drug and alcohol problem

Interview with Larry Paterson, drummer for Alcatrazz.

Posted on: May 31st, 2023 by Greg Jordan No Comments

– Greetings Larry. Welcome to Metal Health and thanks for being here. 

It’s my pleasure, on behalf of the other guys in the band 😊 I hasten to add that I can only speak from my point of view here, so the other guys may not think quite the same.

– No worries. Firstly, thank you for all the great music over the years. It is a soundtrack to many people’s lives, past and present.    Congratulations on your new single ‘Battlelines’ from the album ‘Take no prisoners’. Some powerful, thumping, melodic style metal. I love this quote from your you tube channel notes for ‘Battlefield’ – ‘there can be no question that Alcatrazz’s collective boot is repeatedly kicking serious ass!!!’ Indeed!

– What does good mental health mean to you?

Wow, that’s a tough and expansive question. It means many things I guess, summed up by the ability to wake up every morning and look forward to what’s coming that day. It means maintaining enthusiasm for your life and the world you inhabit – not just the professional world that you’re part of, but everything that’s around you. 

–  How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or a big gig. Is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? Or after an inspiring recording session? If so, how do you adjust/cope? Of course, covid turned the world upside down. How did you handle the worldwide pandemic shutdowns? 

Life off the road often feels, for me anyway, like something is missing. Music has always been an integral part of my life and being in a working band has been the centre of my world for more years than I can remember. Long tours can be difficult at times because you live in something of a bizarre little bubble. EVERYTHING revolves around the gig, and the entire day is headed toward that singular purpose. It’s a weird existence in which there is a comfortable routine – travelling, soundchecks, eating schedules etc – and yet everything is also completely different because you never know what may happen or how you may wake up feeling that day.  Getting home after a long tour can be really odd. One minute you’re in close proximity to all these people that mean so much to you, playing music that keeps your blood pumping, next minute you’re on the train heading back from the airport on your own and the laminate pass no longer works. Ha ha! You go from rock and roll breakfasts, stage times and dressing rooms to cleaning cat litter off the floor again. It can sometimes take a few days to get your head back into the game at home. What makes an absolute world of difference is if you have relationships with people – friends or partners – who get it. People who understand the drive that you have to stay in a band when it can seem like the most insane lifestyle decisions anybody can ever make. There’s no money, there’s frequent criticism that can often amount to personal attacks, there’s constant self-doubt that can get quite debilitating, but then there is the moment of truth on stage where the entire world makes sense for a change.  Blackie Lawless once summed it up when he said that if you don’t NEED it, if you can live without being in a band playing music, then give it up immediately. It has to be WHO you are. Not what you do, but who you really are.   

The pandemic hit everybody, many way worse than it impacted me. I lost friends to it and saw families really suffering from its effect. But it also hurt musicians the world over, especially when you had rich idiot politicians shrugging you off and telling ‘entertainers’ to just retrain as carers or whatever. What a bunch of pricks! Sadly, the fallout is continuing for bands, particularly economically. Costs have skyrocketed as everybody tries to claw back what they lost. It’s harder than ever in that sense.  

-What motivates you? What keeps you going?


The very fact that music and playing drums is my identity. It’s not just a hobby, it’s not just a job. It’s a core identity that I feel completely lost without. When you are in a good band, and particularly when you are writing music together, you get those moments when the planets align, and the hairs stand up on your arm and you know that you’ve tapped into something special. I remember writing sessions for a few albums that I’m on which had those moments. You never lose that feeling. And there’s nothing like it! 

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this?

I think everybody does. In music it hits you either when you have no band or when you are in a band, but with people that don’t need it like you do. People happy to sit on their arse and let ‘the greatness’ come to them. I’ve had moments where you properly melt down because you’ve left a band that no longer was working like it was and you’re suddenly adrift. There was a period not that long ago when lots of personal stuff was coming undone and I left one situation and suddenly struggled to find anything else that worked. I drifted in and out of bands, some of which were terrible, purely because I needed to be playing and writing. But finding the right people to work with is incredibly difficult, as the right band is not only a musical fit, but a personal one too. If you end up having personal issues with another band member, then you have big problems.

How did I get through it? With a lot of help. It was, frankly, very depressing. I ended up on happy pills for a while, which totally suck. Fortunately for me I have the best partner and she helped a lot, and some of the best friends a person could ever wish for. They all helped. I was doing my best to face up to the idea that I was never going to be part of another decent band, and without that there just seemed to be a gaping void in my life that nothing could fill. It’s ironic really, because I’m also an author and a diving instructor. But the reality is that while I’m diving – and I do love teaching scuba – I’m always thinking of heavy metal and always feel like I’m a headbanger doing a job. When I’m drumming, I don’t care if I even see a puddle of water, let alone be diving. Music just rolls over everything – which is a curse for many people around you, as it can become an incredible single-minded and selfish pursuit in many ways. The same with writing books. I love it and take great care to tell people’s wartime experiences as accurately as I can, but I can stop writing. What I can’t stop doing is wanting to play music.

When it became a possibility that ‘the dream’ was over, you do get some pretty dark thoughts and it’s hard to drag yourself out of the slump you find yourself in. But, like I say, I am lucky to have amazing – and VERY patient – people around me. 

Fortunately, and with a lot of help, I found my way through that particularly tangled path.         

-What does making music mean to you? Why do you do it?

Everything. It means everything. Why do I do it? Because it’s who I am. It’s my identity. And not just music, but heavy music: heavy metal. It’s part of my DNA. There have been times when I wish it wasn’t! Ha ha!

-When did you start making music? Was it like finding some buried treasure that you didn’t know you had, and how does making music fit in with the rest of your life?

Oh yeah it really was like finding treasure! My mate Beam and I l started in bands at about 14 years old or so and we left our homes in sleepy old Blenheim, New Zealand, at 17 to become metal musicians in Christchurch. We played a bit, but it never came to anything. However, that set the seal on our lives from that point on.  Moved to the UK…had a zillion ups and downs…but it all just cemented music as what I really need. Sadly, it doesn’t fit the rest of my life. The rest of my life has to fit it! Ha ha! Like I said, it can be an incredibly selfish and single-minded pursuit.  

-How important is it for the bass guitar and drums to be tight, or loose, and where do you see Guitar, Keys, and Voice fitting in the groove? How are you enjoying being part of the engine room, laying down the groove? 

It’s everything having tight bass and drums. That’s the foundation of a band’s sound and it needs to be solid. Without that, you’re building a house on quicksand. I love being the engine room. It’s fair to say that Alcatrazz is a different band to every one I have been in previously, but the role remains the same. Lay down the foundations and let the others build it up from there. Funnily enough I’ve always worked closest with whoever plays the tightest rhythm guitar. I never have bass in monitors as you can ‘feel’ it when it’s right. But I have lots of rhythm guitar, which in our case is Jimmy’s keys, and Joe of course. Plus I have vocals – usually out of curiosity to see where they are going. Ha ha! That’s a not a dig at Doogie…it’s a dig at ALL vocalists I’ve worked with! 😉


-What was the recording process for ‘Battlelines’ and the new album? Did you record it live, or record an instrument at a time etc? I love Joe’s subtle, cool use of  wah wah on the solo for Battlefield. It’s a ripper! The drums and bass are solid and driving, keys tasteful, strong and supportive, and Doogie rips your head off beautifully with his vocal attack.


It was recorded in pieces individually. Not a preferred way of doing it, but circumstances kind of forced it. However, I honestly believe that it doesn’t sound like it was recorded that way. Basically, everybody has their shit together and it fits into place as intended.  

-What are your plans?  I know you have a new album ‘Take no prisoners’. Some more touring this year, or any dates you  can mention?  Did you showcase some new songs on the recent tour with Girlschool? It must’ve been a blast.


It’s always a blast touring with Girlschool. They’re cool. So far we’ve only done one new track. We will be doing lots more, and we hopefully have some South and North American dates this year, as well as a single French festival. It’s a little sparse at the moment which is a royal pain in the arse! We NEED to get on the road and back on stage!! 

-Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or finding life difficult at the moment?


Most importantly…talk to somebody. People help, they really do. If you don’t feel you can talk to family or friends, then an anonymous and non-judgmental voice from a doctor or some kind of counselling or help centre can genuinely help. It’s not weak. It’s real.
The world has a lot of bastards in it that will try to knock you down at every opportunity. But it also has the opposite. There are a lot of people who will do their best to lift you up when you fall. Don’t throw your problems on social media! That can be a toxic, poisonous place to be. Talk to somebody. Face to face…or at least one to one. Tomorrow is always worth seeing. 

-Thanks  Larry for taking the time to talk with us.

Band music links: https://www.alcatrazzofficial.com/

You tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLCCQe68LpSPWIwm-Dx14w

Larry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seakrieg/

Greg \MH/

Interview with Gav from Scottish band Centrilia. January 2022.

Posted on: January 7th, 2022 by Greg Jordan No Comments

– Greetings Gav. Welcome to Metal Health and thanks for being here. Congratulations on your new release ‘In the Blood’. A great song and performance. The production and mix is outstanding, and the video clip looks ace!

Gav (Vocals): Thanks for those kind words Greg. A lot of DIY effort went into making it as good as we could. We’ve had a great response so far.

What does good mental health mean to you?

G: To me good mental health is a sense of contentment and confidence in your emotions and abilities. Being able to cope with uncertainty and manage changing circumstances well. I suppose I’d characterise it mostly as an absence of doubt in your intrinsic worth or the value that you bring to the people you’re around or the activities and environments that you find yourself in.

–  This is a question i would usually ask pre – pandemic, but  either way,  how is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or a big gig. Is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? Or during a pandemic?! If so, how do you adjust/cope?

G: Generally speaking, we’re all pretty normal guys. We’ve got families, day jobs and the usual life stuff. There’s always a bit of a comedown after the build up to a significant gig or series of gigs; kinda like the post xmas blues. So we’d typically just focus on the normal stuff and plan for the next ones. But the Covid situation was a complete anomaly in that respect. It added an extra layer of uncertainty where nothing was “normal” and longer term planning went out the window. I suppose we were affected much like every other musician in that way. When everything shut down we were planning a tour then live shows were taken away and nobody knew if or when they would be coming back, so we found ourselves at bit of a loss. So we turned to writing but the initial stages of the pandemic enforced isolation from each other and couldn’t meet up and write in our practice space as we’d normally do. So we just had to find other solutions to keep the ball rolling, be patient and wait and see how things developed.

What motivates you? What keeps you going?

G: I’m motivated by creativity and connecting with others.

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this?

G: When I was in my early 30s I had my lowest point mentally. The scariest part was not noticing that it was taking hold. I’d always been pretty positive and un-phased by most things up to that point, but found myself in a deep dark hole, and I couldn’t see any light on the horizon. I couldn’t identify any particular causes – to outside eyes and even myself I wasn’t particularly hard done by, had a decent job, somewhere to live, a partner who loved and supported me – all the standard life stuff was in place, but internally I had an all encompassing melancholy and general lack of purpose/direction/motivation. Just a numbness about most things.

This was before I joined Centrilia, and after splitting with my previous band – a period of time where I had no creative outlet to speak of – reflecting back on that time this was been a major factor. I was just existing – doing the ‘stiff upper lip’ bit and soldiering on.

Eventually my physical health suffered and I reached breaking point where I cracked up emotionally. I was forced to confront the monkey on my back and be open up to my wife about how I just wasn’t okay. Around that time we’d just conceived our first kid which was no doubt subconsciously adding to the existential crisis too. We made a plan for me to take some time out, stop working and I was going to focus on the kid when he arrived. Then around the same time I got a new boss at my job. I had really open conversations with them about it all; they convinced me to give them 6 months and let them try different working arrangements and help me to sort out my work/life balance. They were unbelievably supportive and it was like a weight coming off, I’ll be forever grateful to them for the empathy they had for me. Their showing some belief in me allowed me to start believing in myself again. I found a new rhythm and some stability to hang on to and gradually clawed my way back into myself. I started reaching out to musicians to find a new band. Hooked up with our Guitarist Davy who I’d known for years and was starting a new project which eventually became Centrilia and the rest is history. The lessons I learned from that shitty experience was how to identify those thoughts & feelings when they occur – they still do from time to time. When they start creeping in again I know I need to externalise them and drag them into the light – communication is key.

I agree. Communication and connection are key. No human is an island. Isolation can be dangerous. What does making music mean to you? Why do you do it?

G: Making music is a primal urge for me – without it, it’s like I’m missing a limb. It acts like a form of meditation. A central point of focus where I can escape or process my thoughts. If you’re lucky at the end of the process you’ve birthed something meaningful and interesting to others. At the very least you’ve scratched your creative itch. The writing process is addictive. When everyone’s intuition starts to synchronise it’s unlike anything else and difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it first hand.

When did you  start making music? Was it like finding some buried treasure that you didn’t know you had, and how did making music fit in with the rest of your life?

G: Like most, I started in high school. A guy in my year had started a band playing covers and was looking for a singer. We were into the same bands, so I, full of piss and vinegar, thought “I can do that” and went down to a rehearsal to try out. First time on a mic – “Propaganda” by Sepultura haha. Music and the band quickly became the central focal point of my life – everything I did was music or band related. Eventually we progressed from covers to original songs – the songs were terrible. Eventually we developed taste and the songs became less terrible. You learn your craft by failing a lot I suppose.

The more failure the better, as long as we get up again, and grow. It means we are trying. I love your debut album ‘’In the name of nothing’  from 2019. Aside from the excellent sound production and musical performance, what stands out for me is the bands use of syncopation. What i mean is throughout the album there are some powerful ‘choppy’ sort of rythymic synchronised musical bits which punctuate the songs and cut through, demanding the listeners attention. Drums are big and solid, and right on it without overplaying. Guitars are tight, harmonious and intricate. Bass is strong and supportive, Vocals are in your face and expressive with a great tone.

G: Too kind. Thanks dude.

How important is it for the bass guitar and drums to be tight, and where do you see guitar and voice fitting in the groove?

G: For the style of music we play, yes tightness in the rhythm section is absolutely critical. Without that foundation everything just else falls apart. We tend to write in a way where each element has its own space to breathe and flourish where it needs to – but always in service of the song as a whole and aiming for as many hooks and grooves as we can. We are very guitar driven and usually that’s where the song will start from – a riff or a hook. Vocals are just another instrument in that in that mix. When it comes to words I see my job as interpreting the music – I translate the emotion of the music to add some meaning/context.

How was the recording process for your last record ‘In the blood’? Did you record it live, or record an instrument at a time etc?

G: We had planned on recording & releasing more music in 2021, but the disruption of Covid put a kibosh on that. So ‘In The Blood’ came about as a concerted effort to release at least one single before the end of the year. A kind of ‘up yours’ to Covid if you like. The recording was split out by instrument across a week and similar to the last album we did a lot of pre-production to iron out the structure beforehand, so when we went into the studio we were well prepared. We worked with our good friend Steven Jones again on this one, so we were on familiar ground. (Steven is a disgustingly talented guitarist and songwriter in his own right and plays with the excellent Scottish band Bleed From Within). We had tracked the album ‘In The Name Of Nothing’ with Steven but also asked him to mix this time round. His bandmate Scott, who’s always been very complimentary about us, was kind enough to lend himself to the track as a guest vocal – they were in the studio finishing off their own upcoming album around the same time we were in so it all worked out quite well.

So what are your plans?  Some more touring or any dates you   can mention?  Is the live scene opening up there?

G: Things are so uncertain live wise we’re just going to be focusing on more studio time and writing the next releases.

Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or finding life difficult at the moment?

G: My advice is: Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability or admit when you’re overwhelmed. The world is chaotic, and the natural response to chaos is to get overwhelmed. But you can take steps to minimise the chaos. Just do the next ‘right’ thing –  whatever that is. Whether that’s getting out of bed, making a meal, going for a walk. Speak to someone to externalise the emotions.

– Thanks Gav for taking the time to talk with us. Greg \Mh/.

Band music links: https://www.facebook.com/Centrilia/

Website: https://www.centrilia.com/

photo: Stephen Dewar Visuals

Greetings for the New year 2022

Posted on: January 1st, 2022 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Warm greetings to all. It’s been a hard year for most of us. Many live music tours have been on, then off again due to the pandemic. But there has been a lot of music also made at home, in the shape of live broadcasts, and albums/recording projects. Lockdowns have provided an opportunity for many musicians to collaborate online with others from across the globe, or even across the street. I look forward to interviewing various artists about what they’re up to and how they’re managing mental health. Let’s hope the world and live music opens up again real soon where all are as safe as possible. Take it easy on yourself.

Greg \MH/

(photo – Genevieve Rodda of Temtris.)