Home Match with Star Cast
Ray Wilson supported “RPWL” for launch of European tour

Freising. When German’s most successful progressive rock band start their tour, they don’t perform their first concert in Munich, but at Freising Lindenkeller. RPWL holds true to its home town and even attracts special guest musicians: Ray Wilson, former singer of Genesis and Stiltskin, sang “Roses” on their current record and contributed to the show with a small solo concert.

Ray Wilson is, first of all, that powerful, raw and at the same time warm-hearted voice. That’s why his songs are so authentic, even if he sings about love and death and yet shuts his eyes a bit more then. And he of course knows how to take in his audience: At first with an old Genesis song, and then with some kind addresses to the audience with his wrinkles from laughing taking effect under his three-days-grown beard.

This had been cheered by the hard-to-please rock fans, too, before they accompanied RPWL on their musical journey with a great sound. In the back of the venue loudspeakers which offer totally different possibilities of playing, were put up, too, and RPWL duly exploited that. Full keyboard sounds came from behind, whilst bass and drums were marching from the front.

On a screen behind the stage weird colour and form collages were shown, flowing into each other and representing RPWL’s music fairly well. The band didn’t present three-minutes-lasting mass produced rock music. Kalle Wallner’s placed some accents in their complex rock music with his masterly extensive guitar solos. Everyone in the audience recognized, that this was not just a lining-up of rock song after rock song, but a complex composition of music.

Angry voice and catching melodies

Ray Wilson hadn’t just come for his solo show that evening, he but supported RPWL for their song “Roses”. His powerful, authentic voice fitted perfectly into the catchy song. And whilst Wilson was on stage then, knowing he could rely on a good rock band, he sang his Stiltskin-song “Inside” he got world renowned with in 1994. The catching melody and his angry voice even tuned up the mood a bit more.

Three questions to Ray Wilson
Better than ever before

Ray Wilson is quite at home in Bavaria, having filled the Olympia stadium with Genesis or Stiltskin before. FT-journalist Sebastian B. Beck met a good-humoured Ray Wilson at Freising Lindenkeller.

SB: How did you get interested in Freising’s RPWL?
RW: They had sent in to me some songs I just liked. “Roses” is just a good song, and moreover, Yogi Lang is a real nice guy.

SB: You played in front of thousands of people with Genesis and Stiltskin before. Do you miss this time now?
RW: Of course, this was a great time, but I think I’m presently happier and better than ever before. I am very grateful to have that voice and just enjoy being on stage and playing songs acoustically. This mood in such a small venue like tonight is just unbeatable.

SB: Will we only see you with acoustic guitar in the future?
RW: I like the acoustic stuff very much, because it is a great challenge for me, but in spite of this I am going to record a new rock album with my band Stiltskin.

Translation by Anne Weber