We recently had the chance to catch up with Martie Peters, the veteran Danish singer, songwriter, and frontman for Sateria, PUSH, and the Martie Peters Group. The release of MPG’s self-titled debut album in 2005 via MTM Records featured monster tracks like “Riot on the 5th Floor” and “The Beast Inside,” resulting in waves of stellar reviews. The response to this year’s follow-up, ‘Road to Salvation’, is proving to be even more intense, with demand for live shows exploding globally.
At the time of this interview, just a couple of weeks ago, the “if and when” regarding the possibility of MPG answering the requests of US fans to hear tracks like “Shallow” and “Swimming In Your Blue Eyes” live were sketchy at best. We are thrilled to announce that the “if” is no longer a question, and the “when” is coming a lot sooner than originally anticipated!
The Martie Peters Group will, in fact, be appearing right here in the States as part of the Melodicrock.com 10th Anniversary Festival in South Bend, Indiana, this October. Grab your tickets fast, and join Martie alongside guitarist Martin Slott, BJ “Mr. Bass,” and Jacob Schlein on drums for what promises to be an unforgettable live experience this fall. For now, join us here at Blast as Martie fills us in on, well, everything else…
Blast: First of all, congratulations on the success of Road to Salvation. It is a fantastic melodic rock album from start to finish, though I admit I am a bit partial to “Waitin’ In Line.” Do you have a personal favorite track on the record?
Martie Peters: Thank you very much for the kind reception. My personal favorite is “Chosen One,” which means a lot to me.
Blast: Honestly, any of the tracks on the CD could be successfully released as singles; they’re all that strong. What made “Shallow” the definitive first choice to introduce the album?
MP: You’re right, it was kind of hard to pick which one I should use first. Ultimately, I went with “Shallow” because I felt it perfectly represented everything about what I stand for right now. It’s probably the track that is the most up-to-date sound-wise, but it still heavily rocks. That is exactly what I wanted people to hear—that I still rock!
Blast: What are your current plans as far as touring goes?
MP: Right now, we are locking down a European tour for the fall which includes Germany, Denmark, Holland, and Belgium. But I would absolutely love to add some proper shows in the US. It’s difficult, though; it’s incredibly expensive and very hard logistically to set up club dates in America from overseas. But we are fooling around with some creative ideas, and we might just do something extra there later in the year. Cross your fingers…
Blast: Your music, stretching from your days in PUSH to the present, is incredibly diverse both musically and lyrically. What drives your inspiration to write?
MP: Life in general and my own imagination! [laughs] It used to be that I just made up a lot of stories about sex and rock ‘n’ roll. But this time around, with Road to Salvation, the lyrics are deeply personal. They describe the absolute hell I went through in 2005 when I got divorced. To some listeners, they may just seem like very straightforward songs about a broken heart, but they mean the world to me.
This time around, I also wrote a few songs with my good friend Matt Tritico. They were actually poems he wrote about ten years ago, and I composed the music for them and added a verse of my own here and there. It turned out really great. We might just do that collaboration again on the next record.
Blast: MPG has frequently been referred to as the “re-birth” of PUSH, especially since it involves musicians you’ve shared the stage with in the past. To give some of your newer fans a little context, what would you say are the major differences between the two projects?
MP: The single biggest difference is that I am entirely my own boss now, and I call all the technical and creative shots. No more endless arguments in the rehearsal room. Martin Slott came along for the ride because we have a fantastic songwriting partnership, and his guitar playing fits my writing and vocal style perfectly.
PUSH was fundamentally a party rock band—we loved to get drunk and fool around on tour. To be honest, we still love to do that! [laughs] But MPG is serious business most of the time. I can take my music in any artistic direction I feel like, whereas in PUSH, we always had to deliver that specific party rock style because that was the only common ground we could all agree on.
Blast: What is the most rewarding aspect of fronting MPG for you personally?
MP: It acts as genuine therapy for me. I am actually a very shy person by nature, and some of the emotional issues I tackle on Road to Salvation are very hard for me to deal with openly. So, I write music, and it helps process those things—it really does. And then when I look at the finished album art and credits, I still go, “Wow, that really is me!”
Blast: A couple of years ago, you indicated that the local rock scene in Denmark was a little less than exciting. Has the climate over there improved at all?
MP: It’s better than it used to be, though it’s mostly heavy metal and extreme bands coming out of the scene over here right now. But basically, it’s the exact same struggle as everywhere else, I guess.
Blast: You’ve spent some significant time working alongside Mike Tramp [White Lion], both performing on his solo albums and supporting him on the road. That must be one hell of a live show! Are there any plans to tour with him again in the near future?
MP: We’re very good friends, but he’s incredibly busy these days with White Lion 2. They are out touring the US stadiums with Poison this summer, so nothing will happen between us here and now. But I would absolutely love to hit the road and open for him down the line—that would make for a fantastic double bill.
Blast: Is there any bucket-list venue or country you haven’t played yet that you’d love to conquer?
MP: America and the moon!
Blast: Doesn’t get much more goal-oriented than that! As US rock fans have become more familiar with your catalog, there’s been a loud demand for you to play here. What are the realistic odds of a full US tour happening?
MP: As I hinted at earlier, it might just happen sooner rather than later—we will just have to wait and see how the festival goes. But if you know a promoter who wants to have us out, let me know!
Blast: When you take the stage with MPG, are we likely to hear many classic PUSH songs mixed into the setlist?
MP: We only play a couple of the older PUSH songs during the encore. Most of what we do live now is strictly material from the new album.
Blast: Who would you cite as some of your strongest musical influences?
MP: Rod Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls, John Waite, Def Leppard, Enuff Z’Nuff, and countless others.
Blast: At what specific point in your life did you realize music was taking over your career path?
MP: When I was in high school, I realized that music was the absolute best way of expressing my internal feelings… and to get in touch with girls! [laughs] So, I formed a local band with my good old mate, Rene Shades. It paid off instantly.
Blast: What keeps you busy when you’re not actively writing, recording, or playing music?
MP: My two children—I have twin boys. They are eight years old now, and I love them more than life itself. Outside of family, I am also a completely mad soccer fan.
Blast: What does the ultimate future hold for the Martie Peters Group?
MP: More studio albums and massive world tours… hopefully!
Blast: We certainly hope so, too! Do you have any final words for the fans reading this?
MP: Thank you so much for your unwavering support over the years. You guys are truly one of the biggest reasons I am still surviving in this crazy business! See you all out on the road!
Blast: Martie, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today! We hope to see you tearing up the stage on the road very soon!
Alright, readers, so that’s the deal. What else can I say? If you haven’t picked up your copy of ‘Road to Salvation’ yet, it is an absolute melodic rock masterpiece that you cannot afford to miss. You can check out our comprehensive, track-by-track review of the record right here at Blast, along with plenty of extra media on MPG’s official website.
And if you haven’t secured your Melodicrock.com Festival tickets yet… what are you waiting for?! While we’re certainly hoping this opens the door for more US dates with MPG down the line, we’re definitely not willing to risk missing this historic showcase. Are you? Didn’t think so! See you in South Bend!!
