In a new interview with Metalgigs.us, vocalist/guitarist Sakis Tolis of Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST offered his views on artists monetizing — directly and on their own terms — enhanced fan experiences in the form of VIP meet-and-greets. He said: “I’m generally against paid meet-and-greets. If I’ve ever made the mistake of taking money for one, I certainly wasn’t aware of it, because it would have been the promoter who arranged it without me knowing.

“I’m a fan at heart,” he explained. “I like to believe I’m still a romantic in that sense. I try to hold on to something from our era, which has changed so quickly and so dramatically, and hopefully pass at least a few of those values on to the younger generation.

“So no, I would never do a paid meet-and-greet,” Sakis added. “And I probably wouldn’t pay for one either. Although I’m not completely sure about that, because there are certain bands I love so much that I might actually do it myself.

“In the end, I believe that both music and life in general are about what you give and what you receive in return. The way you see life philosophically ultimately determines the way you act.”

Paid meet-and-greets are becoming staples of the touring circuit and are seen by some artists as a necessary evil to survive nowadays. Other musicians object to meet-and-greets on moral grounds, believing they favor richer fans over poorer ones. Similarly, many people view the fact that groups charge fans to meet them as completely exploitative, since artists are usually aware that young admirers are prepared to pay any amount of money to see their favorite band, sometimes at their parents’ expense.

After 35 years of evil existence, ROTTING CHRIST still stands the test of time. Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their Greek brothers-in-arms have risen from the Athenian underground to become one of the metal world’s most reliable forces, backed by a pantheon discography that has both defined and defied black metal.

Last December, ROTTING CHRIST released the Blu-ray edition of “35 Years Of Evil Existence – Live In Lycabettus”. This Blu-ray honored ROTTING CHRIST‘s lasting legacy by capturing the band’s first time performing at the historic Lycabettus Hill Theater in Athens. A sold-out crowd of 7,000 people was treated to a two-hour setlist that spanned the band’s entire career, from early mighty classics to the latest monuments from their Hellenic period.

In December ROTTING CHRIST released a live video from the upcoming Blu-Ray edition of  “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus”, for “Under the Name of Legion”. “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” out on December 12th, 2025, via Season Of Mist.

Watch “Under the Name of Legion” below.