I was always a XYZ fan..
But not nearly as much as I am now.. the new c.d. is amazing..
and they have become one of my favorites..
Terry is a really great guy who has finally "found his voice"
As you will see when you read on..

 

J-First off.. we have to go wayy back.. how did you hook up with the guys in XYZ? The original line-up?

T-Well I had come from Europe in the 90's ..I mean the 80's..and I new Pat from Europe as well.. the bass player, and we put ads in all the magazines in L.A.. and eventually we found Paul.. it was a very difficult task actually. cause not to many people at the time wanted to play with me, cause I was from Europe, so it was a difficult thing, to form a band, cause it was basically the bass player and myself. it was a really difficult task..haha..

J-And how long were you together before you got signed?..

T-Umm.. lets see.. from 86'to 89'.. 3 years and we played every club.. it was so damn hard to get a deal, everyone passed on us. Well I mean everyone was passing on everyone. so it was a problem. but it came to a point were we were like.. what are we going to do? and in late 80's from 89' to 90'.. not too many bands were releasing any c.d.'s.. like they do now.. you have the internet..and you can release stuff.. at the time, no one was releasing anything.. so we just said.. lets just do it anyway. so we were on our way to do our own thing.. cause I was not about to give up, when eventually, the only label.. we did not approach was Enigma, we did not approach them, cause they were small, and at the time.. everybody wanted to be with a big label.. anyway, a friend of mine approached a girl that worked there.. for me.. and he did that on my behalf..and they gave us a deal right away..

 

J-So Don Dokken produced the first album.. how was that working with him?

(long pause..)

T-Well.. uhhh..

Don is a nice guy..but lets just say he's a bit over whelming.. and  we got off on a really big deal, it was close to a half million dollars and at the time, it was incredible for me.. coming from Europe.. so we took the deal.. and Don Dokken decided to produce the band he actually changed the sound of the band completely.. made it sound more like Dokken.. and changing my vocals and giving me all kinds of advice.. bla..bla..bla.. and I end up sounding like him, and I respect his voice, of course, but I was pretty upset by that..but there was not much I could do about it.. and to be honest with you.. I did not really care at first.. I was like..ok I'm losing my identity.. but I'm getting such a huge record deal, and so much attention..and eventually.. I would get very depressed.. people were getting the c.d... and it went gold in some other countrys.but I was upset cause I lost my identity.. and I was not allowed to be at the studio because Don realized I had such a strong personality.. and so he would say.. the singer can not be around, unless he has to sing..and that's it. so I did what I was told came and sang and that was it.. and looking back at it.. I learned allot. it was an experience.. but I wont do it again..

J-Who does the writing in the band?

T-I do, it depends on the songs.. but most the time..the music and the melodies are being done my myself..or Marc.. the guitar player, but usually I take care of a good part of it.. and Pat.. at the time, took care of the lyrics..now things have changed.. cause Pat is no longer w/me.. so I just kinda took over, and do things myself.. but it was hard for me.. I wrote all these songs, and did the demos.. then they are produced and they don't sound the way they were supposed to sound.. but the album sold..

J-Yep..and it got your name out there.

T-Yes, it got my name out there but I remember hearing the reviews.. this is the best Dokken album ever..

J-Right.. the best Dokken album Dokken never did...hahaha

T-I was like...ahhh fuck.. I still get emails.. even just the other day.. "Oh my god.. you kick Dons ass so many times.. your so much better of a singer then him" and I'm like I don't want to be better that anyone else.. I just want to be a great singer..and I respect his voice alot actually.. I've seen Dokken live many times.. I just don't want to sound like him.. but I respect the artist..absolutley respect him.. who am I to criticize someone who has sold 5 or 6 million albums..

J -What was your favorite tour you did back in the day?

T-I have many many favorite tours.. but the first one.. we actually went from clubs to playing area shows with Ted Nugent.. and Ted in the late 80's was an icon..and the first show we did with him, was 17,000 people, but my ultimate favorite tour would be the last one with Michael Schenker.. it was an acoustic set.. for me it was the best tour ever.. at a much smaller scale., doing venues..doing anything between 400 to 1,500 people..and with acoustic shows you get a much better vibe onstage.. and you can get to the crowd much better..to me this is what music is all about, its the communication between the fans and the group.. so it was for me the best tour ever.. it was so cool.. plus I am acoustic player.. I play acoustic myself.. so it was quit amazing actually..

J-I love acoustic too..and its nice to hear songs scaled down..

T-Are you a musician?

J-I used to play drums.. but I'm just so into music.. and I've been a fan of everything.. and all these "hair bands" and my goal now is to let people know all these great bands are still releasing music.. cause half the people don't know.. the magazines don't cover the smaller groups now.. so its hard to find it.. its not like buying Metal Edge back in the 80's.. you could keep up with everyone..

T-Right.. Metal Edge doesn't want to cover anything.. except the ugly bands...hahaha..

J-Ya.. so I try to cover all these I hate to call them 80's bands, but that's when they came out..

T-Yes.. some of these bands are putting out some great c.d.'s..

J-Yes.. I just got Lynch Pilson.. and it's amazing..

T-I knew you were going to mention them..cause yes, its a really good c.d...

J-Yes.. and I've heard some of the new XYZ and its also amazing..so I have a feeling these 2 will be my favorite new c.d.'s..

T-Well thanks you.. I tried to, and I know you hate the 80's band thing.. but I tried to get that sound.. the 80's big rock sound..but I mixed it up with something a little more modern to bring an edge to it. I just didn't want to repeat myself.. cause what's been done has been done, however..lets not spit on the past..oh well I'm an 80's guy.. so now lets do Limp Bizkit music.. first of all I don't like  Limp Bizkit, I hate that kind of music anyway.. I mean its good for them..it works for them.. but it wouldn't work for me..

 

See What happens to XYZ next..