STUCK MOJO guitarist/vocalist Rich Ward is featured in a new interview with Rock Sound. An excerpt is available below:

Rock Sound: What were your aims and ambitions when you started writing (new album) The Great Revival? There are clearly some of your most commercially-tinged songs on offer here, as well as some of your heaviest too.

Rich Ward: "I never go into the writing process with an idea of how a song or a record should sound. All of the song ideas start with a riff, a chord progression, or a lyric and then develop organically from there. Some of the songs on The Great Revival came together really quickly and others took weeks to become fully realised. For this album I actually started with 19 song ideas, some really heavy and some much more melodic and experimental. The songs that made the album were the ones that came together by the deadline I had to meet for the release, leaving six or seven great song foundations for the next album. As for being commercial, I have no idea what that even is any more, but if it means that people will like it, then I'm happy."

Rock Sound: When Southern Born Killers came out last year it was a global success. To what extent did this surprise you after such a long break?

Rich Ward: "I'd say I was more thankful than surprised. The music business is a strange and ever-changing entity that I don't think I'll ever fully understand. The goal is always to make records that truly capture who we are as a band, musically and personally. If that music makes a connection with people and, as a result, albums are sold and concert venues are filled with supporters, then we consider that a blessing. The fact that we still had loyal supporters showing us love after a seven-year hiatus was something that I am so honoured and humbled by."

Rock Sound: One of the album tracks – '15 Minutes' – appears to be something of a dig at bands who want the fast buck over the hard work ethic...

Rich Ward: "It's more of a dig at the Pop Idol TV show culture we live in. The culture where the pursuit of instant fame is the focus, with no regard for creativity, commitment to hard work or the process of actually making music. I have 10 times more respect for a young band that lamely try to jump on the hottest trend, than I do for someone who dreams of hitting the big time and hasn't even committed the time to learn an instrument or take vocal lessons."

Go to this location for the complete interview.