Billy Talent 'Billy Talent 3' album

For their third major release, Billy Talent (which includes guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk) hired legendary producer Brendan O'Brien, the man behind the boards for countless alt-era classics by bands like Rage, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Both the record and the rockers behind it are heavily influenced by the "alternative" revolution that roared through the early 1990s. 'Billy Talent III' is set for release on September 22nd via Roadruner Records and the single "Rusted From The Rain" impacts Alternative on September 15th.

The band has released a deluxe version of the record, containing a CD with the guitar tracks removed. This is to enable their fans to play along to their songs at home. The disc also contains four demo songs and guitar tabs for the album, printed on two full-size wall posters.

"That era of music for us was when we were in high school, and to have Lollapalooza roll through town and to have all these bands start breaking and Tool on the side stage, that was the best time ever," says Billy Talent's lead singer Ben Kowalewicz. Kowalewicz says. "That can't be re-created, but with this new record, finding out we could work with Brendan O'Brien and be involved with that whole movement of music blew us away. This record went back to our grunge-sounding influences than more of the screaming stuff that's been happening over the past five or six years."

"It was a beautiful time to be a teenager," Kowalewicz says. "To look at all the bands, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Green Day, that's pretty insane to think about. Those are still the bands that everyone turns to now. They set the precedent."

Billy Talent, named after the guitarist in 1996's cult Can-punk film 'Hard Core Logo,' embodies the alt-rock era in more than just sound. It also shines through in their dedication to themselves as a proper band. "We're very proud of that," says Kowalewicz. "We remained the four of us. It's not just me and Ian doing interviews and on the cover of magazines. We're a band, and without any one of us we wouldn't be the same."

As Kowalewicz puts it, "We were the brats that kicked the door down," bursting out of the Toronto suburbs with 2003's unexpected smash single 'Try Honesty.' Their next album debuted at No. 1 and they went on to sell out Toronto's 20,000-seat Air Canada Center, an unprecedented feat for a local hard rock band.

"We weren't really thinking that the first record was going to do well at all. Except for a handful of people in the city, nobody knew who we were at all," Kowalewicz says. "So to be on television and on the radio, that was a dream come true. It was strange to be sitting with your friends and then your song comes on the radio. But it's because we worked so hard that we've now proven that we're not just a one-trick pony."

You shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to play your music and entertain people" Kowalewicz adds. "The point of music is to connect with people, and the more people you connect with the better. We just want to play."

Billy Talent is planning to go on tour during fall 2009, in support of 'Billy Talent III'. They are presently touring with Rancid and Rise Against. The band will begin their headlining act on September 15th in Detroit (MI). The tour dates outline 11 cities including Omaha (NE), Denver (CO) and Los Angeles (CA). The US trek ends on October 9th, after which the band will move on to a lengthy trek in Europe.

Billy Talent tour dates
09/15/2009 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's
09/16/2009 - Chicago, IL - Metro
09/18/2009 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
09/19/2009 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
09/20/2009 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
09/23/2009 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
09/25/2009 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
09/26/2009 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater
09/27/2009 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House
10/05/2009 - Baltimore, MD - Recher Theatre
10/09/2009 - Boston, MA -Paradise Rock Club

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Billy Talent - Billy Talent 3