Frank Pané is an experienced professional guitarist and composer who has performed with a variety of bands, including Res to Grey, Valley’s Eve, Burn and Purpendicular. He’s been a member of the legendary German rock band Bonfire since 2015. Despite the changes over the years, Bonfire has sculpted its own throne in the world of rock and released numerous great albums, with the latest one being „Higher Ground” (2025). Frank Pané is the founder of the bands Sainted Sinners, Dark Blue Inc., LADY EVYL and Lydia & Frank Pané’s Six String Tales. His solo project releases include „Liquid Emotions” (2007), „Six String Tales” (2015), and the album „Naked” (2010).

We’d like to bring to your attention this interview with Mr. Frank Pané, made exclusively for Rock Arena.

♦ INTERVIEW ♦

– Hello, Mr. Pané, and welcome to Rock Arena! It’s a pleasure to have you as our special guest! You started playing piano at the age of seven, and a few years later, you picked up the guitar too. Which bands influenced the direction of your musical career, and what was the beginning like – your first band and first concert?

Frank Pané: I am very well, thanks for having me! The band that truly inspired me from the start, when I began playing piano, was Queen – my favourite band back then. It’s such an outstanding band, and it’s also very diverse, you know, they have different styles, from pop music to hard rock to some prog elements, and more. And back then, when I started playing piano, I wasn’t focused on a particular instrument. I was more focused on the music as a whole. It wasn’t that I was a fan of the guitar or the drums or whatever – it was just Queen was my band, I listened to them constantly. And then, in the early ’90s, maybe ’90 or ’91, when I first heard the intro riff to Thunderstruck by AC/DC, that was the moment when I got hooked on the electric guitar. Of course, I had already been listening to electric guitar through Queen, and Brian May is one of my biggest influences, but that spark that made me really focus on the electric guitar was AC/DC.

– Since 2015, you have been a member of the legendary German rock band Bonfire. What was the most memorable moment from your first performance with the band, and what did it mean to you?

Frank Pané: You know, when I got the call from Hans, the leader of Bonfire, in 2014 to be part of the band, it was obviously a special moment, because a band like Bonfire has had its name known in the business for 30 years. It was a huge step for me, especially in terms of being recognised internationally as a guitar player. And when we went on our first tour at the beginning of 2015, feeling the energy from the fans, many of whom had been following the band since the 80s, when I was still a kid, that was something really special. I mean, I couldn’t have been a fan back then myself. I was probably around seven or so, so that was very cool. And as soon as I started contributing my own songs to Bonfire —writing together with the band — playing those songs live became a very special moment for me. It was music I had written with them, not just songs I was performing. Of course, the older songs are great too, but I hadn’t been involved in creating those. So yeah, when you hear people singing along to something you wrote, that’s a really amazing feeling.

– Bonfire’s new album ”Higher Ground” (2025) is out now, and the band also wrapped up a “Higher Ground” tour across 4 countries. What is the concept behind the album, and what message are you trying to convey with it?

Frank Pané: You know, we’ve had a significant change in the band since the last album – we brought in a new singer, and I think that took us to the next level, and also to a higher ground – that’s where the album’s title comes from(Higher Ground), because of the possibilities that our new singer, Dyan, has brought to the band, which are truly limitless. It is due to his voice, which is so strong and diverse. He can belt out heavy songs and hit high notes, but he can also be very soulful when it comes to ballads.

So yeah, we had a great chemistry writing this album – Ronnie, the bass player, and I have been in the band for 10 or 11 years, and we both feel that it’s the best album we’ve ever made together. Of course, we are really happy with our previous albums, but this one feels different – as the title says, it’s a higher ground for us. The reviews and feedback from our fans have been very positive too. There’s no specific concept behind the album – some of the lyrics are rock and roll, dealing with everyday things and relationships, while others tackle more serious subjects concerning the world today. Overall, I think it’s a great album. We’re very happy with it, and the response so far has been fantastic.

– Your wife, Mrs. Lydia Pané, is also a musician. Can you tell us more about your collaboration on Lydia & Frank Pané’s Six String Tales and LADY EVYL projects (a tribute to Black Sabbath)…

Frank Pané: We basically got to know each other through music. It’s been 16 years – a long time. There was a guy who was planning to form a new band, and he had certain people in mind: he wanted Lydia as the female vocalist, and me as the guitar player. The funny thing was that we didn’t know that, we just met at the concert and started a conversation. Only later we did find out that we had both been chosen for the same band, which was really funny. Once we became a couple, we realized we had the same taste in music and loved being on stage together. So we said, ‘Let’s do this!’ and started coming up with ideas for different projects and bands. That’s how it all began.

We started a band called DarkBlue Ink, which made original music. We released one album and played a few shows, including one in Shoumen, Bulgaria. That lineup included Göran Edman, the former singer for Yngwie Malmsteen, and Hal Patino, the former bass player for King Diamond. It was a very cool band—more on the progressive side, with longer songs, but still very melodic. After that, we put out the album, and then COVID happened. Lydia was also part of that project, since we had the concept of having both a male and female lead singer. Later, with Six String Tales, we started playing classic heavy rock songs—older versions of tracks from bands like Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and many others. We also played with Six String Tales in Bulgaria, which was an amazing experience!

(Photo Credit: www.musikclip.ch)

Lady Evil is a relatively new band—we started about a year and a half ago with the concept of paying tribute to Black Sabbath. Both of us are huge fans of the band, and we wanted to celebrate their music in a unique way. Doing a Black Sabbath tribute is always tricky because their original singers—Ozzy, Dio, and Tony Martin—each had very distinct voices. So we thought, if you have a woman singing these songs, it’s going to sound different anyway. We wanted to honour a band without being a copy band – we wanted to do our own versions of their songs. We thought it was an interesting idea to have a Black Sabbath tribute band with a female singer, which has been very well received. People are curious at first, but once they hear us, the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and we get a lot of compliments on how we interpret Black Sabbath’s music My heart is still in creating original music—I’m not a cover musician at heart—but paying tribute to a band that’s part of your musical DNA… that’s something else entirely.

– You are the founder of the classic rock band Sainted Sinners. How did you meet the other members of the band, and how did it all begin? And why the name ‘ Sainted Sinners’?

Frank Pané: The first guy I founded the band with was Berci Hirleman, a drummer from Budapest, Hungary, who also played with us, for example, in Six String Tales when we played in Bulgaria. He’s not only an outstanding drummer that played with many bands but also a dear friend. We had already played together in several bands, including Six String Tales—for example, when we performed in Bulgaria. We also played together in an international Deep Purple tribute act. Funny enough, we didn’t know each other before that—we were both just invited to join the project. But from the very first shows, we had incredible chemistry, both musically and personally, which is just as important.

In 2016, I felt it was time to start something of my own. Until then, I had mostly been asked to join other bands as a guitarist, which I always enjoyed—but I wanted to create something that was truly mine, my ‘baby,’ so to speak. So Berci and I started working on the first demos and forming the initial lineup. Back then, the original lineup was quite different from what we have today. We had David Reece on vocals—he’d previously been in Bonfire, which is where I met him, and he was also once the singer for Accept. We had a different bass player back then too. That lineup released two albums, but then things came to a halt when David decided to leave the band to focus on his solo career. The band went on hiatus for a while. But during the pandemic, I finally had time to write new songs in the Sainted Sinners style again, and I decided to bring the band back, still with Berci on drums. This time, I found what I believe is the perfect lineup. Since then, the chemistry has been fantastic. We’ve released two more albums, making it four in total, and we’re currently working on our fifth, which should be out this November.

(Photo Credit: Hans-Walter Tschirley)

Why ‘Sainted Sinners’? With the Sainted Sinners, what we want to present is the essence of rock and roll – that’s kind of our motto (laughs). We’re inspired by bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and UFO—those are our heroes. And our goal is to write original songs in that spirit. If someone listens to our music and says, “Hey, this reminds me of UFO,” or “This feels like Deep Purple or Rainbow,” that’s exactly what we want. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel—we’re a rock and roll band. We want to have fun, our people to enjoy the show and connect with that classic rock energy, the good-time spirit that defined the genre. When it came to choosing a name, I wanted something that reflected contrast—light and shade, good and bad. Sainted Sinners just felt like a perfect wordplay. Nobody’s just a saint, and nobody’s just a sinner—we all have a bit of both in us. That duality felt very fitting for what we do.

We’re not a political band. Our lyrics reflect everyday life—things everyone goes through at some point. Some songs are just about having a good time—typical rock and roll party themes—and some are more serious, about how we treat others, or about relationships. Even clichés can be fun and meaningful when they’re done with heart. We’re a live band at our core. People who see us perform are usually really impressed because we bring back that spirit from the golden era of rock—the 70s—when bands improvised, stretched out songs, and lived in the moment on stage. We try to bring that same energy today. So yeah, Sainted Sinners just felt like the perfect name for this band and this music. We’re really proud of what we’ve done so far, especially with the fifth album on the way. And I hope we can come back to Bulgaria! I’ll definitely talk to some of my friends and promoters there. If everything works out, maybe we’ll be back with some shows once the album drops in November.

– You also perform with Purpendicular, one of the most successful Deep Purple tribute bands. Can you tell us more about that experience? And how do you manage to divide your time between all your bands and responsibilities?

Frank Pané: Yes, it’s not the easiest thing, but it’s doable if you’re used to organizing and planning things, keeping everything on your radar. As for Purpendicular, I was asked to join in 2012 when they had an emergency situation and needed a guitar player. I joined to help them out, and after that, I was asked to join as a full member, which I did until 2016. By then, Bonfire’s schedule was too busy for me to continue with Purpendicular. Then, in 2018, I think it was, they asked me to rejoin for a tour with Ian Paice on drums, and I had the time available.

So, I played with them again for a while—2018, 2019, and maybe into early 2020, though I’m not entirely sure. We did a few more shows, but you have to understand, Purpendicular is not a band in the traditional sense. It’s more or less the singer’s project—he picks whoever is available. And of course, when Ian Paice is involved, it’s easier to get musicians to join. After all, who wouldn’t want to play with Ian Paice? He’s a rock legend, one of the greatest drummers of all time, and he’s a super nice guy, so it’s a great experience. But outside of that, Purpendicular has never really felt like a band to me. My other bands, like Bonfire and Sainted Sinners, as well as the tribute acts, have real chemistry. The personal connections and that chemistry are important to me, and unfortunately, Purpendicular doesn’t have that same sense of cohesion.

 – Let’s talk about your solo projects – your two instrumental records – “Liquid Emotions” (2007), “Six String Tales” (2015), and also the album “Naked” (2010). What inspired the music of these albums, and where can everyone find your music?

Frank Pané: Yeah, you know, if anyone wants to listen to these three albums, they’re still available for download on my website. Physical copies aren’t available anymore, as they were printed in limited quantities. The only album with a few CD copies left is Naked, but the others are strictly available for download. Instrumental music, especially for guitar players, is very interesting. It gives you the chance to express yourself and take on the role of the lead singer, telling the story through the guitar. I’ve always enjoyed this aspect of rock music – artists like Jeff Beck, Santana, and Gary Moore, who all had instrumental tracks on their albums. I had ideas, and thought some of these songs would work as instrumentals, so I released these two albums.

Of course, looking back, maybe I would have approached it differently, but when you’re on a budget for production, it is what it is. I’m still very proud of the music, and although the sound isn’t perfect, it’s not bad either. It’s just that, nowadays, with better resources, it could’ve been done better. In fact, I might work on more material in that style and release it. I’m not sure if it’ll be a full album, though. These days, albums are becoming less common, and it’s more about releasing singles, streaming them, and making video clips. I’m not sure if I’ll go the old-school album route, but I’ve written and worked on more songs that I want to release sooner or later. Perhaps in connection with this, I might re-record, remaster, or remix some of these older tracks and release them together. It’s a great time to be an artist, though, with platforms allowing you to release anything as soon as it’s ready. Fans can listen to it and enjoy it right away, which is really cool. (www.frankpane.com

– Which guitar brand do you prefer, and what was your first guitar? 

Frank Pané: Okay, concerning guitars — currently, I’m endorsed by PRS Guitars (Paul Reed Smith) since 2020. I have to be honest — of course, if you work with a company and they equip you with their instruments, people might think, “Well, of course, he has to say they’re the best.” But honestly, I’ve played many brands throughout my time as a guitarist, and these are by far the best. The quality standard is just incredible. They combine everything I love. They’re modern and clearly designed with a lot of thought, but they also still have that vintage vibe — that feeling you get from the good old stuff by Gibson or Fender. For me, it’s like a Gibson taken to the next level.

My first really good guitar — well, actually my second guitar — was a Gibson Les Paul. The first one was a super cheap Strat-style guitar, and it was terrible. But the Les Paul, although a budget version, was still a solid instrument. That construction — the mahogany body, set neck, warm and sustaining tone — that’s always been the core of my sound. All the PRS models I use now really deliver that, and they’re much more reliable on the road compared to some other brands I’ve used. Another cool thing is that PRS also makes a more modern version of a Stratocaster-style guitar. So I have both – a Les Paul-style and a Strat-style, all from PRS, and both feel like upgraded versions of the classics. I can honestly recommend PRS as my go-to guitar brand

–  If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you’d be doing? 

Frank Pane: Yeah, I might have played tennis. (Laughs) Because, you know, when I was a teenager, around 13 or 14, the time when I first heard Thunderstruck and thought, “Okay, electric guitar is my thing” – I was also playing tennis at a fairly high level for a kid. I was focused on both sports and music. I’m not sure if I would have become a well-known player, but I could have been a tennis coach or something like that.

–  Do you still play tennis?

Frank Pane:  It’s funny, because since 2019, where we live now, there’s a tennis court just 20 meters away. And I always say, “I have to play.” I still have my tennis racket, and my daughter got one as a present for her birthday. So we always say, “We have to play.” She always says, “Daddy, you have to show me how to play tennis.” And I really want to, but my schedule is so busy. I hope that maybe this year, as soon as summer comes, we can do it. Of course, I’ll be very rusty, but it’s like riding a bike.

– What is your main musical focus today? Would you like to write music for other artists or maybe for movies or musicals?

Frank Pané: Well, as I said in the beginning, my taste in music is very diverse. Of course, I’m a rock and roller, and the classics we talked about are my biggest influences. But I’m also very much into soundtrack music. Sometimes, I even listen to music with no guitar at all. You know, it’s not like there has to be a guitar for me to enjoy music. I also worked on something with another project, just a studio project called Diamond Cobra, where we released an album a few days ago, actually, at the end of March. It’s called Interstellar Overdrive. It features lots of guitars, but the core music is synth-based—80s synth music that you’d recognize from movie soundtracks, combined with heavy guitars. It was very interesting to write for that.

We’re also working on a rock opera here in my hometown, which will take place in June. I composed just little bits and pieces for that, but it’ll be totally different because it will involve playing with an orchestra and everything. Sometimes I get requests from people asking me to play on their songs, which are in totally different styles. It might be soul, it might be pop—I’m open to anything. I’m all about music. I like all these genres. That’s the beautiful thing about music: it’s so diverse, and there are so many things to explore and express yourself with. So, anything that comes my way, I’d give it a try. If it’s good, has feeling and substance, and isn’t just made for money, but comes from the heart, then I look forward to doing it.

 – Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview, Mr. Pané! What’s your message to all the Rock & Metal heads around the globe?

Frank Pané: Keep rock and roll alive! You know, if you want to support bands, especially the not-so-super-known ones, then buy the albums. Don’t just stream them—buy the vinyl, the CD, whatever your favorite format is. Go to the concerts, buy a t-shirt, and, by the way, support the clubs. That’s very important too. Get out there. Don’t sit in front of the TV and watch YouTube. Go to your favorite bar, have a few drinks, talk to people, and leave your mobile phone at home. It’s time to talk in person again. Most importantly, everyone stay healthy and don’t let all the political things in the world make you afraid. Everybody should respect each other’s opinions and beliefs, and instead of debating and focusing on negativity, spend your time listening to music, going to concerts, and enjoying life. Thanks, Toni. It was my pleasure. All the best to all the listeners and fans of Rock Arena. Thank you!

More Information:
https://www.frankpane.com
www.facebook.com/bonfireofficial
www.facebook.com/SaintedSinners
www.facebook.com/LadyEvylOfficial

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Editor: Antoaneta Petrova (aka Toni Rock)
Reporter: Viktoriya Mancheva