EMQ’s with GERGOVIA
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Auvergne, France One-Man Metal Project Gergovia. Huge thanks to Necron for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hi, my name is Necron, I’m a multi-instrumentalist, in my one-man band GERGOVIA. I play guitar, bass, vocals & synths. I compose all the music and write all the lyrics. GERGOVIA was born in April 2004 and the new album “In Requiem Aeternam” is the tenth.
How did you come up with your band name?
GERGOVIA is the name of the plateau overlooking the plain of Limagne at home in Auvergne (region of France). It’s the place where the Gallic armies defeated the legions of Caesar.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
GERGOVIA is a French one-man band, Auvergnat more precisely. The scene is very prolific, but the great misfortune is that there are no longer little clubs or concert bars where bands can perform, so it’s resourcefulness, even more at this time with us where concerts and gatherings are prohibited.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
To date I have released 10 albums:
“Déclaration de Guerre”
“Coulée de Lave”
“Si vis pacem para bellum”
“Memento Mori”
“Comme le christ sur la croix”
“Silence!”
“Morituri te salutant”
“Au crépuscule des glaces”
“Marcher sur les ruines”
And the latest… “In Requiem Aeternam”
I have also released some videos which are all available on my official youtube page:
GERGOVIA OFFICIAL
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-2mcJWIaiR6QNhQyUnQ55w/videos
Who have been your greatest influences?
I grew up with the Heavy and Thrash metal of the 80’s. Scorpions, Def Leppard, Van Halen, who just left us, Slayer, Anthrax, W.A.S.P, and much more, impossible to name them all. And I continued to make myself musical culture with the Death and Black metal of the 90’s. Deicide, Emperor, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral, Hypocrisy and much more too.
What first got you into music?
Like everyone, when you are 15, long hair and pimply face, you’re looking for something to stand out from the crowd. I started playing drums in my parents’ garage, and that’s where it all started.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Without hesitation: Peter Tägtgren. This guy is a genius to me. He endorses all labels with an immense talent: guitarist, singer, and producer, everything he touches turns to gold.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I will disappoint you but GERGOVIA does not do concert. I’m not very comfortable on stage, I do not find myself in my place. But if I had to play in a festival it would surely be Hellfest at home in France. A festival that started from nothing and has become a benchmark throughout the world.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Sorry to disappoint you again but I never got a gift, I’m not famous enough for that!!!(laughs)
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Frankly? I don’t know, perhaps listen to my music.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Without hesitation, and it’s topical, Eddie Van Halen, and in extreme metal, Chuck Schuldiner.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love to compose, locked in my studio, to take my guitar and see a song come to life, it’s really a great moment of pleasure. It’s also a great moment of frustration when you want that, but the inspiration is not there, it does not come.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Digital music, it has certain advantages, for promotion in particular. But at the same time, it has killed the industry, there are so many bands that come out every day, the mass is so large that it’s impossible to break through and make yourself known.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“The Headless Children” by W.A.S.P.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
For me CD’s.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I don’t play live with GERGOVIA.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I would have become a luthier, I started doing it a few months ago and I really have a lot of fun, it’s like music when you start from a piece of raw wood and your guitar comes to life little by little between your hands. It is really very pleasant.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My friends Mg Rch from IDOLOS, Guillaume from DxVxDxD SxLF, Damien from FURIA, Seb from GRIMHOWL GRAVE and SirDek from RedKis. These are only five names, of those who have worked with me on GERGOVIA, there should be many more ‘cause they’re not the only ones and I will quote them because they fully deserve it.
Maître Stefan Bayle who mixed the album “Au crepuscule des glaces”
Lord Antrum Mortis who played the synths on “Marcher sur les ruines”
Samoth.De who helped me to compose the new album “In Requiem Aeternam”
Niko who took care of all the artwork of “Au crepuscule des glaces”
All these guys are very talented musicians, and as soon as I need them, they are there without asking for anything in return and I have to pay them homage.
What’s next for the band?
Perhaps a new album, I don’t know. After ten albums inspiration escapes me more and more, so I don’t project too much in the future, maybe there will be one maybe not.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Like everyone else I think, streaming platforms, YouTube, Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter.
www.facebook.com/Gergovia.metalband/
www.twitter.com/NecronGergovia
www.gergovia.bandcamp.com/music
www.youtube.com/channel/UC-2mcJWIaiR6QNhQyUnQ55w
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Are you kidding me or is it a real question???!!!! (It’s real and VERY important 😉 – Rick)
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
No, nothing special, thank you for your support to my humble project, and thank you all those who have supported me for all these years.
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