When House Of Lords were formed from the ashes of Giuffria it was thought that they would be the next band to make the big breakthrough. Consisting of Gregg Giuffria (Angel, Giuffria), Lanny Cordola (Giuffria), Ken Mary (Alice Cooper, Fifth Angel), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot, Giuffria) and the golden voice of ex-L.A. Rocks vocalist James Christian, the story of House Of Lords is one blighted by bad luck. Through their 3 album career if it was possible for something to go wrong, it invariably would. The constant hassles with record labels and management would fill a book even bigger than their list of credentials, but through it all the music stood tall. Powerful and pompous, gritty and grandiose, they should have been huge but alas it was not to be. The advent of the grunge movement didn’t help either. The constant struggle meant an endless procession of musicians starting with Michael Guy, who replaced Lanny before the recording of the ‘Sahara’ album. Even respected musicians like Tommy Aldridge and Doug Aldrich failed to help bring them the success they deserved. The records were ‘House Of Lords’, ‘Sahara’ and ‘Demons Down’, each one full of great songs and wonderful performances, but as sometimes happens, talent and sales don’t necessarily go hand in hand. In 1992 after 4 years and 3 albums the remaining duo of Giuffria and Christian finally called it a day. When the ex-House Of Lords trio of James Christian, Chuck Wright & Lanny Cordola played at the second Gods at the London Astoria in 1995 they announced on stage that a House Of Lords reunion was imminent. Since then nothing was heard from the guys.

Gregg Giuffria quit the music business, moved to Las Vegas, and became the very successful president of Full House Resorts, a rather large gaming machine company. James Christian moved to Florida with his wife Robin Beck and also started his own business. Chuck Wright stayed in L.A. doing session work, had yet another spell in Quiet Riot as well as providing album cover art for many projects. Ken Mary continued with session work and was also the singer in his own band Soul Shock Remedy, who released a very fine album in 1997. Michael Guy has been producing bands and doing studio work, as well as building a recording studio. Much of what they have done in the meantime is outside the Melodic Rock field, Chuck, Michael, and Ken in particular have been working with all sorts of artists from Pop to Extreme Metal to Reggae to Alternative. Then a few weeks ago they announced their return and I couldn’t wait to find out from Chuck Wright exactly where they were at in terms of future plans. All comments are by Chuck except where indicated.

So Chuck, who’s back in the band?

‘The line up is the same that made the ‘Sahara’ record, James Christian, Gregg Giuffria, Michael Guy, Ken Mary, and myself. Lanny Cordola was to have been involved too, but because of other commitments this won’t now happen. We will be bringing in Michael’s long-time friend Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands) to help out with the recording of the album.’

There have been a few rumours in recent years of a possible reunion and one or two false starts. When th announcement came, it was out of the blue. Why now?

‘Well, I personally have been wanting to do a new House Of Lords record for some time. The big hold up was the name.’

It was owned by Gene Simmons wasn’t it?

‘Yes, we had a deal a few years ago but couldn’t work out a fair arrangement with Gene Simmons. He made it impossible to do. Now we have the trademark back and we’re getting the music together.’

Who got the band back together?

‘James was approached by a European label about a new House Of Lords record and at the same time Michael Guy and I decided to get the name back into our hands. James e-mailed me and I started making calls and here we are. We’ve brought in John Purdell (producer of Ozzy, Motley Crue, Heart ) to produce the album. It’s sounding awesome. A bit heavier and less pop than before. We began writing a while ago doing some demos and we’ll begin working on the actual album recordings after a deal is struck. However, what we are recording now is far above demo standards.’

Why did the band break up in the first place?

‘After the Sahara tour we had some trouble with our management company and RCA, so we disbanded. If we would’ve been in a better label situation a lot of things would’ve been different for us in a very good way.’

You say you disbanded after the Sahara tour. Obviously James & Gregg carried on for one more album, what do you know about the situation surrounding this?

‘Well, we did disband after Simmons lost his deal with RCA. There was a lot of bad blood flowing due to some misappropriation of funds by our management and an overall disgust with the way the band was handled. It was time to move on. What James and Gregg did wasn’t House Of Lords in my estimation. It was just a mixture of a bunch of outside written songs and guest musicians. They lost the House Of Lords sound completely.’

In an interview that James did last year he said that he and Gregg had talked about doing another record but that it wouldn’t be viable for a few years yet. Do you think the musical climate has changed sufficiently to support a band like House Of Lords?

‘Most definitely. Especially in Europe. Also, there are a lot a bands back out on the road here in the U.S. and making new records that were around when we were together the first time.’

You’ve already done some recording. Are these just demos or will it be the actual album?

Michael: ‘For the most part they are song demos but most everything is keeper.’

One of the new songs ‘ Shot Gun Doctor’ has been compared, by yourselves, to Queensryche. In what way does it sound like them?

‘We meant in heaviness and lyric theme. The darker side and more intellectual. “Operation Mind Crime”, that era. I just saw them here in L.A. at the House Of Blues which they sold out 3 nights. They still have it together and the crowd loved them.’

With Gregg living in Las Vegas and James in Florida, how hard has it been to coordinate everything?

‘Well, it hasn’t been easy that’s for sure. We do plan on all getting together to finish writing and recording the record all in one place after we have a budget to do so when we finalize the record deals. For now, myself and Michael are writing song ideas, recording the tracks and sending them to James and Gregg so they can add and create their parts. Gregg is working in his home studio and sending ideas to us. James just finished the vocals at his home studio and wrote the bridge on the song ‘Shot Gun Doctor’ that we’re mixing right now with John Purdell. We were going to do this before when James lived in L.A. We wrote and recorded some killer material which is part of what’s on our plate to choose from at the moment. Right now, we have a lot of songs that we’re considering.’

Has the reunion happened as a result of the support you’ve received from fans or do you all feel that you didn’t fulfill your potential the first time around?

‘Well both actually. There’s a lot of interest out there for a new House Of Lords record, plus it would be nice to be in a better label situation. Also, we will dominate on the internet. Go to www.houseoflordsgroup.com for a taste of what we’re up too. It’s only the beginning.’

Were you surprised that Gregg was up for it?

‘Actually, yes, since he passed on the Angel reformation and because he’s now a very successful business tycoon in Las Vegas.’

How will James and Gregg fit the band into their already busy schedules?

‘Well, they both have the rock-n-roll hunger again so I think they’ll work that out.’

Why do you feel you weren’t more successful the first time?

‘Priority at a label is everything.’

You must have had other offers at the time, why did you go with Gene Simmons?

‘That was Gregg’s call. At the time there was no real band. It was basically the rebuilding of the band Giuffria which I was a part of in 1985. Gene had a deal with RCA and said he would sign us without hearing a lick of music if we got a different vocalist. I found James through working with Eyes and we struck the deal.’

In the press release it says that Michael Guy was instrumental in getting the House Of Lords name back. How did you do it Michael?

Michael: ‘I hired an attorney to do a trademark search and register the name for us. It didn’t seem fair that the band was being held back because of some legal technicalities.’

Why did Simmons try to hold onto the name if he wasn’t going to use it?

‘When Simmons heard that we were getting back together again the first time, he wanted 80% of the deal we were offered at the time just for using the name. Which left us without a budget to do the recording. Well, the name became abandoned and we jumped on it.’

Are you close to securing a new deal?

‘We have offers on the table from Europe, we’ve been approached by a couple of labels here in the States and we have a great contact in Japan that will be helping us with a deal in that territory.’

Do you see this as a long term thing, and will you persevere if the new album doesn’t sell immediately?

‘Only time will tell. We all have a lot going on in our lives and careers. This will be an awesome record so chances are will be around for awhile. We’ll let the music do the talking but I feel House Of Lords is here to stay!’

How about touring, are you looking for arena support slots or are you going out on your own?

‘Probably both. We are already working on the first video for this record, “Keys to the Kingdom”.’

What about song writing. Will it all be in-house, or will you use outside writers?

Michael: ‘I’ve got a great version of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Achilles Last Stand’ which could be nice to work up. Other than that it’s all in-house...(of Lords). ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ will be the title track.’

Without wanting to offend the guys who weren’t involved, why reform House Of Lords and not Giuffria? After all, Giuffria sold more records.

‘Well, Giuffria was more about Dave and Gregg and less about the band. House Of Lords was always a group effort. I also think House Of Lords was a more musically challenging band.’

Whilst Gregg and James have been pretty musically inactive for the last few years, the rest of you have been busy on all kinds of different projects involving several different kinds of music from Rock to Rap to Reggae. What do you think all this diversity will bring to the House Of Lords sound?

Ken: ‘I believe it will allow us to bring some new energy and sounds to House Of Lords. Since we’ve been working in so many different areas musically, I think it will give us more creative sources to draw from and put some new twists on the House Of Lords sound.’

Ken, you’re known as a great drummer on countless records and tours, but you did a great job singing on the Soul Shock Remedy CD. Is that something you would like to do more of?

Ken: ‘The Soul Shock CD was a great experience and I enjoy singing as well as drumming. I really love everything about music and production, so honestly I’d like to do more of EVERYTHING!’

Chuck, as well as your bass playing and organisational skills, you provide cover artwork for many albums. Will you be doing the cover for the new album?

‘That’s the plan. I’ve been a computer generated graphic arts professional for the past 4 years. It was a hobby that I now do as well as playing music as a job.’

Chuck, you played with James at the 2nd Gods in London in 1995 and seemed to have a good time. As the USA is generally apathetic to all melodic music these days, how important in your plans is Japan, and more importantly to us, Europe?

‘We had a blast in London and hoped that that show would launch the new House Of Lords, but as I said, we were foiled. We all love foreign lands and the fact that the rock fans there are a lot more loyal.’

Chuck, what is your favorite album of all the many that you’ve been involved with?

‘That’s a tough one for me. I’ve been involved with over 50 albums so far and they all have there special moments and parts that I like. I did have a bass solo on the Quiet Riot ‘QR3’ album which is very interesting in that it’s 12 tracks of basses playing against each other.’

What music do you listen to at home?

‘I have a very diverse musical taste buds. I love Sting, Seal, and good ole’ AC/DC and Zeppelin. My song of the moment though is ‘Only One Word’ off the new Kip Winger album.’

Nice one! I wish them all the success in the world and I for one can’t wait to hear the new album. If there’s any justice in the world they’ll be with us for a long time.