FREEDOM CAGEBy Nicky Baldrian
FREEDOM CAGE
By
Nicky Baldrian
Eric Babl is a
multi-talented musician his band Freedom Cage are just getting
ready rock your worlds with the release of their fire cracking,
debut album pencilled in for a September/October release on Z
records. Eric was originally born in Brazil, the son of classical
pianist Talita Pinto Fonseca and American born Robert Babl nephew
of world renown maestro Carlos Pinto Fonseca. Eric begun his
dabbling in music when he purchased "Help" by The
Beatles, "The Beatles helped immersed me with the fantastic
world of Rock and Roll."
From then on, all the British and American bands influenced the
young Eric, "Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Who, Jimmy
Hendrix, Queen, Yes, Uriah Heep and the whole 70's movement took
a great influence in my life."explains Eric, "I began
playing the acoustic guitar when I was 8 years old; I got lessons
from a very attractive "hippie" girl that lived across
the street at the time." he remembers fondly.
Through out Eric's teenage years he played with various bands
"eventually we came to the U.S. where I met Gonzo Gutsens
who would later become the second guitarist of the band.The
rhythm section of John McCray and "Panama"(Ron
Huff)" this collaboration eventually evolved into Freedom
Cage."
The band then searched high and low for a singer "we scouted
out Jamie Burritt a great singer from New York. The rhythm
section has been a volatile molecule in the band, understandably
so with great choices and musicians to fill the shoes; from John
McCray "Magoo" (bass) and Kevin Parker (drums), Magoo
and Ron Huff "Panama" (drums), to Mark McGreevy (bass)
and Kevin Alfinez (drums) it has always been interesting and
rewarding."
Thus this led to a
record deal with UK label Z records "First of all I would
like to thank Mark Alger and Z Records for their support, but
what can I say? It has been great! I guess that the most common
reaction is "When is the CD going to be released"? he
says with joy in his heart.
Before the band had signed on the dotted line to Z records, Eric
went onto explain about the band dissapointment with various
labels "I would say that it was pretty much a let down. I
got many letters from the big labels stating "We love your
stuff but we are not signing at this point and time"
Eric, Jaime and Gonzo write the majority of Freedom Cage's
material "We try to encourage the other band members as
well." laughs Eric.
Eric is inspired by all sorts of things"Musically believe it
or not, classical music, (acid)Jazz, Fusion, (those guys work so
much for such little return) and as I mentioned before all the
great bands from the 70's and 80's.
There was an unequaled freedom of expression those days, unlike
this pasteurized producer oriented music that you find nowadays.
Spiritually: I guess the great writer Carlos Castaneda about Don
Juan and the Toltec Indians. The teachings are very pure,
primitive and in touch with some ones existence, time and the
universe around you. "The Teachings of Don Juan (1968)"
Freedom Cage come from Miami, Eric explains about the ares
musical climate "It could be better; Miami has always taken
a back seat so to speak to the rest of the nation, Ft. Lauderdale
(40 miles to the north) on the other hand has traditionally done
much better.
Miami in the 80's experienced a "phenomena" of which
almost all Rock clubs were converted into "Strip Bars".
Also you have the Latin music scene to take into account.
But yes, there are a lot of great bands in the South Florida
scene and I only wish that Rock bands had the same kind of
support that the Latin Bands enjoy, from radio, publications and
TV."
THE NEW ALBUM
"The new Freedom Cage record "Change Of Seasons"
is about a friend who lost her life in an automobile accident, I
am sure that a lot of people can relate to that. We like writing
songs that one can relate to, for example "Never Again"
is a song written about some one that opened up completely to
another only to have His/Her heart broken. The "Lonely
Survivor" basically a song about people that just keeps on
going no matter what, be it good or bad. "Taking for
Granted" "don't take all that you have for
granted"(Chorus) you know the rest, "Love will
Find", don't give up on love, life without it is as empty as
my beer eh he. So, we like to relate to issues that are relevant
to any ones daily life."
Eric explains that it's the live show that matter's to him the
most " I couldn't count the shows we've done really, but the
most touching was a Radio sponsored and promoted out door concert
called "Amerifest" at CB Smith park (Ft. Lauderdale) to
raise money for children with AIDS, great bands such as Mr. Big
and many others.
Our largest crowd was certainly in Brazil when I sat in with a
local band. Another killer gig was with Quiet Riot in Lake Worth
Florida, great crowd... also with Pat Travers, killer
entertainer, these are amazing Rock veterans pouring on their
"Mastery" and experience.
We went to play this great club :Rose Budds" and the crowd
was wild, and the girls were hot and the liquor was flowing and
the lights and smoke were pouring and we were set on stage to go
on with great expectations and then...the first chord we hit all
the power goes off and the whole club goes dark and the whole
scene went from point A to point B, the latter being confusion,
drinks spilling and all and then the power comes back on (some
one resets circuit breakers) and so we had to turn off a couple
of Marshalls so the show could go on! Too many amps guys? Nah,
not enough juice!!!"
ABOUT THE CURRENT ROCK CLIMATE
"Quality always supersedes quantity, and as I mentioned
before producer oriented (created) bands never reach the
"Magic Point". They just don't have the
"Heart", the "Meat" or the
"Existence" that is what makes great bands. Creative
freedom is an awe inspiring experience to the performer and the
listener. Rock in Rio any one? How about Rock in London? The
market is ripe I believe"
As for the foreseeable future Eric reveals his plans "First
and foremost to tour Europe and Japan, continuing to enjoy the
freedom of expression is also very important for us.
The important thing is to stay focused and creative, you have to
keep the wind on the sails so that the ship keeps a steady
course. Also recording, we got about three albums of material
unrecorded yet! Maybe the best is yet to come, and last but not
least...making a living so that Freedom Cage can go on."
And on a final note anything else you would like to say
"Yeah, who's going to win Euro Cup 2000?
Just kidding, I would like to thank you Nicky for this chat,
writers like yourself keep this business interesting and
entertaining!!!"
Email Eric Babl: Mudylafeet@aol.com or http://www.mp3.com/FreedomCage or
http://hometown.aol.com/mudylafeet/myhomepage/index.html