Interview With Criss Angel
02:08 PM PT, Mar 26 2007
Here is my one-on-one interview with Criss Angel after Thursday's press conference. Sorry, to be slow getting it up for you. Once again I note, it will be interesting how Angel folds himself into the corporate and Cirque circles he must now operate. Still, with a Summer 2008 opening plan for the show, they are probably far enough along in the planning to know that all the partners will be able to work well enough together to pull this off. But it is rather revealing that Angel isn't even clear on the title of his fellow Vegas Cirque show Zumanity referring to the New York New York production as Zumanicus. Anyway, I will keep you up to date as we get closer to the opening of Angel's show. Criss Angel: Thanks for what you wrote about me.
Richard Abowitz: That seems like a good place to start. What I wrote was that a few years ago there were a lot of people kicking around Vegas trying to merge metal and magic. How is it that you wound up the one hitting pay dirt and now signing this deal with Cirque?
Answer: Without tapping myself on the back I kind of define that, though I don't perceive myself to be metal; I just perceive myself to be me...
Question: Well, you came out of a band.
Answer: And, I write the music for the show.
Q: Will you be writing the music for this (Cirque) show?
A: I will be an integral part of that process. I have some material that we are working on right now. Right now the creative process is open and we are exploring what makes the most sense for all the moments on stage. So, at this point, I don't know what will end up being on stage. But I know I have almost 200 pieces of music and I have new pieces of music I am working on right now and, at the end of the day, we have got to make that audio and visual fusion.
Q: Will Cirque be writing music, too?
A: I think it's a process. Me and the director are going through my music and I am going to bring on one of my composers and work with them and see where we go and what we need.
Q: Is this new show going to be a "greatest hits" of the illusions you've developed over the years?
A: We looked at the TV show to see where the audience responded and specifically what illusions and what demonstrations really engaged them. I think, at the end of the day, this is the culmination of 15 years work for me and, by all means, some of those elements will be involved in this experience along with things that I've never showed the public yet. I've been developing and prototyping new technologies for many years in my workshops and my laboratories. So, I think it is a culmination of a lot of things. We are going to create an experience in the world of entertainment that hasn't been done.
Q: Listening to you talk this is a huge budget, probably the biggest you ever worked with. But listening to the MGM and Cirque people they are paying attention to dollars. What do you see the budget as?
A: I don't care about money; I never did. I used to make my own costumes in my backyard when I first performed at Madison Square Garden. Whatever I have I work within the means and the budget I try to be fiscally responsible. Being the executive producer and owner of my television series I understand that staying on budget is an important part of maintaining the freedom to create art. For me this is a very big budget. But the more money you have to spend the more people expect; so, the bar raises.
Q: Do you know how large the cast will be?
A: It is not going to be a cast the size of KA. It probably will be a smaller cast like Zumanicus (sic). I want to create an intimate experience for the audience that they can sink their teeth into and see what I do and what Cirque does in a way that hasn't been executed in Las Vegas. We are really concentrating in putting the dollars on the stage to provide illusions, tableaus and images. People will cry, people will be excited, it will be an emotional roller coaster.
Q: Have you ever collaborated before?
A: In music I have had the opportunity. I've recorded with members of Godsmack and Korn on my soundtrack that's out. And, I had the opportunity to do CSI and...
Q: I mean in your show?
A: No, I usually write, shoot and direct.
Q: You strike me as kind of a control freak.
A: I am a control freak. I have spent a lot of time with Cirque and I feel they understand my vision and I understand their vision and together we are going to raise the bar of each vision and take it to a new plateau.
Q: I noticed that no one asked at the press conference if the Strip can sustain another CIrque show...
A: Yeah, Yeah, yeah, and I can tell you this: Cirque is my partner but the feeling and spirit of this show is unlike is any Cirque show. The Beatles and Love is an example of how they use music that normally they wouldn't use, other artist's music. But this goes beyond the music. This is based off of what I wrote twelve years ago. So, this is unlike any Cirque show. People say there are a lot of Cirque shows here. But this is a true collaboration and it will look and smell like nothing else.
Q: BTW, where did the "h" in your name go? How did you make that disappear?
A: Well, it is Criss Angel: C-r-i--s-s. This is the funny thing, Gene Simmons, a friend of mine, says I did that because of the influence Kiss had on me as a kid. I am not going to disagree with Gene. Whatever Gene says is what goes.
Q: What does the birth certificate say?
A: The birth certificate says, Christopher. And that is what my mother still calls me.
(Photo by Sarah Gerke)
(Photo by Sarah Gerke)
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Is this really the way Criss talks? It sounds like he's been put through the ghastly media coached wringer somewhere along the line. Mangling Zumanity was the only bit of humanity . . .
Posted by: Eugene | March 27, 2007 at 09:33 PM
Hello,
I am a fan of Criss Angel's. I am soo excited and can't wait for his live show in 2008. It is going to be something we have never seen before and its going to blow our minds. and I think what Criss said is true,its going to be an emotional rollercoaster. Reading this interview got me emotional and really excited. Its all about art and poetry and will take us beyond music to a whole new world we have never seen before. Criss Angel is a true artist and I cannot wait to see what he brings to the table of this summer 2008!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 29, 2007 at 06:27 AM
criss angel you truly rock, look forward to your book. cant wait to sink my teeth into you smile i mean your book ....... best of luck to you in all you do, your amazing. peace out
Posted by: rosie | April 20, 2007 at 08:29 AM
will be in vegas oct 8th thru oct 18th hope I run across Criss Angel someplace or can get tickets to his show while there. I am a 72 year old great grandmother and think Criss is a tremendous talent....and adorably sexy!!
Posted by: jan greenfield wi | September 16, 2007 at 11:54 AM