Suite au concert a priori réussi à Athènes avec Messiah Marcolin, ce dernier pousse publiquement les promoteurs pour d'autres shows.
Je ne sais pas si le groupe va apprécier car ils avaient prévenu que ce serait la seule occasion.
Speaking to Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece, Messiah stated about the concert (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That was some fantastic show with CANDLEMASS at the Rock Hard Festival Greece. I wanna thank all the fans from all around the world who traveled from 40 different countries — big, big thanks from the heart. And also all the Greek fans, who traveled all across Greece to come there. It was, like — I don't know — 4,500 people [going] crazy and everyone was singing and it was so much fun — singing, screaming, doom dancing, just the way it should be. So I'm very happy about it. And a big thank you."
Asked how it felt to be back on stage with CANDLEMASS after almost two decades, Messiah said: "It felt like it was yesterday [that we had last played together]. It was 20 years [earlier], but it felt like yesterday. It was the same thing when we did… I was with CANDLEMASS from 1987 till 1991. Then I quit the band the first time. And then we did a reunion again in 2002, and I quit again in 2006. So in total I've been with them for eight years, but those, I think, I guess 12 years in between, it felt like time hadn't passed. When we start playing, it's just, like — I don't know — it's magic. Some bands, they have that when they play together; there's something special that comes with it. And CANDLEMASS always had that. Even since the first gig back in 1987 in Jönköping in Sweden — it was our very first concert, and we start the show with 'Crystal Ball' and all of a sudden punk rockers and everyone starts jumping on the stage, getting crazy. There's something special about when the five of us play together. So that's very cool. It's always been like that. It just works. I don't know how to describe it. It just works. It works really well. Off stage is another thing."
Asked if he was nervous before the Rock Hard Festival Greece show, Messiah said: "No, I don't get nervous. Of course, you get a little excited before the show, but I don't get nervous. I'm more excited. I want to kill. [Laughs] I don't want to kill, but I feel like I wanna kill. You want to do the best. Then, of course, your body doesn't act the same way as 20 years ago. I fell on my ass. What are you gonna do? The balance is not the same. All I can do is practice tai chi or something and try to get a better balance.
"With me and CANDLEMASS, it's like the family Addams," he explained. "If Uncle Fester goes away for 20 years and then he comes back and he's all weird — that's what it was like."
Regarding how he prepared for the Rock Hard Festival Greece performance, Messiah said: "People would say to me, 'Oh, good luck in Athens, good luck.' And I said, 'No, there's no luck. It's hard work.' I'd been practicing singing for almost every day for five months. So it all comes down to determination and hard work, 'cause you need that. 'Cause when you fall on the stage, like I did, or some technical thing, you can't hear yourself or whatever, then you need the muscle memory. So you must be prepared. And also I'm lazy. I don't sing all the time. I only sing when I have to. But I really got in shape for this one gig — five months, that's a lot of work. But it was all worth it in the end because the fans got a great show. And it was really fun."
Marcolin also talked about the possibility of more performances with CANDLEMASS in the future, saying: "I never said this is the only one show we're gonna do — Leif [Edling, CANDLEMASS bassist and main songwriter] said that. But I would tell all the promoters of the world, get in contact with CANDLEMASS's manager, Mr. Olé Bang, and try to book CANDLEMASS featuring Messiah Marcolin, because I just think it's such a shame for all the CANDLEMASS fans in the world not to be able to see [us play], the ones who couldn't be there [in Greece]. That's how I feel. I don't know how they feel. They're probably tired of me already, but I just think it would be great. If they can treat us as well, these promoters and the big festivals in Europe and all around the world, in Japan — I don't know — everywhere, if they can treat us as well as Rock Hard Festival Greece did, I see no problem with playing any more shows. 'Cause we're all getting old, and I'm the youngest — I'm 57. I'll always be the youngest. But anyway, what I'm saying is I don't see a reason for it not to happen again. For me, it's kind of like the vintage CANDLEMASS."
Asked if he has discussed with the members of CANDLEMASS the possibility of him playing more shows with the band, Messiah said: "No, because Leif went out and said 'no more shows' and this and that. But maybe they'll change their mind if we get some really good offers from around the world, treating us as well as Rock Hard Festival Greece did, maybe they'll change their minds. I would think now is the time to book the big festivals of 2026, next summer. So I think they should give it a try, even if it's just one or two. Who knows? At least it's something."
