THE INTERVIEW (also appears in Hip Rock Magazine - www.hiprockmagazine.com)

 

 

TD Marant: Roy, thank you so much for the opportunity to interview you for Hip Rock Magazine and my own site.

 

Roy: You’re more than welcome TD, it’s a pleasure.

 

TD Marant: To get things started let me ask you, If you were a zoo animal which one would you be and why?

 

Roy: Ooo a zoo animal eh? Hmm lemme think, I think it would have to be a Rhino – those things are just badass. (laughs)

 

 

TD Marant:  You are a strong supporter for chART, an organization for helping children through arts and music. It is great that you are so passionate about helping this wonderful cause by donating all proceeds of the song “Crystalline” to this organization. Can you tell us what chART is about, your role as patron and how you got involved with this program?

 

Roy: Well chart are a wonderful group that are dedicated to bringing music and the arts to children with life-limiting conditions and severe disabilities throughout hospices in the UK.  Last May 2012 we were enjoying a wonderful tour supporting Michael Schenker on his UK dates when the fabulous Wayne Findlay (Michaels guitarist and keyboard player) recommended us to Suzanne and Carol, the guys from chARTUK, by saying they must check us out as we are a very good band (which was awesome of him to say so).  They did and indeed enjoyed our set.  So it was wonderful for them to ask us to become official supporters a few weeks after the show which we were delighted to accept.  Around December of last year, we decided we wanted to do something special for the guys and so we approached them with the idea of dedicating not only the song “Crystalline” to their work but also all proceeds from the sale of the single which of course, they were thrilled with.  As a result of that work the guys asked us to become Patrons of the charity and we accepted without hesitation as we are proud to be a part of their work.

 

TD Marant: Do you have any personal stories that helped you decide to be part of this program?

 

Roy: Not any direct contact stories as such but a photographer friend of ours revealed, shortly after we accepted as Patrons, that her daughter was in the hospice program during her time in a hospice before her tragic passing and that she was delighted that we were working with the organization.  That really brought it home how just a small act on anyone’s part

can make a difference to people.

 

TD Marant: As I looked around on the site they seem to have a lot of creative stuff. Who comes up with all these ideas?

 

Roy: Carol & Lauren Bromley.  Lauren, who is chARTs Crafts Team leader, is a professional ceramicist and illustrator.  Lauren graduated with a BA (hon,1st) in three dimensional design with ceramics and is involved in the whole spectrum of the Arts.  Carol also has a background of design and she actually designed chART’s website which we are all very proud of.

 

TD Marant: What’s some of the coolest things coming soon to help raise money?

 

Roy: Well, we have the charity single “Crystalline” that is now out and available for download at iTunes and Amazon plus the guys have the Icons of Rock guitar! – basically chART have been asking “Rock Legends” over the last 15 months if they would be kind enough to sign their guitar. So far the signatures are:- Guns N Roses, Nickelback, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group, Glenn Hughes, Europe, Status Quo, Daughtry, Journey, Thunder, The Darkness. Soren Andersen. & Dragonforce  The last 2 signatures will be Joe Satriani and Eric Clapton in June 2013.  This unique guitar will then be auctioned.

Also, the weekend of 5 & 6 October, Paintpot & Melt at Back Ridge in Clitheroe, which is a small village in the North West of England, are holding a weekend fundraising event in aid of chART.  chART’s Ladybird Elsie will be the theme.  They’ll be lots to see and do including face painting, pottery painting, arts and crafts, BBQ, entertainers, music etc.

 

TD Marant: What are a few annual highlights of chart?

 

Roy: Marco Mendoza taking time out of his busy schedule with Thin Lizzy to visit Claire House Children’s Hospice in the Wirral.  Marco took along his guitar to have a sing-along with the children.  Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces said it

all. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by everyone.

 

Adam Masters is also a patron and the “Madchester Guitar”.  This guitar was signed by all the Manchester bands including, The Stone Roses, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Happy Mondays, Mike Joyce Oasis, Beady Eye, Peter Hook, Joy Division, New order, Ting Tings, Elbow, The Charlatans, The Courteeners plus lots more. Rowetta, Mike Joyce and Bonehead helped to raise the profile of the guitar and were interviewed for TV along with Adam and Suzanne.  The guitar raised £6600 and was split between two hospices, which chART support, Francis House in Manchester and Claire House on the Wirral.

 

TD Marant: That’s amazing! What other artists are involved, if any?

 

Roy: Some fabulous artists are already onboard with the charity including Patrons Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders), Wayne Findlay (Michael Schenker Group, No Sky Today), also great supporters of their work Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns ‘n’ Roses) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake).

 

TD Marant: How much does chart usually bring in annually?

 

Roy: Being a small charity chART raise around £5000 per year – this does not take into consideration the donations we receive, instruments, toys. Books, games, craft materials, etc which amounts to much more.

 

TD Marant: Where can people go to learn more about chART?

 

Roy: People can learn more and get involved simply by visiting their website www.chartuk.org.

 

 

TD Marant: As I was reading about your band on your web site I chuckled to myself at this statement and I quote”  …modern rock band that appeals to a new young audience just as effortlessly as it does those who've been around the block for a few years.” I fall into the category of being around the block a few years!!! Such a nice way to state it! And I agree with that statement. I really loved the song Crystalline. I found it to be a beautiful blend of music and vocals in a free flowing effortless acceptance that just is.” What was the inspiration for “Crystalline”?

 

Roy: “Crystalline” is a story of the struggle against those that would have you fail at something important to you or at least try to dissuade you of that fact and ones eventual strength to overcome that and other challenges.  It’s kind of a story of two halves with the first half of the song focusing on the negative aspects of your life and the second half an uplifting period where you face and take on the challenges ahead and overcome them.  Everyone faces these challenges in life and some take the bull by the horns and overcome, adapt….”Crystalline” is for all those people which is why we felt it was the perfect vehicle for us to delivere our message about chARTUK.

 

TD Marant: Exit State is a relatively new band that has had great success early on. What do you feel is the reason for this?

 

Roy: I think maybe because we follow the example of some great bands like Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Alter Bridge etc by really concentrating on making the songs as accessible as possible to fans of our style of music whilst at the same time really connecting with those people by reminding them we are just ordinary people like them and that we are as eager to hear their life stories as they are ours.  In our humble opinion, it is fans that make bands, not the other way around.

 

TD Marant: Exit State is made up of some very talented people, how did you all come together?

 

Roy: I started Exit State many years ago after the demise of my only other band, Deponeye which, technically, was the first version of Exit State.  Over the years I got to know the guys through other bands that they were playing in and, thankfully for me, the demise of those bands.  Around 2008 it was me, Adam (sadly no longer with the band), Peat and Phil that finalized the line up and we never looked back since then.  We were all the guys responsible for “organizing” our respective bands so the organization aspect of Exit State and the 100% commitment factor came very very easily to us all.  Unfortunately for us, Adam had to leave the band in 2011 as he wanted to concentrate on regular life which was sad for us but as he is still to this day our best mate. We were happy to see him become happy and do something else (band life is very hard) and that is when we were lucky to acquire Matt Harris through advertising and auditions.

 

TD Marant: Your video reached the number one spot on the Kerrang TV Chart Request Show. Did you expect it to attract so much attention? What was that like for you?

 

Roy: In honesty we didn’t. I simply put up a small event on one of the social networking sites encouraging people to request the video and much to our amazement it ended up No1 in the Request Show charts.  It was a fantastic period for the band and really cemented the fact we have very loyal fans and a vast army of them at that.

 

TD Marant: You also have some very impressive strong   support slots with some great names, Michael Schenker, Blaze Bayley ( Iron Maiden) AC/DC , The Black Mollys, two successful album releases, tours,  obviously  a very busy future ahead.  What goals do you have for this band?

 

Roy: We would like to take our music to as high a level as possible and really get out into the world and meet as many people who share our love for rock and metal music.  Enjoying being professional musicians and have many people enjoy the music we create both on record and at live shows is the only goal we are working towards.

 

TDMarant: Is there a tour to the USA in the works?

 

Roy: Oh god I hope so! (laughs)  There is nothing on paper as of yet, but we are being constantly reminded that our American cousins would love our brand of rock and having been to the US many times before I am really keen to get back out there. It’s an amazing country with amazing music fans – those guys LOVE rock and metal. (laughs) It’s where we wanna be for sure.

 

TD Marant:  You have been called a Modern Classic Rock Band. Do you agree with this?

 

Roy: I guess so.  Being asked to describe your own music is the hardest thing any musician can be asked.  To us we don’t categorize ourselves other than the actual genre we know we are in and that is rock music.  I guess we will leave it up to the powers that be (fans) to make their own minds up what sub genre we fit in haha!

 

 

TD Marant: What do you feel defines your band,  gives your unique sound, differentiates you from other bands, etc. because you are clearly very unique.

 

Roy: Very simply, the fact that we are ALL songwriters and ALL come from differing rock influences.  For me it is the heaviness of Metallica, Medageth, Anthrax and the melodic side of Guns and Roses that drives my songwriting. For our drummer Peat it is bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Who good old classic 70s rock bands and the story shifts again for both Phil and Matt, same love for rock but different influences.  However, when we come to write we all work from the standpoint that THE SONG is the most important aspect of the whole thing and not our individual egos or skills so we keep things as simple as possible whilst squeezing every last ounce of melody we can from the ideas and, et voila…Exit State.

 

 TD Marant:  What can we expect from your 3rd album , “ Lets See it All,” being released June 24, 2013?

 

Roy: A much harder, faster and darker offering than previous records although retaining that ‘Exit State’ versatility form song to song that keeps people guessing and also provides the “something for everyone” aspect to the album.  Also, songs with true stories albeit at times a little cryptic. The lyrics will keep folks guessing I hope.

 

 

 

TD Marant: Thank you so much for the interview and I wish you much success in the future with Exit State and as a Patron with chART! Is there anything else you would like to share with this audience?

 

Roy: Thanks ever so much TD and we just hope that people will visit our website (www.exitstate.com), download/listen to our music and become fans and if so just join us on facebook or twitter and talk to us as. We love meeting as many lovers of rock and metal as possible.

 

Story and interview by

TD Marant