BBC Essex November 2007

Describe your band in 50 words.

Gav Ruadh:

HALLION - Irish term - A rogue, scoundrel or good for nothing

A blend of hard rock, glam and old school metal, with a nod to the past and a mind to the future. Uninterested in passing trends, rooted in honesty with stories and observations of the world around us.

What’s your connection to Essex?

We all live here. Where we met and formed.

How and when did the band form?

Back in 2002 I had finished a solo recording project. “Born Of Fire”. The project was already named “Hallion”. Decided that this was to be my musical future, and set about recruiting a band to perform it live.                                                             

Describe your style of music

We’re perceived as being a hard rock, glam, “old-school” metal band. They’re our musical roots I admit. The truth is in that the music on the records is how I actually “hear” the songs in my head, when I’m writing.

Each and every song is a true story. I’m a “storytelling songwriter”.

What are your musical influences?

For myself, everything from The Rolling Stones to Slayer.

Andy’s tastes are eclectic too, Bob Marley to Maiden. Mikey is a fellow Glam/Sleaze Rock nut. Dane’s into the 70’s/80’s era hard rock.

Out of all your material, what’s your favourite song?  And why?

“Leave Me Alone” from the 2^nd album “Rhythm & Bruise” It’s about that dark place your frame of mind can be in after a run of bad luck. Beauty and nihilism served with the usual snarl.

Who are you aiming at?

Anyone who’ll listen. There’s no trend chasing going on here. The diversity of our audience is always surprising. As I’ve noticed both at our shows and from myspace. The really heavy metal or “cookie monster” bands around sometimes tease or dismiss us as being “a chick band”. However, we don’t see them complaining at the amount of female supporters we have haha.

Where do you usually perform?

So far, we’ve been pretty localised to the Essex and London areas. Our biggest audience, in terms of cd and merchandise sales, seems to be in the US and Scandanavia. They’ve been patiently waiting for us to play live there for a while.

What would be your ideal venue?

Donnington!! (after the sun has gone down of course) They need to rename it though. Download never struck me as the most inspiring name in the world.

Tell us one thing about yourselves that no-one else knows

An exclusive? haha Well there’s not much so far that isn’t already known to our supporters. We’re a fairly “open book”. The whole myspace phenomenon ensures that your life isn’t that private anymore. Regardless of your level of success.

The only thing that I haven’t talked about in interviews is this idea I’ve been working on with a concept album. A great story carried with the songs to match. A long held ambition and a challenge I’ll enjoy. Given that projects of that nature are extremely “hit or miss”, it will probably not be a Hallion album.

What was the last CD you bought?

Was 3 at once…

Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastardsards

W.A.S.P – Dominator

Hardcore Superstar – Dreaming In The Casket

Where would you like to be musically in five years time?

To be in a position where it’s financially secure and all we have to worry about is making and performing music. To concentrate on the love of it. Everything else I can take or leave. 

Gav Ruadh