Marko Hietala thinks it’s possible that Tarot will continue to play gigs occasionally.
It was last summer Marko Hietalan exceptional on the gig front. After a long hiatus, the Tarot band made a comeback in Kuopio when the band was invited to perform at the Old Farts Rock festival, the proceeds of which are donated to charity.
– It was a bit of a bummer for us as well, Hietala describes the request in Iltalehti’s challenge.
– We were asked if it was time. It was concluded that we can do one gig. It doesn’t obligate anything or put the band on the run, the singer-bassist justifies.
Marko Hietala’s Tarot band made a comeback last summer. Rosa Bröijer
There was really interest: the tickets were sold out in a minute. Another gig was wanted from Tarot.
The day before their official appearance, Tarot performed an outdoor gig in the festival area.
– Half of the fees from the second gig were given to charity and we also took a little training fee for ourselves, Hietala admits.
More gigs?
Hietala considers similar individual Tarot gigs to be possible in the future. Next summer, the band will be seen in Tuska, Nummirock and Kuopiorock.
An actual tour doesn’t seem likely. Hietala is the only one of the band members who supports himself with music. Other members have their civilian occupations and personal life responsibilities that tie them to the home.
Tarot was created by Janne Tolsa, Tommi Salmela, Marko Hietala, Pecu Cinnari and Zachary Hietala. Tarot homepage
Last summer’s performances in Kuopio decided that gigging is even considered now. The training went well with the old friends, but on stage the band’s old attitude and aggressiveness surprised me.
– It rose from behind like a black cloud. Everyone pulls to the very end. We looked at each other and were amazed that we are having such a hard time.
Grief
The Drummer of the Tarot Pecu Cinnari died exhausted by a long-term illness in 2016. Hietala reflected in the book published in 2017 Rustproof-in his biography, does the death of one member also mean the end of the band’s story.
Cinnari and Hietala played together for 30 years. For a long time, when starting Tarot production, the first thing that came to me was sadness.
– It’s not a good combo. Playing rock should be fun. Now that several years have passed, we realized that this can be done. It no longer felt depressing, on the contrary, Hietala says now.
We have tried to respect the old friend by sticking to the band’s original groove.
– Yes, he comes to mind, but not with such gloom that it would have a limiting effect on one’s own activities.
Marko Hietala is currently focusing on his solo career. Rosa Bröijer
New material
Hietala does not rule out the possibility of a new Tarot production. There are unfinished song samples in the archives that could be worked on further.
However, writing tarot pieces does not seem essential at this point. Hietala focuses on his solo career. It would seem funny to try to write two different albums at the same time.
– We’ll have to see how next summer’s parties feel with the boys, to see if there’d be any enthusiasm to go check out those hard drive demo materials.
Hietala founded the Tarot group in the early 1980s with his brother Zachary Hietalan with. The band’s latest studio album, The Spell of Iron – album’s 25th anniversary release was published in 2011.