Actually I never really auditioned for Epica. Back in 2004, while I was doing college of music, I was asked by keyboard player Coen to replace their guitar player for just 1 show in France. Afterwards, we kept in touch throughout the years, and I also played in one of Coen’s bands for his final exam at college of music. Then when that same guitar player decided to leave the band in 2008, they just asked me again. Fun story: Right before I did the rehearsal for that 1 show in 2004, the drummer mentioned he’d give me a hard time just to stir things up within the band. A couple of songs in, he stopped playing and started shouting at me. “You haven’t played a single straight note. You totally suck. I don’t want you to play the show. Etc etc” He really went all in, and everyone was so confused. They asked me to play certain riffs, didn’t hear what was wrong, but the drummer kept saying how bad it sounded and shit. At some point I actually was in doubt if it was still part of his prank or if he was actually serious 😂