Interview with Johan Hegg conducted on November 28, 2005.
Written by Alina Michelle.

PHOTOMISTRESS : In one word, describe each band member, including yourself.

JOHAN HEGG : Ted - Joker.  Fred - hypochondriac.  Johan Söderberg - sunshine, take it sarcastically. (laughs) Olavi Mikkonen, what can I say about that guy.  Determined.  Me?  Viking.

 PM: When you did the show in Iceland that you released on DVD as a limited edition to Fate of Norms, did you expect to film that show for a release or were you overwhelmed with the crowd response?

JH: It wasn't really supposed to be on a DVD but we wanted to put something special on there and since we had the whole footage and thought it was a really cool show, we thought it would be a cool thing to do.  It wasn't really planned.  Actually, we filmed it to be on a future DVD release, which we might do anyways, but when we decided to do it as a bonus disc, it was very spontaneous.  I think it's pretty cool actually - it was a small club show, people were falling all over the place.  We played the same place a couple of weeks ago.  Before coming to the US, we played two shows in Iceland, it was a bunch of the same old drunks, fuckin' unbelievable.

PM: Has the problem with your fans missing your set because they weren't allowed in on time had any negative affect at all on the band, be it crowd interaction, merch sales, dealing with the club staff or the tour as a whole?

JH: No, I don't think so.  We've had worse problems - well wait, the merch sales we've had the worst problems with the merch company we used.  It's quite tough that people can't get in to see us in time at some venues, but there's not much we can do about it.  The people that we've heard from are very understanding and they haven't been turning against us or the other bands.  They know it's not our fault and that's also one of the reasons I put it on the website to clarify that.  It's definitely not the blame of any other band on this tour or the crew for that matter.  It's the local venue's problem.

PM: I think that was really cool for you to put that on the website, most bands wouldn't think enough of it to take the time and do that.

JH:  Well you know, we do care about them.  We've always cared about the fans.

PM: Being that you have been to the states a few times now and that most of the dates on this tour have been sold out, do you feel you will finally be able to come back to the states as direct support on the next tour? 

JH: I hope so.  That's one of the reasons we're here, so that hopefully next time we come back we can do a longer set or perhaps even a full one.

PM: Does it bother you to be the opening band even though you've toured here before?

JH:  Not really.  You have to be realistic and we had offers for different tours.  But this is the one that was best for us.  So that doesn't bother us at all. 

PM: Which of your albums do you feel is your strongest release and why?  Which is your favourite?

JH:  It's difficult to say since I have favourite songs on all the albums.  The latest album is always a favourite album, but if I had to compare the albums, I would probably say Versus the World because it's a stronger album in total than Fate of Norms.  You?

PM: That's my favourite CD too (Versus the World).  But then Once Sent From The Golden Hall is a close second.  I like them all, I swear. 

JH:  That's actually a very good album as well, it has some really good songs on there.  Even though some songs are a bit "immature".  If we would've written them today, we would've made them even better.

PM: Do you guys listen to different types of music, or is it just metal for the most part? 

JH: I listen mostly to metal, but I have other stuff in my CD collection such as Radiohead and stuff like that, but it depends on the mood I guess.  But mainly it's metal.

PM: Do you listen to any other Swedish bands?

JH:  Sure - Entombed, Hypocrisy, stuff like that.  Dark Tranquillity's latest album, Character, is really good as well.

PM: What band in your cd collection do you think fans would be most surprised that you listen to?

JH:  Probably Radiohead (laughs). I think they're really good.

PM: In a hundred years from now when you're dead, would you rather be hatefully remembered or totally forgotten and why?

JH: Ah man, I dunno.  A hundred years from now???  How do you answer that!  I would like to be remembered by the ones close to me, you know what I mean?  Like when I get a family and stuff - those are the ones I want to remember me.  I don't care about the big picture.  If and when I get a family, I would like my children to remember me as a good guy and all that.  That's more important than to be "famous" and known.

PM: Do you feel that touring the states in worth all the bureaucratic hassle that a European band has to go through? Do you feel it's fair?

JH: It's difficult to come here and play, and it's a tough job being on the road here since the distances are so far.  But when it comes to this tour, this is probably the best we've ever been out on here in the States.  We've had a good run for it even though we get to only play 30 minutes, even though we're traveling in van, staying at hotels every night and that stuff.  I still think it's been cool to be on this tour so far and I'm looking forward to the rest of it, actually.

PM: How involved as a band are you in the whole visa process?  Does it get handled strictly through the booking agency or do you have to do some of the work?

JH: Actually, the label handles most of it, but of course we have to apply for it ourselves.  We have to do part of the paperwork.  The one for the actual work permit visas and government here is done by the label - they fill out those papers to get our work permits and all that.  Then we take the work permits to the US Embassy and we fill out forms and get the rest of it.

PM: Do you have to do the same thing when you tour in Europe?

JH: No no, not at ALL.  We hardly ever even have to show our passports.  Most of the European countries are part of the European Union and most of the countries have signed a treaty  which basically means that if you drive to one of those countries as a foreign citizen - we will take a US citizen as an example -  you show your passport when you land in, say, Germany.  Then you can travel within any of the countries which signed this treaty without showing your passport at all.

PM: Oh I like that, it's a lot easier!  So it's kind of like coming here and driving through all of the different states?

JH: Yah, pretty much.  But there are some European Union countries that are not part of that treaty, like Great Britain for instance.  But most of the countries are.

PM: Does it make touring life a lot harder here considering that most clubs in the States do not have many of the comforts that you would receive in Europe, like showers, food, etc?

JH: Well on this tour, that's one of the benefits of travelling in a van because we have a hotel every night and take a shower.  It's okay, though.  It's different, but it's okay.  It's a bit rougher and everything, but it still works out for us.  I think we have a good run for it.

PM: Do you find touring in a van, especially so far from home, brings you closer together as a band or do you drive each other crazy?

JH: Well, it's from day to day, actually. (laughs) We can drive each other crazy.  But that's one of the things about this band.  It's like a bunch of friends, basically, so we know each other inside and out.  We know that one day one of us can be really pissed off about something and are a bit touchy and we know the next day he will will cool about everything.  The only thing that can be difficult is if everybody is in a bad mood and we have to travel a long distance.  But so far, that hasn't really happened and normally we get along pretty well.

PM: What is your favourite of the LOTR trilogy and which is your favourite character?  Why?

JH: Character would be Gollum, I just think it's cool.  When it comes to the movie, I'd say the first one because that was the first impression.  When the other ones came, it's like, ah I've seen that.  But the first one was an eye-opener.

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For more live photos of Amon Amarth, please click here.