AOR Heaven Interview 7th HEAVEN
By: Marco Spaeth
(Germany)

I guess most people over here in Europe don't yet know anything about 7th HEAVEN and it's members.
So could you please introduce yourself and the other guys to the masses!?
My name is Richie Hofherr, I'm the lead guitarist for 7th heaven, I also play keyboards and sign back-up vocals.
Andrew Blake is our lead singer and he also plays guitar. Dan Miller is our drummer and Mark Kennetz is our bass player,
who also sings back-up vocals.

Is "Silver" the band's first album? I studied the bio at your website and read something about another CD entitled
"Faces Time Replaces"... Is this disk still available?
"Faces Time Replaces" was out first CD in 2000. "Silver" is our new CD 2004. "Faces Time Replaces" is still available
thru our website. It's different than "Silver" in some aspects. "Silver" is more diverse and definitly stronger of the two.

Are there any certain bands you would name as musical influences for 7th HEAVEN?
Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, U2, Police, Duran Duran, Dan Reed Network, Michael Jackson,
Linkin Park, Incubus, Rage Against The Machine

The music on "Silver" is extremely diverse and ranges from catchy Pop songs to heavy Nu Rock songs.
Do you like playing with the extremes?
We like to write songs we would want to listen to, play and buy... We try to stick to those basic fundamentals,
it's very important to create something that you love, because when you love what you do and are passionate about it, it shows.

If you had to put the band in any stylistic category which one would you use?
Modern Rock band or Pop/Rock

I really love your album as for me it's a wonderful example for modern Melodic Rock music. "Silver" is a double CD
featuring 30 tracks! What are the reasons you decided to release a double CD?
To give the fans a great deal. 30 songs to are too many to doanload, easier to purchase for $10. Open opportunites for film/tv.
To get the music out there.. we wrote about 150 songs for "silver".. these are the best 30...

In my opinion the 2nd CD, the white disk, moves in a more modern and experimental direction.
Would you agree that there's a difference between the two discs?
Yes, the Black CD flows more in a similar style, almost what a major record company would release...
and the White CD is something the major label might not release..
black and white are opposites that way, mix white and black = gray.. gray is the same as silver.... so it's a mix of everything.

All songs on "Silver" were co-written by Matt Clark who is obviously no fix band member. Is he 7th HEAVEN's fifth Beatle?
Matt Clark is a songwriter we work with. We work with alot of different songwriters on ideas to make a song the best we can.
We have too many fifth beatles to list them all here.

Your website features a big logo "Now heard on MTV". How did MTV pick up your music? Do they show any videos from you?
MTV picked "Silver" to be used on "Making the video" and 'Punk'd" in 2004 & 2005. So if you watch those shows,
what your hearing behind the show might be 7th heaven. We are currently shooting videos to give to MTV to hopefully play.
We will also be releasing a DVD of "Silver" around Christmas or early next year.

What do you think about MTV? Their flavor of the day policy is getting discussed pretty controversial over here in Europe.
We wish MTV played more music videos and less shows. They should come out with a new channel and call it like MTV
"Shows" and leave MTV strickly to music videos. Bring back VJ's and play all different types of stuff.
They have affected the music biz in many ways and if they went back to playing 100% videos it would
help SO many bands and new music.

Did you already receive any reactions from European fans or journalists?
Yes we have be so fortunate.. everything has been 100% positive. We can't believe it..
we are gaining new fans with the help of people like you who are letting people know who we are.. so thank you.

Any fans to storm Europe in the near future?
If things keep going well and we can hopefully land some radio or a good music fest or maybe tour with another bigger band
then we'll come to Europe and tour. It has been discussed and we want to do it.