Stefan Leibing is considered by those who have followed Primal Fear's mighty evolution as one of the responsible ones for the heavier souns that took over once Jaws of Death was released...
Although Stefan seems to enjoy keeping a low profile, his influence on the powerful sound of the band is very important and noticeable...
Stefan has been kind enough to take the time to answer a couple of questions about himself, and here they are
I started playing, when I was 15 years old. I had my first band with 19 years. This is already a long time ago. This band was not a real metal band. They had a style a little bit in the way of the Journey. This is very soft, but it made fun anyway. There we had a Keyboarder who owned a little homestudio. There I learned to arrange keyboards in songwriting and I learned much about studio technique. Two years later I played in my first Metal Band. It must have been in 1986. This was a band, where I met Klaus for the first time.
2. what are your major influences?
The first Record I owned was Rainbow / Long Live Rock'n'Roll. This was A Band I liked very much. Of course I bought almost all Judas Priest records. Metallica very a Revolution when they started. Playing their Songs I learned a lot about staccato guitar riffing.
Then when first heard Yngwie Malmsteen, I was overwhelmed but his guitar play. There was a time when he influenced very much in my solo guitar play. Today I changed the style of playing solo guitar, because I think too many people try to imitate Yngwie.
3. what was the best moment of your career?
Of course when I joined to Primal Fear. This was the moment when my career really started.
4. how about the worse?
I do not remember anything that is really bad.
5. what does PF mean to you?
Primal Fear is a band with really nice guys playing in it. We have a lot of fun when we are together. I also like the music of the band. Everybody in the band has the possibility to express himself and give his part to the whole thing. We have a lot of great concerts all around the world. It makes a lot of fun to play in the band. It is a great adventure.
6. how do you see metal in the new millennium?
It is a difficult question. I think metal will have is ups and downs. It will survive, but it will change with the time, like the generations will change.
7.a word for the fans of PF...
I want to thank our fans for the great support. I is really overwhelming how the fans all over the world support us in every way.
Thank you!
Here is Stefan's view on the Black sun- we are so grateful for his insight
Countdown To Insanity
This intro was planned to be part of of very slow and heavy song. We
didn't take the song for the studio recordings.
We only took a part of it as an intro for this CD. This is the first PF
intro which is not only made of effects, but played by the band.
Black Sun:
A fast powerfull very fast song with a good melody. A worthy opener for
a the new Primal Fear album.
Armageddon:
The guitars remind me a little of the Ozzy guitar players style (Zack
Wylde, Randy Roads) . This groovy song is one of my favourites on Black
sun. A powerful midtempo song with a hooky melody.
Lightyears from home:
This is a Song in the class of Silver and Gold. Ralf is doing very high
vocals. Great!
This melody also stays in your head if you heard it once.
Revolution:
This song starts with an Synthie Bass and a very strange effect on Ralf
vocals. I
can't find any other PF Song from the past that is similar to this song.
A groovy mid tempo song. I
would say radio compatible. Maybe the song for our next video.
Fear:
A very hard song. This Song is even a little more riff oriented than
'Fight the fire'. The song
starts with an stukka airplane followed by an explosion. This song is an
anti war / anti
terrorism song inflouenced by the happenings from the 11th september.
In Texas Mike Chlasciak from Halford played the first Solo of this
Song.
Magic Eye:
A melodic songs full of feeling with clean chorus guitars. I like when
Ralf sings a
little more relaxed and full of feeling. If you liked 'Iron Fist in a
velvet glove' you will like this song too.
Mind Control:
A song with a twin guitar theme a the beginning in the style of 'Red
Rain'.
Staccato guitar parts in verse. The long guitar solo part in the middle
with many different moods makes a guitar player happy. ;-)
A very melodic Song.
Mind Machine:
The first Song where PF tuned down the guitar. A very good idea from
Ralf. It gives a very hard an bombastic guitar sound.
Ralf sings very agressive in the verse. A very heavy song
with a new guitar sound for PF The half of every verse is sung by Mat.
Mat singing a solo part in PF is a also première.
Silence:
A very baladic song. The vocal line remembers me a little of the ballads
that
Fates Warning does. But this is only my impression! The softest Song on
the CD with a good feeling.
We Go Down
Mat and Ralf worked out some great voicings in the
refrain. A flanged guitar part in the middle that gives a very special
feeling with vocals down from hell. A great powerfull song!
Cold Day In Hell
A very groovy mid tempo song. Very classical 80's style.
Controlled
A very fast Song with staccato rhythm guitars. Very hard and
thrashy but anyway
very melodic. The lyrics deal with the danger in the modern society
where everyone can be influenced and
controlled by the media and modern technique.
