STUNG BY SCORPIONS

English translation of an interview with Paul, conducted by Marc Allard, LeSoleil, Saturday, March 15, 2008 (see left)

When Scorpions burned up the Plains of Abraham during the 2006 Summer Festival, a Quebec City group replaced the Scorpions for one song, “Blackout”. The crowd never realized bands switched until singer Klaus Meine introduced these guys.

 “My friends, oh yeah, I guess, I guess that’s the moments the dreams, the dreams come true, for these guys here, you know, there the ones, our favorite Scorpions tribute band, the best one in the world, all the way from Quebec, your boys, here onstage with us, this is IN TRANCE!!!!!” he yelled at the 90,000+ fans packed on the Plains.

 For Paul Gagné, it was consecration. Since he founded IN TRANCE, 12 years ago, it was the first time Scorpions publicly recognized the huge talent of the band consisting of Paul Gagné (rhythm guitar), Steeve Chiasson (drums), Stéphane Dorval (vocals), Marc-André Gingras (lead guitar)* and Jeff Carrier(bass).

 IN TRANCE founder Paul was stung by Scorpions, when he was 11 years old in 1982. Back from church in his hometown St.Redempteur, on an sunny April Sunday morning, he helped out his father cleaning the family car. Then “No One Like You” came out of the car radio, and Paul froze still. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve heard in my life then. I still have chills, thinking about that moment. The dramatic, pompous side of that song, a quasi-religious experience.”

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

 Paul first saw his favorite band play in 1982 at the Coliseum, opening for Rainbow. The young man fell under the spell of the energy of rhythm guitarist and Scorpions’ founder Rudolf Schenker. “When I saw him, I told myself that’s I want to do with my life”, tells us this guitar maker who happens now to run the guitar repair shop at famous Richard’s Music Store.

 He saw them again in 1984** and when the Scorpions were back in 1988 for their “Savage Amusement Tour”, Paul was lucky enough to get a backstage pass to meet his idol, Rudolf Schenker, to whom he had sent a 12-page letter months before. Then Rudolf Schenker remembered “Yes-yes-yes!!! I remember! It was you!!!! Then he told the others: “ It him the crazy kid I told you about!. Okay Paul, I really need to talk with you after the show. Are you availaible?” The young man came back after the show and tech talked with Rudolf and bass player Francis Buchholz until 2am.

 Paul always believed that the Scorpions were one of the most underestimated band of rock history. He made this belief his mission. “This band will always be remembered for the songs, not enough for me though, but never acclaimed for its huge technical habilities. It’s very frustrating. Three hugely influential lead-guitarist came out of this band (Michael Schenker, Uli-Jon Roth, Matthias Jabs) who are awesome players. On the other hand, Rudolf Schenker and his band inspired Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Dream Theater, Europe, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Nickelback and thousands of others”, said Paul in a recent e-mail to us.

“I play songs I like, and we take the liberty to modify some of them and they (Scorpions) are the first to say: “Gee, we really liked the way you played this song” “- Paul Gagné, leader/founder of Scorpions tribute IN TRANCE

 Since he made a very special custom guitar for Rudolf Schenker in 1994, Paul Gagné always kept contact with Scorpions. At a time they wrote letters, now they exchange text messages. Sign of the times.

 Meanwhile, IN TRANCE built a reputation here and around the globe by recreating the music and onstage magic of Scorpions shows with exact replicas of their famous guitars, clothes and stage props. Paul Gagné do not really care that some people make fun of tribute bands, accusing them of lacking of originality. “I play music, the music I like the most, and we take the liberty to modify some of the songs and they (Scorpions) are the first to say: “Gee, we really liked the way you played this song” “.

 Photo caption: Paul Gagné posing with one of his Flying V guitar replicas, as used by Rudolf Schenker.

 *Guitarist Marc-André Gingras was absent from IN TRANCE at that moment, touring with his band MAG Project, supporting Yngwie Malmsteen and doing other projects. Marcel Dufour replaced him until November 2007, upon his return.

 **  Journalist forgot to mention 1984 Love At First Sting Tour.