Billy Talent

Ian and John from Billy Talent met with Reba after their Warped performance.

 

Reba : First I have to say I'm sorry we missed your show today, how was it?
John : Our show was great today. There are always the kids that are lined up right away and head right to the main stage, and today we were on the main stage, so we were lucky. This is our fourth timed on the tour. We did 2 dates in 2003,in 2004 we did 28, last year we only did a couple of dates because were working on our record and this year we are on 22 dates.

Reba : How has Warped Tour and your band progressed over the years?
John : The Band has come a long way. I mean constant touring, we really care about our music, we've become better musicians just through being able to do it full time now, as people and young men, we 're just naturally growing. Warped tour is just stabilizing itself into something that is going to be perpetual. It's pretty awesome.

Reba : Are there any Billy Talent collaborations we should know about?
John : We haven't really done any collaborations. We have pretty much just worried about our band. Ian played guitar for the International Aid Conference. Ultimately, I don't really have a desire personally to , I guess for fun there would be tons of musicians I would love to play with, but it's a question I've never thought "who I'd like to play with.""
IAN : I like Collaborating.

Reba : If your band had a platform, what would it be?
John : We try and tell people to respect one another and that's basically our strongest message. I think it's important that we work together. Basically, what our message is, is treating humans with respect.
IAN : We try to be socially conscious. Equality for everyone and treating each other with respect.

Reba : Tell me a story about the creation of one of your songs.
John : I think our new single "Red Flag", it will be coming out in America in the next few weeks, is a song that is important to us. It's kind of written to empower youth and kids.\..to stand up and live and follow their dreams. It's a youth anthem kind of thing.
IAN : I came up with this melody that was really chanty and anthemic. When the music came together it ended up being really powerful. So when we started to write the lyrics we pretty much wanted to accomplish

Reba : What is your Warped Best?
John : There was a big warped tour poker tournament and I finished 6th out of 80. So that was pretty good!
IAN : Last night, Karaoke, I sang a few Led Zeppelin songs

Reba: Warped Worst?
IAN : This morning, Coming out on stage, it was raining, and I took a big flip, totally flipped on stage, first thing out, waving to the kids, to the audience, and then I fell. It was pretty funny actually.
John : (chuckles uncontrollably in the background) This morning was really the worst, getting out of the bunk, after the beer last night. But I haven't really had  any bad times.

Reba : What's next? What's happening after Warped?
John : Few weeks off, then head to Europe for 5 and a half weeks. Then we come back to the states in the fall to open up with the Thursday / Rise Against Tour, then we'll do the same thing in Canada, but reverse, they'll be opening for us. We've got a busy schedule.

Reba: If you were a farm animal, what kind would you be and why?
John : Farm Animal?
IAN :Farm Animal ??
Reba: Farm Animal.
IAN : I'd want to be a black stallion! Because I can run free!!
John : I'd like to be a sheep dog. Black Stallion? (looks at IAN) That would be the stud too, right? I'd be a sheep dog because that's one of the animals that won't get slaughtered. Loyal to the Farmer, the farmer treats it right.

Thanks to Billy Talent, their publicist and Warped Tour!