FERGIE FREDERIKSEN / Mecca - Lead Vocals / Co-Writer
Hi Fergie,
Thanks for taking the time out to answer some questions!
It's always a pleasure speaking with you Andrew.
You have worked with Jim Peterik before and through that I know you knew Joe Vana and it was his idea to get you in, but how did you officially find yourself involved in the Mecca project?
Joe and I met while I was returning from holiday in Michigan. I had my 3 boy in the van and I met Joe at a studio some where in the suburbs. I think I got lost trying to find it. Any way, Joe played some songs that he had put together that would be on the CD.
I was very impressed with the tunes. They were demos but had a very good vibe and Joe sounded great on the few I heard. Then he played a couple that Jimmy co-wrote. Man, they were very cool. The idea of working w/ Jimmy producing my vocals and having such a great start made it a no-brainer.
Of course, as always, your vocals on Mecca are awesome, but also some of
the best I have heard from you ever.
I would like to say I'm just getting better, but to be truthful, a lot of it was Jimmy and Larry's approach to recording vocals. Larry has Pro-tools down so well that it was a breeze, no wasted time etc. Jimmy and Larry know each other so well that they have compiled a keeper vocal before you know it.
Oh ya, I practiced the songs a lot at home and w/ Jimmy at his piano which might of helped. "giggle"
How would you rate your performance on Mecca compared to other projects?
I rate it with one of my best vocal efforts. I think I was very prepared to do it and enjoyed the company.
And I guess, where do you consider does this rank amongst other work you
have done?
When I think of LeRoux, Toto, Frederiksen/Phillips, and Equilibrium I would say up in the top two. Which ever those are.
Velocitized is an old unreleased Survivor song and is really pumped up with you guys covering it - it sounds like you had a blast singing that one!
First song we tracked and just a blast to sing. Jimmy and Frankie had a good vibe goin the day that was written.
I love what you and Joe did on Can't Stop Love - the co-lead vocal approach. You guys harmonized brilliantly together. How was that track recorded?
Well, we both knew the song start to finish. Joe sang it pretty much all the way thru and when I came to Chicago I filled in what Jimmy was hearing. Jimmy and Joe had this song in mind from the start as a duet. It turned out pretty cool huh!
You Still Shock Me reminds me a little of your awesome Frederiksen/Phillips album....
This is one of the songs I heard the day I committed to the project. I really connected with the demo and wanted very badly to sing it. Thanks for thinking of F/P because that's what I kinda felt too.
It also sounds like you are having a lot of fun on the final cut [the Japan bonus track] Miss-Chevious?
Wow! When Mike came up w/ the riff, Jimmy was all over it and I wasn't far behind. Some songs are just meant to be fun and are written effortlessly. This one is one of those. Jimmy adding the horns really kicked ass.
What I thought was interesting was having you and Joe performing backing vocals on each other's lead tracks. How did you find that experience?
It was what we had in mind from the start. Joe and I are similar in some ways and quite different in others. Jimmy just got us in the spots he thought showed our styles off the best and did the best for the song.
How do you rate Joe's performance as his debut album?!!
Great!!! Joe hasn't been recording for near as long as Jimmy and myself but it's hard to tell. He has a great feel and a pleasure to hang with...
Before now, had you worked with Thom Griffin before at all?
No.
What songs off this album really appealed to you / what were your favourite songs & why?
You Still Shock Me because it wasn't an easy song to sing yet it was a blast to get into. Once I learned the song I couldn't get it out of my head and when we recorded it, well, it felt great!
Mecca is still my fav on the CD. Even though I'm not singing it, Joe did such a great job writing it and singing it, it moved me a lot.
How about a Thom Griffin / Fergie album? I could help you guys get that off the ground for sure!!
Hey, Maybe I'll have to shake some trees???????
I think we need to ask Tom.
What possibilities exist for the next Fergie solo album?
There will be another. Either a solo or a F/P. Ricky and I talk about it often. It's hard to get the financing you need to get all those great players together. It's not like just sitting in the studio and playing everything yourself. We had some of the best of the best on that CD. I hope someone reads this and has an idea. Hint,Hint
You have worked with some fabulous bands, all seemingly now part of AOR / Melodic Rock's cult favourites list! How do you feel about that?!!
I'm flattered to death. It means alot to me now that I'm really able to enjoy life. I only hope I don't let them down, because I proud to be in such company.
Le Roux, Trillion, Toto, Frederiksen/Phillips, Mecca - what stands out as personal favourites to be involved in / why?
LeRoux, and F/P I guess. I mean if you consider I was in Toto when they were the hottest band in the world, that was fun. But to be honest, LeRoux probably.
I truly love the Frederiksen/Phillips album. Even though you and Ricky also worked on your solo album, the P/F album had such diverse power.
And what are you working on currently and what is coming up on the horizon for you?!!
I've been speaking w/ a few people about what I'm gonna do. I haven't decided yet. I feel it's getting close to that time.
Anything you would like to add Fergie?
Andrew, your the greatest and every body know it. I proud to be your friend. Take care. Oh ya, I still owe you a beer or two. All the best…
MUSICIANS PAY TRIBUTE TO JIMI JAMISON AND FERGIE FREDERIKSEN WITH A SPECIAL, LIMITED RELEASE AT THE FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL II
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ST. JUDE AND AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION
Frontiers Music SRL is honored to present a special tribute album conceived by iconic GrammyAward winner and founding member of Ides of March, Survivor and Pride of Lions,Jim Peterik, featuring an impressive array of guest musicians. The CD, titled Torch: The Music Remembers Jimi Jamison and Fergie Frederiksen, will be limited to 500 copies, to be sold exclusively at the Frontiers Rock Festival II, held at the Live Club in Trezzo sull'Adda in Milan, Italy on April 11 and 12, 2015. Frontiers and all participating artists have donated their services and the recorded masters, with 100%of all proceeds to benefitSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The American Liver Foundation.
Just as the musical influence of Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen (of Le Roux, Angel, Toto, Frederiksen /Phillips, Mecca) and Jimi Jamison (of Target, Cobra and Survivor) reverberated inside the melodic rock community, news of their passing within months of one another in 2014 sent waves of disbelief and sorrow throughout the brotherhood of singers, songwriters and musicians who had been touched by their talent and their spirit. The loss so profoundly impacted Peterik's core that it was difficult at first to imagine a universe in which their lights no longer shined. After filtering his grief through the cathartic process of songwriting, Jim found solace by gathering a group of mutual friends to commemorate their departed comrades the only way they knew how – with music.
Peterik recently produced and co-wrote the debut album Risk Everything to introduce the world to the stunning, 5-octave tenor of singer Marc Scherer, who will appear onstage with headliners Pride of Lions at the Frontiers Rock Festival II. Scherer is a featured performer on Torch: The Music Remembers Jimi Jamison andFergie Frederiksen, along with stars like Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger, Bill Champlin of Chicago, David Pack from Ambrosia, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Bruce Gaitsch of Chicago, Alessandro DelVecchio of Hardline, Ricky Phillips of Styx.
As Peterik explains, 'Hopefully, these songs and heartfelt performances will bring healing to all those suffering losses in their lives, as well as serve as a celebration of life itself.'
The album is comprised of four new songs and six rare, alternate or previously unreleased versions of existing songs (some never before heard in Europe), along with six classics distilled from Jimi and Fergie's most recent releases on the Frontiers label.
Passionate and intensely personal, this collection speaks to the heart of anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Torch: The Music Remembers Jimi Jamison and Fergie Frederiksen resists the temptation to wallow in sadness, choosing instead to joyously celebrate two beautiful souls who made the world a better place through the transcendent, healing power of song.
Please enjoy an EPK trailer of the album:
Tracklist:
1.) The Music Remembers (A new song featuring Lars Säfsund and Robert Säll of Work of Art)
2.) Heaven Passes the Torch ( A new song featuring Marc Scherer, Mike Reno, Bobby Kimball, Bill Champlin and Jim Peterik)
3.) Never Too Late (Taken from the Jimi Jamison album by the same name)
4.) I'll Be the One (Taken from the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any Given Moment)
5.) Crossroads Moment (Torch Remix) (Previously unreleased - Original version included on the Jimi Jamison album by the same name)
6.) Follow Your Heart (From the Fergie Frederiksen album, Happiness is the Road)
7.) Heaven on Earth (From the Pride of Lions album, The Roaring of Dreams)
8.) Never Enough (A new song, featuring David Pack, formerly of Ambrosia)
9.) Last Battle of My War – Fergie and Friends Version – (Previously unreleased; featuring Bill Champlin, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Bruce Gaitsch, Ricky Phillips and Jim Peterik. Original version was included on the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any Given Moment)
10.) As Is - Treasure Beneath the Tears Mix (Previously unreleased; original version was included on the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
11.) Happiness is the Road (From the Fergie Frederiksen album of the same name)
12.) You're in Our Hearts (A new song featuring Marc Scherer)
13.) Long Road Home (From the album World Stage, featuring Jim Peterik and Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger)
14.) Alive (Original European Bonus Track from the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
15.) When the Battle is Over (From the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any GivenMoment)
16.) Streets of Heaven (Original Japanese Bonus Track from the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
