Mattsson, Lars - Finnish guitarist, international recording artist
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
DM) Where did you learn to play guitar?
LM) I was a self-educated, very stubborn kid who was completely obsessed with music from my early teens. I used to play along with records all the time. Later on, I joined cover bands and had to learn different kinds of music.
DM) What songs were you playing then?
LM) Lynyrd Skynyrd, Scorpions, '50's rock, Blues, Funk...
DM) Do you have a large fan base outside of your home country?
LM) Most of my fans are outside of my country. I have had my albums either released or distributed throughout most of Europe and Japan, but I also have one U.S. release. These days most inquiries I get come from USA.
DM) Why do you think that's the case?
LM) There is a demand for guitar-based music and melodic hard rock that is growing fast these days, especially in the United States, where this music has been totally neglected by the media for many years now. When the fashion changes, it is the media that changes, not the people. Of course, many follow the current trends, but there are people out there with a will of their own. When it comes to me, I think I have held on to my style for a very long time and never looked at any trends. Slowly, my music reaches new people and the word gets around. I think this might be better than becoming known very quick.
DM) When did you first learn you had become popular?
LM) Back around the time of my first release, a 4-track EP in 1987. Letters from all around the world started to drop in and, even though I may not have all that many fans, when you compare them to some others, they are very loyal. I feel very fortunate that so many people have stuck with me since those days.
DM) What do you outside of music for fun?
LM) Music is my whole life and I don't do much else. Sometimes, though, it gets to be too much, and then I force myself to do something else. What I like is to go to places I've never seen and also to go out on the sea. Watching a movie is also something I like better than listening to music! I work so much with music that when I don't work, I prefer to see a movie instead of listening to music.
DM) What are some of your favorite movies?
LM) "Dumb and Dumber" was really great, but I enjoy all kinds of movies from dramas to action.
DM) Is it unusual for you to watch American movies?
LM) No, not at all; nine out of ten are actually American, maybe even more.
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