These three essential musicians agreed to participate in an interview to talk to us about their encounter with Pascal Mono.
NP: When and under what circumstances did you meet Pascal Mono?
Christian Vander: At the birthday party of François Girbaud, a longtime friend. Pascal got on stage and sang a cappella. I was instantly charmed by his unique voice.
Herman Rarebell: I believe it was around 1997/98…
Norbert Krief: I met Pascal Mono at the same time as his friend Philippe Paradis (guitarist of Zazie), in the 90s. They both came from Nice, and it happened in studios at Ivry-sur-Seine (near Paris) where I was rehearsing with my band “Touch.” We did a jam session with Pascal and I was immediately impressed by his voice and charisma.
NP: Have you ever worked together? Has he participated in your tours or recordings?
Christian Vander: He sang a solo piece with us during the 25th-anniversary concerts of Magma, in 1995.
Herman Rarebell: We have worked together, yes. I liked his band at the time (editor’s note: “Moulin Rouge”) and I planned to sign them to my record label “Monaco Records”.
Norbert Krief: Yes, we have worked together before, we crossed paths several times in those studios at Ivry-sur-Seine where we did several jam sessions together. Then I invited him to a live concert on France Inter broadcasted live over the airwaves, the show was called “Comme à la maison” and I had carte blanche to invite artists of my choice. I obviously thought of Pascal, who performed “Mercedes Benz” a cappella as well as another track with my band.
At my request, we also worked together on compositions in my studio, I have a few tracks in my drawers… I also invited him, along with Philippe Paradis, to join me on stage for a concert in Nice at the Théâtre de Verdure as part of a rock festival in 1998. I also accompanied him live on television during a duet he did with Johnny Hallyday in 2005…
NP: How do you perceive Pascal Mono’s work as a singer-songwriter?
Christian Vander: … There are few singers of his caliber in France.
Herman Rarebell: I think he’s an excellent singer and I really like his work.
Especially his music video for the song “Voyager”, I like it a lot.
Norbert Krief: Pascal is a good person, an honest person! I also deeply believe in him, in his abilities, in his great talent as a performer but also as a songwriter. He has written and composed beautiful songs. He also has a lot of charisma, which is important for a singer-artist!
In short, he has everything a great artist needs! He is great!
NP: And Pascal Mono, the person? What kind of relationship do you have?
Christian Vander: We occasionally bump into each other but we can’t say we have a relationship.
Herman Rarebell: He is also a very nice guy, very open, very cool.
Norbert Krief: As I said earlier, Pascal is a good guy, a good and honest person. He believes in himself and is a hard worker who perseveres with a lot of tenacity. These are major qualities for an artist. Since our first meeting, we have always stayed in contact, we call and see each other regularly with pleasure whenever we can.
NP: Where can we currently see you, and what are your respective projects?
Christian Vander: We have just filmed a series of concerts to produce a DVD Mythes & légendes EPOK 5 and are about to record the next Magma album. Release expected in the first semester of 2012.
Herman Rarebell: A new book on Scorpions. And I will be touring with Michael Schenker starting at the end of March 2012.
Norbert Krief: I just finished my 2011 tour accompanying the release of my first solo album last June. I am currently preparing my second solo album, where I plan to invite Pascal to sing a song. I will go on tour again starting in March 2012 until the end of summer. After that, we’ll see…
NP: Thank you.
Norbert Krief (aka Nono)
In 1997, he created the band Trust with Bernie Bonvoisin. The band quickly hit it off with the mythical track “Antisocial”. Since then, the band continues to tour and fill venues, despite a few splits and reconciliations. But Nono also charts his own path in parallel and solo, since June 2011.
Christian Vander
Founder and drummer of the band Magma. His incomparable drumming is recognized worldwide. A fusion of jazz and rock, his own language (Kobaïan), a unique ambiance, sometimes lyrical, sometimes dark that is found nowhere else.
Herman Rarebell
Drummer and composer for the band Scorpions on 8 albums, Herman Rarebell has also pursued, for a few years now, an independent career, maintaining very good relations with the German band whose “Wind of Change” still blows…
