ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: An interview with Michael Amott of Arch Enemy
Amanda Chamberlain
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: News
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Amott, wearing shorts and a black hoodie, and a baseball cap over his cherry-red hair, radiated charisma from the flag drop handshake by flashing his bright smile and laid-back demeanor. Speaking with the charming Swede shed some light on the band's Gigantour experience, Amott's view of road life and his personal opinion of his Arch Enemy bandmates.
GLOBE: Arch Enemy was on the bill for Ozzfest last year and you guys got to see what that was like. I won't ask you to say which one you like better, but how does Dave Mustaine's Gigantour differ from Ozzy's metalfest?
MICHAEL AMOTT: In a way, I guess [Gigantour] is a little bit more artist-friendly, we get to play longer, the way it's set up. Ozzfest was very successful for us with the promotion of the new album. But it was very much on-off, very quick.
G: You have a new signature guitar out now. Is that like a symbol for you in your career?
MA: I guess, yeah. (Laughs) I never thought that would happen. I've always been really interested in guitars.
G: So, how long have you been playing for?
MA: (Smiles) Oh, a long time.
G: Are you one of those musicians that practices 8 hours a day?
MA: No, well, when I first started, I wanted to play it all the time. But as you get older, you have a life, and you play when you have the time--when you can fit it in. But it's good to play a little bit.
G: Have there been any crazy stories to tell so far on Gigantour?
MA: There's been a few. (Smiles) Nothing I can reveal without causing problems.
G: Does your personal life and your Arch Enemy life blur together or do you try to keep some sort of life outside the band?
MA: A bit of both. I deal with a lot of the business of the band as well, so that's always going on, it never really stops, you know? There's always stuff to do everyday, really. But I do a few hours in the morning online, and some other stuff.
G: What has been the biggest benefit in your life from Arch Enemy's notable success as a band?
MA: I guess it would be that we get to do this and make a living. We get to play full time, and also travel, and have fans everywhere. We're very lucky in the sense that we have fans all over the world.
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