Patrick Stone of Budderside

deserve something you’ve given everything you possibly have to something, and it’s time to cash in. And it’s just a really pissed-off kind of approach to that feeling - like it’s time to take it. Like it’s time to take what you want. Fuck waiting around for it anymore, life’s been Good For Nothing so far so let’s reap the reward. Let’s go get what is coming to us!

Adrian Vandenberg Of Whitesnake And Vandenberg

We’re here with Adrian Vandenberg. What are you the most excited about, being here at The Rock for Ronnie Show?

Very excited. If only to pay tribute to one of the greatest singers of all time, not just rock singers, but singers, in general, he was unique. There’s never been anybody like him. I hope he’s listening.

Definitely. What are you going to be doing here today?

I’m going to do a couple of songs with Doug Aldrich, Brian Tichy, and my good friend, Rudy Sarzo. Well, they’re all friends of mine, which is funny because I haven’t played in California in a long time. Actually, the last time was probably with Whitesnake. I just came back from the Monsters Of Rock Cruise with my band, Vandenberg. We did a couple of shows there. I just got into town yesterday and stayed especially for this because Wendy Dio invited me over for this situation, it’s really beautiful, so here I am. https://diocancerfund.org/

When was the first time that you saw Ronnie James Dio? It was in ‘82, probably, when he played in Holland. He asked somebody to bring me in, so we met, which was a funny moment because as everybody knows, he’s quite short and I’m way too tall. We looked at each other and go, “Oh, we didn’t expect this.” He’s just the sweetest guy.

Actually, there was an occasion in my hometown when my friend, Rudy Sarzo, was with him and with his band. They played across the border in Germany, and we ended up having a pizza on the market square of my hometown with my parents and Ronnie Dio and Simon Wright, and Rudy, and thousands of people were walking by because it was like a special evening. All the shops were open and all stuff. Nobody knew we were just sitting there. People were walking by, Ronnie Dio talking to my dad for about two hours about old jazz because some people know Ronnie used to be a trumpet player in a jazz band. My dad played trombone in a jazz band, so they had a lot to talk about.

Tell me about the new singer in Vandenburg and who it is. The new singer is Mats Levén. He’s Scandinavian. He’s been with Yngwie Malmsteen for a while, and he’s been there a long time with a band called Candlemass. We recorded an album in LA about five months ago or something. The first single is out, it’s called House on Fire. It’s on YouTube and stuff. The second one is going to come out the end of this month, and there’s going to be another single in two months. The album is going to come out in August. The album is called Sin Sin is what we all do all the time. I thought it was a good title for an album.

What was it like releasing an album called 2020 during a pandemic, basically?

Well, actually, the album was recorded and then the pandemic happened. I remember we were finishing it in LA with Bob Marlette, producer who produced Black Sabbath and Rob Zombie, Judas Priest, and all this stuff. The drummer and I got sick. We had a serious flu for about three, four days. My drummer from my band, he just came back from The NAMM Show, so he must have picked it up over there, but it wasn’t COVID yet. We released the album, and then suddenly Covid happened. Suddenly, the title, 2020, of the album got a new meaning to it. It’s weird, and at that time, we had to reschedule the European tour for about five times or something. Our agent gave up and thought we’re going to wait and see when it’s finally over. Strange times.

Do you think the Whitesnake tour is going to resume?

I wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t think David wants to tour anymore. Who knows? There’s no guarantees in life, as everybody knows.

Do you have any messages for your fans who are reading this right now?

Yes. I’m just happy that the new album is coming out. I’m very happy with the reception of the 2020 album, where Ronnie Romero is singing on. This one, I tried to raise the bar in another notch, and I think it worked out. But it’s always the fans who decide. All you can do is do your best. I give it all for every album. I was close to a burnout because I’m very perfectionist. Sometimes, I work for 18 hours straight in a day, and then I think, “Oh, right. I got to eat.” I fall over, tired, and I sleep for four hours, and I start back up again. I’m looking forward to the release of the album and see what people think.