Photo by Jason Squires
Adding Andrew Freeman as vocalist, the original members of 1980’s rock band Dio reunited, forming Last in Line, a band created to play the Dio classics and to honor the memory of Ronnie James Dio. Taking their name from the deceased legend’s album released thirty-four years ago, Last in Line released Heavy Crown in February 2016.
Photo by Jason Squires Only a month before the album release date, bassist Jimmy Bain passed away on tour from lung cancer, leaving Last in Line with the decision of whether or not to continue. Because of the accolades Heavy Crown was already garnering, the band made the decision to pick up bassist Phil Soussan and continue performing.
At Rocklahoma, Soussan was already an integral piece of Last in Line, although he did recognize that some strange feelings surrounded his presence.
Said Soussan of being in Last in Line, “I would describe it as a bittersweet experience. I am very happy to be doing this, but there is also a bit of sadness involved.”
At Rocklahoma, Soussan was already an integral piece of Last in Line, although he did recognize that some strange feelings surrounded his presence.
Said Soussan of being in Last in Line, “I would describe it as a bittersweet experience. I am very happy to be doing this, but there is also a bit of sadness involved.”
Before performing in Last in Line, Soussan—in addition to doing music—served as Vice President of the Grammy Foundation and chairman of their Advocacy Committee until about a year ago, when he termed out.
“Everyone is familiar with the awards show of course,” he said about the Grammys, “but what we do the other 364 days of the year [involves] advocacy issues and MusiCares* and [other] really important programs.”
Soussan also plays in a celebrity band called Big Noise, with whom he traveled to Kuwait and Iraq for two weeks to entertain the troops.
“It gave me a whole deal of respect for people who are in the military and for the sacrifices they make,” recalled Soussan.
The experience, he explained, has had a lasting impact on him. “I met this guy up at the bar last night who is in the military,” he remembered, “and the minute that came up there was an instant bond, which is really nice.”
“Everyone is familiar with the awards show of course,” he said about the Grammys, “but what we do the other 364 days of the year [involves] advocacy issues and MusiCares* and [other] really important programs.”
Soussan also plays in a celebrity band called Big Noise, with whom he traveled to Kuwait and Iraq for two weeks to entertain the troops.
“It gave me a whole deal of respect for people who are in the military and for the sacrifices they make,” recalled Soussan.
The experience, he explained, has had a lasting impact on him. “I met this guy up at the bar last night who is in the military,” he remembered, “and the minute that came up there was an instant bond, which is really nice.”
Photo by Jason Squires
At shows, despite twelve new songs off Heavy Crown, Last in Line plays almost exclusively old Dio songs, and only spices up the set with around four new tracks. However, the band doesn’t mind because of how much the fans love the old music.
“It’s amazing because we play these songs and they’re thirty-three years old and people are going crazy. They’re screaming and yelling, and they know the lyrics!” said legendary drummer Vinny Appice incredulously. “To see it survive that long and have that kind of life—it’s amazing.”
“It’s amazing because we play these songs and they’re thirty-three years old and people are going crazy. They’re screaming and yelling, and they know the lyrics!” said legendary drummer Vinny Appice incredulously. “To see it survive that long and have that kind of life—it’s amazing.”
Photo by Jason Squires
A group of successful musicians, the members of Last in Line have all traveled the world, and therefore have experienced some wonderful foods.
Soussan revealed his rather odd favorite place to eat: Finland. “The food there is really incredible gourmet food,” he explained.
On top of that, Soussan is quite partial to Japanese food, and let slip that he in fact owns a high-end Japanese restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, called Kaiju, which means “monster” or “sea creature.”
“It’s been open about a year,” said Soussan. “It’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for 20 years.”
Soussan has also been a contestant on Guy Fieri’s cooking show, and is—according to his website—an “avid gourmet chef.”
Obviously, this translates to the rest of Last in Line being very well-fed. Campbell remembered one particular meal Soussan cooked: “He made homemade pizza on a pizza stone, made the dough, rolled the dough, and it was served looking like a gourmet chef’s, as opposed to me who makes tuna fish sandwiches.”
Soussan revealed his rather odd favorite place to eat: Finland. “The food there is really incredible gourmet food,” he explained.
On top of that, Soussan is quite partial to Japanese food, and let slip that he in fact owns a high-end Japanese restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, called Kaiju, which means “monster” or “sea creature.”
“It’s been open about a year,” said Soussan. “It’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for 20 years.”
Soussan has also been a contestant on Guy Fieri’s cooking show, and is—according to his website—an “avid gourmet chef.”
Obviously, this translates to the rest of Last in Line being very well-fed. Campbell remembered one particular meal Soussan cooked: “He made homemade pizza on a pizza stone, made the dough, rolled the dough, and it was served looking like a gourmet chef’s, as opposed to me who makes tuna fish sandwiches.”
Photo of one of Kaiju Sushi's dishes, from their website
Any seasoned musician has spent countless hours working on technique, sound production, and style. Last in Line is no different, but they’ve harnessed technology to make their practicing easier.
Soussan uses an app called Anytune Pro, which he swore has changed his life. “It’s an application on your phone [and it] basically allows you to go over sections, or repitch, retune, or slow things down,” he explained.
A tool such as that is invaluable to a musician on crunch time, like Soussan was last summer.
“I had to learn ninety-two songs in a month, and it was insane,” Soussan laughed.
Appice spoke about a gig he was preparing for at the time called Rock Legends, which took place on June 18th in Temecula, California. He performed with Last in Line’s singer Andy Freeman, along with old Dio members Craig Goldy on guitar and Rudy Sarzo on bass.
“We’re playing with an orchestra,” said Appice. “I’ve never played with an orchestra… You got to play the songs exactly that many bars, because they’re reading music. It’s not like us where it’s Oh, shit! Let’s go one more time! This has got to be a very exact thing, so it’s a very challenging thing to do.”
Thinking about the upcoming event seemed to make Appice nervous as he joked, “The conductor is behind me. He can’t even follow me. I’ll need a rearview mirror!”
Soussan uses an app called Anytune Pro, which he swore has changed his life. “It’s an application on your phone [and it] basically allows you to go over sections, or repitch, retune, or slow things down,” he explained.
A tool such as that is invaluable to a musician on crunch time, like Soussan was last summer.
“I had to learn ninety-two songs in a month, and it was insane,” Soussan laughed.
Appice spoke about a gig he was preparing for at the time called Rock Legends, which took place on June 18th in Temecula, California. He performed with Last in Line’s singer Andy Freeman, along with old Dio members Craig Goldy on guitar and Rudy Sarzo on bass.
“We’re playing with an orchestra,” said Appice. “I’ve never played with an orchestra… You got to play the songs exactly that many bars, because they’re reading music. It’s not like us where it’s Oh, shit! Let’s go one more time! This has got to be a very exact thing, so it’s a very challenging thing to do.”
Thinking about the upcoming event seemed to make Appice nervous as he joked, “The conductor is behind me. He can’t even follow me. I’ll need a rearview mirror!”
It was an absolute pleasure and honor speaking with these rock legends at Rocklahoma 2016, and I hope to catch them at a live show in the future.
*MusiCares is a vital charity run by the Grammy Foundation that provides financial and medical support to musicians and aids them in times of personal emergency and need. To learn more, click here!
Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. She is the editor and founder of TeenView Music and editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper, as well as a dedicated musician. As principal flutist of her school’s orchestra and band as well as a bass trombonist in jazz, she believes that she would not have a life if it weren’t for music.
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