Interview with Steve Blaze (Guitars) (Lillian Axe)

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Interview Credit: © Robert Cavuoto

Steve Blaze: “Lillian Axe will Continue Until We Die!

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame members, Lillian Axe, will be releasing their thirteenth album, One Night in the Temple on May 27, 2014. An acoustically performance spanning their 30 year career and recorded in a Masonic Temple in the Bayou, with their most die-hard fans!

The released will be offered as 3 disc set (2CDs/1DVD and 2CDs/1Blu-Ray) and housed in an elaborate digipack. One Night in the Temple, features all their hits including, “True Believer”, “Show A Little Love”, “Crucified”, “Misery Loves Company”, “Ghost of Winter”, “The Great Divide”, “Bow Your Head”, “Waters Rising” and the crowd favorite “Nobody Knows”.

One Night in the Temple; includes not only the acoustic performance, but a fan Q&A session, videos for the songs “Caged In” and “Death Comes Tomorrow”, and three songs live in concert from their July 4, 2013 show at the Paragon.

I was able to catch up with guitarist and founding member of Lillian Axe, Steve Blaze, to talk about their epic new release and the love and devotion that went into its making!

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Robert Cavuoto: Can you tell me a little about where and when the DVD was filmed?

Steve Blaze: We filmed and recorded the show last year at Sound Landing Studio in Covington, Louisiana. This is the same studio where we recorded our last three albums. We spend a lot of time there with other projects as well. It’s a Masonic temple in beautiful downtown Covington.

Robert Cavuoto:Do you find it difficult to pick the song list knowing that it’s going to be filmed for a theatrical release?

Steve Blaze:Absolutely. There are so many songs in our catalogue, and they all have such importance to our history. We have certain songs that will always have to be in the set, but we try to change things up as well. For this show, it was important to create a timeline as well as a distinct mood for the night.

Robert Cavuoto: Was it difficult to take your classic songs and rework them acoustically?

Steve Blaze: Not at all. It’s actually a blast. We enjoy creating new moods.

Robert Cavuoto: Where there any song parts that had to be reworked to get the same impact as the electric versions yet still hold the song’s integrity?

Steve Blaze: We kept the arrangements true to form. On a few songs like “Show a Little Love”, we made the groove a little slower and slinkier. All vocals were kept the same. We added a violinist to “The Day I Met You”, but other than that we performed the songs like the records.

Robert Cavuoto: Was there a song that you wanted to do yet just didn’t work as acoustic?

Steve Blaze: Yes. We worked “Moonlight in Your Blood” in that night, but we felt it didn’t work as well as the others.

Robert Cavuoto: Can you share any special memories about the day of filming?

Steve Blaze: Every element of the day was unique, from rehearsal to setup. There were so many people special to us that attended, from friends to family. To watch it unfold after months of preparation was very satisfying. No one but me, Charlie and Alan really knew how much work had to be done to get this done properly.

Robert Cavuoto: What acoustic guitar did you use?

Steve Blaze: I used my Taylor. Since then, I have been using and endorsing Composite Acoustic guitars, owned by Peavey. They are amazing.

Robert Cavuoto: Can you believe it’s been 30 years since you first started Lillian Axe? Does it seem that long?

Steve Blaze: Not at all. It seems like such a long time when you put it in those terms, but I still feel like the kid I was when I started this. It doesn’t register that it has been two thirds of my life!

Robert Cavuoto: Is there on era or period in time in Lillian Axe’s history that hold a special place for you?

Steve Blaze: They all have their own special places. Each is unique in itself. The only dark time was when we took a three year break from 1996-1999. That was a rough time for me.

Robert Cavuoto: Would you ever consider an anniversary reunion tour with the original members?

Steve Blaze: This lineup has been with me for the most part, other than Brian, longer than any other lineup. We will continue till we die, so I don’t see reunion in the cards, because we are still active.

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