Classic Interviews
Check out the Interviews section of Utopia Records in the media section.
Interviews with:
Zakk Wylde's B.L.S - Chad Szeliga
Chuck Billy
Testament
Interview & Photos by Cameron Edney
Forming in 1983 San Francisco
Bay Area Thrash Metal legends Testament have certainly stayed true to their
roots, and are among a handful of bands that helped to shape and change heavy
music forever! Alongside bands like Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill, Metallica and
Slayer Testament have helped pave the way for many of today’s rising hard rock
and heavy metal artists.
Since forming Testament have
been on one hell of a roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows On one
hand they have played to some of the largest crowd on earth, media from all
corners of the globe quickly learnt that Testament meant business and the bands
slot on the ‘Thrash of the Titans’ bill alongside Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth
in the early 90’s certainly proved that! Releasing classic metal albums like
‘The Legacy’ and ‘The Gathering’ Testament have cemented their place in the
history books as one of Thrash Metal’s pioneers. On the other hand over the
years Testament have been plagued with line-up changes, but through it all
original guitarist Eric Peterson and long-time vocalist Chuck Billy remained
focused and never lost sight of their dreams! The bands biggest blow came in
2001 when Chuck Billy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Seminoma,
after undergoing chemotherapy Chuck was fortunate enough to have been cleared
of all traces of cancer and was ready to hit the road with Testament once
again.
Fans would have to wait seven
long years before Testament would unleash ‘The Formation of Damnation’ upon the
world but it was sure worth the wait. With this dynamic release in 2008 critics
quickly dubbed it the metal album of the year and rightfully so. Fans weren’t
just excited to have some new Testament material in their hands but it also
marked the return of long-time guitarist Alex Skolnick and bassist Greg
Christian to the fold and fans couldn’t be happier. More than two years since
the album’s release Testament have remained out on the road touring along-side
bands like Judas Priest, Motorhead and Black Sabbath. Testament are about to
embark on a killer American tour with Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer dubbed the
American Carnage tour! The band’s also set to return to Australia in August for
their third visit within the past four years.
With a Thrash Metal revival in
full swing earlier this week I had the pleasure of catching up with the bands
vocalist to discuss the bands return to Australia, we also discussed one of the
finest thrash metal albums of all-time ‘The Formation of Damnation’, as well as
the bands future plans plus much more including the recent passing of Ronnie
James Dio.
Testament fans... the ‘Killing Season’ has begun so kick back as we discuss everything Thrash with the one and only Chuck Billy!
Utopia: Hey Chuck, how is everything
going mate?
Chuck Billy: Kick ass, we’re just getting
ready for the Carnage Tour.
Utopia: Great to hear dude! I do want to
speak to you about the Carnage tour but firstly, congratulations are certainly
in order on one of the finest thrash albums ever made… ‘The Formation of
Damnation’ has been out for a little over two years now, looking back now over
the recording process is there anything you would have changed or wish you had
done differently?
Chuck Billy: No, I wouldn’t change a thing.
We’re happy with the final product.
Utopia: I wanted to ask you about one
song in particular from the album… ‘Killing Season’, you have stated in
interviews that it’s a song for the troops. Bands such as Deicide and Testament
have openly stated that many U.S. troops have written in being huge fans,
saying how they listen to bands such as yours before going into combat. When
you write and dedicate a song like ‘Killing Season’ to the men and women overseas
serving, how do you feel knowing these guys could be listening to your song
before going out to kill or be killed?
Chuck Billy: If I could talk to someone that
told me that, I would be honoured. If there’s anything that my music can do to
help someone get through something as traumatic as that, right on. I’d be glad
my music could touch someone in that way.
Utopia: Chuck, fans had to wait nine
years for new Testament material and my sources tell me that thrash fans won’t
have to wait that long again! I believe you guys are already writing for the
follow up to Formation, can we expect new material to hit the shelves next
year?
Chuck Billy: Yeah, we’re currently working on
it. It’s not as fast as we had hoped, but we hope to have it out first quarter
next year.
Utopia: Great news... musically can we
expect it to be on the same path as Formation or are you guys looking at some
new avenues?
Chuck Billy: No, I think we’re going to keep
it similar to Formation, but we would like to combine it with some of the
elements from albums like ‘The Gathering’.
Utopia: Chuck, were all certainly looking
forward to hearing it! Let’s talk a little about touring and life on the road…
Over the years you have shared the stage with many amazing and talented
artists... who’s given you the best touring advice and what was it?
Chuck Billy: When we were out with Judas
Priest, they treated their opening acts very well. There were no games between
opening acts and headlining acts. We felt they worked very well with that, and
when we go out on the road, we try to keep that same mentality. It’s not really
advice, but we learned from them.
Utopia: For so many years Australian
metal audiences were starved from seeing Testament live and you are about to
return for your third Australian tour in four
years which is awesome news! What can we expect this time around when you hit
the stage?
Chuck Billy: We get to play new songs off of
the Formation record, and we can include more of that record in our set!
Utopia: In your opinion… how do the
Australian audiences compare to those in the United States and Europe?
Chuck Billy: I think the audiences are the
same, but I’d say the people are very different! Australians tend to be more
laid back and relaxed, and really cool. They’re nice people.
Utopia: Returning to Australia in a few
weeks time will you be taking in any of the sites whilst here and what fond
memories do you have from your previous Australian tours?
Chuck Billy: On this trip, we’ll be around
three days before the show, so we get to check out some of Melbourne. Last time
we stayed for an extra week and were able to enjoy some of the beach!
Utopia: Mate as you mentioned you guys
are gearing up for the American Carnage tour... This is one hell of a tour for
Thrash fans! The Shows are due to kick off soon, in some ways it must feel like
travelling back in time for all you guys! What are you looking forward to the
most about those shows?
Chuck Billy: It’s more of a reunion because we
did it back with ‘Clash of the Titans’. It’s good to see that we’re going to be
a part of the revival of metal in America, and I think this tour is going to
prove it with the fan’s attendance.
Utopia: Australian fans have been
fortunate to see many thrash bands hitting our shores… we have Testament,
Exodus, Metallica and Overkill all hitting Oz in coming months, not to mention
Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer all playing here within the last 12 months. It’s
clear that the Thrash movement is alive and well and the success and media
surrounding the recent “Big Four” tour is proving that! Do you think it’s time
to get the travelling Thrash Til’ Death (for lack of a better name) festival in
order… it could run like Ozzfest cover the USA and UK it could also take in
Europe, Japan and Australia and feature a great line of Thrash bands from
across the world!
Chuck Billy: I think it would be great. Even
if it could be Death Angel, Exodus and Forbidden... it could be a bay area
deal. We could even make it bigger, making it a worldwide thing adding more
bands!
Utopia: Well hopefully that ball will get
rolling soon enough; I for one would love to see it happen! Chuck going right
back to the beginning when the band was first playing the local clubs, what
fond and horrific memories come to mind?
Chuck Billy: Days of no dressing rooms and no
riders! Sitting in a van is pretty bad!
Utopia: Chuck, we’ve hit the part of the
interview where our readers want to find out more about the real you! You
entered your teens when music was really making an impression on everyone’s
life, with bands such as Kiss, Alice
Cooper, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath changing music forever. What was the
very first concert you attended and how much of an impact did that have on you
musically?
Chuck Billy: Had to have been KISS, maybe in
1974. I was about twelve years old. I saw them then for the first time and I
was hooked from that point!
Utopia: As everyone is aware, a few years
back you suffered the most horrific experience of your life when you were
diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer, I could never imagine what would have
been going through your mind at a time like that! When you go through something
as devastating as that, take it on and beat it, what is the single most
important thing you take away from the experience?
Chuck Billy: You take a whole different
outlook on life.
Utopia: You are certainly an inspiration
to many, especially those metal fans fighting their own battles with cancer,
what’s the best piece of advice you could give to those who are fighting the
fight?
Chuck Billy: Just stay positive, and keep a
positive outlook on everything... that’s all you can do.
Utopia: Not that long ago the world lost
one of the greatest vocalists of all-time to cancer; I’m talking of course
about Ronnie James Dio… You were fortunate enough to spend a lot of time over
the years on the road with Ronnie, most recently touring the states together in
2008 for the Metal Masters Tour. Since Ronnie’s passing it’s been quite
emotional to read so many great artists views on such an inspirational man,
when you think about Ronnie, the time you spent together and the great music he
made what comes to mind?
Chuck Billy: Just having the opportunity to
hang out with the guys in [Black] Sabbath and Ronnie, just being able to chat
with them on our tour in 1994, the final tour with Alex the first time around.
Touring with [Black] Sabbath, every night after the performance, we would hang
out.
Utopia: Chuck, most artists these days
are lucky to survive in this industry for 2 - 3 years and yet you have had an
amazing journey up to this point. If you had to relive it all again, would you
change anything?
Chuck Billy: No, I wouldn’t change a thing!
I’m a big believer in that things happen for a reason, and destiny.
Utopia: Mate, there is no doubt that
Testament have had a huge influence on my life as well as many metal fans
around the world, who have you been surprised to learn is a fan of you work?
Chuck Billy: Talking to a lot of newer bands
coming out, making names for themselves, they all seem to be fans of Testament…
or at least were at one point in their life. That’s great to hear.
Utopia: What’s the craziest rumour you had
ever heard about yourself and or the band?
Chuck Billy: When people first heard the Chuck
Schuldiner compilation, they thought it was me!
Utopia: As everyone is well aware,
alongside a handful of bands you are responsible for creating the Thrash Metal
movement, looking back, did you ever think a little over twenty years on that
you would have made such a big impression on the scene?
Chuck Billy: No, I wouldn’t think of that, but
I knew it was something special when I joined. I was very young when I joined
the band, and our writing was always ahead of our age.
Utopia: Mate just before we wrap it up,
Testament are about to spread carnage across America, then you are hitting our
shores for another run of shows, the new album is planned for 2011, what else
do you have in the pipelines?
Chuck Billy: Nothing, just the album. It’s the
main focus for us after this Carnage tour.
Utopia: Chuck, I want to thank you again
for your time today, it’s been a real pleasure. I can’t wait to see you guys
back in Australia in a few weeks time, do you have any last words for our
readers?
Chuck Billy:
We’re looking forward to keep on building our fan base in Australia, and we’re
looking forward to a good time!
©
Cameron Edney July 2010
Not to be used in any form without
written permission
Don’t Miss
Testament Touring Australia In August, Tix Are Selling Fast!
Aug 06 Billboard,
Melbourne
Aug 07 Manning Bar,
Sydney
Aug 08 Hi-Fi Bar, Brisbane
Tix Available Via Moshtix
or Through Hi-Fi Box Office Only For Brisbane Show
For More Information on Testament Head to
the Following Websites
http://www.testamentlegions.
http://www.facebook.com/
http://www.themetalforge.com The Metal Forge
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