CHRISTIAN TOLLE is a multi-instrumentalist from Germany and his debut CD is a great AOR record. Some of the additional musicians include Steve Lukather, Michael Thompson and Tim Pierce. I had to interview Christian and here's what he had to say...

Can you please first introduce yourself and tell us where you come from etc.

I was born in Leverkusen (Germany) 1970. Music has always been very important to me. My grandma played a great piano and my dad was and still is a passionate singer. One of my good friends till now lived next door and we both discovered music, especially guitar oriented music, at the same time. We used to sit around and listen to Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola or Pink Floyd, when the other kids listened to the early 80’s romantic discostuff.

When did you start playing music etc.?

I got my first guitar with 12 and took lessons in classical style. That was good, because I learned a lot. But when I saw a huge Rock event with Scorpions, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Krokus - to name a few -on German television, I knew that I wanted to play like that. That was pretty much the beginning of the Hard Rock era in the 80’s. Beside that I got into Toto, who had their huge hits at that time. I freaked over Luke’s playing and their songs. Toto still is the key to Popmusic to me until now. I got this Tokai Stratocaster with 13 and started to play. With some guys at school we formed the first band and we took it from there. Later I played with cologne based band Underdog and Black Rose. I did some studiosession in the local area and my last gig before CTP was Lehmann, a native singing band with class a songs from the singer. But the band did not last for several reasons.

Can you tell us about your first recordings?

The first time I entered a studio was with 17. A friend of my mothers cousin is a musician and he invited me. So I wrote a song and we recorded my first tune. Fortunately it got released shortly after. A German musicians-magazine (Musiker / Gitarre & Bass) had a recording contest and I came on that record, which already sold 5000 copies. So I was the luckiest guy on earth. Being 17 with a song on a record.

Please tell us all about that first solo-CD of yours?

From the idea till the finished CD wasa long period of time. I had the idea in late 1996 and thought: “ Why not always dreaming from that, let’s just do it!”. I had so many songs written over the years, wrote some new stuff and decided to put a huge variety on Better Than Dreams. I want to show more than one piece of musical soul, cause I love Metal, I love Rock, I love Pop and even like Fusion. The main goal was to invite many people to play, make it a sort of happening. I asked some of my former bandmates, my old friend Markus (guitarist) and I wanted my heroes to play!

How on earth did you get Steve Lukather, Michael Thompson and Tim Pierce involved in your project?

I have to say that I was a musicjournalist beside my study from 1992 – 1997. I wrote for FACHBLATT Musik Magazin and was lucky, because I had the opportunity to meet all the greatest players in the world. And I met Luke. So as I said before, he is my hero from the very beginning. I know him from 1993 on and since then I consider him a friend. He immediately said yes, when I asked him. Tiim Pierce is one of my favourite players as well, Michael Thompson, too. I also asked them, if they would join the Project and they both said of course… So I took my Tascam DA 38 digital machine and flew to LA into their studios. And everything went great. The session were pure fun and they played amazing. And I even got to know Lauren Scheff (bro of Jason Scheff), who played two tracks bass.

Do you have any recordlabel backing you up on this release?

No, I decided to face the internet revolution and do it on my own label CTM, that stands for christones music. I do have a few retailers all over the world and I do everything by myself, producing, marketing, distribution and so on. But I am always open for help. And I am thinking of putting a few other good artists or bands on my label. But then I definetly need a good distribution and a pair of helping hands. But I am working on that.

Your music is pure 80s influenced AOR, which bands/artists influenced you?

As I said I grew up with different stuff. Like Jeff Beck, Gilmour/Pink Floyd, Scorpions, Accept, Dokken, Golden Earring, and of course Toto and all the great Westcoast bands like Pages, Charlie, Airplay.

Do you have any touring plans?

I try to get a band together till fall. It’s not that easy, because the people I want to play with are very busy and play in a lot of bands. But it will happen.

Thanks for answering the questions, finally, anything to add yourself...

Please mention my website www.christian-tolle.de And if you know some good retailers who might sell the album, please let me know. And thank you very much for your support. That’s how this music can survive….