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By: Martyn Coppack
40 years is a long time to be in the rock and roll game but when it’s Bobby Leibling of doom legends Pentagram, many of those years were spent enjoying the rather darker side than the business of releasing music. After reaching the low depths of drug despair as seen in the Last Days Here documentary, it seems that there is a renewed vigour about the band and especially Leibling himself. A new album, Curious Volume, contains some of the best music they have recorded and although they may be seen as living legends, they still feel they have a point to prove. Echoes and Dust wanted to know more about this renewed vigour and what makes the band tick. What we didn’t expect was for Bobby to be the one to answer…
(((o))): So….New album, new tour…Pentagram are certainly back. How does it feel?
Bobby: Like a dream! Unrealistic especially at my age, I’m pushing 65 here! I finally feel appreciated. We are very lucky, we love our fans!
(((o))): You’ve moved back to Peaceville Records for Curious Volume. Does this seem like a natural home now?
Bobby: They always pay and you know, when a new album comes out by an older band, the back catalog picks up and sometimes outsells the new album so, it made sense for Peaceville to give us the budget we needed to put out the best album of our of career. I think Curious Volume is our best album!
(((o))): You have become sort of living legends in the last few years. Does this ever affect you? Do you ever feel a weight of expectation? There is a sense of you not resting on past glories, so to speak. Is this important to you as a working band?
Bobby: We never are able to rest on our laurels. We finally are able to get shows booked. We won’t screw that up, if you come to see us, you see us working at 110%! We all, fans and band alike, have been waiting for this moment so we don’t take anything for granted. We are truly blessed by our fans. I’m not saying I’m rich, far from it, but we are making enough to be able to tour and record the albums we’ve always dreamed or recording. I think our line up is the best line up we’ve had since the 70s.
(((o))): Let’s talk more about Curious Volume. I believe it is a mix of old and news songs once again?
Bobby: The band and our manager, Pellet, put a wish list together of the old songs we’d like to record or re-record. Then Greg [Turley; bass] and Victor [Griffin; guitar] turn in songs they’ve been working on plus they write new ones. We all vote and try to put out the best album. An album should read like a book, with highs and lows, triumphs and downfalls. In this case, we feel that Curious Volume represents the large volume of music we’ve put out over the past 45 years.
(((o))): How do you approach the older songs? Are new arrangements set to the lyrics or is it a case of re-recording them just as they used to be played?
Bobby: One or the other or both. Sometimes the songs were very short so we try to make them sound like Pentagram sounds today without changing the feel of the song too much. In the case of ‘Earth Flight’, now that we had a studio and a recording budget, I finally recorded it the way Greg Mayne (original bass player) and I heard it in our heads when we wrote it in the early 70s. It’s an earthy song that takes your mind and soul above the clouds and around the world. I think you’re gonna love the experience!
(((o))): Do you find yourselves arguing over which songs you would like to record? (Or play live for that matter?)
Bobby: We have a little of that, but for the most part, we agree. I think Victor would rather not do the 70s stuff, but he does and does it well.
(((o))): What reception do the newer songs get when played alongside a “classic” such as ‘Relentless’?
Bobby: Our best selling material is the First Daze Here volumes on Relapse which is the 70s stuff, but the early Peaceville albums, the “doom” albums are close behind. We have something for everyone and often, our fans love it all. I think even if someone doesn’t love a particular songs they can at least appreciate the fact that we are feeling it on stage because we deliver!
(((o))): Do you still get a buzz out of playing to an audience? You’ve been in this game for a fair few years, do you ever get bored?
Bobby: Never bored…..look, if I wasn’t playing live music, I’d be listening to it loud and proud at home. It’s a lot of work for me, I get wiped out after every concert. It’s not easy, but I do love the energy we create and I love the energy we get back from the audience. It’s a gift and I’m very thankful!
(((o))): What can we expect from future Pentagram shows?
Bobby: VOLUME and a curious volume of songs old and new.
(((o))): Do you get a sense that this is it? All the hard work/stress etc is in the past and Pentagram can now lay down their legacy?
Bobby: I feel that I’ve got a year or two at the most left to tour. My mind is young, but my body is old. I’m trying to tour all I can now and live the dream. Please come out to see us while you can!
(((o))): Any message you would like to leave our readers?
Bobby: Review your choices in life. Take heed of our warnings. Love the ones you love and pick up Curious Volume! I think you’ll love it. See you on the road!
