Dragon Interviewed

Formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972, Dragon discussses their new EP Chase the Sun with Our Manly Music.

Brett Turner, Our Manly: I would firstly like to thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for Our Manly. The new EP sounds great! Is it hard to create something new or migrate to a new sound given the legend of a shadow cast by the old classics?

Dragon: We will never be a nostalgia band so it’s easy. We love the old songs and will always play them but we only ever look forward. We are onto something with the new songs and get a great kick out of playing unfamiliar songs that people will sing from the 2nd time they hear the chorus. We are glad you like it.

Brett Turner, Our Manly: The songs on the new EP, Chase the Sun, seem to resonate a similar sentiment to the songs of the bands earlier iconic hits yet do so in a distinctively contemporary way. What have you guys learnt from the creative processes of the past that has helped you create this new EP?

Dragon: We have learnt to just get on with making records for no other reason than it’s what we love to do. We have around 30 new songs and are going to record them as a bunch of EPs.

If your good readers want to hear the new single they can go to www.dragononline.com.au and click on 21(Heart Of Gold) to play it.

Brett Turner, Our Manly: Perhaps it’s brought to fruition from the title of the new EP, Chase the Sun, but the new songs seem to have a very summery feel to them. I can envision myself sitting on a beach in the heat, sipping a cold Corona with the new songs playing in the background. Was this spirit to the music intentional or just the way it came out naturally? 

Dragon: When the songs were being written and recorded it was mid-winter and bitterly cold and we were looking forward to the next glorious Aussie summer.







Brett Turner, Our Manly: It seems to have been a while since Dragon have toured. What if anything has changed from the early days on the road to now?

Dragon: Dragon play every weekend. We have done 360 shows since we re-formed. We don’t do big tours we meet at the airport every Friday and go somewhere different. We just turn up with our guitars and play. It’s much better now than the old days, the net has made a huge difference to being a live band. (Check out Dragon Events on Facebook)

Brett Turner, Our Manly: What would be the greatest thing you guys are looking forward to on the new tour?

Dragon: Playing many different kinds of shows (we played at the world cup in Auckland last Saturday) into summer and ending up with a big beach run in NZ in January.

Brett Turner, Our Manly: On the flip side, from previous experience, what would be the greatest things you’d like to avoid, or could do without, on the new tour?

Dragon: Lifestyle issues. Luckily we don’t have any this time round.