Rock Realms has issued an interview with JEFF SCOTT SOTO (W.E.T., TALISMAN, ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). The following is an excerpt from the interview, conducted by Jon Wilde:

Q: I guess it’s just over 25 years since your ‘big break’ with Yngwie Malmsteen on his Rising Force album. What were your ambitions and expectations back then? Were you full of confidence you were going to be massive or did you approach music from a purely artistic/enjoyment standpoint?

A: "I knew there was nothing else in the world I wanted to do but this, there was no taking 'no' for an answer, there was no giving up. I am fortunate in so many ways I can't even count, in that mainly I was lucky enough to start my career and make a name for myself fresh out of high school - which is astonishing in itself - but (that aside) retaining that career for the better part of 25 years now. I never got too stereotyped into having to stay with just one style. Without taking away from bands during that era, WARRANT, RATT, WINGER, etc., all hit it big while I struggled to find my legs. Where, now, the only real interest those bands generate are from folks from that era, I started really getting my feet wet after the 'hair metal' days crashed and burned so I have a bit of the new and old.

I like to think I can continue to challenge myself without having to cater to something ONLY because it's the one thing I can continue with."

Read the full interview at Rock Realms.

As previously reported, W.E.T. is the new melodic rock alliance featuring Jeff Scott Soto on vocals (TALISMAN, ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), with Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE) at the songwriting and production helm and WORK OF ART guitarist Robert Sall who also contributed heavily to the songwriting.

Frontiers Records will release the self-titled debut album from W.E.T. on November 6th in Europe and on November 24th in the USA as a special CD/DVD package.

The self-titled debut W.E.T. album features the following tracks (click the linked songs for audio samples):

CD - 'Invincible', 'One Love, Brothers In Arms', 'Comes Down Like Rain', 'Running From The Heartache', 'I'll Be There', 'Damage Is Done', 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is', 'One Day At A Time', 'Just Go', 'My Everything', 'If I Fall'.

DVD - Video Clips for: 'One Love', 'Comes Down Like Rain' and 'Brothers In Arms' and a 15 minute EPK. Click on the image below to enjoy the “One Love” videoclip on Youtube and an album trailer.

As well, W.E.T. are streaming the full length version of 'Comes Down Like Rain' at their new MySpace page.

(W)ork of art (E)clipse (T)alisman was written and recorded over the last 12 months and features the best elements of the three bands the principle artists have been involved in. And the guys all feel the same way about this album:

Martensson: “In the beginning it was just a project set up by Frontiers but somewhere along the process of making it, it evolved into something greater then the project we had started with. We had a fantastic flow in the song writing and when Jeff recorded his lead vocals it all fell into place.”

Soto: “I'm very excited about the WET project. What a brilliant idea of Frontiers to put the three of us together. I think the album turned even better than we hoped for and I can't wait to see the reactions from the melodic rock fans. I'm really proud of this record and I think a lot of people is gonna 'wet' there pants once they get to hear it! I knew this was the kind of album a LOT of people wanted me to make so I am quite hopeful it will be amongst one of the biggest things I have done in my career thus far. I have never heard or felt such a buzz for something I am a part of and I couldn't be more proud with my 'brothers in arms', Erik & Robert, for helping create what shall hopefully become a Classic masterpiece.”

And the future seems bright for the trio.

Soto: “I believe if it does well enough, we would be silly not to take it on the road. Possibly start with a few select dates to get our feet 'wet' then see what time & schedules permit. The thing to remember here is we are of 3 separate & completely different careers that are all currently in motion but in my heart of hearts, I feel this is the beginning of something that will be around for a while, not just a one off!”

Martensson: “I would love to go out and play live with this band and I would surely love to make a follow up album for it.”

Sall: “If the album does well enough and if our different schedules allow it, I would love to go and play live with WET. And I have pretty good feeling this is not the first and last record from W.E.T.!”