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Gathering Of Freaks is the 2nd album of Freak Of Nature, the band from Los Angeles which spent a lot time on European stages. Mike Tramp made other experiences while he was in White Lion, there always been one tour for every album. Not like the freaks who played about 140 shows in Europe while promoting their debut. There won't be many changes they will still be "the hardest working band in rock'n'roll". The idea of Freak Of Nature Mike had first in late 1991, the line-up was Jerry Best (bs, ex-Lion), Johnny Haro (dr) and the guitarists Kenny Korade and Oliver Steffenson. Remains are the songs Possessed and '92, others just used as bonus tracks on the Japanese editions. "With Steffenson it won't really work" Mike explained. Substitute been found in the former House Of Lords guitarist Dennis Chick. The band emphasize that they are a unit and not Mike Tramps band. They are a democratic union. A bunch of very different human beings with different personal backgrounds. They came together to make something different, music which is much more direct, partly aggressive, but always with lots of emotions and feelings. The debut been recorded in 6 days with a small budget, perhaps that cause the spontanity and directness. also lyrically many things changed "in the 80's the music scene was very different, this kind of lyrics won't fit" Mike told us. "If I had the possibility I wrote lyrics without using all that clichés". The new album Gathering Of Freaks continues what the band started with the debut. The record is much more intensive, darker and full of energy. "The songs are all recorded in the 1. or 2. take, otherwise you can't catch the spontanity" explain Dennis. "We recorded the songs as a band, in a common situation as on stage. Only Mike recorded the vocals later in a small studio. He sings at the recording sessions, but the vocals don't be recorded." The band assemble on the extensive European tour. After recording the 2nd album Kenny Korade left the band. "Kenny told us that he will left before the recording sessions. We haven't had any problems. It was his decision. We wanted that he record with us the 2nd album and played the promotion show with us" Mike explains the line-up change. "Marcus Mand our new guitarist is from England. He become a part of us very fast. Now on tour we don't feel that he's the new one. Marcus and Dennis share the guitar solos, no ego problems." The band is a unit. Back in the days of the first tour the band used every chance to work on new material. "We wrote the new songs under the impression of the tour. We all haven't finished with our past when we wrote the tracks for the first album." That's how Mike explain the changes which is more a natural process than a change. The lyrics now fits the dark and depressive sound. The words cover different themes like problems inside a family through drug abuse (Need). A song which is very important for Mike Tramp. Also Raping The Cradle which is about sexual abuse of children or Candle which tells about children who don't get love in the families. Stand Back is about the ignorance between people. The Tree is the most impressive song on the album. Mike said about that song "I wrote the song from the point of view a tree have. The tree been cut down, killed and make into an instrument of death penalty. The killed tree been used to kill people. It's the reversal of everything." The new album is a unit, it reflects the band today, in the days with Kenny and also with Marcus. Live the band present themselves with lots of fun and power. Naturally they play most of the new album, caused by the short time Marcus is in the band and they want promote their new album. That explains the short set which is just 75 minutes long. In 1993 the band had cover versions of Thin Lizzy in the set, too. Anyhow you don't miss any track during the show. There are hard rocking songs and also ballads. The Tree is the center of the show. In these days Mike plays guitar, too. Dennis command "the guitar lessons he took been a good investment, he is better now." Mike plays guitar just at the additional songs Candle and Need. "It was necessary to play the songs like on the album" Mike says. In the camp of the freaks there is hope to get a record deal outside Europe soon. They want to play live everywhere. With the extensive tours they make lots of friends in Europe, but also America and Japan will get the pleasure to see the band live. The future is made for the freaks, the band and their fans who joins in the Gathering Of Freaks to have a good time.
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