Hello Geoff Thorpe, how are you doing? Hey, I’m doing better now thank you! I broke my shoulder the night of our last show in Europe in July! Everything fine with the band members, I mean I Heard from Mister Glenn Rogers from Primal, the band that should play with you Guys in The Whisky, LA Some time ago that the guitarist injured his arm..? It was a badly dislocated and broken requiring surgery and about 4 to 6 months recovery! We had to postpone a 30 date US tour including the show at the Whisky… so bad timing is a understatement! Our new album is currently #2 on the NACC collage radio charts with 30 stations playing a variety of songs across America . Incredible reviews and ratings for ” The Devil’s Asylum ” its frustrating but we’re re – Scheduling everything for 2026! Why it took about 5 years for the band to release a new album? The main reason it took 5 years was our first 4 classic albums we’re re- released on different record companies and every time it happened I would book 40- 60 shows around the world. It was a way to stay on the road working keeping the name going. We ended up doing over 200 shows. It was good for the band and SPV understood that! Please tell us about the new album; The Devil’s Asylum. The Writing process, time in the studio and how the reactions from the fans and press are so far..? After the summer tour in Europe in 2024 it was clear I needed a new singer and guitarist! They we’re both causing way to much trouble. The chemistry in the band was becoming toxic I was left with no choice but to fire both of them at the end of June 2024. I also needed a new album and was behind on all of it from all the touring. I decided to work double time! I wrote the songs and demoed the whole album in Santa Rosa with my friend Jimmie Evans ( who co wrote 3 songs with me) while we were looking for a singer! Chalice reached out to me 6 months before I started looking for one so he was on my radar! Denver Cooper was my first choice for guitar! We met in 2023 on tour and I offered him the job without any hesitation. He accepted and I was without a guitarist for about 8 min. We recorded the album from December 26th to Feb 3rd! It was the fastest we’ve done a album since Digital Dictator in 1988 ! Right now we’re #2 on the NACC college radio charts! Amazing Reviews and ratings… 10 out of 10 5 out of 5, top 10 in major press ratings. People are saying its our best album since Digital Dictator! We’re all really proud and have a great chemistry again! Please tell us the story/lyrically behind The Devil’s Asylum. Sounds something is really going on in the unseen..between heaven and Earth…? The idea behind the album title is the dark world we live in today . Its originally a movie script idea I have for a story of the whole planet being institutionalized in a world mental Asylum . I thought it made a great title for a Heavy Metal album. The band is again under The Wings of Steamhammer/SPV Records. Probably everything is going Well with this collaboration? Absolutely, 15 years with SPV/ Steamhammer now known as Open/ Steamhammer has been the longest and best collaboration in my career. This is the last album on my contract! Hopefully we’ll continue. I know Vicious Rumors will !! How did you found the new vocalist; Chalice? I mean it’s important for a band that a vocalist can represent a band like VR and has the vibe to please the fans as well..? As I mentioned Chalice reached out to me first. I got a call from him about 6 months before I was looking for a singer saying ” hey Geoff I love VR and you ever need a singer Id love a shot at it. ” We had a great talk and I liked him right off the bat ! When we started looking at singers around the world we narrowed it down to 4 guys we liked. Chalice made the final 4. He did something none of the others did! He sent a video of him singing a song with no music, no PA system no effects! Just his voice clear in tune with a lot of passion and character! That won him the spot! And a new guitarist was found in Denver Cooper. Please tell us how you guys found each other? Denver was in a band called NZM they supported VR for 5 shows in 2023. We became friends and the first show, first song I could see he was a monster guitarist and excellent musician. Since Larry , Robin and I already liked him he was an easy first choice! It all happened fast and easy…. for once! Lol Any tours throughout Europe are planned yet? We’re planning a massive Devil’s Asylum World Tour in 2026! The European leg is being scheduled from May 2nd to June 17… more news on that soon! What are Some of your favorite bands when you started VR a long time ago and now Anno 2025..? Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Zeppelin ( Then) + Deep Purple, Roy Gallagher, UFO Hendrix, Pink Floyd… many more Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden Zeppelin ( Now) + Scorpions, Thin Lizzy, ACDC, OZZY, Van Halen… many more Do you have a last word for the readers of Bonavox.nl ? The Netherlands is where we first got started in Eindhoven in 86, our first show in Europe! We love the fans, have dear life long friends and great experiences! We’ve had epic nights of Heavy Metal from Club shows to the Dynamo festival to last July with Overkill at the Effenaar back in Eindhoven! We can’t wait to see you all again in 2026! Thanks for all the support !! Keep it heavy! Be sure to pick up our new album! “The Devil’s Asylum” lets keep the ball Rolling!
