INTERVIEW WITH TOWER NOV 2005

http://www.towerofmystery.de/include.php

Hi Gav!

Hope you´re doing fine over there in the UK. So let´s get started with the interview:

Thank you very much for the opportunity!
Here goes...

1.) Please tell us something about the current line-up of
Hallion!

The current live line-up of Hallion consists of myself on guitar and vocals, Dane has returned to play guitar also. A new bass player by the name of Mike Hodgson (a long time supporter of the band from the beginning)
We are currently auditioning new drummers, hopefully the search won't be a long one.

2.) Where did the band´s name come from?

The name HALLION is an old Irish word for a person who's a rogue, a good-for-nothing, trouble.....
It reflects my roots and I just love the name!

3.) Where and when was your live-debut? And how
was the feeling you had, playing in front of the
audience for the first time?

Oh Christ!!!! That was around the end of 2002, in a fairly local town. None of the band members fault, in fact the other three guys handled their first ever live debuts bravely. However, appalling sound on stage (we couldn't hear a thing) and sheer panic made it a living hell! haha We fought it out like true soldiers and gradually turned the last half of the show around.
Not the greatest of debuts but the only bad show in Hallion's history.

4.) What was the biggest audience you ever have
performed in front of?

At a guess I would say around 100, probably more. That's the capacity of a lot of the places we've played.
Since the last show, our number of supporters has grown so we're very much looking forward to seeing more of you all out there!

5.) Where comes your inspiration from?

Just an overwhelming love of music! I swear there just isn't the time to get everything I hear in my head down onto a cd. Music is my life.
I draw a lot of inspiration from life itself, my own and what I see in others. Everything I write is a story of a true event or an observation.

6.) Please tell us something about the equipment you
use?
I use a whole host of guitars in the studio, but my main live guitar is a black ESP Explorer christened "Stephanie". That's just a total extension of myself. Been together 10 years....a lot of marriages don't last that long haha
Other guitars include a Dean V (with flames), a White Falcon style semi and a few Strat variations. I rarely use my acoustics live.
Marshall JCM 900 half stack provides my volume and roar. Effects I use sparingly, mainly a Zoom 505 for clean tones and a Crybaby Wah.

7.) What is the craziest thing a fan has done to meet
you?
I have time for anybody that wants to talk. Am a friendly open guy. No real crazy fans yet......hahaha

8.) Who do you listen to when you´re not playing?

The rock music I grew up listening to, my influences. Everybody from the Stones to Slayer. Aside from my usualy hard rock and metal I've always had a soft spot for Irish music too. Film soundtracks sometimes.
Since recording and producing albums myself, I've found the difference between HEARING and LISTENING. Listening intensely to hear how the music works and why it feels the way it does.

9.) What´s your favourite own song?
I hnestly couldn't give a favourite, but the ones I'm most proud of are the ones where it felt like I couldn't write them down fast enough. Songs like "Leave Me Alone", "Retribution Be My Name", "Ain't My Generation", "There She Goes",... I love them all in their own way.
A couple from Born Of Fire didn't turn out how I wanted them to, but I was still proud of it as a debut.

10.) What´s your favourite drink?

Obviously alcohol based seeing as this is a rock n roll site? haha
Budweiser or Bushmills Black Bush

11.) I like the cover-artwork of your new CD "Rhythm n
Bruise". Please tell us something about the
responsible Artist!

Good question! As a big fan of this artist's work I'll take any opportunity to give her publicity!
The piece was done by Amy Fletcher, a friend out in the US. She had sent me a picture of her Gothic Fire character wearing a Hallion shirt. Which made my day!
So when she offered to do the cd cover for Rhythm N Bruise...how could I refuse?
The cover is great as it's a little risque, with cool rock n roll imagery. Colourful and eyecatching no doubt!!
Links to Amy and Gothic Fire's website can be found in the LINKS section of Hallion's site.

12.) What are you doing to earn money beside your music? What´s your job?

The list of jobs I've had over the years are many and varied! haha Everything from warehouses to nursing to crappy telesales....
Currently working toward returning to the healthcare system or social work...
After my rock n roll days are over of course!

13.) What are your ambitions?

Just to make a comfortable living making and playing music. That's all I ever wanted. Fame I can take or leave, it's not a reason for doing this. If I was in it for money and fame, I would have quit or sold out a long time ago!

14.) Where can people get more information about you?

Hallion's main website at
http://www.hallionuk.com
and also on myspace with two profiles
http://www.myspace.com/hallion
and
http://www.myspace.com/gavruadh

Thank you very much for your interest in Hallion!!
Hope to come and play in Germany soon! We'll have a blast!