CORNERSTONE INTERVIEW
Denmark's best old-school hard rock band, Cornerstone, have delivered yet another masterpiece with "Once Upon Our Yesterdays". A classic hard rock album along the lines of Rainbow, Deep Purple and even a hint at celtic folklore to some of the songs. I just had to ask main-man Steen Mogensen (bass, ex-Royal Hunt) some questions about this disc ...

Interview by Claus Jensen
1. First up - this is your third album, would you say that you've by now defined what the sound of Cornerstone is?

"I believe it's a mix of a lot different aspects, this is our third album and I think the goal for any musician or artist is trying to approve and learn something from the past. In our case we always try to move ahead on each new album, it really doesn't make any sense repeating yourself, With OUOY, we wanted to capture a live feel not using to many overdubs, let the band play instead of the computer. Song wise I guess you can feel that we found the chemistry of Cornerstone you know working close together on 2 albums I believe we found our own expression and musical trademark."

2. Although that Cornerstone has been more of a solo-project for you and Doogie than a real band in the past, there haven't been long between each album. Why this hurry to get the albums out?

"Why stop when you're in the right flow or mood, beside that we don't feel that we are rushing anything, there's basically been a year and a half between the releases and as long as we are enjoying the process well continue writing new material."

3. What makes "Once Upon Our Yesterdays " the strongest Cornerstone release to date (or at least makes it different from the other discs) in your opinion? Are there things on the old albums that you decided this time not to use for the song writing style of "O.U.O.Y."?

"The album was actually easier to record compared to Human Stain, cuz the band was better prepared for the studio this time, and we had the time to try a lot of experiments especially with Kasper Damgaard working on different Guitar sounds and noises as we felt the album and songs had a darker edge to it this time. I believe that the production is the best so far, its more a full sounding and in your face kind of album, I think we moved into a more American way of production, and its definitely not overproduced which was the whole idea with OUOY."

4. It seems to me that you're finally making a real band out of Cornerstone, with a real line-up of people ready to invest time in the band. Is this the purpose, or is it still some sort of a hobby project of yours and Doogie?

"Its what you call natural development I guess, slowly it just turned into to a band, and off course it has to do with the success we achieved on the previous releases too, we are enjoying each others company and its always better to be a part of a band that is going uphill instead of downhill you know. Kasper Damgaard and Allan Sørensen has been very supportive from the very beginning and has a great deal to do with the sound and success of Cornerstone."

5. You've left Royal Hunt not long ago - why?

"Well it wasn't an easy decision to make after all these years in the band, but its all a matter of being true to your self, I just didn't have the flame burning in me anymore and then it must be the right time to stop."

6. Did the fact that Cornerstone is actually enjoying more success in Europe right now than RH have anything to do with the decision?

"Everything matters when your making decisions like that, but as I said before it's a personal thing that Ill keep to myself."

7. Do you have any idea of what will happen to RH now that you (and Jakob Kjær as well) have left the band?

"Not particularly, I guess that Andre and John will re-saddle the band in the nearest future."

8. You've been with Massacre Records for three albums now, and I know that they are very happy about working with you guys. How do you feel about the cooperation with the label, and are you satisfied?

"Massacre has been very supportive to us and is doing a good job especially their promotion department is handling Cornerstone in good spirit."

9. You've lost your label in Japan, and for some reason "Once Upon The World" haven't been released over there yet. What are the plans for getting the disc out on what to me seems to be the potentially biggest market for Cornerstone?

"We just signed a new deal with Yamaha in Japan, it was more a business decision to leave the old label, we didn't feel they handled the promotion of Cornerstone decently, and decided to terminate the deal, but as always things like that can drag forever and we wasn't able to sign the new deal before the clearance. The album will be slipped on May 19th in Japan and Yamaha is already on top of things, so I feel it was worthwhile waiting."

10. I saw Cornerstone live last week in Copenhagen, and it was a brilliant concert. Besides the release party for "Arrival", this was actually the first gig of the band ever … what can you tell me about that experience?

"Nice to finally hit the stage and present the songs in a live situation, its what its all about you know. And for the band it was really special to walk up there as Cornerstone for the first time."

11. How did you prepare for the gig, now that Doogie lives in UK, which isn't exactly making it possible to rehearse as a full band every week?

"Its not a problem at all, we prepare all the musical bits and pieces during rehearsals here in Denmark, and Doogie fly in from England in the last couple of days, we are used to work like that whenever we are recording the albums."

12. The guys that you have in the band now are all experienced musicians - how would you describe each of you five guys? What are your strengths and weaknesses?

"As Margareth Thatcher used to say "I don't know the word weakness" no off course we are all "old rats" but musicians can always improve it's a life long journey I guess. I'm very pleased with the line-up everybody is giving their best and you really cant ask for more."

13. There were plans of a gig in UK, but that fell apart. Then there were talk of a tour with HTP, but also that didn't happen … so what's going to happen to Cornerstone - are you ever going to get out on tour?

"Its in the works, we just changed the management this fall and things are starting to move ahead now he's negotiating with different territories at present for touring possibilities later this year and we are also in the works of shooting a live DVD in Germany, so we'll be out there I promise."

14. Any last words?

"Thanks for reading - its only rock´n roll.
Steen"