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Doogie White Interview
April 2005

YJMGA caught up with Doogie White for another interview with the classy vocalist. The time we discussed in a light hearted manner such areas as the Unleash The Fury recording sessions, why its not a good idea to knock over one of the Maestro's guitars as well as getting the break down of a day-in-the-life with Doogie when he's over in Miami fighting with hurricanes.

First of all congratulations on Unleash The Fury, it's a fine album with excellent performances. When did you first hear the initial tracks for the album?
We jammed a few of the tracks at soundchecks during the US tour. It was funny to see Rudy's face. I think he thought that it was a song that he had forgotten to learn. By the second soundcheck he was in the groove that with Yngwie at a 4 hour sound check you just jam and play Deep Purple covers then jam some more maybe throw in a Van Halen cover and Jam again. The jamming allows Yngwie to feel out the ideas.

How does Yngwie present the vocal lines/melodies to you?
We worked out that if he puts the melody down on the guitar then it is easier for me to learn than if he sings it to me. The guitar is very precise and he can express himself better that way. The vocals on Yngwie records are really like an instrument with a specific part to play. But then you guys know that.

Are you given any artist license of certain phrasings/accents on certain words?
Well the voice is mine. Yngwie is very particular with things like vibrato and the length of the note. There was a little more freedom this time round as he knew what I could do. But I am really only interpreting his vision. Like when Thomas Harris writes Hannibal Lecter and Hopkins does his thang, that is very much how I see my role in Rising Force, pass the Chianti darling..

A number of the songs seem in a much more comfortable range than Attack. Is this something you talked to Yngwie about at any point?
I think that you will find that they are in the same range as ATTACK!! My approach to singing them is what is different. On ATTACK it was felt that a heavy raw RAWK voice was what was required. On UTF Yngwie was more comfortable with what I sounded like and just let me feel the songs. With the power of the vocals on ATTTACK!! We lost some of the range. ON UTF we have power dynamics and range. The complete package if you like.

The album harks back in many ways to somewhat of the more traditional YJM sound than his last few albums. Does Yngwie ever refer back to previous vocal performances/performers and say "aim for that kind of vibe?"
He has never mentioned anything like that to me. We work from a clean sheet.

How long did you spend in Miami doing the vocal tracks?
Between hurricanes and the like about 25 days. I will let you into a wee secret.

A day in the life….

9am.. Doogie wakes up has a shower and goes to get a paper (the Daily Mail) and have breakfast a Woolfie Cohen's (Corned beef hash) you can find it on the net.
1PM Doogie makes his way to the studio, about 6 miles away, stops off at Starbucks for a Large Latte (no foam) where he sees the red Ferrari of YGM waiting in the queue for a Large Latte (foam)
1.30 Arrive at the studio drink latte
1.35 Play tennis. Win first set...lose the next 2.
2.45. Listen to new song, learn new song, sing new song.
7pm Play pool. Lose 5 games straight off the bat while Keith mixes rough of new song
8pm listen to finished new song
9pm back at hotel, eat dinner, have a beer. Read or watch TV.
Midnight go to sleep.

9am Hurrricane warning, evacuate hotel, sneak back in, get caught and threatened with arrest. Evacuated to a shelter (school) get met by the Red Cross. Get a number. Quickly adopt a "Brit during the Blitz" mentality…the rest my friends, is for another day.

Has Yngwie's mass of Strat's increased since the Attack Sessions?
A big pile of guitars is still a big pile of guitars, one more or less aint gonna make much difference. I did notice more bits lying around. Necks, scratch plates, pedals. And those bloody picks get every where. I even found them in my shoes.

Did you knock any guitars over this time?
I don't know that it is my best interests to keep knocking over Mr Malmsteen guitars. So I try to stay out of their way. It is kinda difficult when there is about 200 of them.

What initially struck you about Unleash The Fury when you first heard the tracks you would be laying vocals down on?
I would only hear the song that we were going to do on the day we were going to do it and then I never heard it again. So I could not get a full picture of how the album would sound. It is incredibly intense doing vocals and you have to focus totally on the moment. So when I heard the riffs to say "Boogie Man" or "Crackin the Whip", I thought shit this is some heavy stuff. Then I saw the album sleeve and thought "Man that sleeve tells you just about all you need to know about this record".

What do you think of Yngwie's vocal performances on the album? Do you think his singing is likely to become more prominent on future releases?
He brings an edge and intensity to the tunes when he sings. With the chanting chorus of Crackin the Whip and the like he brings in another dynamic. That is what adds to the production value, the contrast in the voices. On Cherokee Warrior he sings so well and the BV's are all Joakim. Again a different flavour.

What tracks are you hoping to perform live on the UTF world tour?
I don't know. Yngwie will choose them. I am happy to sing anything. I could do without Hiroshima though. That is a bastid to sing. Now if he sees this interview I will have to sing it every night…3x.

Do you or the other band members have any input into the choice of songs that are played live?
No! Yngwie has a vision of how it will all work, as he always does, from the style of lighting right through and so he chooses the songs. We always learn the whole of the new album and then see which ones work in the live environment during rehearsals. For instance Valley of the Kings from ATTACK!! Is an amazing piece of work but it did not work live so did not make the set.

Does Yngwie ever surprise the band by playing a track that it is not on the set-list running order?
It does happen. So the idea is just to try and keep up.

Are you looking forward to touring the UK with Michael Schenker?
Oh yes. I have never seen MSG and have only seen Michael one time with UFO about 6 years ago. I think that it is a very strong bill. To have these two giants of RAWK guitar on the same stage is a classic move. " Get yer RAWKin troosers on."

Finally what's the one unique thing you get from the Yngwie gig that you cannot get elsewhere?
An "YNGWIE WHO" T-SHIRT?

Doogie thanks for your time and answers!

Official website
www.doogiewhite.com