If You Can Dream It: An Exclusive Interview With RONNIE ATKINS
By
George Dionne,
Podcaster
Monday, October 16, 2023 @ 11:23 AM
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Photo Credit: Tallee Savage
Danish vocalist RONNIE ATKINS is widely known for his work with Heavy Metal outfit PRETTY MAIDS. Formed in 1981, PRETTY MAIDS went on to release 16 albums over the next three and a half decades. Most fans and critics will agree that their 1987 album Future World was near perfection and ranks as the definitive PRETTY MAIDS release. Personally I agree and disagree with that assessment.
While I agree that Future World is a great album, for my money, I would direct you to 1990's Jump The Gun. Now keep in mind I love overly-produced albums from the late 80s and early 90s. Jump The Gun, produced by Roger Glover (DEEP PURPLE), has everything you'd expect from the sound of that era and can hang with any release of its time.
PRETTY MAIDS came to a halt in 2019 when frontman RONNIE ATKINS was diagnosed with lung cancer. After numerous treatments, Atkins now remains in remission. In the interim, Ronnie started composing material for his first solo release One Shot in 2021. Atkins' solo career offered him a chance to experiment with different styles of music than what was offered with PRETTY MAIDS.
RONNIE ATKINS is set to release his third solo album Trinity on October 13, 2023 through Frontiers Music. I had the chance to catch up with Ronnie to talk about the new album, his touring plans, his involvement with Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA, the upcoming 40th anniversary of PRETTY MAIDS' Red Hot And Heavy, the prospects of PRETTY MAIDS doing something to commemorate that milestone, and much, much more.