Arjen Lucassen: I am awful to work with (laughing). At least in the one term. It’s easier to work with someone if a singer is here for about two days, that’s no problem. If I would have to work with someone for a year, or work with a band, it would be impossible. I am a horrible control freak, I’m a perfectionist and I want things my way if I think it’s better.
I’m not easy to work with, so I’m really glad I can do everything on my own. Having said that, if I have a singer here, I work with amazing talents like Bruce Dickinson, James LaBrie, Devin Townsend and Michael Akerfelt. You’re not going to tell them that they have to do it exactly like this. They are geniuses, so you let them go for it and do their own thing.
You’re obviously big in Europe, but is there any chance for a US tour?
The thing is, touring with Ayreon is completely impossible. On the last Ayreon album I had 17 singers who all have their own bands and projects, so you could never get those people together for a couple of months in the same band. Star One is possible, because like I did last year, a short tour. Still, it’s very difficult to set up, because you have to gather 10 people in the band; five singers and five musicians. They all have to be available. They all have their own bands. Russell is very busy with Symphony X, Floor is busy with Revamp, etc.
Then of course you have to fly them all over and put them in hotels and rehearse for a couple of months. To set it up is very time consuming and very expensive. So I have no plans to do so at the moment, but the option is there. Basically, if everyone had the time or be available to do it we'd be willing to do it.
I’m a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar. Is Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy or The Wall direct inspirations for your rock operas?
100% with Jesus Christ Superstar. It’s really the reason why I do all this, the first one with Ian Gillen. As a kid, I was mesmerized by that album. Reading all the lyrics, following the story, hearing all these great voices. Jesus Christ Superstar is the best ever, and I don’t think anyone can mimic anything better than it, it’s just brilliant.
Of course later on, like you said, you had the Who with Tommy and don’t forget Quadrophenia, which was a great rock opera as well. Pink Floyd with The Wall was amazing. Later on with Queensrÿche with Operation Mindcrime. I’ve always wanted to do stuff like that, but when you’re in a metal band and you’re standing on stage drunk jumping around, you’re not going to do stuff like that. But I’ve always known that one day I would set it up myself, whether it would be successful or not, I really set my mind on doing that.
Aryeon’s The Human Equation hit it big. Were you surprised by the acceptance from it, especially in America?
I was surprised that the whole Ayreon concept worked when I did the first album back in 1994. That was the days of grunge and I never really expected anyone to like it. All these different styles of music. And then it started to sell, the first two albums were successful, then I got very successful with my third album Electric Castle. Indeed, The Human Equation was the most complete album I did and could be the most successful together with Electric Castle.
By that time, I was already more arrogant because I knew it worked. So I was not surprised. It sounds very arrogant, but when I did that album, it just felt good. It was the right cast of singers and it just felt right. With those two albums, I had no worries or doubts. It’s great that it’s so successful in the U.S. Believe it or not, the U.S. as a whole is my biggest market. People seem to love it there. What more can you wish for?
What’s next for you?
I’m going to do a lot of promotion for this album, a lot of networking on the internet. I love talking to the fans about the album and stuff. I think I’m finally going to do what I’ve wanted to do for 10 years, do a solo album. I’m always looking for new challenges and it will be a new challenge to do an album without all those guest singers and guest musicians. I feel I can make it interesting.
