Anne: To start off, can you give the fans a brief bio of yourself (where you were born, where you live now, etc.)?

Mick: Was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I lived until age 18, when I moved to Spain and later to England on my own. Didn't know anybody there, didn't speak English, and had no money, but I had to go and try to fulfill my musical dreams. After a few years I went back to Argentina and later moved to California where I now live with my family.

Anne: What is your musical background?

Mick: I started playing guitar at age 7. Took classical guitar and music theory at "Conservatorio Juan Jose Castro" in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Switched to bass at age 14 (after discovering Ritchie Blackmore) and began preparing to play in Deep Purple or Rainbow since then. Throughout the years I became very interested in Baroque and Classical music, and particularly enjoyed the combination of Classical with Hard Rock.

Anne: How did you hook up with Yngwie?

Mick: At the conclusion of my three years with Blackmore I questioned myself about who I'd absolutely love to play with. The first person I thought of was Yngwie Malmsteen. I approached Yngwie's manager and offered my services, submitted my info and a copy of my CD Ostinato. Then I was asked to record Yngwie's songs from the set list; I guess he liked what he heard since a few days later I was rehearsing with him in Miami and enjoying it tremendously.

Anne: What make and model of bass guitar do you use?

Mick: I currently use strictly Warwick basses, and during the tour I used a "Fortress One" and a "Thumb Bolt-On", both made in 1998.

Anne: Have you played shows in Mexico or South America before? If yes, what is your opinion of this current tour?

Mick: Growing up in Buenos Aires and playing professionally since age 16, I had the opportunity to tour Argentina extensively backing up famous local artists, but it was the first time in all the other places on this tour. There was plenty of energy at every single show. I think that Yngwie and the band inspired nothing but lots of energy, such powerful songs...so much hunger to play our best..., the audience's response was superb. I'd say that even in Porto Alegre people had plenty of positive energy for the music, unfortunately though, their screwed-up political views on world events worked to their disadvantage, as they didn't get to hear as many songs as they could have.

Anne: A lot of the fan mail from people who saw the shows mentions the awesome rhythm section you and drummer Patrik Johansson created. Did you and Patrik "click" onstage?

Mick: Patrik is incredible, I think he is Yngwie's ideal drummer. There was an instant chemistry between the two of us, very solid and powerful. We get along wonderfully on and off stage.

Anne: When you went down to Miami to begin rehearsals, had you already learned the songs that would be played in the concert set list?

Mick: I went to Miami well prepared, I knew the songs from the set list very well. There were a couple of numbers that weren't on the original list that I had to learn there.

Anne: How difficult was it to get up to speed on the Malmsteen style of playing? Did you find Yngwie's music a challenge to learn?

Mick: Every song that Yngwie recorded the bass lines on required special attention. He's such an amazing bass player... Though I was not required to play note by note what he did in the studio, I made it a point to capture his musical intentions as much as possible. This was not difficult because I relate very much to his aggresive playing approach, with the use of vibratos and the picking attack. However, some of those unbelieveble runs demanded a lot of my time to get them right.

Anne: Which songs did you enjoy playing the most onstage?

Mick:I can't think of a song that I didn't have fun playing. I guess my favorites are "Seventh Sign", "The Wizard", "Masquerade". I thought the shows in Santiago were pretty outstanding as a band, but there were nights that were particularly good for us individually, like Buenos Aires for Dougie, Curitiba for Yngwie during his solo on "Mistreated". I have to tell you, I've enjoyed every single concert like I haven't in a long time.

Anne: You've received many compliments on the bass solo you performed at the shows. How did you construct your solo?

Mick: I divided my solo in two parts. On the first I played bits of my CD Ostinato with some improvised variations of an original composition plus the inclusion of Mozart's "Alla Turca" or Bach's "Inventions". The second was a worked-out 16th note, fast-paced piece for bass and drums, with heavy alternate picking to make it clear that I enjoy very much using the pick on the bass, no matter how sacriligious some jazz bass players may think that is.

Anne: How would you compare your role in Blackmore's Night with this experience of playing for Yngwie?

Mick: Blackmore's Night was by far the quietest band I've ever played with. Great music, but very, very quite. I was regularly told: "The bass is too loud!" Ritchie wanted merely a hint of a bass, which at times made me feel I wasn't really needed. Yngwie encourages me to play loud. For my birthday he gave me a Compressor-Sustainer to enhance my bass sound and to boost up my volume. I am now using one of his Marshall amps at 10 for the bass, and it sounds great. My role in the band is a prominent one, and I assure you it's very fullfilling.

Anne: How did you get along with Yngwie?

Mick: Yngwie is the man! I got along with him splendidly well and so did the rest of the lads. We are all very proud to be in his band. We've just finished the tour and I already can't wait 'till the next one.

Anne: If fans would like to hear more of your playing, what solo or band albums can they buy?

Mick: My solo album is called Ostinato (Guild Hall Music). It is an all-bass CD which includes music by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, and some of my own. It can be obtained through the Internet at cdbaby.com, amazon.com, and cdnow.com. In Argentina and Mexico, it is published by "Nems Enterprises". It can also be ordered by sending $15.00 to: Mick Cervino "Ostinato", 4435 First St. PMB 195, Livermore, Ca. 94550, USA (free signed poster included).

I've also participated in Blackmore's Night's Under a Violet Moon and the Shadow of the Moon tour video 1997-1998. Other recordings include Aun es Tiempo de Soniar, Banana (EMI Argentina); The Rich Get Rich single, One Hand Clapping (The Curve of the Earth, UK); Candela (RCA Argentina), El Viejo Matias, Victor Heredia (Phillips Argentina).

Anne: Any final comments to the fans who attended the shows?

Mick: Thank you all for your warm reception and support. I've enjoyed performing for you and hope to do it again soon.