Rockezine.com interview with Van Ee on Jul 03, 2001

with Ernst on Jul 03, 2001

Ernst van Ee is a very well respected and appreciated drummer in the Dutch Rock scene. But like one of his idols Cozy Powell his musical aspirations reach further than playing in just one band. Helloïse is his premier band but Ernst is also a permanent member of German Death Thrashers Threnody and he released a solo album earlier this year. Time to chat...
		Past: Over 20 years active in Rock Music; can you tell us which period(s) is the most dear to you? I liked almost everything I did ,in its own way, but I think the Helloise-period from `84-`88 was the period I learned and experienced the most. We did everything a band can wish for, a lot of gigs (also very big things ,like playing in big halls and stadiums),making records, performing on radio and television etc. This period was of big influence on the rest of my career.
		At what age did you `fell` for drums? I actually "FELL" on the drums during birth. At the time I was being born, my mother had to go to the toilet and stumbled over a snaredrum(that was of my older brother who was playing in a drum fanfare).At that moment I was being born and never got off the drums anymore. Well, it`s almost a true story…but the real kick came at the age of four, and I had my first drumkit at the age of eight.
		The early day idols next to Cozy Powell? Guys like Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Simon Phillips and Billy Cobham. In the eighties I discovered Deen Castranovo and he became a big influence on my playing.
		When Helloise was formed and scored reasonably well with the two records `Polarity` and `Cosmogony` exactly why did the band quit? We didn`t get any further as the Benelux (due to internal record company policy), we started to get in viscious circles and there was no prospect of getting out of this situation. There were also some problems with people who were involved with the band. That was my sign to leave the band. The other guys tried to pick up the pieces for a little while more but in the end the fire was gone.
		Of all your guest appearances which one is your favorite? I liked everything I did, but the farewell tour I did with Vengeance was one of the nicest experiences. It was months of hot and steaming rock `n roll gigs, it was great!!
		Wasn`t it strange to play in Vengeance, the band that sort of was the competitor to Helloise? Well it wasn`t for the bands, we saw each other as colleagues and liked each other`s music. We even played together at some times.
		Present: When did the plan of recording a solo album got initiated? I was trying to compose songs for a new Helloise-album, I did this together with Peter Magnee, with whom I like working very much. I wanted the songs to be a bit more `metallic`. When we had three songs ready I presented them to Stan(Helloise-singer). He had difficulties with the heavier and different song structure, he was used to making vocal lines over more hard rock orientated guitar parts. So we decided the songs weren`t suitable for Helloise and the idea came up to keep on working this way but make it a Van EE-solo record.
		Who did you turn to for realization an how long did it take to write complete and record it? I went to a friend of mine, Jan Hartman, to let him listen to the three songs we had at that moment. Jan was active in music for a long time, also as a drummer(e.g. for the bands Impact and Wildride), and these days he is a businessman with his own companies. He liked the music so much that he decided to start a record company (one of his dreams for a long time), with a Van EE solo record as first release. The record company was called H&H-records (later on we signed a European license-deal with Music Avenue/Rokarola). Peter and myself kept on writing material and when we had enough material we started recording. We recorded the drums in our rehearsal room, the rest of the recordings were done in Peter`s own home studio and we did the mix in the Excess studios in Rotterdam. Altogether it took us a year from the start till the release , but the actual recordings and writing we did in a few months.
		How would you describe the music on `Dance With An Angel` yourself? I think (and this was also the intention)it is a nice combination of traditional and modern hard-rock/metal. There are influences from Black Sabbath, Dream Theater, Judas Priest, Metallica, Pantera and more.
		How were the reactions to the album? Most of them were exceptional, some were more criticizing on the drummers solo record thing. Ok ,there are drums on the album, but not too much, I didn`t want it to be a " for drummers only" album, most of the songs are with vocals.
		Are there any plans of making the Van Ee project a real band project? If so, which singer would you like to join? Maybe ,in the future, if we make another album, and have enough material to play live. I think Robert Soeterboek (one of the singers on the album ) would be the most suitable. At this time I play a few songs of the album with Blind Justice(another band I play with).
		Threnody, a Death Metal band is a total other cookie, how did you get involved with them and are you a full-time member? Why did you join them? They asked me to play the Generation Extreme-tour, somewhere in`95. The musicbizz was more heavy during that time and, since I like challenges, it seemed like a nice idea to take some heavier metal vitamins, for a while. I suited very well in their music and also liked it a lot myself. The next step was a new Threnody-record(released in `97),and since then I`m a permanent member.
		Was it hard for you, drumming a total other kind of music or are there more similarities in style than the average listener will hear at first? You got it right, it`s not really that different, drum wise. Since I also liked busy and extreme drumming already for a long time.
		The Future: Helloise will release a new album this year, can you give some details already? The album will be released in Japan in august and in September in the rest of the world. The album is called "Fata Morgana" and was mixed by Sascha Paeth (Rhapsody, Kamelot etc.). The music on the album is much more modern, progressive and technical than the former one "A Time And Place For Everything" , which was more like the album we should have released ten years ago. Two original Helloise members (Arjan Boogerds and Marchell Remeeus) aren`t playing on the new album, but we have contributions from Robby Valentine (keyboards) and Lana Lane (guestvocals on one song).
		Did you participate in the songwriting? What is your strongest capability when it comes to writing a song? Not really, just some additional stuff. Ben Blaauw did all of the writing and Stan did the vocalparts. I`m good in making strong beginnings, ends and in between parts.
		Threnody will also be out there with a new album, can you combine the two bands in your life? I`ve managed, so far, even with playing four or five projects at the same time. At this moment I also play with Blind Justice and a coverband, I`m going to play a small tour with guitar wizard Anand in September I will be doing clinics etc.
		If you had to choose, which band would you like to go through with? It doesn`t matter to me, I`m in it for the playing. I like to do different stuff, because it keeps you awake.
		Any other plans we need to know about? All maybes: Another solo-record, doing some work as a producer (I`m for hire!!), this tour with Anand, touring with Blind Justice(also a new album out later on this year!), maybe playing live shows with Helloise, releasing a new album with Threnody and so on.
		I would like you to choose between a couple of famous drummers, selected by genre...if possible please tell us why you chose that particular drummer. Cozy Powell / Alex van Halen -Rock: Cozy Powell, he was there earlier! Neil Peart / Mike Portnoy -Progressive Rock: Neil Peart, same answer Dave Lombardo / Gene Hoglan -Speed/Thrash: Gene Hoglan, incredible drum monster Phil Collins / Bill Bruford -Symfonic: Phil Collins, more diverse, great career Lars Ulrich / Charlie Benante - Metal: Lars Ulrich, playing in the most popular metalband of the world Best all round drummer: Virgil Donati, Australian drum wizard who can play everything. Most underrated drummer besides you: Thank you! Band you would have liked to be in: Judas Priest, a boy`s dream come true!!!
So there we have it ladies and gentlemen, Ernst van Ee about the past, present and future. We`ll hear a lot more from this guy this year. You may want to keep up with his plans and activities at his website www.threnody.com/evanee (Winston Arntz)