Can you catch the readers up on the history of your involvement in music – both individually and as a band?
In 1976 I was drummer and co-founder of Antenna Baroque which was the first hard rock band north of Stockholm. Having switched fulltime to keyboards I had a progressive rock trio called "Vincebus Eruptum: 1978 to 1979. In the eighties I toured in Europe and the USA as a classical pianist, organist and harpsichordist. In 1994 my first PLP album Gothic Impressions was released, and in 1995 after having shortly played with Brian Davison and Lee Jackson to form The New NICE which never really happened I founded PLP - Pär Lindh Project which became the most successful swedish prog/symphonic band between 1996 up until 2002, touring worldwide.
MSJ:
If you weren't involved in music what do you think you'd be doing?
I don't know really as I have worked professionally with music since the age of 15..
MSJ:
Who would you see as your musical influences?
On one side I'm influenced by classical music from renaissance to Sibelius, but mainly the giants like Bach and Beethoven. On the other hand I have enjoyed jazz, ragtime, popand rock music, but mainly the great prog acts like ELP early King Crimson, Yes, Genesis did influence me in my youth.
MSJ: What's ahead for you?
I'm writing orchestral music and at the moment a symphony and a piano concerto. Also I will begin touring with my band TRITON next year, and I'm very excited about that. I'm also working with a young female singer who sings my music wonderfully.
MSJ:
I know many artists hate to have their music pigeonholed or labeled, but how would you describe your music?
I'm a very versatile guy playing a vast amount of styles but for TRITON I'd say the music is in a symphonic rock style.
MSJ: Are there musicians with whom you would like to play with in the future?
Not really. I have been in contact with Steve Hackett the past seven years and also Carl Palmer, and I had an idea for possible cooperation but nothing has happen.
MSJ:
Do you think that illegal downloading or streaming of music is a help or hindrance to the careers of musicians?
Mainly a hindrance due to lack of CD sales, but also you get people to know your music which they perhaps wouldn't if they couldn't download.
MSJ:
In a related question, how do you feel about fans recording shows and trading them or posting them online?
I have no problem. You just have to play perfect because it'll be online the next day!
MSJ:
If you were to put together your ultimate band (a band you'd like to hear or catch live), who would be in it and why?
I had an idea along the lines of a mix between seventies prog heroes and nineties proggers. Like Steve, Carl, my bass player Bill Kopecky, me and some great singer. Just to form a new great prog band of our time. That would have been NICE. But I'm happy with the TRITON project.
MSJ:
If you were in charge of assembling a music festival and wanted it to be the ultimate one from your point of view who would be playing?
Don´t know. But I can tell you that I´m toying with the idea of creating a small music festival in Sweden mainly focusing on the keyboard trio format and booking bands like Brian Auger, Noddys Puncture, TRITON etcetera.
MSJ:
What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately?
A bunch of second hand classical LPs the other day along with a Swedish old prog band called ASOKA which after some 30 years suddenly have made an album which sounds cool with Hammond and all…
MSJ: Have you read any good books lately?
I'm at the moment reading the following books Scorched Earth by Michel Savage and The Clinton's War on Women by Roger Stone and The End of Early Music by Bruce Haynes and M/S Estonia the Breakdown of the Swedish State by Stefan Torssell. So I read a lot all the time book about music, history and politics. The rest of my big library has to wait until I retire when I hope to find time to read much more.
MSJ: What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment?
Carl Palmer band in England 2015.
MSJ: What has been your biggest Spinal Tap moment?
There are many…One funny one was in Royce Hall UCLA when I played the big four manual pipe organ and pulled out all stops plus played the pedals in octaves and major block chords. Suddenly I heard screams and in the corner of my eye I saw a cloud of white smoke as a square metre of plaster from the ceiling fell down with a bang due to just to heavy organ sounds. It was all over the media next day, like ¨Viking organist demolishes Royce Hall.¨ (laughter)
MSJ: If you could sit down to dinner with any three people, living or dead, for food and conversation, with whom would you be dining?
Oh, it would be a cool bunch like Plato, Jesus Christ and J.S. Bach, plus a translator or two, so after we had wined and dined I'm sure the conversation would get very deep and far out.
MSJ: What would be on the menu?
Oh, I had to ask my guests just what they would prefer you know. But red wine for sure!
MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there?
For all people who love the music of EmersonLake and Palmer, The Nice and PLP and just good solid prog rock mixed with classical music, please help spread the word about TRITON. We love to get out and play and keep the legacy of these three great bands alive into the future.
MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
