1. How did the band get started? How did you meet
and how long have you been together?
Ken Jacobsen:
U.P. Unleashed Power was unknowingly birthed in the late eighties
when the Danish band, Avalon, recorded an LP called "Unleashed Power."
Guitarist, Ken Jacobsen and vocalist, John Mathias were the corner
stones of Avalon, which dissolved in 1989 when Jacobsen and Ed Owen
(Drums) joined together as Unleashed Power and relocated to New York.
In 1991, the band recorded its first demo, "Blindfolded," followed
by the critically acclaimed demo "Quintet of Spheres" in 1992. Members
changed when singer, Joe Karavis, decided to part ways due to musical
differences after the demo recordings in 1992. However, the decision
to proceed with the full-length album "Quintet of Spheres" had already
been made so Mathias received the call to fill the vocalist position
once more. The now transatlantic lineup had a massively impressive
response to their 1993/94 debut album "Quintet of Spheres".
After a string of shows in the northeast of the United States, tragedy
struck in the summer of 1994 with the untimely death of bassist, John
Lievano. Ed Owen's disillusionment with the destitute prospect of
finding a replacement and recording another album sans label, culminated
with his departure. Enter Jörg Michael, the renowned German drummer.
Bassist, Tony Spagone filled in for the recording session. John Mathias
left in 1995 feeling unable to do justice to the new direction of
the band, so Brian T. Chaffee received the call to become U.P.'s vocalist
for "Mindfailure." He, too, would leave the band in 1998 when
confronted with tour plans. U.P. released the mind-boggling album
"Mindfailure" in Europe in 1997 and in the States in 1998. Bassist
John Balistreri joined the band after the Mindfailure session. Vocalist
Len Jarrell, from Surgeon, stepped in to front the shows and finish
the last tracks for the newly released E.P. "Absorbed." "Absorbed"
contains a few tracks from the "Mindfailure" sessions and two tracks
recorded recently.
2. How would you describe your music?
Ken Jacobsen: Mature, progressive & aggressive,
(but above all) Heavy Metal.
3. What are your biggest
influences?
Ken Jacobsen: NWOBM. Thin Lizzy,
Judas Priest, Rush
4. What influence do you think your
bands has in music and metal today?
Ken Jacobsen:
Our band has completely unique time signatures, not done quite
like this before. Through all this complexity, we manage to keep our
songs musical and melodic.
5. What made you want to be
in the band? And if you weren’t in the band what would you be
doing now?
Ken Jacobsen: I don't know what possessed
me to become a rock 'n roller/headbanger. But if I wasn't doing this,
I might have the scariest of all, a normal, average life. (no thanks)
6. Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they,
and explain a little about them.
Ken Jacobsen: Yes,
I have a few side project. I make a part time living doing music for
commercials and such on occasion. I'm in the works of putting together
a new album not affiliated to U.P. I might be doing a different project
by the end of the year.
7. How would you feel if a band
took their sound from yours and became very well known?
Ken Jacobsen: I would think that they missed the point and
forgot about being creative, which is the most important point to
me. Besides, imitation is the best flattery. But that is f*#kin' lame,
to be a copy cat.
8. What current bands do you like or
respect?
Ken Jacobsen: Meshuggah, Pantera, Judas
Priest, Obliveon and a few others that eludes me right now.
9. How many demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!!
Ken Jacobsen:
Demos:
-Blindfolded
-Quintet of Spheres
Albums:
-Quintet of Spheres
-Mindfailure
-Absorbed
10. What demo/album do you like the best?
Ken Jacobsen: Mindfailure!
11. What is the
meaning behind the songs?
Ken Jacobsen: Anguish,
trust, emotions, lunacy, anger,faith, hope, loss of hope, despair,
greed, lust, etc.
12. What are the bands favorite songs?
Ken Jacobsen: My favorite songs are Gateway to Deadly
Sins, Cataclysm & Quintet of Spheres.
13. What does
the future hold for the band?
Ken Jacobsen: Another
studio session resulting in a fall release. Intensive gigging.
14. If you could play with any band who would it be and why?
Ken Jacobsen: Don't think about it.
15. Who
writes the majority of the music?
Ken Jacobsen: Ken
Jacobsen
16. Who has been the favorite band you’ve
played with and why?
Ken Jacobsen: This one....
Because it's my band. It enables me be creative. That's the bottom
line for me.
17. Where did you get the band name from?
Ken Jacobsen: Unleashed Power. A song from my previous
band and a song which reappeared on our debut album "Quintet of Spheres".
18. Describe what the band is like live?
Ken
Jacobsen: Entertaining, energetic and tight as hell. You wont
be disappointed if you come too see us.
19. If you are
gonna do any kind of video what would be in it?
Ken
Jacobsen: Animations.
20. Are there any touring plans
made; if so tell me about them?
Ken Jacobsen: First
the next album then the tours. We are shooting for fall.
21. Where do you think the band will be 20 years from now?
Ken Jacobsen: In your CD or music player! We are the band
that wouldn't go away. Perseverance, baby. |
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