People who may not be all too familiar with Billy Talent, may think that they are relatively new players in the music industry.  Truth is; Billy Talent have been rocking crowds for 13 years now with their blend of hook-filled, ultra intense rock and roll.  It’s hard to believe that this Toronto, Ontario Canada-based quartet have only released two albums under the Billy Talent name and one under their previous moniker, Pezz. 

 

Releasing an album a year is not in the cards for Billy Talent.  “We could easily pump out a crappy record and have it out by summer,” says drummer Aaron Solowoniuk.  The band would much rather take their time and give their fans a quality product.  “We’re trying to write great music,” says Solowoniuk.

 

Popular Underground had the opportunity to find out what makes Billy Talent tick.  Moreover, we wanted some dirt on the band’s first ever live DVD / CD release entitled 666.  The DVD is a showcase of the band performing at some of the world’s largest and well known concert venues.  Six different songs were picked from shows played at Brixton Academy in London, Phillipshalle in Düsseldorf, Germany and of course the Rock Arm Ring Festival in Nürburgring, Germany.

 

The band, who got their name from a character in the movie Hard Core Logo, a film based on a book by Michael Turner, is to say the least, difficult to categorize.  Ben Kowalewicz’s vocals are shrill, robust and commanding.  The rest of the band rounded out by Ian D’Sa on guitar and Jon Gallant on bass perform with jaw-dropping vigor. 

 

Ultimately, the 666 DVD is proof that Billy Talent is larger than life as they played in front of 80,000 to 100,000 fans in the venues outlined on the DVD.  “Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d play in front of that many people,” says Solowoniuk.  “It felt like we were in a movie the whole time.”

 

Solowoniuk explains that while performing to that many people is amazing, it also has its challenges.  “There’s a lot less stress at a little tiny, dirty punk rock show,” he says.  “You can kill it easily.”  The large venues, however, require a little more tact.  “With 100,000 people, you have to play bigger.  You have to play to the people in the front and especially the people in the back,” Solowoniuk explains.

 

Billy Talent’s sophomore release entitled Billy Talent II , was really what began to boost the band to international rock stardom.  A week after the album’s release in 2006 it hit number one in Canada and Germany and then a year later it became a Double Platinum album.  “We were all really proud of [II],” says Solowoniuk.  “We put our blood, sweat and tears into that [and] we accomplished a lot with it.”

 

After all the acclaim, Billy Talent found themselves winning awards for Best Rock / Alternative International Group and Best Newcomer International at Germany’s Echo Music Awards.  They had already won Best New Group, Group of the Year and Album of the Year Junos trophies, and made quite a scene arriving at the MuchMusic Awards in Toronto, where they picked up awards for Best Video and Best Rock Video.  The band actually showed up to the awards ceremony in a Sherman Tank, driven by a guy named “Frank.”  “Everyone wonders what you’re going to show up in,” says Solowoniuk.  He says that every year people are always trying to outdo each other with what they arrive to the ceremony in.  Rather than show up in a fancy limo or Escalade, Billy Talent brought a tank!  “Can’t really beat that now,” boasts Solowoniuk.

 

There’s no doubt that Billy Talent has a devoted following all over the world and the DVD is the evidence.  Solowoniuk says the band’s fans are pretty equal all over the world, saying that everyone shows a lot of love and support.  The Canadian fans tend to hold on to their artists and cherish them, Solowoniuk explains.  That said, the band feels the same way as their fans.  “We cherish what we do,” he says.  “And respect it so much.  We care about people who are going to like us.”

 

The band is currently working on their follow up to Billy Talent II and as Solowoniuk mentioned before, they are taking their time.  The band is slated for a European Tour, at which they will test out some of their new material.  If all goes right, the band will be in the studio by late summer or early fall.  “If we could release it, it would be awesome,” Solowoniuk says.”  But I don’t want to be pressured.” 

 

So the next chapter of Billy Talent’s journey is being penned as we speak.  The 666 DVD / CD, which features songs spanning the band’s two-record catalog is a great example of the band’s success, and they will continue to strive for world domination.  “I can’t wait to start playing live again and let everyone hear what we’ve been working on,” Solowoniuk concludes.

 

By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder

 

Photos: Dustin Rabin