RASKAL INTERVIEW

10/08/07

"HALLION" IS COMING FROM ENGLAND AND OFFERS A COOL HARD/GLAM METAL! IMAGINE "WASP" PLAYING GLAM IT COULD BE THE DEFINITION WHEN YOU LISTEN THEIR SONGS ON MYSPACE! THANX TO GAV TO ANSWER THIS INTERVIEW AND I WAIT THEIR NEW CD CAUSE WITH A BIG PRODUCTION I'M SURE "HALLION" COULD ROCK THE WORLD !


1/ Could you in few words give us information about you (the place you are from, the year you started, your release(s), your ages) ?
And did you played before in some other bands that did a release (Demo, LP, 7', CD..) ?

Gav Ruadh: Well, way back in 2001 I wanted to write and record an album solo. Just as people like Prince, Blackie Lawless, Michael Monroe, Duff McKagan etc had done. A studio project under the name of HALLION. The album was "Born Of Fire".
During and after this time, I quickly decided that with this material would be the basis of the kind of band I always wanted to see... let alone be in!
"Born Of Fire" was released in 2003 properly, sporadic shows to support it.
2005 saw me recording the follow up "Rhythm & Bruise" solo once again, as the previous line up collapsed.

December 2005 saw "Rhythm & Bruise" released, quickly followed by a new line up. Dane re-joining, Mike-E-B on bass and Andy "The Animal" Edmonds on the drums.

2/ How could you describe your music ? Do you have favourite themes in your songs?

Gav Ruadh: The music could be described as "hard rock with elements of metal and glam" I think.
A consistent theme in all my songs is that each song is a true story that I've either lived or observed. I'm a "storyteller" of a songwriter I think.

3/ About your first CD, who did the cover? How many were pressed and are they all still available? And about the last one?

Gav Ruadh: Yes, the covers of those two releases are grand!
"Born Of Fire" was designed by a friend of mine I grew up with, Jim Fanthorpe. My favourite car, a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, arising from flames, as the title suggests.
"Rhythm & Bruise" was designed by a friend of ours in the US, Amy Fletcher. More examples of her work can be found at http://www.sinicallytwisted.bravehost.com  

Both albums are still available. "Born Of Fire" received a much needed remix and remaster earlier this year.

4/ Who chose the name of the band (and does it means something particular?).

Gav Ruadh: Well, my family are from Ireland and over there a "Hallion" is somebody who is basically "trouble". A rogue, scoundrel, "good for nothing".
An affectionate term bestowed on me whenever I was up to no good in my early years.

5/ How is the Traditional HEAVY METAL scene in your country (State) ?

Gav Ruadh: The whole metal scene in the UK is very eclectic. There are a hundred pigeon holes acts put on themselves. "Emo" this, "post hardcore" that...
The majority sound like "cookie monsters with road drills" haha
It's all a matter of taste really, and I firmly believe that if you look for yourself, there are many great metal bands to be found!

6/ Give us some other HEAVY METAL bands you know in your area.

Gav Ruadh: KARCHARODON!
Our Brothers In Arms.
We did a show early part of last year with these guys and have become firm friends since.
When I heard their first album "Oblivion" it gave me the same rush as when I heard "Master Of Puppets" or "Reign In Blood" for the first time. Epic without being corny, progressive without sounding pretentious.

Narkan and the Skintight Jaguars are probably more Hard Rock than metal, but they are great bands worth checking out too. Lots of energy and great to see live!

7/ What are your 2007 projects or actualities?

Gav Ruadh: 2006 was mostly about getting the new HALLION line up performing, letting people know who we were. The line up got performing tight quickly!
2007 has seen more shows, extending the publicity through the internet, and having our TV show on rotation in the US. I've also been writing the 3rd album "Forgive Never Forget".
That will be recorded and released this year, a UK tour too.

8/ How do you imagine your band in the future? Are you ready to do a lot of sacrifice to climb the steps to "success" or do you prefer to take only the good moments without thinking about "tomorrow" ?

Gav Ruadh: Oh sacrifices have been made and a lot of hard work too! HALLION is based on a D.I.Y. ethic. We do practically everything ourselves. That's how it started, and to be honest, I like it that way.
HALLION has seen it's fair share of hard times, but life without making music, is FAR worse than the struggles a band faces. So we keep doing it!

9/ Give me some of your 80's HEAVY METAL bands you are really fans? (I know you could give tons, so try to give some of the Best)

Gav Ruadh: We're into a lot of the same kind of things. As a band we all love bands like; Alice Cooper, WASP, Hanoi Rocks, GNR, Aerosmith, Crue, KISS...those bands that balanced hard rock, glam and metal so well.

10/ Could you change your HEAVY METAL into more "commercial" Metal to be famous (use if you don't have, a keyboard, or turned some choruses into more melodic because a major Label ask you…) ?

Gav Ruadh: I honestly don't think the major labels have a clue how to sell records these days. They're running scared. Their days of ripping off the artists and the record buying public could soon be over.
It's going to be interesting seeing what happens next really.
As far as changing HALLION's sound, that will happen over time I'm sure. Nothing will really be discarded, just added to. In a similar way to Queen or something where the "rules and boundaries" no longer apply and you can do whatever we like musically.

11/ Did you already open for "important bands" ?

Gav Ruadh: Bigger bands? Not as yet. I'm sure that given professional level management that will happen.
Some of the band's we've played with already think they're huge though...hahaha

12/ Did you have what we could call something funny, strange or "catastrophic" that happened to your band on stage?

Gav Ruadh: This band is a family through and through, so believe me the laughs are plentiful!
We'll be sharing a lot of those in our DVD we're putting together right now.
We've signed more body parts than I can remember...one of the hairiest behinds I'd ever seen too haha

We've professional and easy to get along with kind of guys. Although we've played in some dumps and got screwed by some arseholes!
Our professional attitude and good natures have been tested! haha
There was this one dump we played. A basement type affair. As we walked in we noticed they were cleaning out their toilets by throwing water on the floor and pushing it out into the venue with a broom.
There's no lights in this place, no stage either.
By the time we got to play, we're going on in near darkness!
Not only did I have my ex girlfriend causing me no end of grief, we can all feel our feet getting very wet....
It soon becomes apparent that we're standing in 2 inches (5 cm) of water...a combination of piss, beer and dirty water....with electrical equipment...
The last time that dump called us, we laughed down the phone and hung up.

13/ How should be the perfect HEAVY METAL groupie? Is it important to have "Die Hard" fans around you? Do you have many?

Gav Ruadh: Amongst all the 13,000 or so friends on myspace, there are a large group of "Die Hards". They post our banners, hand out flyers for us, spread word of us.
We call them The HALLION Horde.
They're our Street Team of sorts. All really good people, friends of the band.


14/ What could be the "Heavy Metal War Cry" of your band ? (Not necessary something you will use as a slogan or motto, it can be just a word or a sentence that gives an apt description of what you are about and what you stand for)

Gav Ruadh: "DAY-OH!!!!"
How it all started I don't know for sure. People started yelling it at shows, we yelled it back. A call and response kind of thing. We even do it amongst ourselves, LOUDLY. It makes you feel better, try it!
I'll be sitting in my car at the traffic lights, half daydreaming...then somebody in the car next to me will scream out "DAY-OH!!"
That will wake you up I tell ya!

15/ Last question, imagine suddenly you are very (very, very) rich. What could be the gift you could imagine to thanx your fans (of course if it happen I will knock at your door if you forgive me hahahaha!)

Gav Ruadh: We'd get all the HALLION Horde members in the one place, throw a BIG PARTY!
Perform every song we've done, cover tunes of their choice. Perform til we can't perform any more. Then they can get drunk with us ;o)

16/ Give us the address of your Website and your MYSPACE page !

Gav Ruadh: www.hallionuk.com  and www.myspace.com/hallion  

17/ Tell us how to buy your CD, do we have to contact you directly? If you have something else to add it's the moment !

Gav Ruadh: All cd's, shirts and merchandise can be bought from our main website www.hallionuk.com or from us at shows.
When I stop and think just how many people each day are checking out what HALLION is about every day, I'm quite humbled. The support and mail we receive, every one makes us smile.
Your support is always greatly appreciated. From myself and Dane, Mike and Andy. Thank you!!