JROCK:  Let's talk a little bit about your new CD Universal Language which is your first solo release.............Why did you feel now was the time for a David Reece solo album?

DAVID:  First of all Jason thank you for the opportunity to speak with you!!As far as doing a solo record? I’ve always wanted to do one even while playing with some of my groups over the years because being in a band you have to be democratic and deal with all the creative tension and drama.

JROCK:  I've noticed that while Universal language is indeed a David Reece solo album that you seem to have found yourself a great backing band...Could you please tell the readers of Chaotic Riffs Magazine who's in your backing band and if you see Reece as more of a solo project or has it turned into more of a band effort?

DAVID:  Thanks!! While wanting to do this record I knew that in order to reach what was in my head I needed the right folks involved. Right now I'm living in Germany with my fiancé Ela and we have a pub we go to called the Rock-Inn and the owner Hanny is connected with a lot of players so he called Andy Susemihl and told him I was looking for players so we met there last Halloween night of 2008 and he brought Jochen Funders with him and it all started from there. I’ve known Andy from my Accept days when he was with UDO and I had always admired him and really feel lucky to have written the record and had him produce it!!! he's a monster player and producer! And Stefan Schwarzmann well he's a monster on drums and I've known him 20 plus years so a natural choice.

JROCK:  How did you find the other musicians in Reece?

DAVID:  I think I covered that with the previous question?

JROCK:  Were all the songs on Universal Language written specifically for this album or were there any songs that had been laying around for a few years but were never used until now?

DAVID:  3 songs I had co-written a few years before, the song "Once in a lifetime " I wrote with Brian Bart from an old band I played with called Dare Force and "The River" and "Yellow" were written by John Kirk from my group Bangalore Choir he was a major driving force in B.C. and since I'm recording a new Bangalore Choir record it was a nice lead off.

JROCK:  One thing I noticed in listening to the entire album is that while you have a wonderful/unique singing voice that really is all your own there's a bit of a David Coverdale vibe/influence in your singing....Was Coverdale an influence on you?

DAVID:  Not until later in my life was he an influence, I noticed he's worked with his sound and limits over the years and followed that.  And to be told I sound like him? I thank you he is a great singer!

JROCK:  What has been the reaction to Universal language so far?

DAVID:  Very positive for the most part!!! Over here the mags usually do a percentage rating with the reviews and so far the average is in the 70% range which I'll take any day!!!! But of course some don't like it.

JROCK:  What do you remember most from the recording sessions of Universal Language?

DAVID:  The feeling that I was being truthful to the music which I feel every day. Doing this was great because I had no pressure from the label or so called managers around me telling me they don't hear a single or whatever!! I spent to long listening to jerks and never got anywhere doing that so the freedom really feels good!!!

JROCK:  What was the songwriting process for this album?  Did you write all the song yourself, work with any outside writers?

DAVID:  For the most part I wrote most of the lyrics and had some melody ideas but Andy Susemihl really understood it and I owe him a lot of credit!!! He's a brilliant player and is a producer you will hear more of soon!!

JROCK:  Was there any one song that was the most difficult to write or record?

DAVID:  No not really I felt as I say really free and just did it.

JROCK:  Now you mentioned to me David that on December 4th that you will be performing in Belgium and that the show is going to be recorded.....Could you please tell our readers as well as all the David Reece fans out there a little bit about the show and if this will be released as a live CD, DVD or what?

DAVID:  Were playing the Spirit of 66 in Verviers Belgium with our dear friends Cooper Inc. (check em out great band!!!!!) and yes we are recording the show and also filming it. Now if all our ducks are lined up we plan to release a live record with footage so fingers crossed!!! The working title now is REECE Live Raw Language and I'll offer it online via my personal sites to those who wish to have it.

JROCK:  In regards to the December 4th show will you only be performing material from Universal Language or will you be performing material from throughout your entire career?

DAVID:  Thanks for asking we will do a majority of my solo record but also we will do some Accept songs from "Eat the Heat" and some Deep Purple as well as old favorite from Gary Moore.

JROCK:  What part of the world would you say the record has sold the most copies?

DAVID:  Right now the U.S. and Europe are neck and neck which I'm so very grateful for!

JROCK:  You were once briefly a member of legendary German Rockers Accept.....My question for you is at the time you were in Accept did you feel a lot of pressure replacing a legendary singer like Udo?

DAVID:  Yes and the reason being is Udo is Accept!!! Period!!! Although I'm very proud of my work on that record it was a new band and while we gained new fans the old ones were a bit unsure so there ya go! I learned a lot from them with regard to the hard work it really takes to be successful so I'm grateful for that, with the new guy they are with I'm not sure what to say? even though we had some hard times I would have done the re-union as Udo refused to do it.

JROCK:  In regards to Accept it was recently announced that the band has decided to reform with a new Singer...........My question to you is do you think Accept fans will accept any Singer other than UDO in Accept?

DAVID:  Not the old diehard fans no no no      being in that group I used to say it was like putting your head in a lions mouth as far as being accepted (no pun) and if the lion bit down? Well there goes my friggin head!!!1 LOL

Accept is for the most part now Gaby and Wolf Hoffman so being in that work environment is tough for any singer? only advice I'd give is? go out and there and be prepared for the critics and wear a thick skinned suit!!!! lol

JROCK:  Are you still with the band Gypsy Rose or have you decided to make REECE your full time project?

DAVID:  Martin Kronlund and I have put Gypsy Rose on the side for now but we have been writing together recently. He just released a group called Salute where I wrote 5 songs on the record and we just recorded 2 tracks for the new Phenomena record together. And Martin will join us live on stage in Belgium next Friday so were still very much involved he's a great artist and producer and will be involved with the new Bangalore Choir record as well.

JROCK:  Are you currently involved with any other bands/projects that you'd like to mention?

DAVID:  Actually because the fans have been so patient I can tell you that a new Bangalore Choir record is nearly finished and will be released early next year and it really smokes!!!! so keep an ear out cause it's on its way!!!

JROCK:  Is there anything else that you'd like to say to all the David Reece fans out there?

DAVID:  Only thing I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you for all the kind words and messages of support!!!! I can only promise to do my best and try and write good songs for you all from here on out!!!!