'Tech Tuesday', dedicated to the people associated the band

Staffan!
Best in the world! So so kind and helpfull! Thank you for everything you do! Keep up the good work mate! 👍🤘😊

On Jan 31st, the following very nice and interesting interview to Joey has been published on Europe official FB, within the Tech Tuesday initiative. He always delivers some good content in everything he does, don't you think? GO, Joey!!!

TECH TUESDAY - JOEY TEMPEST

Friends! This week's TECH TUESDAY post is all about our own Joey Tempest. We approached Joey for some of his background and thoughts on becoming a singer, a musician, and just an overall fan of rock music. Enjoy!

Where / when did you begin singing?
JT : After hearing artists like David Bowie and Elton John on the radio I wanted to emulate, sing and learn their songs, I was around eight or nine years old. A friend of my dads also taught me three chords on the guitar around that time and I was getting interested in writing songs. My dad says I used to play guitar and sing before I went to school and again directly when I got home from school. When I was around ten or eleven I started looking for likeminded people in school and around where I lived and formed my first band called Made In Hong Kong.

Have you ever worked with a voice coach?
JT: There was a period before we recorded The Final Countdown album when I had some voice trouble. I was introduced to a voice coach in Stockholm and he taught me how to warm up my voice properly and how to "save it" if I was in trouble on a tour. I use these exercises when I need them still to this day. He was very helpful and made the vocal performance on the The Final Countdown sound even better.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about preserving your voice?
JT: Basically, over the years you learn as a singer that the best way to keep your voice is to get your sleep on tour therefore I stay in hotels and avoid tour busses if I can. Also drinking alcohol dries out your vocal chords so I try to keep it to a minimum : ). If my voice is a bit rough on a tour I will warm up 30 min before the show, I will sing scales up and down moving only half a note with different vowels and finish with some old fashioned songs that makes it easy for me to check what shape my voice is in.

How would you advise an amateur singer re: building their range?
JT: I never really worked on building a vocal range. I just sing. I suppose if you are in musical theatre or similar you may have to actually practice and stretch your range. Rock n roll singing is about feeling and expression - not so much technique. Most singers sing their highest notes early in their career and hopefully quickly learn to write songs in a lower key. If you don't, you will only pay for it later in the career : )

Do you have any "go to" items for singing or special warm ups?
JT: I probably annoy the guys a little bit with some of my singing exercises, when I do them : ) but it's sometimes actually them that reminds me to do my vocal exercises. Like all singers that have done this for a while, I have tried everything over the years. Special voice tablets, different kind of voice teas and throat sprays, etc. I think sometimes some of these things work only on a psychological level but hey! that's good too. But I find that a cup of honey tea sometimes sets me up nicely. There have been a few times over the years when I have practically lost my voice on tour. But instead of cancelling shows you have to look at taking more serious medicines just to make it through, like for instance cortisone. I don't recommend it to anyone but it has saved my behind a couple of times.

Besides rock songs, is there a vocal style you enjoy OR are interested in trying out?
JT: Not really. I've been asked to perform in musicals but I was never interest in that way of performing.

Do you have a favorite microphone and why?
JT: When I perform live I use a Shure UR2 Beta 58. In the studio I usually use a Neuman U47 or a U87. Our sound engineer has recommended the Shure UR2 for live performances and I trust him completely and the crowd seem to like my vocal sound so I'm sticking with that one.

What’s the easiest thing about singing for you?
JT: I guess I find that keeping time and rhythm comes very naturally to me. I also play a bit of drums and rhythm guitar where that also comes in handy.

What’s the hardest thing about singing for you?
JT: Probably keeping the "pitch" when I run and jump around TOO MUCH on stage....

How important is physical stamina to performance?
JT: I think drummers and singers have the most physically demanding job in a rock band. It's important to present yourself at your best and to always try to be in a decent shape. You need to be able to give the best performance you are capable of.

Do you have any regimen that you follow to stay healthy?
JT: I jog or walk quite a lot just to keep myself ready for touring and traveling. These things can take a lot out of you.

Who are your favorite singers of all time.
JT: A few of them include: Robert Plant, David Bowie, Buddy Miles, David Coverdale, Chris Cornell, Van Morrison, Elvis, Robert Plant, Bob Marley and Phil Lynott. Also Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Ann Wilson.

[Michaela's comment here: he must really like Robert Plant... he has repeated him twice in the list! ]

If you were stranded on a desert island, which 5 albums you would need to have there to stay sane.
JT: If we're talking rock music then below are the albums I would bring. Apart from these artists, I would also not survive without some Elvis, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Jackson Brown.
1. Deep Purple - Made In Japan
2. Rush - Moving Pictures
3. Audioslave - Cochise
4. Led Zeppelin - 4
5. Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous

What was your first concert as a spectator?
JT: Electric Light Orchestra when I was 13 years old.

Did you have an “I want to do that moment”? If you did, what were the circumstances of it.
JT: Just seeing frontmen like Robert Plant, Phil Lynott, and David Coverdale in a live situation made me want to work harder and become a better writer and singer. They made it look so easy and at the same time they had the sound, the moves, the aura that just moved me.

Do you read music? Do you place any importance on reading music and why?
JT: No I don't read music but reading music is important in so many fields and it's an amazing talent and I deeply respect anyone who can do this. However, when I was a kid I was a Louis Armstrong fan. I played trumpet for a short period and started taking some lessons and began learning to read music. One day I started to improvise a bit during a lesson and the teacher didn't like it....so I never went back to a teacher or reading music. I found that for me personally it restricted my "jamming" and improvising. But I discovered I had a good 'ear' and could listen to music and then emulate it on my guitar or piano and learn the instruments by myself. Some of the most innovative and successful rock and pop artists do not read music. That doesn't say that is wrong to learn to read music as I said, I find people who read music very talented but I just found that I didn't need it for my kind of writing.

Last two:
If you weren’t doing what you do now – as in fronting an internationally successful band - what would you most likely be doing?
JT: When I was young my dad and I travelled around taking part in Go-Cart races. I raced and he was my mechanic. I also developed an interest in Formula One. Ultimately though, music and being in a rock band was always my true calling. I guess if I wouldn't have gone down the musical path maybe I could have been a racing driver of some kind.

Is there another skill you possess that people would be surprised by?
JT: When I was younger I did some aquarelle paintings. It's interesting but I find it takes a lot of energy and time. Maybe something for the future! (Photo credit: Denis O'Regan)