photo by Steve Brown
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
by Stella Kim
LINKS:
The much-anticipated comeback of Guns’N’Roses was undoubtedly some of the biggest news in the music business. After the repeated tour cancellation and the equally repeated delay of the still-awaited release, Chinese Democracy, many rock fans speculated that Axl Rose had indeed turned into a lunatic hermit and that Guns’N’Roses would never make a comeback again. Well, they did, albeit without the beloved original members, and with them, they brought the newest sensation from the land of Wales, Bullet For My Valentine.
Handpicked by Axl Rose himself to open for Guns’N’Roses, Bullet For My Valentine was virtually unknown in the United States, despite the fact that the band had achieved a substantial amount of success in the United Kingdom and other European countries. American fans, however, started taking notice of this new band and responded enthusiastically, as they successfully opened for Guns’N’Roses in New York, Metallica in Europe, and did a headlining tour in the United States. This fall, they will be opening for Iron Maiden, yet another metal giant, in the United States.
A couple months back, I had a chance to sit down and chat with Michael
“Moose” Thomas, the drummer for Bullet For My Valentine, at
Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey on the last day of their Trustkill
Takeover tour. A seemingly shy character, “Moose” was far
from the most talkative interviewee, but still he exhibited the confidence
and cockiness of an established rock star.
STELLA KIM: Would you like to give an introduction for people who may have no idea who you are?
MICHAEL “MOOSE” THOMAS: My name’s Moose, and I play drums for Bullet For My Valentine.
SK: What are you guys up to?
MMT: We’ve been touring, obviously, and this is our last show. We go home this morning, and then we do some festivals in Europe.
SK: You guys are doing Download, right? Are you excited?
MMT: Yes! We love to play England. Can’t wait to go back. We’re opening for this band called Metallica.
SK: Ah, never heard of that band.
MMT: I’d never heard about them either until they offered.
(Shared laugh)
photo by Steve Brown
SK: How’s the tour going?
MMT: It’s been fun. It’s been fucking wicked, actually. We thought there’d be only like, four kids showing up every night, but it’s been sold out almost every night.
SK: There’s a line all the way around the venue, you know.
MMT: Yes! It’s amazing. We never thought it’d be this way.
SK: Tell me about your best touring memory. The best show ever.
MMT: Every show! Everyday is really the best show. My personal favorite though wastouring with 36 Crazyfists and A Funeral For A Friend.
SK: The worst show?
MMT: Rob Zombie tour. Definitely.
SK: Wanna tell me more about that?
MMT: Eh… Just seniority bullshit. They never spoke to us and stuff… so we went home!
SK: How did you come up with your name?
MMT: We were hanging out, drinking, and I somehow came up with Bullet for My Valentine, and we all liked it. And the name goes well with what Matt (Matt Tuck, the singer) sings about, so…
SK: Give me a little bit of band history?
MMT: We were all in a band for like seven years, then our bass player left, Padge left (Michael Padget, the guitarist) so Matt and I did another demo without them. Then Padge came back and Jay came to the band. Then we played a couple shows and got signed.
SK: Describe the sound of Bullet For My Valentine.
MMT: New wave British heavy metal. Nothing more, nothing less. Not an emo band.
SK: Why so sensitive about the emo label?
MMT: ‘Cause we’re not an emo band. I think we’re a metal band, and that’s it, a heavy metal band following the roots of Metallica, Iron Maiden…
photo by Steve Brown
SK: How was your experience opening for Guns’N’Roses in New York?
MMT: It was fucking amazing.
SK: How did it all happen?
MMT: Well, we got a call that Guns’N’Roses would like us to open, and we said sure, and we did.
SK: Have you got any crazy Axl stories?
MMT: No. Actually, he seemed like a really nice man.
SK: How big are you really in England?
MMT: Massive. Just massive.
SK: You’re building up quite a hype here. Your name got even more known with the whole Rob Zombie drama, not to mention opening for Guns’N’Roses…
MMT: It’s good though, if it got our name out there. I mean, I have no respect for Rob Zombie. That guy’s not a rock star. Axl Rose is a rock star.
MMT: No, not at all.
SK: Any strategies?
MMT: Just gonna keep playing. Never give up the fight.
SK: How’s your relationship with British press? Seems like a lot of British bands have problems with them. They’re rather fickle, aren’t they?
MMT: Well, they’ve been really nice to us… so far. We’re not sweating it.
SK: You’ve seen the new VH1 reality show called SuperGroup, yeah? If you could have your own super group, who would you have? You can borrow anybody from any band.
MMT: I have my own super group right here.
SK: Why should the world pay attention to your band?
MMT: ‘Cause we’re Bullet For My Valentine.
SK: Future plans?
MMT: Touring, touring, touring… and making a new record.
SK: Final words?
MMT: Smoke crack.
photo by Steve Brown
I have to say I was better convinced when I finally saw them on stage. Matt Tuck, despite his short stature, commanded the stage with charisma, energy, and rock’n’roll bravado that hadn’t been seen in new bands since the days of when-arena-rock-ruled-the-world. I mean it when I say he commanded ‘cause I could tell he had the audience by the throat, with the room-full of them singing religiously to every word. And the band? Tight with guitar solos ablazing everywhere, certainly refreshing to hear if not downright shocking. I was pleasantly surprised and certainly look forward to their progress. I mean, Iron Maiden thinks they’re metal enough. How could I disagree?
(Thanks to Jerry Graham from Warm and Fuzzy Publicity for assistance witht his interview)
photo by Sam Hunter