Interview with Prog Rock Guitarist and Composer Roine Stolt

Swedish guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter Roine Stolt is one of the busiest and most prolific artists in the current progressive rock scene. His musical projects include The Flower Kings, Kaipa, Transatlantic, and Agents of Mercy. Roine Stolt’s most recent recordings include The Flower Kings’ Desolation Rose (2013) and Kaleidoscope, the upcoming album by progressive rock supergroup Transatlantic, scheduled for release on January 27th, 2014. Transatlantic features Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas. Roine Stolt discusses Desolation Rose and his musical influences with Progressive Rock Central’s Angel Romero.

You recently released an album titled Desolation Rose with your band The Flower Kings. What’s the concept for this album?

Roine: The album was first supposed to be named after the song “Desolation Road” and that is hinting at a very dangerous path the human race is upon at this very now, where we put profit and power before well-being and harmony in our souls. Leading to more than half the world living without proper education and sometimes without food or water for the day – while the other half live in danger of eating itself to death and other unhealthy consuming addictions. What’s more, we are under surveillance 24/7 and we’re slowly slipping away from controlling our own lives. We see these fascist tendencies come and go; yet another decade; yet another country; yet another regime. People trying to control and hold down others, there’s a camera in every corner. There’s a camera on every computer; and now on the latest iPhone they read your fingerprint….!!! When do we think it is enough?

In the end, true freedom comes through revolution and I fear that day because it may be violent; still I hope not. Still the “controllers” of the state are pretty much helpless without our consent of being controlled. As for the music, we tried to walk into the studio with less refined demos so there was more room for everyone to contribute. The studio itself has a reel to reel recorder so we recorded very much like people did in the late 60s and early 70s, with all the band playing in free tempo in the studio room. We feel we’re best when not controlled by metronomes or computers. We just play it live, very organic. Then in the end we can take advantage of the editing facilities that Pro Tools and the computer worlds provide.

Desolation Rose comes with a second bonus CD. Why not simply call it a double album?

Roine: We recorded the main album songs as a collection of songs, or a song cycle, so it is all part of Desolation Rose song cycle, where we revisit themes and riffs or even lyric bits, much like Jethro Tull’s A Passion Play and Thick As a Brick, or Yes’ Close To The Edge, Sgt. Peppers, Jimi Hendrix’ Electric Ladyland, Genesis’ Suppers Ready or The Lamb Lies Down. This is what so many rock musicians have done over the years before us, and it all comes from the ideas you’ll see in an opera or musical, or in classical pieces from Wagner, Stravinski or Strauss. The bonus tracks simply did not fit into that concept. But they’re still good tracks.

How do you differentiate what you play in The Flower Kings, Kaipa and Transatlantic?

Roine: I really do not, but again I’m sure the other musicians trigger certain behaviors and make me play a bit different.

Your other project Agents of Mercy has fine progressive rock moments but also a much harder, even metal edge. Would you ever consider doing a prog remix, leaving out the hard rock/metal riffs?

Roine: I personally do not see Agents Of Mercy’s music as metal, but sure we may lean towards the more groovy old school metal things that came from Zeppelin or Deep Purple. I think the strongest influence in Agents are probably early 70’s prog, old school as they say. Early Genesis or Procol Harum, but also a bit of early 70s soul.

Throughout your career you have released numerous albums for various labels. Are you in control of all your material?

Roine: Unfortunately not. Not all, but about 90 % of it.

You collaborated with Steve Hackett in Genesis Revisited II. How was the experience?

Roine: I’ve known Steve for about 5 years and we’ve bumped into each other on many occasions during the years and I think there is a mutual respect. We had dinner in London a couple of years ago and he was planning that album and simply asked if I was interested in playing on it. He’s one of the nicest people in the biz so it’s really an honor; and, besides, the album is fabulous as a whole. Both Steve and Roger(King) did a marvelous job.

Do you think you’ll be doing more collaborations with Steve Hackett?

Roine: I hope so – We’ve played a couple of times live too. Last time was Royal Albert Hall in London this October. So yes, I do not rule that out. It would be great doing some new original material too.

Your guitar style is very diverse. What guitarists have inspired you?

Roine: Well, diverse they are so Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Jan Ackerman, Steve Hackett, George Wadenius, Duane Allman, Pat Metheny, Steve Howe, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks, Richie Blackmore, Steve Lukather, George Harrison, The Edge … and more.

What guitars are you currently using?

Roine: I have 2 Telecasters – one of them a thin line with a new custom built 24 fret True Temprament fretboard. I use a Fender Stratocaster customshop, I use a custom-built JET guitar. I have 4 Gibsons: Les Paul Goldtop from 1953, a new Customshop Goldtop, a ES 335 figure gloss and an old Gibson ES 175 cherry sunburst from 1966. Plus a couple more assorted LapSteel, Ibanez Pro, acoustics from Guild & Seagull, Manuel Rodrigues.

And what effects do you use?

Roine: Oh that’s a plenty. Main unit is a TC G system floorboard, but then a flock of stomp boxes, 2x Dunlop Wha’s – Keeley, compressor and a Java booster, Strymon LEX (Leslie) Strymon El Capistan, Blackout Whetstone, GI fuzz, TC Ditto Looper, Tech 21 Delay, Tech 21 Acoustic DI, Folkesson Raptor, Les Luis overdrive, Electro Harmonix, Voice Box, Electro Harmonix Ravish Sitar, Electro Hartmonix “Next Step”……and more.

Do you still play your earlier guitars?

Roine: The one I pick out now and then is the old Les Paul Gold Top, from 53, but it is very difficult to use live because it goes out of tune easily. However I used it with Hackett on the Royal Albert Hall gig lately, but I only guested on one song.

If you could gather any musicians or musical groups to collaborate with whom would that be?

Roine: That is tricky. I don’t know how to assemble a band like that but some individuals I’d like to collaborate with are: Paul McCartney, Bono, Jon Anderson, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Burt Bacharach, Lyle Mays, Jeff Beck, Vangelis, and Dave Grohl.

In February I’ll get to play some Yes songs with Jon Anderson and that’ll be fun.

What’s next as far as new recordings or other projects?

Roine: I will be busy touring the first half of 2014, but I think by summer 2014 we may start slowly writing for a new Flower Kings album, possibly early 2015 release. And also writing for a new Agents Of Mercy album. Beyond that I have no idea.

Roine Stolt Discography

Solo albums

• Fantasia (1979)
• Behind The Walls (1985)
• The Lonely Heartbeat (1989)
• The Flower King (1994)
• Hydrophonia (1998)
• Wall Street Voodoo (2005)

With Kaipa

• Kaipa (1975)
• Inget Nytt Under Solen (1976)
• Solo (1978)
• Notes from the Past (2002)
• Keyholder (2003)
• Mindrevolutions (2005)

With The Flower Kings

• Back in the World of Adventures (1995)
• Retropolis (1996)
• Stardust We Are (1997)
• Flower Power (1999)
• Space Revolver (2000)
• Alive on Planet Earth (2000)
• The Rainmaker (2001)
• Unfold the Future (2002)
• Meet the Flower Kings (2003)
• Adam & Eve (2004)
• Paradox Hotel (2006)
• Instant Delivery (2006)
• The Sum Of No Evil (2007)
• Banks of Eden (2012)
• Desolation Rose (2013)

With The Tangent

• The Music That Died Alone (2003)
• The World That We Drive Through (2004)
• Pyramids and Stars (2005)

With Transatlantic

• Stolt Morse Portnoy Trewavas (2000)
• Live in America (2001)
• Bridge Across Forever (2001)
• SMPTe: The Roine Stolt Mixes (2003)
• The Transatlantic Demos (2003)
• Live in Europe (2003)
• The Whirlwind (2009)
• Whirld Tour 2010: Live in London (2010)
• More Never Is Enough: Live In Manchester & Tilburg 2010 (2010)
• Kaleidoscope (2014)

With Agents of Mercy

• The Fading Ghosts of Twilight (2009)
• Dramarama (2010)
• The Black Forest (2011)