CRASHDIET Guitarist Confirms New Singer Quit And Rejoined Band In September

Brian Rademacher of Rock Eyez recently conducted an interview with CRASHDIET guitarist Martin Sweet. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Rock Eyez: How has it been working with [new singer] Ollie? He is from Finland and Peter, Eric and you are from Sweden. Has this caused any problems when you have to practice, write and record together? How do you work everything out?

Martin Sweet: We've found a good way to work together even though he doesn't live in Sweden. We actually become more professional when he comes over, because then we have a full week of hard work in the studio and at the same time we can do a lot of promotion. It's more fun when you have the whole week booked than spreading everything out then we become bored with all the time off and we start to get wasted. [Laughs]

Rock Eyez: When can we expect to finally seeing CRASHDIET play here in the United States?

Martin Sweet: Sometime next year, I can't really tell you more at this point. We're touring pretty much for the next year to come.

Rock Eyez: Have any bands approached CRASHDIET to be a supporting act for a US tour?

Martin Sweet: Sure, there are some bands, but it really has to be the right band, for us to pull it off since the record company and CRASHDIET have to pay for the opening slot. It's fucked up but it's the truth. So we can't just jump into any open slot just like that.

Rock Eyez: Does it amaze you that CRASHDIET is really not a household name in the States, yet you can get a guy like Mick Mars to work with you on the new album?

Martin Sweet: Yes, it's really weird, but cool as hell! I mean if MÖTLEY CRÜE announces the collaboration on their website it must be some kind of interest in us.

Rock Eyez: How did you like working with Mick Mars from MÖTLEY CRÜE and did you write and record any more songs with him other than the two that made it onto the "The Unattractive Revolution"? I heard you had originally written three songs together.

Martin Sweet: It was a dream come true, and it's still kinda unreal when I think about it. But he was really cool with me and we got along fine. He's got his aggressive riff style that I love and is a great influence on me. And yes there was a third song that is kinda unfinished which I don't know what to do with right now.

Rock Eyez: Can you please explain why two weeks before the album was released and the fall 2007 tour already booked that there was a post on Blabbermouth that Ollie had notified the band that he no longer wanted to be the new singer and had left CRASHDIET? Was this just a false rumor or was there some truth and the rest of the band and Universal Records had to talk him into staying?

Martin Sweet: Well, there is some amount of truth in it. But it's like a relationship with a girlfriend. Sometimes things move forward too fast and you panic and try to pull the brakes. Sometimes it takes a break-up to make the relationship better! But the strange part is how it leaked out. I mean we solved the issues (which were basically only partial issues) pretty much the day after, but by then, it had somehow already leaked. But it's nice to see that people care and that is a good feeling.

Rock Eyez: You have written over 30 new songs in the past year and a half. There were a few songs like "Screaming It Out" and "Our Moment" that didn't make it onto the new album. Do you have any plans to record and release them in the future??

Martin Sweet: I've written over 40 songs and I'm sure some of them will be useful in the future. We're done some collaboration with a Swedish band called GEMINI FIVE with whom I shared some of the old demos.

Rock Eyez: What is going to happen with all the demo songs that were recorded with Dave Lepard that never made it onto "Rest in Sleaze"? Will there be a tribute album released one day with these songs included?

Martin Sweet: Yes that is the plan, but right now we're focusing on making CRASHDIET a household name. And when we're big enough we will definitely release a tribute. That way, more people will discover the genius that Mr. Lepard was.

Read the entire interview at www.rockeyez.com.