Q -first intro to guitar?
CR: I first tuned into the guitar after hearing "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE" by Zeppelin. That album got me into the whole thing I was hooked !!

Q -when and how did music become a profession/career? (is it a career, or do you have something else non-musical on the go as well?)
CR: As soon as I got my first guitar, aged 13, I was a musician as far as I was concerned. If I did other jobs I did them in between music jobs. Over the last four years I have done nothing but music whether it be Production or Guitar playing.

Q -through your years on the scene, who have you played with? any big name musos?
CR: Very early on , I was 17, I played in a band called MAZY ZED which supported JUDAS PRIEST at the SOUTHPORT ARTS CENTRE in 1974. It was organized by a couple of so called managers and was a flop. Priest took the money from the door about £60 (I think they where supposed to get £500) and took down all their one off FX like flashes and stuff and played the gig. I remember them watching my band from the stage side we must have seemed young to them at that time. Later on I supported a very new DEF LEPPARD they had just released their first single and my band supported them at OSCARS in LIVERPOOL in about 1978/9 I think. We later contacted their ex - manager FRANK STEWART BROWN to come and see us. He was in the middle of suing the band after they dumped him. He came to see us and was very impressed but nothing ever came of it.

Q -any offers or chances with big acts?
CR: I did a lot of session work with BRIAN POOLE (of the TEMOLOES) His daughters did some backing vocals on a track I did for him. They later went on to have top ten hits as ALESIAS ATTIC (not sure if that's how you spell it). As far as offers are concerned we get them all the time ! We have been offered contracts with EMI and THRESHOLD by people at gigs. Of course nothing ever comes of it.

Q -what recordings have you been on prior to Cobra?
CR: I had an album released as a sound track to a video called "KNOCKDOWNS" This was a Kick Boxing Video which I don't think is available anymore. Of course I did "WALL OF SILENCE" with RICK BONNER which was released as a charity CD. I'm sure you know it was later covered by GUNHILL. I didn't get a credit for BONNER'S CD 'cos we fell out after that about something else, but "JOSHUA" was on there which will be on my solo CD "JOURNEYS END". I have done lots of recording during my session days but most of it will be obscure or not released. Mostly a lot of "re-records" and Karaoke stuff :-)))

Q -how did Cobra come together?
CR: Steve Wilde and myself just finished with a band we were in 'cos the singer was a brat and decided to get COBRA started, simple as that really.

Q -how did you hook up with Neil Kavanagh?
CR: I first met Neil on the "WALL OF SILENCE" sessions. We did that track and "JOSHUA" with DAVE AVERY on drums. I knew I had found a good team for my solo CD. That was in 1996 I think.

Q -on the "Endangered Species" CD, the band is credited with writing -- how much of a band effort is the songwriting? how do songs come together?
CR: The writing is mostly me and Steve Cardinal Venom,.. in fact it's all me and SCV. Most of the songs were my music to his lyrics but one or two were mine or Steve's. "THEN" is mine "IN AND OUT OF FAVOUR" is Steve's.

Q -where did the album title come from? any meaning to it?
CR : Bands like us are definitely an "ENDANGERED SPECIES" :-))))

Q -your music really has a blues based straight ahead rock direction, with no BS and simple production values -- is that how you see it? and what sort of influences / ideas created the "Cobra" sound/direction??
CR: Yes in general that is correct. I didn't produce the CD up to much I wanted to get across how we sounded live. The only overdubs are rhythm guitar on all tracks and vocal harmonies on THEN. I wanted it to sound like a 70's Rock Album that was it just like those great old Albums we all love.

Q -Endangered Species (to me) compares nicely to Gunhill's "Nightheat" CD. Do you see this as a fair comparison?
CR: Yes I think so although they had four great muso's on that CD all with lots of experience. I went into the studio with three guys who had never recorded before !! So it was hard. I would like to see GUNHILL do something slightly harder edged next time but that's just me.

Q-why the cover of "The House of The Rising Sun"? (ever heard BTO's version?)
CR: Nope never heard BTO's version. We did it because everyone that heard our version said it was great !

Q -what can you tell me about a few of the following songs in a few words (be it inspiration, influence, memory of writing, or opinion. I've picked a few of my faves from the CD) > You Unleashed The Evil (reminiscent of old Sweet to me, maybe the drums!?)
CR: SWEET !!!! oh my GOD NO. :-))) It's supposed to be hard fast and heavy. I wrote it in about 30 minutes just through a few riffs together and gave it to Steve who did the Lyrics. When we recorded it Skinshedder comes over to me and says he has a problem in playing it !!! (bit late to say that when the clock is ticking) So we did about ten bloody takes on the drums and took the best, which was still not right. When SCV was doing the vocals he gave it so much spite that he nearly passed out!!! He was gasping for breath like he was drowning. SCV gets into character for a song like that so out went technique and in came anger !

Q -Then (classic ballad!)
CR: Yep just that BON JOVI nuff said.

Q -Debtors Army (reminds me Foghat for some reason!)
CR: Not familiar with FOGHAT but we used to call it ACE OF SPADES MARK TWO :-))

Q -Love To Capacity (great blues ballad, love the guitar!!)
CR: Nightmare with this one it's in 6/8 and Steve Wilde and Skinshedder can only count up to Four :-))) We nailed it in the end though. For the solo I just thought GARY MOORE but played major scales instead of blues scales, well sort of.

Q -Pauper's Grave
CR: One of SCV's songs but I changed it and gave it a great riff. I layered the guitars on this one a lot as well. Also used a different tuning on one of the guitars.

Q -As Good As It Gets
CR: Best song on the CD and Classic COBRA; simple song with a good arrangement. This song has it all. I love it. It seemed to come together the best as well.

Q -any personal favorites for you on the CD?
CR: AS GOOD AS IT GETS , HEADING FOR A FALL.

Q -what can you tell me briefly about each of the other guys in the band? Steve has a voice that reminds me at times of such singers as Glenn Hughes, David Coverdale, Ian Gillan, and Tony Martin -- the Deep Purple/Black Sabbath 'school'. Do you see this as a fair comparison? anyone else Steve may compare to, or has been told he sounds like?
CR: Steve Cardinal Venom would like that he has also been likened to SAMMY HAGAR. He also writes great lyrics and some magic Rock tunes. Like a lot of singers he is a character and is a great front man. I have seen him get a crowd of TWO people going without any fear. Steve Wilde has only been playing for about four years so although he is the oldest he is the least experienced. Vince the drummer is the new boy but already he has taken Cobra's sound and given it a massive boost.

Q -what does the Cobra set list consist of? Originals, any covers (anything specific)??
CR: We do over 100 gigs a year doing mostly Pubs and Clubs. Our set list consists of mainly covers because of that. Stuff like BORN TO BE WILDE, FREEBIRD, WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE, ROCK n ROLL, SUMMER OF 69. We always put some of are own stuff in there though and in general it goes down very well.

Q -how is the band's following? (you are well organized!)
CR: We have a big mailing list now including fans over seas in RUSSIA, BRAZIL USA oh yeah and one guy in CANADA :-))) ! We can count on a small but loyal turn up of fans to every gig.

Q -How well was the CD received? any glowing reviews in the press over there?
CR: So far the CD has been well received, but as far as press coverage is concerned we are not the type of band that gets played on the radio over here I am afraid. But it is something that we are working on now that Vince has settled in, it has come back to the top of the list.

Q -what sort of breaks has the band had as far as any major media mentions/coverage, opening act slots??
CR: We did a big Charity event on the Sea front in Brighton (UK) in our first year. Also we played to 38,000 people on Boxing Day 98 at Arsenal FC that was a good gig !!!

Q -how far along is the band on the next album? song's written, demoed?
CR: We don't demo stuff we have the bones of all the songs for the next CD written. We are currently Playing four of those numbers live and intend to record those four in July. The next session will be in September followed by a third in December to finish off recording. I will mix in Jan/Feb 2000 and the CD will be out in March/ April just in time for HV2K :-).

Q -what can you tell me about the possible involvement of Ken Hensley and John Lawton on your next album? (How this came about?) Is the idea for them to 'guest' on a few tracks. produce, or write anything?
CR: I had the Idea a few months ago and e-mailed Ken expecting to get a polite knock back. Instead he said no probs straight away. Then I thought, hang on I should ask John, so I asked through Neil if John would help and he said yes as well simple as that. The Idea is for them to guest on any or all of the songs I send them. As I said before we have already written the songs. As far as production is concerned Neil Kavanagh and I will do that as we did last time on ENDANGERED SPECIES.

Q -what's the plan for your solo album? will it be all instrumental? any guests? when will it be out? (this is a 'tribute' to great guitar players!?)
CR: I am in the Studio June 6th to finish off recording and mixing. Hopefully the CD will be out by AUGUST.

Q -favorite guitar players?? (older generations, and anyone fairly new, any major influences)
CR: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robin Trower, Joe Satriani, Joe Pass, Gary Moore, Terge Rypdal, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page oh and Andy Powell and Mel Galley. Influences from all of them and Miles Davis.

Q -favorite bands, musos, songwriters??
CR: Bands are YES , ZEPPELIN, FLOYD, HEEP :-), DEEP PURPLE, and TRAPEZE. Muso's - JOE SATRIANI , MILES DAVIS, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN.

Q -favorite album of all-time?
CR: "YOU ARE THE MUSIC WE ARE JUST THE BAND" Trapeze.

Q -favorite Uriah Heep songs??
CR: THE WIZARD off Demons and Wizards.

Q -thoughts on music scene in UK? (good - bad? any hope for real bands like yourselves?)
CR: The music scene in the UK is based on fad and fashion. There is always hope :-)) .

Q -thoughts on modern music (ie techno, rap, alternative...)
CR: Nice if you like that kind of thing.

Q -hobbies and interests outside of music? (family?)
CR: Two kids and one Mrs. 2 years, 3 years and 21 again :-))