SHORT RAGING ROB INTERVIEW WITH ROB GONNELLA
by Death Executioner Mag
1) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: Rob, you were founding member in 1985 and almost for 30 year with Assassin. Could you please explain what happened and why you left Assassin in January 2014 ?
ROB: Well first of all I must say that it wasn't for any personal reason, it was how the band was run and the atmosphere which resulted from it. Unlike former experience all new songs had no more band input rather each musician was doing his thing. After the guitar finished a song, it went to the bass, then drums and then to me the vocalist last ready. Before the song writing was done together and each musician could input ideas to the other musicians and vice versa. Then when I wanted to check out a new text with two different vocal lines the band rejected to play together, I rather should do all vocals decisions by myself and if needed rehearse alone in the rehearsal room. I objected that and want a band to play with as I am no good damn studio musician. So the whole fun and meaning to play with a band together was not given there anymore, so I left with a disappointing and sad feeling. Just very few weeks later Assassin already had a replacement vocalist and I knew that I definitely wanted to continue the old way school of Thrash Metal and needed a band.
2) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: You lived 17 years in Beijing and had there a band 'Raging Mob', released an album and won prestigious prizes at the Wacken China Metal Battle. Let us know more about it...
ROB: In 2005 in order to be 100% fit for a 90 minute Assassin show I founded with an American and three Chinese Metal heads the band 'Raging Mob'. Over the years though the band became quite well known in the Chinese Metal scene and we played every smaller to bigger hall all over Beijing. In 2008 we released our one and only album 'Raging Mob' under the Chinese record label Mort Productions. For the Chinese censor I extra made fake lyrics so the album could be release (with the real lyrics of course...hehehe). In 2009 I became 'China's best Metal vocalist' and in 2010 Raging Mob won 'China's Best Metal Band' in the official Wacken Metal battle China. That was very cool and we are proud of. In 2012 though I left Beijing with my wife back to Germany and my Raging Mob days in China were over.
3) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: So now after you left Assassin you planed to make a German version of Raging Mob as your new band ?
ROB: Yes and No. As the name 'Assassin' stayed with the other guys, I was rather figure out what I really intend to do. As almost 30 years with Assassin I surely knew that I still will play the Assassin songs and in addition also include some of the powerful Raging Mob songs. So the name 'Raging Mob' which was left behind in China would not have been the right one, but then the metal lads in Beijing ofter called me 'Raging Rob' I liked the idea that would a cool and just the right band name to pick and that what happened.
4) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: How did you get the band together for Raging Rob ?
ROB: Well to play Assassin songs you must be an old school 80s Thrasher and very good with the instrument and top of all enjoy working together as a unit. Several people were checked out and in the end a top line up emerged between April and May 2014. Assassin's old school original drummer Frank Nellen (who else?), Warrant's lead guitar player Dirk Preylowski (an old friend from the early thrashing days in the 80s and top guitar player), Maik Jansen (rhythm guitar) and Rudi Görg (bass) (both ex-Human bastard, a hard'n'tough Metal band where Dirk also participated) made the final line up along with me for Raging Rob. It's very fun to play with them and the band is very eager to do well.
5) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: What songs are included of a Raging Rob live show? And when do we see the band live ?
ROB: Of course a long time and original Assassin vocalist and with Frank who is also an old school 80s original member we play up to 15 Assassin songs as well as Raging Mob and of course brand new songs included. We just started in May and currently work on the live set. We are booking now shows for 2015, the year when all is ready: live set and new cd.
6) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: You just mentioned 'new cd in 2015', can you tell us more ?
ROB: Of course. As I just stated that currently we work on the live set, then in fall we start putting the new songs together as plenty of great old school Thrash neck-breaking material is ready to go. We will keep everyone over our facebook page updated.
7) DEATHEXECUTIONER MAG: OK. That's sound great, big thanx for your time and we can't wait to see Raging Rob live !
ROB: Thank you ! It was honor to the interview with you and 'Hail all your readers !!! THRASH 'TIL DEATH Greetings from Raging Rob
