Lead Vocalist for Teargas

Interview By Joanne (SugarBuzz Australian Correspondent)

July 25, 2005

SugarBuzz Magazine

All of us except Steve went to high school together and we started jamming when we were only 13 years old! We all grew up on classic rock courtesy of our parents so we gravitated towards each other because of our common interest. Back in those days I was playing bass as well as singing. I must say we were pretty awful for a lot of years but we actually played a lot of gigs - parties, underage events etc. So I think we learned a lot and developed as musicians and songwriters from a very young age. Our sound evolved quite a bit over the years as we were discovering new music, but we've always had a strong love of 80's arena rock, so it's only natural that it's such a big influence on our sound. Things only really started to get serious once High School finished and we decided I'd be better left to concentrate on singing - enter bassist, Steve Cox.

I guess it's lots of things but the simplest and most accurate way I could describe it would be emotionally charged melodic hard rock!

3. Did you band have any influences?

We all listen to a wide variety of different music and I think a lot of our individual influences shine through. Steve comes from a metal background so he brings a certain degree of heaviness and aggression to the sound. Kyle is very influenced by guitar-virtuosity and jaw dropping riffs so he brings that to the table. I'm into big hooks, catchy melodies and emotional lyrics so I try to incorporate as much of that as possible. Nick loves to sit back and bash so we've always got that thunderous arena-rock rhythm going! Andy loves classic rock and blues so there's even a tiny bit of that edge in there sometimes! It's just a big melting pot of influences really, but somehow it all works!

Kyle is an amazing player. I consider myself lucky to play in a band with him.

5. Well you have already released one cd already and gigged endlessly what is the Teargas plan for the rest of 2005 and coming into 2006?

We're set to hit the studio to record our new EP in November so until then we have a lot of preparation to do! We'll be writing and rehearsing some new material, working out what songs we're gonna record and of course, we'll keep gigging regularly to keep the momentum going! All the shows so far this year have had a great response so we'd be stupid to stop now! 2006 will see our EP launch and a completely new beginning! We'll have a new-look website, new sounds and hopefully we'll be doing more shows! It's important for us to keep evolving and I think people are going to be surprised with how much we've grown once the new cd is out!

We're hoping to do some more interstate shows. Because we're relatively unknown outside of Melbourne it would be pointless in booking headlining interstate shows. We'll try to network and find bands to play with in other cities, and in turn offering them a spot playing with us down here in Melbourne. Once the cd is done we'll get onto that.

7. Growing up what or who was your music influences Al?

When I was only 4 or 5 (probably even younger) my Dad and I would always listen to records when Mum was out shopping or whatever! Stuff like Zeppelin, Purple, Sabbath etc. So I guess those were my earliest influences and the bands that got me into rock in the first place! I also

remember getting up early to watch Rage on the weekends so I could rock out to Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and Motley Crue! When I turned 12 I suddenly had the urge to finally start learning guitar and through my teens I just became obsessed! I was always a very diverse listener; I was into everything from Faith No More to Foreigner, Springsteen to Slayer. By the time I was 16 I was listening to a lot of 80's rock and metal - bands like Dokken, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden etc. That music has influenced me the most and will always be really special to me. I still chuck it on the stereo for old times sake occasionally nowadays!

8. What have been the highlights in your career so far?

Last year when we toured with Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman, Soul SirkUS etc) would be a definite highlight! We played with him in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne and it was amazing to become friends with someone I admire and respect so much! We had a lot of fun with him and his band on the road - lots of drinking, joking around and rock'n'roll! Getting up and jamming with Jeff at the end of his set was unbelievable too! Jeff is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys I've ever met - and what an incredible voice he has! It was a great time! Other highlights include the Brides Of Destruction support and completing our first cd! But the best part is seeing all our fans and friends truly enjoying our music! There is nothing as satisfying as seeing people singing your lyrics back to you!

9. Did you get the chance to meet any of the members of Brides or where they a play and then leave band?

I met Nikki Sixx and Traci Guns very briefly at soundcheck and again backstage before the Brides went onstage. They didn't arrive until about 15 minutes before they went onstage so there wasn't really an opportunity to hang out or anything. It was nothing like the Soto tour where we were all hanging out, chatting, kidding around together, going out for dinner, sharing equipment and what not. We were all like brothers by the end of that tour. I know which I preferred!

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