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Sometimes
it’s very hard to understand the music business; you receive a
lot of very mediocre releases and really don’t know why the
labels have signed those bands! And then all of the sudden out the
blue comes an outstanding un-signed band, which has had an amazing
demo CD out for more than 2 years and no-one has even noticed them…
Titanium Black and band leader Terry Michael LeRoi is the band I
am talking about in this case - we have put together a few
questions together to get some more information on the band…
Your
debut demo CD was released more than 2 years ago, what kind of
response have you had from the metal community since then?
Terry - "Bleed for you "is actually not a demo,
it is a full length album with it's own bar code, copyrights,
publishing, registered trademark and world famous rock producer,
Michael Wagener. It was released on our own record label Great
Dane Records.
We
released the record in the USA just briefly and had a very
positive response, but it never had the proper push as far as
distribution and the momentum slowed down. In the meantime Goetz
Kuhnemund the editor of Rock Hard got a hold of a copy of the
CD...loved it and did an amazing review in the May 2006 issue
of Rock Hard Magazine. Since that time interest in the band
from Europe has been incredible!
We
are currently looking for distribution and possible support from a
larger record label if it makes sense. Up until now no one has
even heard of this band or this CD.
“Bleed
for you” is a truly amazing demo CD, and I am very impressed
with it - looking back how pleased are you and the band with it?
Terry - Thank you Kenn!! We are very pleased with it,
working with Michael Wagener was an incredible experience and very
inspirational. I love the way it turned out and can't wait to do
the follow up to this release!
If
your music was an emotion, which one would it be? Or is it a
combination of the 7 core human feelings?
Terry - This album is extremely diverse emotionally and the
music contains a combination of all 7 core human feelings. It is
very unique in this way, because most records are very "one-themed"
(the angry rock record, the party rock record) but
this one touches on many emotions. Even still, it has dark
undertones to it primarily.
You
- Terry - put a lot of emotions into your songs, and I could
imagine each and everyone is like a child to you - but if you had
to choose one song, which represents “Bleed for you” the best,
which one would you choose and why? Personally I would pick the
opener “Cracks of Light”.
Terry
- "Celebration
of Suffering" is the song that summarizes the record best. A
lot of the pain that I've faced in life was translated into songs
on this record...and turned into something positive. My approach
to pain is that I look to my discomfort and ask "why is
this happening and what is it teaching me?"...So
it's a celebration of suffering when you find truth and answers in
the midst of a dark time...a great learning experience.
Your
vocals - Terry - is also very heartfelt and emotional, who has
inspired you vocally. I hear some Geoff Tate, some Zak Stevens and
even some Miljenko Matijevic (Steelheart) influences in the mix…
But Rob Halford must also be a huge influence, right?
Terry
- Yes!!
All the greats; Dio, Dickinson, Tate, Udo, and of course Rob
Halford, who in my opinion is the greatest metal vocalist of all
time...but there are other great singers too, like Steve Perry,
Mickey Thomas and even strangely enough, Deborah Harry and Tori
Amos.
Basically
your music is heavy metal - with various influences - I hear some
classic metal bands like Judas Priest, Queensr˙che (again),
Savatage and Iron Maiden, as well as more progressive stuff as
well as old school US metal with bands like Omen and Jag Panzer.
Is this assessment far off when it comes to influences?
Terry - Not
at all! Those are all great bands and still others like AC/DC,
Accept and many other assorted songs from the 70's, 80's, and
modern rock tunes have all had an influence.
The
acoustic guitars in the beginning of “Miles Away” have a very
strong resemblance with Nirvana’s “Polly” – intentional or…?
Terry - Not intentional...I just had a cool rhythm I was
strumming on my acoustic and liked it.
Only
one song passes the 5 minutes mark on the CD – intentionally? Do
you try to write short and intense songs? “Rain/Celebration of
Suffering” is the albums epic, could you ever imagine writing a
10 minutes plus epic song…
Terry - I never have a set time constraint for a song - it
all goes by feel and most songs seem to be around the 4 minute
mark. ‘Celebration’ is up near 6 minutes but not intentionally.
I can see writing another epic song and probably will in the near
future....I love epic tunes like "Hallowed be Thy Name",
"Victim of Changes" and "Let There be Rock"!!
You
quote C.S. Lewis in the booklet - is that some sort of mantra for
you? And is he your favorite author?
Terry
- It's
very similar to the philosophy behind "Celebration of
Suffering"...about having your pain teach you something
positive....that's why I used the quote... C.S. Lewis is certainly
one of my favorite writers...one of the great minds of the 20th
century!
You
are thanking God in the booklet, and some of the lyrics have a
Christian message. But what else inspires you, when you write
songs?
Terry - I'm a very spiritual person, so that definitely
comes across in the music I create on certain songs. But many
things inspire me; movies, books, memories, people, feelings,
experiences. These songs are very personal to me and I am by
no means trying to preach a message to anyone, however, when
someone is moved or inspired by the music that I write... that's
very satisfying too...I like to connect with like minded people!
The
album was recorded in Nashville and produced by none other than
Michael Wagener - tell us the story behind that?
Terry - A good friend of mine and I decided to try and
locate a producer that we always admired, someone who had produced
some of my favorite bands and Michael was at the top of the list.
We were able to contact him through email and he gave us
permission to send him some demos of songs and song ideas I
had been working on. He really loved the music and invited me down
and we spent the day getting to know each other. A few days
later it was decided we wanted to work together and plans
were started for pre-production...the rest is history!
The
album has been recorded in 5.1 as well as stereo, what are the
chances that the SACD will ever be released? And why did you
choose to mix it in 5.1 as well as stereo?
Terry - It was recorded with SACD as a possibility for a
format....but we could use other formats too. We thought that
since there are approximately 40 million homes in
America
alone that have surround systems, it wouldn't be a bad idea to
record it in surround. At the time there weren't any surround
records by metal bands, at least not ones that were recorded in
surround from the ground up...in fact we may still be one of the
first. Amazing technology was used in the recording of this
version and Sony supplied all of the mix down equipment for
Michael to use...I can't wait to release it, plus there's and
extra track on it!!
The
whole production speaks seriousness, but I could imagine that
it’s been costly as well - how did you manage to fund the
production?
Terry
- Michael
and I negotiated a deal and I had been saving my money for a
project like this for awhile.
Paul
Taylor (Winger) is helping out on keyboards on the album, how did
this collaboration come around?
Terry - Paul had just moved to Nashville only a few weeks
before I got there. Michael introduced us and he was kind enough
to lend his amazing keyboard skills to the CD. Paul is an
exceptional musician and a very cool guy!
How
did you end with a name like Titanium Black?
Terry - I kept calling Michael with different combinations
of words and finally when I thought I had a winner he said "that
is one of the coolest names I've ever heard!!"...and I
agreed. I liked it because it sounded heavy. The metal titanium is
very unique; lightweight and strong and the music is
dark....Titanium Black!
The
album was released back in March 2004, what has happened since
then? You must have been busy writing new songs, and what kind of
immediately plans do you have for Titanium Black?
Terry - Absolutely, I'm always writing songs and I'm ready
for album #2...I can’t wait! Our plans are to get over to Europe
as soon as possible and continue with this recent excitement
over the band.
You
hail from up-state New York, Syracuse
- how is the local scene, is it possible to get gigs?
Terry
- The
local scene is ok but it's mainly cover bands up here...there are
only a few bands that play original music Brand New Sin and
Titanium Black...and Brand New Sin only comes around here once in
a great while.
Speaking
of live - have you been touring or have you been playing locally (if
at all)?
Terry - We are always playing or writing. We just take
the shows as they come; we've got shows booked through October as
of now.
Let’s
speculate – you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your
own choice – who would be your ideal touring partners?
Terry - Ok...I like that.....well, Priest would be a good
staring point (LOL!) But really, there are so many great bands out
there, I would just like to get in front of some large crowds and
show them what we have.
If
you should list the five albums that influenced your musical
career the most, which ones would those be?
Terry - That's a hard question because there are so many
that I love! But I guess it would have to be "Highway to Hell",
''Balls to the Wall", "Number of the Beast", "Screaming
for Vengeance" and the very first album I ever owned Meat
Loafs' "Bat out of Hell"...oh, and can I add one more?
"Back in Black"...thanks!!
Name
an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your
life … and why?
Terry - I'll answer in order of your question: The
bands and albums I listed above have had a huge impact on my
musical career...for obvious reasons; they're great
albums...so I can't name just one.
The
person of Christ would be the next, the reasons are many, but
everything He said and did got to the core of the truth about
humans and that inspires me and moves me. He was also the
ultimate rebel in his time... He loved people and His association
with women, sinners, and social outcasts, went
completely against the moral code and protocol of the day...
Finally
the event would be my 16 year marriage that ended in divorce.
This was extremely painful but has ultimately taught me many,
many things about myself.
Besides
Titanium Black you do also run a body jewellery store (www.leroi.com),
tell us a bit about that?
Terry
- I've
been in the jewelry business for about 14 years now. I started out
working as a gold smith in a fine jewelry store...and because of
my involvement with bands, a lot of my pierced musician friends
would come to me and ask me to make them a piece of body
jewelry. I saw a business opportunity and was fascinated with the
world of body modification.... so I started LeRoi Inc. 11years ago.
Now we are one of the largest body jewelry manufacturers in the
world... with a retail showroom and piercing boutique in
New York City
www.leroimanhattan.com.
That
really doesn’t leave you much spare time one could imagine, but
what do you do when has a few hours on your own; read, listen to
music or…?
Terry - I spend time with my Great Dane, I stay
physically active and yes... read, enjoy music, watch a good movie
and...and I can't forget my ongoing addiction...Ultimate
Fighting (U.F.C.).
That’ll
be all for us this time around - thank you very much for
participating in this interview and sharing this information and
your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you…
Terry - Thank you so much Kenn for giving me the time! I'm
very grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and talk
about this record. We hope to see our new fans in the near future...
since we are planning a tour as we speak... you won't be
disappointed!
Take Care
Terry
Interviewed
by Kenn Jensen
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