Rock and Roll Revival: A Chat with The Zep Boys Frontman Vince Contarino
The Zep Boys have been playing real rock ‘n’ roll music worldwide since 1986 with their sets that pays tribute to the genre’s biggest icons, Led Zeppelin. Ahead of their new show Zeppelin Soars Again, frontman Vince Contarino tells all on collaborating with the Kashmir Orchestra, upholding the Zeppelin legacy, and the best advice he’s ever received.
Words by Tobias Handke
Image by MICKG Photography
The Zep Boys are collaborating with the Kashmir Orchestra for what promises to be an epic show at the Festival Theatre. Tell us more about what to expect.
Promoter Mario Maiolo asked me back in 2004 what would I love to do. I said, “Work with an orchestra.” He made it happen! He is a remarkable man. The orchestration highlights the compositions and takes them beyond the realm of rock music.
What challenges do you face when incorporating an orchestra into the mix?
The obvious challenges are technical. Synchronising the band and orchestra to work as one is not as easy as it looks! The conductor and drummer are crucial. They must lock in together as the conductor controls the orchestra and the drummer conducts the band.
How do you curate the setlist? Is there any temptation to chuck a few deep cuts into the mix?
Choosing a setlist is difficult because there are so many great tunes! I try and pick a set that will have light and shade and be dynamic. Of course, there are the big songs that people want to hear: ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Black Dog’, ‘Rock and Roll’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Immigrant Song’. I try and work a set around those to make the live show peak in the right places. [But] I do like throwing in a song or two that are not as well known!
The Zep Boys have been getting it done for over 35 years. Did you ever think you would be where you are now, selling out shows worldwide?
When I was rehearsing to perform the gigs we had lined up in 1986, I wasn’t thinking about the future or what the possibilities were. My priority was to deliver something worthy to lovers of Led Zeppelin and rock music in general. Since those early days, there have been many ‘pinch me’ moments.
How has your experience as part of the Zep Boys shaped your journey as both an artist and person?
I think just living and walking through life shapes us all as people and influences our chosen careers, but you pose an interesting and thought-provoking question. The music industry is such a hard medium to make a living out of. Most who embark on a musical career spend money rather than make it.
Before the Zep Boys, I was in a band called The Dukes. We wrote all our own songs and had a very large following, however, I didn’t have a cent to my name and was constantly in debt. Just replacing guitar strings was an ordeal.
When the Zep Boys came into existence I decided to eliminate all the “middle men” so to speak and manage affairs the best I could. This helped me to become independent as a person and also gave power back to the band to use as a negotiation tool when organising gigs and tours with agencies and promotors.
With the extra income coming to the band we were able to promote and produce better quality shows which in turn elevated our pulling power even more because the standard of the show was improving all the time and our following as a touring act kept growing.
A lot of people probably aren't aware that you're a classically trained singer. How has this helped your career and has it made you look after your voice better than many rock singers of your pedigree?
I had no idea how important technique and strength were to produce a powerful voice until I started classical training back in 1980. I had been performing in bands since 1974 when I was 14. I was 18 years old when I embarked on my first national tour. Two years of singing six to seven nights a week, setting up PA systems and travelling long distances with poor nutrition took its toll.
I had nodules (growths) removed from my vocal cords and was warned that if I developed them again the scarring on the vocal cords could finish my career as a singer. To prevent this from happening I started classical training to learn how to use my voice. With the training came an appreciation for the discipline and routine.
How do you keep it fresh for yourself as a musician – and for the audience – when performing the same songs repeatedly?
The challenge of performing these songs as they should be always keeps you on your toes. There can be no complacency. Intriguingly, when you are challenged, things are always fresh regardless of how many times you have done it. Think about making love to your partner – irrespective of how many times you do it, it is always an honour and a privilege and fun!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I was given was really specific to the Zep Boys. Keep touring costs down but keep upping the bar on the performance. If you have a show that relies on bells and whistles, it requires bigger production that has little to do with the quality of the music.
People forget that musicians are human beings and need to eat, somewhere safe to sleep, be clothed and need a decent standard of living so they can continue to be the best they can be.
After all these years, why do you think Led Zeppelin’s music still resonates with global audiences?
The main reason is the strength of the compositions and the brilliance in which they were executed as a band. Led Zeppelin were great songwriters and magnificent musicians with a vision. The songs stand up today because they are masterpieces of communicated emotion and will transcend trends and fads.
Then of course there is the nostalgia. There are millions of people like me who are transported back in time when a Zeppelin tune is played. There are many reasons for each of us individually but the common denominator is nostalgia.
See Zeppelin Soars Again with The Zep Boys and Kashmir Orchestra at the Festival Theatre on September 6. Tickets on sale now via Ticketek.
