HALLOWEEN (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What are you currently up to?
Brian Thomas – We have been rehearsing and getting ready for our Mini–Europe Tour in October/November. (Along with working our day jobs.)
– You were first named BITCH, how did you come up with that name and why did you later change it to HALLOWEEN? Did you have back then any trouble with the other US Metal band named BITCH?
BT – We wanted to call the band Halloween from the beginning, but our drummer (at the time) didn’t like the name because of a song called Halloween by another Detroit band. We chose Bitch because of our image back then Hairspray, Black Make-up, and tight stage clothes (which we wore everywhere, even when we were not performing) we kinda looked like ‘Bitches’ after he left the band we went back to our original choice, because it fit us better. When we started out, our rehearsal space was decorated with Halloween decorations (it was late October), we just took all that stuff with us to shows and have been adding to it ever since. The Heavy Metal Horror Show part started from the first day.
– Your latest opus, “Terrortory”, was released a few months ago. How as its feedback like?And are you satisfied with the final outcome?
BT – Terrortory has been a long process, filled with studio issues, money problems and health scares, but in the end we are proud of the record. Terrortory spans a wide variety of topics and styles and has a few songs, (Say Your Prayers, Not One and Images Quite Horrible) that were written during the No One Gets Out era as well as one from back in the beginning (Caught In The Webs) as well as a lot of new songs. The feed back from fans has been awesome, the critics and reviewers are split over different aspects of the record production, style and the length of the record and some of the songs. You can’t please everybody. We would love for the process to have been less bumpy but that’s rock and roll… The final mixes and mastering suffered a little from the issues that came up during the process. But for me, all in all I think it is a great record. I love all of the songs, we write what we feel and believe and our fans get that, and that’s what really matters.
– I’ve always noticed in your music, beside inspirations from US Heavy and Power Metal, some NWOBHM nuances and also certain rock hooks so, what could you say are the band’s main musical influences?
BT- The influences have changed with time and different players in the band, but from the beginning it has been the musical approach and diversity of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Scorpions, mixed with the heaviness of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and the imagery of Kiss and Alice Cooper and old Genesis (Peter Gabriel era). Along the way we have infused the likes of Slayer, Pantera and Metallica. How’s that for a mix?
– With “Terrortory” it seemed like you picked where you left with albums like “Don’t Metal with Evil”. Was this what you wanted to get with this new release?
BT- We always just get together and see what happens and the similarities probably come from the fact that George Neal and I have been principal writers from the start so we still work the same way. We never try to write a certain way we just start with simple ideas and build them into songs that make sense to us. The lyrics reflect what is going on in the world at the time and in our own personal lives. We try to get a group of songs that we love to play and then we hope that our fans like them too. We usually play the songs live before we record them too, so we can tell which ones go over well.
– I also noticed guitars there had a bigger role, did this just happen naturally? Or did you know since the beginning how did you want “Terrortory” to sound like?
BT- I love great guitar playing, and I have always loved the sound of 2 guitars playing harmoniously. I have always been a fan of 2 guitar player bands like The Beatles, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Stryper, Lizzy Borden, Leatherwolf, Early Def Leppard, Anthrax, Slayer, etc. (some notable exceptions would be Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, and Dimebag) There were times that we only had one guitar player and so the recordings couldn’t go overboard or we couldn’t play all of the parts live. Now with 2 guitar players in the band permanently we can get a little more creative.
– You have always stood out due to your mysterious and dark atmosphere. Is this an important part of your musical personality?
BT- I grew up near New York City and loved seeing Broadway productions like Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell and then Phantom of the Opera, I was in plays in High School and so I always felt at home in a theatrical world. I love The Addams Family, The Munsters, horror movies and haunted houses and everything about Halloween so this band is a great escape for me, it’s like ‘Brian in Wonderland’. Being creepy and mysterious is fun… better than real life horror.
– Despite being around for almost 30 years now, you have always taken your time to release a new effort (you have just 6 studio albums). Is this something important to do in order to provide good material?
BT- We would do a record every year if we had the means to do it. We always have material and ideas, just don’t always have the money or time available. But we definitely won’t rush the process we do want to make the best records we can.
– And maybe all the line-up changed you have been through have had something to do with this? And talking about such, have the line-up changed affected the band in any way? I mean, does this make things harder of having new blood gives renewed energy to the band?
BT- The hard part about the line-up changes is that it shuts you down for a period of time. (usually right as you are getting some momentum). You have to start all over again with new people learning the songs and getting the chemistry right and getting our fans to know them and hopefully accept them. It’s a long process and we wish it didn’t take so long, but that’s how it is. The Good part of the line-up changes is that we do get to bring new energy to the band and the fact that we have been able to play with some great talented players and have made awesome friends and family members along the way.
– Even after releasing this record you’ve got a new guitar player, TJ Richardson. Why did Donny leave? And what has TJ brought new to HALLOWEEN?
BT- Unfortunately Donny has been having major health problems for several years now and that was a major factor in why Terrortory took so long to complete. We wish him well and hope that he will get healthy and continue to have a great career in music. But we had to keep moving forward and I found TJ on Craig’s list while looking for a guitar player for my acoustic project. I found out that he lived in my neighbourhood and was a young, energetic, shredder on guitar. I brought him into my side project called A.S.S. which does a mix of covers (Nevermore, In Flames, Amon Amarth, Slayer, Thin Lizzy, Scorpions) and originals. Donny Allen was also in that band and co-wrote some of the songs. Donny and TJ worked really well together and when Donny couldn’t continue with either band I suggested bringing TJ into Halloween. He has brought in a brand new energy and enthusiasm. He is a great writer and player and we can’t wait to hit the road with him. (And start writing the next record.) You will be able to hear his playing on the new A.S.S. recording. We are almost done with it… it’s called Pieces of A.S.S. and will be released soon
– Still about the line-up changes, what prompted George’s comeback in 2003?
BT- George had been working a full time job and did not have enough time available to commit to the band. Prior to George’s return the band had reformed with different members, but originally did not plan to use the Halloween name, (Donny and I were the only prior members of Halloween) but then we decided to use the name and release Tricks, Treats and other Tales… as a tribute to the band for the 20th anniversary. (We had George’s blessing to carry on with new players) When we came to Europe for Keep It True in 2004, our bass player John was unable to get a passport and we asked George to fill in and he decided to stay on again.
– With a (almost) 30 year long musical career, what have been both the best and worst moments throughout these decades?
BT- No long answer here… The BEST has been almost all of it,(especially being part of a family) and there is still more to come… The WORST has been not getting to do more… and the friends and family we have lost along the way.
– And is there anything left for you to get in musical terms?
BT- Of course… there is always more to reach for. Better recording production, more songs that connect with people, new technology, new energy…
– When you formed the band, did you ever thought you would be still around so many years later?
BT- I have never even thought about that, until just now when you asked the question, (surprisingly). I guess you just do what you do and you just keep doing it without thinking about it that much
– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
BT- We are coming to Europe at the end of October for 2 weeks, then we will start writing and recording a new record.
– That has been everything from my side, thank you once more. If you want to add some final words; last lines are all yours.
BT- You can find us on the internet… www.halloweentheband.com as well as facebook, twitter, youtube and myspace. Info about our tour dates, merchandise and future plans are available on these sites as well as links to our individual pages. Thanks for checking in with us…
George Neal – Bass, Don Guerrier – Guitar, TJ Richardson – Guitar, Rob Brug – Drums, Brian ‘T’ Thomas – Vocals. Halloween 2012.
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