DragonForce
- Story by Kory Grow
British power-metallers DragonForce finally make the big leap...across the pond
In November 2005, DragonForce thought they could finally play a gig in North America. After touring Europe and Japan almost exclusively since they’d formed, they were as eager as one of their wheedling guitar solos. Ever since their catchy, epic victory calls topped the metal chart on MP3.com five years earlier, the British power-metalloids’ fanbase had grown steadily. Now with a new record deal and the international release of their fourth album of speedy power metal, Inhuman Rampage [Roadrunner], a US tour seemed possible. They even booked a gig at every budding rock star’s dream club, CBGB. But their optimism lasted only until they reached the airport.
“They basically thought I was a terrorist,” says the quintet’s Hong-Kong-born riffmaster general Herman Li, about finally making it to the front of the customs queue. “They had some guy with the same name as me on the FBI list, and they said, ‘You can’t go into the country. We’re
not giving you a visa until after some investigation.’”
“I think it was really because they just don’t like his guitar playing,” laughs singer Z.P. Theart. Li ended up waiting a month before customs would issue him a visa, and the group had to cancel the performance. The three members not deemed national threats still made it to a signing at the rock Mecca and played half a song with a fan on drums, which Li’s fellow guitarist Sam Totman recalls, was a disaster.
Almost six months later, DragonForce finally have the opportunity to make good. Seated around a conference table in Roadrunner’s New York office, Li, Theart, Totman and keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov can laugh about the incident. Luckily, they’re used to silly misunderstandings—from their diehard fans as much as the authorities.
“People think, just because they read ‘DragonForce,’ that we sing about dragons,” says Li, dispelling any D&D connections. “We play video games,” he continues. “That’s our generation.” In fact, he likes video games so much he cites soundtracks to Street Fighter, OutRun, and Wonder Boy in Monster Land as the main influence on his shredding. Nevertheless, European fans show up to gigs dressed as Gandalf or Darth Vader, wearing chain mail or brandishing plastic swords and shields.
DragonForce have found North American audiences just as dedicated. “I think it was the first show in Toronto,” says Li, “there was a guy with a hammer this big.” He spreads his arms about three feet apart. “I don’t know how he got it through the door. He could hit about five people at a time with it.” At least their fans don’t face the same customs restrictions as the band.
