being
able to afford an outing. A family of four can enjoy a
nearly three-hour concert experience for the same price
as going to a movie with popcorn and drinks. The tour is
successful because of this reason, they don’t submit to
Golden Ticket or VIP packages that jack up prices
ridiculously. TSO keep it in the general vicinity of the
average household income and those fans are loyal for
it, it truly is an amazing corporation overall. The
entertainment value alone is worth twice the price of
admission.
Jeb: I am going to the show in Wichita, Kansas. I
have never seen the performance. What am I in for?
Jeff: If you have never been, be prepared for
something you have never witnessed, I still to this day
cannot put it into words, it’s not something easily
describable, but once you’ve seen it, you’ll know how
it’s reached the levels it has in the short time they’ve
been out. This is my third year and I have become very
internally involved, I have a feeling this little
sidebar will become a long time relationship for me with
TSO.
Jeb: I am one of the few who kind of likes Yngwie’s
hi-jinx, however, he is famous for temper tantrums.
What is the most arrogant thing you have seen Yngwie
ever do?
Jeff: I have far too many to tell, perhaps maybe
someday in a book but I’m also not one to throw anybody
under the bus. I think I would ask Yngwie if he would
mind me telling some of my road stories first! I don’t
want any enemies in this business, especially those I
used to work for. But hi-jinx is a mild word to some of
the shit I’ve seen.
Jeb: You were a kid when you worked for him. How
did you keep from being intimidated? Did his attitude
help you grow a set a balls concerning how to survive in
the music industry?
Jeff: Not really, in fact his personality confirmed
how I DIDN’T want to be perceived as a person. We all
usually start young, humble and innocent until something
in this business turns us into unbearable twats but I
wanted to be liked and accepted by everyone too much to
succumb to this. I frown upon this mentality of being a
diva, life is too short and you never know someone who
might be under you one day could be someone you need to
help you later. Its just good to be a good person, good
karma leads to living a good life as far as I am
concerned.
Jeb: He has been a huge success but I think if he
would have been less about himself he could have been
even bigger. Do you agree?
Jeff: I don’t know, there are a lot of artists in the
business who get more attention for their personalities
than their talents; I think his characteristics helped
promote him as an artist. Who knows? One thing I do
know, if he wasn’t the person I had to deal with back
then, I certainly would have stayed on for many years
with him. For better or worse, I am where I am now
because I had to find my own course so soon after
starting with him. On a side note, I have to say he has
calmed and matured which makes it pleasant to be in the
same room with him nowadays; we see each other as
equals, possibly because I was able to make something of
myself without being under his wing or possibly just
because here we are 25 years later, alive and kicking
ass.
Jeb: Let’s talk Journey. That didn’t seem to end so
well. I have interviewed those guys a ton of times over
the years and they are cool. However, that is a bit like
a dysfunctional family. What was the hardest part of
that gig outside of the vocal performances?
Jeff: Nothing. It was as easy getting along and
hanging out with them as it was being onstage with them,
which makes it more puzzling as to how things ended the
way they did. I am not at liberty to discuss the things
I do know about them internally but can only guess as to
what were the contributing factors. It was a dream gig
for me, more so as a kid who grew up living and loving
that music, but I think I would have possibly grown
weary of hearing the ongoing comparisons or comments
about “that’s not Perry” or “no Steve, no Journey.”
They’ve done well for themselves by getting someone who
can emulate their signature sound instead of moving past
the shadow of Perry. Good for them...and for me
ultimately.
Jeb: Would you do a replacement gig again in a band
like Journey or are you better off sticking to your own
gigs and bands?
Jeff: I have said it over and over, the only two
bands I would ever consider are Queen and Van Halen, for
starters because I know every word of every song but
also because those bands heavily influenced me growing
up and still do to this day. I feel I could do the songs
justice and homage rather than trying to be a
replacement for their original singers. Otherwise, I am
quite content in doing my own thing.
Jeb: If you had to admit one big mistake you made in
the music business what would it be?
Jeff: In life, we make many mistakes but without
them, we wouldn’t know they were mistakes so we learn
from them and treat them as putting your hands on the
fire...fire is hot and burns and you don’t touch the
fire again...not without knowing how hot it can be! So I
have no regrets, just education and wisdom.
Jeb: If you were to hit shuffle on your iPod ten
times what songs would come up? Do you have any artists
on there that might surprise your fans?
Jeff: Oh hell, yeah, I think everyone does, hence the
enthusiastic thumbs up for mp3 players replacing CD
players. Back in the day our CD wallets were expanding
into these suitcases that were heavier than our
backpacks because of the quantity we felt we needed to
carry around. Now we have a little box that keeps
thousands of artists we would have normally left at home
because it wasn’t cool to have Tears For Fears next to
the AC/DC CD. I have everything from the soundtrack of
West Side Story to Sly & The Family Stone to
Maroon 5 to Iron Maiden. I love so many faces and colors
of music; I could be a deejay to any party, any time
with my 160GB of music on my iPod!
Jeb: I recently talked to Jason Bonham, who you
worked with on the movie Rockstar. He said that he and
Zakk were ‘pissed out of their minds’ most of the time
and he could not believe how he even survived. So, I
figure Jason may not remember some of the behind the
scenes stuff he did. Care to remind him or were you a
member of the party as well?
Jeff: Unfortunately not, I was only involved behind
the scenes on this, in the studio, which was the
workplace. I would have loved to be part of the band and
filming in some capacity but no such luck. I loved those
songs and still do a few to this day in my live set. It
has added another legacy band, which wasn’t even a real
band, into my repertoire.
Jeb: Last one: Tell me about your most difficult
situation on stage in your career and then, conversely,
your most beloved moment on stage.
Jeff: Difficult was probably having to go from the
best night of singing in my life to the worst. In
January 1985, I did my 1st gig with Yngwie in
LA, the next morning, we were woken at 7:00AM to drive
in the backseat of a car to San Francisco. I had no
sleep, my throat was not road worthy yet and I had nary
a peep when we arrived at soundcheck. Naturally there
was no sympathy and the show must go on. I barely got
through the set and was mortified to see years later,
THAT show is one of Yngwie’s most circulated bootlegs!
The best would have to be the last show I did with
Talisman at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2007. Little did
I know then it would be our last performance with Marcel
but a great gig it was...until an hour later I was
informed I was not in Journey anymore. I’m saving that
for the book!
Jeb: Aw what the hell... and your funniest moment on
stage.
Jeff: Funniest, right off the top of my head, would
have to be with Journey. We were playing the Hollywood
Bowl, a dream venue for me growing up in LA and passing
it every day of my life. My mom and entire family and
friends were in the audience. It had been raining all
day and the stage was like stepping onto an ice skating
rink. As careful as I was, in the second song, “Stone In
Love”, I took a tiny step that ended up being a slip
that landed me right on my ass. I lay there for the 1.7
seconds wondering, “Do I make it obvious I fell?” I
said, “Hell yes” and sprung up and raised my hands up
like Rocky winning the championship match of his life.
