Metal-Rules.com's Marko Syrjala has issued a new interview with Y&T; frontman Dave Meniketti. An excerpt follows:

Q: First of all, what’s going on with Y&T; at the moment? You're just about to start the European tour but is there anything else on the plans right now?

A: "Well, that’s the main thing right now. I mean, obviously, this time of the year for us is all about Europe. It’s fall. That’s where we stay. Fall, it’s Europe. So we usually do seven weeks, which is it will be again this time. And then we go home and play four more shows. That’s the end of the year. And we start back up again. But it’s an important tour for us. It’s the first tour that we’re doing, first year that we’re flying altogether without Phil being alive. And so it’s important for us to keep the spirit and the momentum going."

Q: It’s been almost like nine months since sad passing of Phil Kennemore and it’s been like six months since you announced that the band will carry on without his presence.

A: "That’s right."

Q: And I do remember that you announced that if your fans do lost the interest then you might do something else in the future. So all things have been well since then and you are not quitting, right?

A: "No we are not quitting. The fans have been there for us and they love it and, quite frankly, so do I. I mean we’ve never stopped having good feelings for the band. So that was never in question. It was just a matter of how did I feel about going on without Phil and being the only original band member left. And I just wanted to make sure that it just felt right overall. It’s never nice to be in this position, but the band that I’m flying with, every one of them is fantastic and it just feels like home when we get on stage every night. So it just didn’t make any sense to stop playing."

Read the full interview at this location.