7th Heaven - By: Kaj Roth
Melodic.net

Their music from the new album "Silver" is featured on MTV in 2004, they have performed on the Jenny Jones Show
(over 75 Million viewers worldwide), their debut "Faces Time Replaces" from 2000 sold over 5,000, the band plays 150 shows a year,
they are one of the highest grossing unsigned bands, their website receives 400-500 hits a day (www.7thheavenband.com).
Let me introduce you to 7TH HEAVEN and their guitarist, keyboard player Richie Hofherr.

The state of the music business today (especially in the states) isn´t really the best climate for the type of music you´re playing
that breathes AOR of the 80´s a long way, how come after all these years you are still struggling hard playing this kinda music?
Richie Hofherr: I dont think of us as struggling at all... in fact we are selling CDs, which is more than some bands that have
"record deals" are doing. What's even funnier is the band "the Darkness" comes out of nowhere and starts selling CDs.
I think our music is balance of 80s meets today... when we see people singing our songs, buying the CDs we know we are on track
(even if that track isn't the norm.) one interesting point, our last CD (Faces Time Replaces) was a very modern CD
and this CD (Silver) is on target to outsell that CD in a few short months of it being out.

99,9% of all bands releases 1 CD with new original songs but then we have 7th Heaven (you guys) that puts out a double CD,
30 new songs, it sounds like a bigger risk to take and more work to do so why did you choose the more difficult way?
Richie Hofherr: Well, we wrote 150 songs for this CD and we own our own studio and we wanted to give people a GREAT value
for the money - $10 for 30 songs is a great value. Plus we wanted to increase opportunites for film/tv placement.
We dont look at releasing 30 songs as a risk... we look at it as a value.

You seem to have a big fan base over there in your local area, how many people are you used to playing in front of?
Richie Hofherr: On the average bar crowd about 500 - 1,000.. average fest cowd 5,000 - 10,000 we play over 100 shows a year
and are seen by thousands of people, we have been sucessfull at translating those shows into CD sales...

It´s not hard to understand why you sound like you do when reading all about your favorite bands that are Def Leppard, Journey,
Bon Jovi, Winger, Chicago etc, but you have managed to put in some fresh new modern rock influences too,
which of today´s bands do you like listening to?
Richie Hofherr: Incubus, Linkin Park, Sting, U2, ...

In my opinion, there are many European labels that should be interested in your work, have you been in contact with some of
them trying to get your music out here where there´s far more easier to get your new album recognized?
Richie Hofherr: We just started getting emails requesting packs, wed be very open to coming to Europe to play...
We REALLY want to come play music festivals in Europe.

How does your first album "Faces time replaces" sound compared to the new one "SILVER"?
Richie Hofherr: Faces Time Replaces sounds more modern that Silver, a little heavier too.

Do you have any song from the new album out on Radio or MTV?
Richie Hofherr: "Gravity", "Cellophane", "Kill The Cycle", "Etherial", War Machine" so far ...

You have some political aspects in some of your songs like "War machine" and "Face of terror", what are the lyrics about?
Richie Hofherr: "War Machine" is not really political, however "Face of Terror" is about when America was Terrorized
on September 11, 2001. America had never seen such Faceless Terror and that day will always be a BIG day to people who
were alive to witness what happened.. this song just documents those moments...
The song "Shelter" is about going to war with Iraq. War is always a unfortunate bad thing.

If you got the chance of working with a famous producer,who would you like to work with on the next record?
Richie Hofherr: Mutt Lange - songs - vocals, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis - Bass/ synths and R&B feel,
Dallas Austin - drum loops and Michael Wagner or Ronnie Le Tekros guy for Guitar tones...

Name the 5 most spinning cd´s now!
Richie Hofherr: Incubus - Make Yourself
Linkin Park - first cd
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Early Ratt - love listening to Warren (the guitarist)
just got the new Rick Springfield..

To someone who haven´t heard 7th Heaven,how would you like to describe your music to them?
Richie Hofherr: Great diverse music, Big sound, catchy choruses, good lyrics and a cd that will encapsulate time

Thanks for keeping AOR alive,keep raising the flag and do what you do!
Richie Hofherr: Thanks for helping spread 7th heavens music to the masses.