http://jamesonjournals.blogspot.com/2005/04/andrew-mcniece-interview-conclusion.html

Andrew McNiece Interview Conclusion

SJ: "Do you think you could shed some light on that Andrew? Is this false track
listing the entire reason behind what's going on now?"

AM: "It was behind my desire to redeem myself in the eyes of my readers and
correct the info I originally posted but nothing more."

SJ: "Andrew, you seem like a fair and honest person, so why did it bother you so
much to get a false track listing from the band? Why not just let it go as being
a good prank and leave it at that? I mean things similar to this happen probably
more times than we actually know."

AM: "I don't consider putting my credibility on the line as being a good prank
and I don't think I was being unreasonable in trying to discover what the band
was up to at the time. Like I said, most artists appreciate the publicity and
the fact someone is still interested in reporting on them.

But, as we know, some don't. I have always stood alongside what I print. I have
never hidden behind an alias or the site itself. My e mail is on the front-page
and I post on my message boards everyday. People know where to find me and they
know me as a real person, so to get set up like that does make it personal."

SJ: "So, what's the real story here? Did this start because of the track listing
or does it go on before?"

AM: "Nope, no previous contact whatsoever and my site has only ever provided
fabulous and positive publicity for Leppard and associated members. I had been
really supportive over a number of years and it seems the organization behind
the band just got a bit upset when I went on record saying a covers CD was a bad
idea. Then the false track listing appeared and things went downhill from
there."

SJ: "Joe was pretty upset with you, judging by his letter. I mean as far as he's
concerned, you walked into wherever that CD was, picked it up, hid it in your
jacket and walked out."

AM: "Yeah, he was upset for sure. No artist likes to see a negative comment but
I am yet to post a final review. I just made a comment about the tracks I had
and reiterated my opposition to Leppard doing a covers CD. I thought it was a
step backwards after the awesome X album.

What Joe said was pretty silly I thought. Had my comments been along the lines
of "this album is an inspired collection of covers which I think Lep fans will
eat up when it gets released." Well, we wouldn't be here having this
conversation would we?"

SJ: "I know that's not the case and Joe knows too but since there's no evidence
otherwise, you're the logical choice to blame as far as Joe goes."

AM: "Sure, I'm the only person that has talked about the tracks."

SJ: "Joe called you a thief and another name we which we won't say here in a
public interview when he'd read your review on his site, so tell me Andrew, in
all honesty, did you or did you not steal that CVD, whether directly or
indirectly?"

AM: "Absolutely not. Joe's comments are obviously straight off the cuff without
any thought as to how I actually came into possession of the CD. Some will only
ever believe Joe's comments and I won't try to convince those otherwise.

But I remain on the other side of the planet and the fact is there were copies
of this CD in the hands of those outside the 5 band members and that is where
the leak came from. Calling me a thief was a little strange considering that and
seriously alienated a lot of people.

At roughly the same time this was all going down, Joe is featured in Classic
Rock Magazine in the UK (the largest rock magazine in the UK) and is talking
about how the covers CD is in the can and the interviewer talks about how the
magazine got a preview of the tracks. That also makes his comments that the CD
wasn't finished a little strange, as why would you play an unfinished album to a
highly influential magazine such as that?"

SJ: "If you had not been given a false track listing by the band, would you have
still listened to it and given it your opinion on Melodic Rock?"

AM: "Absolutely! Fans want an early peek into things like this and I would post
the same comments again. This is not the first time I have done something like
this. In late 1999, I got a leaked advance of the Journey album Arrival and
posted similar comments-ie, it was a disappointment.

The fuss surrounding that was also pretty large. I was contacted by the label,
management, the record producer, you name it. But always with a professional
tone and with respect to what I was doing on the site. And then the band
contacted me directly, guitarist Neal Schon wrote me a lovely e-mail which
actually stated that he agreed with me in part.

As a result of the leak and subsequent feedback from what I printed and fan
reaction when the leak got worse, the band went into the studio, recorded 2 more
tracks and reworked the CD for it's eventual USA release.

And you know what? It was a far better CD as a result and to this day, I have a
fantastic relationship with every member of that band and management and met
them in person when I was last in LA. I'll catch up with Neal again next month
when I'm in the UK.

That highlights the very difference between how things in both instances were
handled. Whether you agree with what I did, the timing of it or the comments
themselves, you can see the difference in the way things were handled by the
artists and people involved and I still think a covers album is a bad move for
Leppard."

SJ: "I have very much appreciated your candid answers here Andrew, I promise
just a few more questions and then we can go back to the easy stuff.

On your website, it was clearly stated that someone in the Leppard camp had sent
that CD to you and felt you'd been black balled basically when you were sent the
false track listing. Is this person closer to the band or closer to you? In the
sense of friendship."

AM: "No personal friendship with me, as I stated earlier, just someone I've
dealt with a couple of times who loves my site and someone I had no idea had a
Leppard connection previously."

SJ: "Now I want to ask you the most direct questions of this interview and you
can pick and choose what you want to answer but I'd like to have at least one
honest answer for two of them. Here goes, are you ready? Andrew, was the person
that sent you the CD a man or a woman?"

AM: "I am not sure that really makes a difference to the story. I have been
trusted by many to keep secrets over the years and still hold onto some of
those. I get told a lot of stuff in advance and keep it quiet until the
appropriate time. I never reveal a source if they ask to be kept anonymous. I
must respect that. I know this isn't Watergate but it's important to me."

SJ: "Does this person work very closely with the band? In the sense that they
are like a roadie or closer like a guitar tech or someone like that?"

AM: "No, I'll give you that much.."

SJ: "I can understand that you may want to protect them but Joe's saying you and
you only took the CD and no matter what happens, it is a little late and nothing
changes the fact that it was done."

AM: "Exactly and some will always take Joe's word and some will remain alienated
by his response."

SJ: "We can't go back, no matter how much we might like to so maybe it's a good
idea to finally put the final piece in that puzzle and say who is behind it all.
I only have two more questions, then we can go back to the stuff that doesn't
make your brow sweat. Andrew, aside from possibly knowing your source via
e-mail, address, etc, have you ever met your source in person?"

AM: "No, never, just 2 or 3 e-mails over several years. Artists will react a
certain way based on what they want the public to believe. In late 2003, I broke
the world exlusive news that Sammy Hagar would return to Van Halen in 2004. He
came out next day and respectfully denied that but it was true and it happened.
I never lost respect for how VH or Sammy handled that as they were gentlemen
about it. Sometimes artists have to do damage control or at least try to contain
leaks but leaks happen and it's all in the way you deal with that."

SJ: "Do you or do you not have a source in the Leppard camp that gives you the
inside scoop?"

AM: "Nope, I have numerous and plentiful industry sources that I trust and that
often deliver good exclusives but never anyone in the Leppard camp. I had news
of the Leppard and Bryan Adams tour some months back from a trusted industry
source but just couldn't be bothered pursuing another advanced Leppard story."

SJ: "The reason I ask is in my research, I've discovered that the Leps think
they have a leak in the Leppard camp and is possibly the same person that sent
you the CD."

AM: "There ya go. I'm not a thief after all."

SJ: "Where are you from?"

AM: "Born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia but through a fortune life
have had the pleasure of traveling around the world quite extensively."

SJ: "Have you ever done concert reviews, gone on the road and interviewed the
bands? This is something I want to do eventually. I would like to work for a
magazine such as Metal Edge and work with all the big bands."

AM: "Well, that's generally pretty hard to do from here, another disadvantage of
my location but yes, I've traveled overseas for certain concert events and
covered the shows both from in front and behind the stage and those reports can
be found on the site. In conjunction with Jeff himself, I also brought singer
Jeff Scott Soto (Taliman, Rock Star, Soul SirkUS) to Australia for an 8 date
tour and acted as tour manager for that, reporting in as well as booking and
running the tour. What an experience."

Next month, I head to the UK to cover a melodic music festival called Fire Fest
in Bradford, UK. That will be great also. Lots of bands, many of which are old
friends, including Jeff and Neal Schon."

SJ: "Where do you see yourself ten years from now Andrew?"

AM: "Same place but also with a record label to my name and a contract signed by
Def Leppard to record their next album with me, a Pyromania styled hard rock
masterpiece."

SJ: "What's your favorite and least favorite part of the music business?"

AM: "Favorite is always going to be the music. No matter what dark place you
feel like you are in, a great rock song will bring you back. Least favorite, the
BS that goes with the music business, no matter what level of it you work
around.."

SJ: "Have you ever dreamed of being in a band or at least working closely with
one?"

AM: "Haven't all journalists? Aren't we all supposed to be failed musicians? Ha,
ha. Actually, I've always wished I could be a vocalist and it's vocalists I
follow most closely in bands.

But I've never tried as I know I can't sing. Ha, ha. Having accepted that fact,
I always wanted to work behind the scenes and I'm privileged to be here doing
just that."

SJ: "Who would that band be?"

AM: "I have three favorite bands in Night Rangers, Journey and Harem Scarem and
I'm proud to say I'm in contract with the guys from both bands. I also adore Van
Halen but have (sadly) thus far managed to avoid personal contact with the
guys."

SJ: "One final question Andrew. Is everything you do being a music critic all
worth it? The negative as well as the positive?"

AM: "Oh yeah, well worth it, definitely some down days, as I never like to get
under the skin of bands like Leppard who I grew up loving and respecting. But
plenty more great days."

SJ: "I want to thank you Andrew for answering my questions. I really appreciate
this. I will let you know when I've written the final draft and send you the
link for when it's published. You've been a doll. Take care of yourself Andrew,
it's been a pleasure."

AM: "Pleasure is all mine. Those that know my site know me and how I operate, so
hopefully this might give some insight to others that are less familiar. It's
primarily about the music and promoting the hell out of it, that's what I love
doing. I'm for more real music less- manufactured/prefabricated rubbish."

Take care,

Andrew