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July 20, 2008 |
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Tim Roth
April 16, 2005
By Tony Antunovich
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Canada's INTO ETERNITY are currently on the last leg of an extensive trek through North America. Recently, the band hit a bump in the road when several band members fell ill, forcing them to cancel some shows and take some time off to rest and recuperate. During the band's stop in Vancouver (the second to last date on this tour), guitarist Tim Roth shed some light on the situation, and talked about Canadian Vs. American metal fans, the band's spot on the Monterrey Metal Fest, and much more in this exclusive interview with METALEATER.
How is the tour going?
It's going towards the end. We did the U.S. tour with AMORPHIS, which was killer. We did coast to coast - west coast to east coast and then of course, we had that week delay when we got sick. Then we picked up again in Winnipeg and then we did across Canada and now we've got another two more shows left in Canada. The response has been overwhelming, especially in the U.S., because we knew that our album sales were really doing well, but we didn't know how the response would be, but the kids were killer. Every city was awesome! There wasn't one bad city on the whole U.S. tour.
How would you compare the Canadian fans versus the American fans?
That's a tough one. I think they're pretty close as far as how they all sing along and getting in the pit and doing circle pits and stuff. It's different, whereas in like say Europe - people wouldn't be as active, but they would be participating by hand-clapping and soccer chants. But the Canadian and U.S. fans are pretty similar.
Well, with three albums out now, you guys are gaining a lot of ground in North America and spreading into Europe.
Yeah, definitely.
You guys were plagued with illness not too long ago. That must have been really disappointing.
Yeah. It was ridiculous! There's nothing worse than being sick on the road. It started with our drummer - he got sick with bronchitis and then it spread to me. I got strep-throat, and then Stu got it, and Rob (Doherty) got pneumonia and then we were just getting better when we had to take Rob to the hospital in the U.S. and it was $2000 a day for treatment. So, we drove back to Canada because we couldn't afford it. When we got back, it turned out that Adam (Sagan) and I - we thought we were getting better - got bronchitis. So we're just getting over that. We haven't had a chance to rest in a couple months, so I think we will now. We've got a month off after this. So things are going better now than they were.
How have the fans been receiving Stu Block?
I would say it's been about 95% positive. There's a couple people that thought that the some of the vocals were too high when he was pulling out the Halfords. But at the end of the day, everyone's going to have an opinion on the vocalist. I think he is a step up as far as the energy level - he has the energy - running back and forth on stage. This stage is small (at the Brickyard), but when got on some of those bigger stages, he went crazy. He was like everywhere- bouncing like a jack rabbit. He has the range and the charisma, and that's something you can't teach a singer - to have that stage presence. So yeah - he's killer!
I think you made a really good decision bringing him into the band.
I do too. Definitely.
Are you able to start making a decent living from this now?
Yeah. We're actually coming home with money now. It took years and years and years to finally do that. But I mean....I don't know if we'll ever become millionaires (laughs), but the main thing is just so the guys can just maybe work slightly part-time and then make the majority of the money from the band. That's our goal.
I'm happy to hear that.
Yeah it's cool.
Heather Smith is one of your biggest fans. How is it working with her?
It's great. She's a great lady and she's going to come to our festivals and stuff. Even with the stuff we have planned, she'll come out and take care of us while we're out there and whatnot. She does a great job over there, and even though being a publicist for Century Media, it's like being a social worker because you have a ridiculous workload. You should see our press pack. It's like that thick. It's insane! She's got us in everything. She really went bat to bat for us for "Guitar School". We finally got a photo and interview in that magazine. That was always a dream of mine as a kid - to be in a guitar magazine. So she did all that for us. She actually had to fly to New York and do a presentation about us to get in the magazine, because it's a tough thing to get in, you know. It's not a heavy metal magazine. It's more for musicians - guitar players. There are millions and millions of players out there. So it's cool.
You guys are going to be playing the Monterrey Metal Fest.
Yeah. We just got on that man. Fucken 'eh. That's going to be awesome. We're really excited, man. To play along with DANZIG, MOTÖRHEAD, W.A.S.P., JAG PANZER, and all those bands....METAL CHURCH! The funny thing is we play AFTER METAL CHURCH (laughs), which for one is sacrilegious because I grew up on METAL CHURCH and they've been around since like '82, you know. I kind of feel bad about that, but I really want to meet those guys. I want to meet all the bands actually. I can't wait to play. It's in a big arena - Pepsi arena seating 20,000 people or something.
Have you guys been to Mexico before?
No - first time in Mexico. We're flying down there.
You'll like it.
The closest we got was when we played El Paso, Texas. You could see the Mexican border and we had a lot of Mexicans come to our show and they're really hardcore guys - a really tough crowd.
I think the Mexican fans are going to eat you guys up because they're really die-hard for metal.
Yeah. We're gonna giv'er, man. For sure.
After that, you're heading out on the road again, correct?
Yeah, we have five months on the road after the Monterrey festival. We're booked for June, July, August, September and October - so five months straight. It's going to be crazy, but I think that's the only way for a grass-roots metal band to build that. Like the old days of METALLICA - they'd get on the road in a U-Haul and just giv'er. Our music IS on the radio, and it's on satellite radio and stuff like that, but I feel the best way is to play for live audiences.
When are you heading to Europe again?
That will be next year. We did Europe all of last year - like fifteen countries in October, and this year was all about the U.S. and Canada. They wanted us to focus on that. It's because of album sales. Our album sales are doing well, and there's demand for the band. Like that Monterrey festival - we didn't contact them, and neither did the label. They contacted us. So, to play on the main stage is like wow!
What can fans expect from the new album?
It's going to more of the same probably. The couple of songs that we've written so far are probably a bit heavier than the stuff we've done. But we've also written a couple of all-acoustic songs too. So, I just don't know what's going to make it to the album and what won't. But the main thing is, no matter what we write, we don't want anything to be fillers. Every song has to be good, because we're only doing ten songs on an album, so there's no excuse for a bum song. Everything has to be good - that we believe in. So that will be the sure promise. The only difference is now we'll have Stu - his high, crazy falsettos. So there'll be lots of that going on I'm sure. A lot of shrieking.
Do you still keep in touch with the Kral brothers at all?
I haven't talk to them in probably over a year, and I think they're going to probably form a band. I haven't heard much from them at all. They just…I don't know (laughs). Whatever they want to do I guess. Me - I need to get out and tour and work the band, so that's what I'm doing.
Well, that's the only way you're going to get ahead.
That's the only way, man. You have to. You have to forget about the girlfriend and the job and your loved ones and just go out and do it, man. We're only in our twenties once (laughs), you know....and I'm almost out, so I'm running out of time (laughs).
I hear you. I'm 33 and time is ticking.
Yeah. Time's ticking for me, man. So - do it now or never the way I figure. It's never easy, of course. No one likes being broke and no one likes sleeping in vans and truck stops, but too bad. We could be digging ditches. It could be a lot worse. We could be out here selling crack, you know (laughs), so I'd rather be in a band.
Well, you guys were given the talent so you mideaswell use it.
Yeah man.
Do you have anything you'd like to relay to the readers of METALEATER?
As far as the scene goes, I think it's cool that everyone's out there supporting heavy metal now, and the scene in the U.S. and Canada is getting pretty strong actually. I don't think people know that. I don't know how many - we probably did forty states and every single place was fuckin' killer. So I think metal is on an up rise now still. I'm sure it will fall (laughs), but it's good right now. So hopefully they can get out there and support their favorite bands. Download the music - whatever you gotta do - but get out there and support the live show. That's where the bands make their money - off merch and stuff.
Thanks very much for speaking with METALEATER, Tim!
Thanks a lot man! [FIN]
» Official INTO ETERNITY Website
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