Video: Former DRAGONFORCE Singer's I AM I Performs At U.K.'s BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR

Fan-filmed video footage of I AM I, the band led by former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart, performing at this year’s edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held this past weekend at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, can be seen below.

I AM I is continuing work on material for its second album at Abbey Lane Studios in Derby, United Kingdom. The CD will mark the recording debut with the group of I AM I‘s new members, Andy Kopczyk (guitar), Dean Markham (bass guitar) and Gavin Owen (guitar).

I AM I drummer Rich Smith told Derby Telegraph: “There were some issues with old members because of ZP‘s fame, but we’re trying not to make a big deal of it.”

He added: “The new album will include a collection of hard rock songs, progressive metal tracks, some soft ballads, too, that will appeal to everyone; it’s a mixture of all sorts. It’s good music in general.”

Asked about the departures of I AM I members Jacob Ziemba (guitar), Neil Salmon (bass) and Andy Midgley (guitar), ZP told GetYourRockOut: “Ultimately, fans are there for the music, and that’s the bottom line. And as long as they appreciate that and the music gets played right, then [that’s all that matters].”

He added: “You have to have the hunger, and after all this time, I’ve still got the hunger. Everyone else doesn’t necessarily feel the same way about it as I do, and there you go. Things move on. I’m out here to be onstage and do music, and that’s all I care about. And I wanna surround myself with people that feel the same way. Onwards and upwards.”

ZP went on to describe I AM I‘s new material as “very different. Ultimately the same, but very different. It’s a bolder path we’re taking, I reckon, and a lot of people are gonna be really puzzled and surprised at the same time. It’s new energy. It’s new people involved. So far everyone’s [getting their ideas in]. We’re actually sitting in a rehearsal room and coming up with riffs and working it out in the good, old-fashioned way.”

Ziemba, Salmon and Midgley announced their departures from I AM I in February 2014 “due to internal struggles and ongoing issues within the band.”

A founding member of DRAGONFORCE, Theart made four studio albums and a live record with the band and toured the world for a decade, eventually performing to audiences of up to 85,000 people. His time with the group also saw him nominated for a Grammy in 2009.

After his departure from DRAGONFORCE in 2010, ZP worked tirelessly to put together his own group and, after catefully handpicking a set of musicians, the result was I AM I. A promotional single entitled “Silent Genocide” was followed by the release of a debut album, “Event Horizon”, in September 2012.