THE AGONY

Besides completing their latest offering in the first quarter of 2023, this year has seen the band’s lead vocalist Nikola Kandoussi take to the road with rock legends Girlschool during their recent UK tour. “We had our album recording scheduled for February. It was funny because originally, we were supposed to go in the first week of February. And then suddenly, I got a phone call saying that it was postponed. So, all the plans and the organisation had to be changed,” explains Nikola. “I was pretty upset, to be honest. But everything happens for a reason. Because then I got another phone call saying you are going on tour with Girlschool in those two weeks.” The artist adds: “I spent the whole of February touring and then recording. I spent the whole of March trying to recover from it all.”

The Rising marks a new chapter for The Agony. “I would say the album is the introduction of a new approach in the band with a new line-up. Because we have two new girls in the band. They have been with us for a year, and this is the first album they’ve done with us,” said Nikola. “Also, the new sound because we wanted to aim for something a little bit more modern. No samples, but still good old rock and roll. We did it with a younger guy this time and he’s got a different approach to things. So again, a new sound.”

The band has been reinvigorated by the line-up changes. “I would say the band is a little bit reborn because, after COVID, losing half of the band and replacing them with the new girls and starting from scratch, the record is basically summarising everything,” declares Nikola. “When we found the two new girls Domi and Petra, we supported The Scorpions in Prague at the O2 Arena. Everyone was saying, I can’t believe you guys were on the verge of a breakup, and suddenly, you are rising, like a phoenix. It kind of stuck, as the title. And the whole philosophy behind it, I would say as well.”

The Agony are striving towards a contemporary rock sound on their new album. “I think the new record from Halestorm was one of the references. They definitely use a bit more samples and electronic stuff. But the whole approach to sound, I think there was a bit of inspiration,” she says. “Now, I know, I’m nowhere near Lzzy Hale, obviously, she’s a far better singer, and lead guitar player as well. But, they know how to take a song and make it modern.”The band are trying to reach a new audience with their latest release. “Everybody used to say that we are a very 80s/90s sounding band. I love the 80s. I love the 90s as well. But then again, I wanted to bring us closer to the younger audience, if you know what I mean, while still obviously staying true to the meaning of the songs and the sound I like, but just a little bit of change.”

Supporting The Scorpions in Prague was a whirlwind experience for the band. “It was absolutely crazy. I’ve never been more nervous than before taking the stage for that gig. Because obviously there was 18,000 people in your hometown. The O2 Arena is the largest indoor venue in Prague in the Czech Republic, and I think maybe even in the whole of Central Europe,” she says. “Supporting The Scorpions on such a big stage in front of so many people and family and friends. To this day I don’t remember much of that gig. If we didn’t have the video, I probably wouldn’t know what happened. I just zoned out. I was lost, I took the stage. And from that moment on, I can’t remember much.”The Agony are presently celebrating their 10th anniversary. Nikola had a strong vision for the band from the off. “I found the girls and then everything was quite fast, because we got together, and the first EP came out two months after. Then it started to pick up the pace again, with the debut album and the second album, and many gigs in between. Then festival slots came and then the first tour of Europe and UK gigs as well. And then COVID came, so nothing much happened. But thankfully, we survived. Now, I think we are even stronger. So, it’s been a quite wild ride, I would say. And hopefully, we are still improving.”

Nikola was recently invited to join Girlschool on their UK tour realising a dream for the singer/guitarist to play alongside her idols. “It was amazing. When I got a phone call from management it was a huge shock, and a lot of organisation because it came out of the blue. I had pretty much two weeks to get prepared and organise everything at home with work with my band and everything. I knew that we wouldn’t have any rehearsal, I just had to play by ear,” she says. “I knew exactly what I went into and what my role was, and obviously, I am a fan of Girlschool, but at the same time, the girls are my friends. I think that is the most brilliant thing. I’ve known them for over 15 years now,” says Nikola. “It was amazing because I love the music. So, for me to play those songs on that stage with the girls, with Denise banging the drums behind. To hear the double bass drum exactly the way it needs to be. And, obviously, to have Jax next to me playing together. And Tracy, she’s one hell of a bass player. So, I had a brilliant time.”

Nikola’s discovery of Girlschool came at a young age. “It was the glorious time of MySpace and discussion forums. I was 14, and I was looking on some discussion forum really, because I just started to play the guitar two years prior, and I was looking for some female role models or inspiration because I was like - but girls, they must play too. So, I was trying to search for someone, and I got some recommendations. The Runaways, L7, and Girlschool,” said Nikola. “One of the ladies on the discussion forum sent me a burned CD of the Very Best of Girlschool, which started with Come On, Let’s Go. So, imagine the effects it had on a 14-yearold girl. That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Soon after she discovered the band, Nikola met Girlschool in person. “I got to meet them at a festival in the Czech Republic. I was freshly 15 celebrating my birthday with my father at the festival. And Girlschool were playing there. I found - I’m not kidding you, a backstage bracelet. So, I could go backstage and meet the band,” she says. “I went to meet them backstage, and I just introduced myself and we started chatting. And then obviously the gig blew me away. That was when I wanted my all-female band. I wanted to do the same.”

The Agony will be touring the UK this summer. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to Trillians in Newcastle. To be honest, I really liked the venue. But I’ve never played Hartlepool and Leicester,” she says. “Whenever I can play in the UK, it’s a happy time for me. It’s my second home, really. So, I can’t wait to be back.”

Rising by The Agony will be released on the 27th of April to celebrate the band’s 10th anniversary. The group will be performing across the UK throughout the summer calling at Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle on the 23rd August, The Spotlight Venue in Hartlepool on the 24th of August and The Musician in Leicester on the 25th of August.

Rudy Sarzo has a CV which features stints with some of the greats of the rock/metal world. From his tenures with Ozzy, Whitesnake, Dio and Quiet Riot, the esteemed bass player has played alongside many a legend, including the late great Randy Rhodes.

Since the late 70s, Rudy has featured in many line-ups of Quiet Riot. Fast forward to 2021 and the LA-based artist is back in the group whilst carrying on the musical legacy that has been left behind by his fallen bandmates. “The whole thing is to celebrate the legacy and the memory of Frankie Banali, Kevin DuBrow and Randy Rhoads. Because when I think of Quiet Riot, I go back to when I first started with it,” explains Rudy. “So that’s what I do. I go out there and celebrate the legacy of the band that I’ve been a part of since the 70s. And the memory of my bandmates who are no longer with us.”

He adds: “I’m playing in one of the most passionate bands I’ve ever been in because everybody gets it. Everybody gets why there’s a purpose for us to go out there and play. Everybody respects that and gets it and celebrates it. I went in there just to celebrate the band, not knowing what it was going to be like to play with Jizzy, Alex and Johnny. And I’ve got to tell you, it’s been a total blessing. It really has been from day one.”

Quiet Riot are presently celebrating the 40th anniversary of their seminal album Metal Health. The artist recollects how that album came to fruition. “I was in LA waiting to go out to New York to record the Speak of the Devil record with Ozzy live at the Ritz. And I get a phone call from Kevin inviting me to come down to the studio,” he says. “Kevin invited me to come down to record on Thunderbird, which is a song that he wrote for Randy when he left Quiet Riot to join Ozzy Osbourne and I used to play that song with him.”

Rudy had a close connection with the frontman. “I was living with Kevin up until the day that I joined Ozzy. We were really close. So, I said, sure, I’d love to because we knew all along that it was definitely a tribute to the memory of Randy whether it was because he left Quiet Riot and was playing with Ozzy or whether he was not no longer with us,” said Sarzo. “After Randy died, it was never the same playing with Ozzy. First of all, I lost my Quiet Riot family, which was the only reference that I had to a real band.”

Randy Rhoads was more than just a bandmate to Rudy Sarzo, he was also a friend and a mentor. “When Randy passed away, I lost that. Plus, him being a mentor to me about what it’s like to have musical integrity, or just integrity in life in general. But he showed it to me through his music and everything related to his music. So, when Randy died, I lost all of that,” confirms Sarzo.

When Rudy got into the studio with Quiet Riot there were some familiar faces. “I go into the studio to record Thunderbird, and there is Frankie Banali. We had a long history. It took us 10 years since we met to finally get into the studio to record something that possibly was going to be on record. Then there was Kevin who I will have been playing with him. In Quiet Riot with Randy and DuBrow and living with him. Carlos, I had just met, I never really played with him or socialised with him, but being back with Frankie and Kevin, my old family was enough to bring back the joy of making music again because I really lost it after Randy passed away,” explains Rudy. “So, here we are, and we cut Thunderbird really quickly because I used to play that song in Dubrow.”

Recording with Quiet Riot at that time re- invigorated Rudy. “By the time I left this session, I was really overjoyed. I found the joy again of making music. So that’s what that initial session means to me,” he says. “I was still a member of Ozzy. So, a couple of days later, I flew out to New York, and re-recorded the Black Sabbath recordings for Speak of the Devil, with Tommy, Brad Gillis and Ozzy. And, then by the time I came back to LA where I live, I made the decision to leave Ozzy and, and re-join the total unknown. The only thing that I knew was that I was going to be happy again making music which is the goal and purpose of making music to be happy?”

Being back in Quiet Riot has been a revelation for Rudy Sarzo. For me, it’s been an incredible opportunity to look deep within myself. It’s like rediscovering myself and then wanting to come up with a better version of myself because it’s 40 years later,” he says. “It’s always been a delight, and you add new energy, new ideas, plus I’m playing with different musicians.”

Quiet Riot will be returning to our shores to perform at HRH AOR next year. “I love playing the UK. For me, there’s so much history. The reason why I am a musician is because of what happened during the rock British invasion,” says Rudy. “It’s indescribable to me, but there’s a spirit there - a connection emotionally.”

Quiet Riot will perform at HRH AOR X between the 7th – 10th of March 2024. For ticket information and further details, please visit https://hrhaor.com/.

Words: Adam Kennedy Photo Credit: Press Supplied