American hard rockers Tesla have always been about the music. Where bands such as Poison, Motley Crue and Kiss would put on massive spectacles, Tesla would concentrate more on executing every song rather than having their fans lost in a world of glitz and glamour. Tesla's no bullshit attitude and honest hard rock has kept them in the public eye for over twenty years, even though during some of that time the band didnít see eye to eye. Over the years the band released instant hard rock masterpieces such as 'Mechanical Resonance' and 'Psychotic Supper' which spawned Tesla onto the world stage hitting the United States and Europe with bands such as Def Leppard, the Scorpions. June 2007 saw Tesla return to the studio to record a set of classic rock gems that we all know and love, rocking out to classic tracks from bands such as Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones and Deep Purple. This was the bands first time in the studio since the 2004 release 'Into the Now'. The bands latest album 'Reel to Reel' has been met with amazing reviews from rock and metal writers across the globe and proves that after all these years Tesla are still at the top of their game. American fans will be treated to the next installment of classic rock covers this coming Tuesday when Tesla release 'Reel to Reel 2' which will feature blistering versions of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' and Aerosmith's 'Seasons of Wither'. After twenty one years in the spotlight American hard rockers Tesla recently announced plans to embark on their first ever Australian tour which has punters jumping for joy. Before heading to Japan to play the Loud Park Festival Tesla will be playing just two shows for fans in Sydney and Melbourne on this, their first whirlwind tour. I caught up with bassist Brian Wheat earlier to discuss the bands first ever trek down under. We also spoke about covering these killer classic rock songs, the bands dedicated fans and much more. It's time to 'Hang Tough' with California's 'Modern Day Cowboy' Brian Wheat! Metal Fanatix: Hi Brian, how’s things mate? Brian Wheat: Good man how ya doin'? Metal Fanatix: Not too bad mate. Firstly I want to thank you for taking the time out to speak with me today. I want to congratulate you on the recent release of ‘Reel To Reel’, no doubt you guys were happy with the outcome? Brian Wheat: Yeah absolutely! Metal Fanatix: As most know by now it’s an album of covers featuring some amazing tracks such as ‘Bad Reputation’, ‘Thank You’ and ‘Honky Tonk Women’ to name a few. There seems to be a trend in recent years where hard rock bands such as L.A. Guns, Poison, Def Leppard and yourselves have decided to release an album of covers. After all these years, what prompted you to do the covers album. Brian Wheat: Well, there were a couple of reasons we did it. Firstly, we always wanted to do one. But the main reason was at the end of 2005 Tommy Skeoch left Tesla and we had Dave Rude join us for the 2006 summer tour. On that tour we played a bunch of covers and Tesla songs. Around that same time we had started our own record label. So first reason to do a covers record was to just go in and have some fun and play these covers, without having the pressures of recording an all originals record with a new member. The other reason was that Dave had just joined the band and we hadn’t been in the studio yet with him. Metal Fanatix: Clearly there were many more song choices to cover and as a result I believe ‘Reel to Reel 2’ will be released next week? Brian Wheat: Yeah, it comes out on Tuesday here in America and come Monday we’re actually talking with people at the distribution company about the release for Australia as well. Metal Fanatix: That’s awesome news! You have stated many times that both Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick and Cliff Williams of Ac/dc were both major inspirations to you and yet you guys didn’t add any covers by either band, any reason for that? Brian Wheat: Ah, not really anything in particular! Actually on the box set there is an Ac/dc song that we did. Metal Fanatix: Oh really! Brian Wheat: Yeah, that will come out on our box set next year. We recorded it with Tommy Skeoch which was one of the last sessions that Tommy played on. When it come to Cheap Trick; we had talked about doing some stuff, but when it came time to record it, it just didn’t feel right. Metal Fanatix: Well, I guess when it comes down to it, you want to use the strongest material you’ve recorded on the albums!
Metal Fanatix: Well maybe that’s something else you can keep as a gem for the box-set next year! Brian Wheat: Well, as I said we have an Ac/dc Bon Scott era track for the box set. I think we did ‘It’s A Long Way to The Top’ from memory. Metal Fanatix: Awesome mate I can’t wait to hear it! You guys recently filmed a video for the Led Zeppelin cover ‘Thank You’. Many bands openly state that they hate making clips but as we know it’s a must in this business. Take us through a typical day on the set of a Tesla clip? Brian Wheat: That clip was done in about two hours actually [laughs]. We went into my recording studio with this young kid we know who we call Emo kid. He’s a young film maker who’s only twenty one. He showed up with three or four buddies and cameras and in two hours we were done filming. It was over pretty quick! That same day we wound up recording two more songs which were ‘Hand Me Down World’ and ‘All The Young Dudes’. Troy had finished the drums and left about six thirty that evening while Frank and myself finished backing vocals at around three in the morning. In twelve hours we had done the video and recorded two songs. Metal Fanatix: That’s amazing dude! During the eighties and even the early nineties I can remember seeing so many different hard rock and metal videos on our televisions, but these days they are few & far between. Do you feel it is still important to spend money making film clips that don’t get anywhere near the airplay they deserve? Brian Wheat: My view on clips in this… they’re good to have! They were invented to be a promotional tool and they still are a great promotional tool. But to spend half a million dollars making a fuckin' video is insane. Its all about the song man! When people hear the song, it makes them react and want to go out and buy the records. Videos are nice to have but we’re not film makers here man, we’re music makers. My view on clips is to do what we did with ‘Thank You’, knock it out real quick, have fun doing it and not take it too serious like you’re trying to make a fuckin' movie! Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Brian Wheat: Leave that up to Steve Spielberg he does it better anyways! Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Brian there has been talk that once you guys finish up the current tour you will be heading back into the studio to record a new Tesla album. Have you been doing much writing while ya been on the road? Brian Wheat: We’re starting to, we haven’t done much. We have been really busy with the album and tour and starting our own record company that we haven’t found a lot of time to write songs. Individually we have written stuff and got ideas but nothing’s been done together at this stage. Metal Fanatix: So its just a matter of sitting down now and doing some sessions and just seeing what comes from it? Brian Wheat: Yeah! We’re going to the studio in January to start writing and put ideas together. Metal Fanatix: Brian I want to talk to you about life on the road. Finally after all these years you guys are heading to Australia. What expectations do you hold for the Australian leg of the tour? Brian Wheat: It’s funny, everyone has asked us that and I don’t know what to expect because we have never been there. I know we’re really pleased that there’s people in Australia that want to see us play and we’re really excited about coming over. But we have no idea what to expect, none of us have ever been over there even as tourists. It’s the country that Ac/dc comes from so ya gotta like rock ‘n’ roll Right? Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Yeah mate we sure do! Will you guys actually have time to see any of the sites while you’re here? Brian Wheat: Nuh it doesn’t look like it. We fly in the day before the Melbourne show from San Francisco which is quite a long flight. The next day we play then we fly to Sydney and play that night. Then we take off to Japan the next day. So I don’t think we will see much. I do want to see kangaroos and I asked someone yesterday if they were friendly and if you could play with them. I was told that they could kick the living shit out of me but I think they are really cute! Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] As nice as they look they are quite dangerous! There has been a lot of talk that Tesla fans will be able to purchase the V.I.P packages for the Australian leg of the tour. What can you tell us about that?
Metal Fanatix: Mate, when the time comes to work out the set list, do you find it hard to choose the right songs, I mean there will always be fans who want to hear the old stuff and the occasional obscure song and of course you have to play some new tracks. Do you find it hard to make a set that is for fans of all eras? Especially when you are playing somewhere such as Australia where you guys have never toured? Brian Wheat: Yeah, we change the set every night. There are some songs that are core Tesla songs that are in the set every night like ‘Modern Day Cowboy’, ‘Love Song’ and the other fifteen songs are whatever we feel like playing. We cover every record. We will play all the songs that you would expect to hear, the radio hits and we do play some obscure stuff as well as stuff off the ‘Reel to Reel’ albums. It’s a two hour show, sometimes it goes a little more. Metal Fanatix: Awesome, are you guys bringing a full stage show with you, or will we be seeing a more stripped back, here we are let’s rock performance? Brian Wheat: No, no, no. Of course there will be lights, drums and amps but no special effects or anything. Tesla has never been a band who has relied on their stage sets. It’s always been about the songs. Metal Fanatix: The million dollar question on everyone’s mind is, why has it taken you guys so long to tour down here? Brian Wheat: Because no one ever asked us to come over! Metal Fanatix: [laughs] Brian Wheat: I think that the managers and accountants that looked after us, looked at it like if they weren’t making money immediately, they didn’t want to go. Now that we run our own label we can do what we want. If we want to go to Australia we can. Even if it means breaking even a couple of times til you develop your audience then go back and earn money. No one ever said “hey would you like to go do a tour of Australia!” That is really the reason. Metal Fanatix: Do you find it a lot less stressful having your own record label rather than working for the larger corporate companies? Do you feel like you have more freedom to do whatever you want? Brian Wheat: Of course! It’s less stressful cause you know what’s going on. No ones lying to you. If you’ve spent one hundred thousand dollars marketing a record you know you’ve spent it, not spent thirty when they’re telling you you’ve spent one hundred! Which is really what happens! Metal Fanatix: Tesla fans are incredible and extremely dedicated. What are your thoughts on fans getting Tesla tattoos? Brian Wheat: It’s funny to see people with my name tattooed on their arms. I’m flattered, it’s crazy [laughs]. I’m in the band and I don’t even have a tattoo of Tesla on me [laughs]. The first time it kind of freaked me out a little bit! This chick said “sign my stomach I’m gonna get it tattooed”! I said “no you don’t wanna get my name there”. She came back a couple of weeks later and she had all of our names tattooed on her stomach. Metal Fanatix: That’s insane! Brian Wheat: Yeah, I thought it was pretty crazy but if it makes them happy man who am I to tell 'em no! Metal Fanatix: Brian, Its amazing to see bands such as Tesla, Ratt, Winger and Queensryche finally all making their way to Australia, there seems to be a massive resurgence for hard rock and metal music here in Australia, is the scene still thriving over in the states? Brian Wheat: Yeah, it still does well in America, I guess you can say there has been a resurgence here as well. Metal Fanatix: Brian over the years you have shared the stage with some amazing artists, who have you enjoyed touring with the most? Brian Wheat: Def Leppard
Brian Wheat: Yeah, we did that monstrous ‘Hysteria’ tour with them in America and that was early on in our career. The guys took us under their wings and we learned a lot from them. Just by watching them and being around them everyday. They just treated us better than anyone else I’d ever supported on tour. They went out of their way to treat us extra good on tour. We’re still close buddies with all of those guys. Metal Fanatix: The ‘Hysteria’ tour is known as the craziest Def Leppard tours to date. With all the backstage and under-stage debauchery I guess being a relatively new band at that time; it would have opened up your eyes to much more than playing at the Whiskey on a Thursday night! Brian Wheat: Yeah, I was a kid man. There was a lot going on and a lot to take in [laughs]. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] I bet there was! I think we will leave it at that [laughs] Brian Wheat: Yeah! [Laughs]. Metal Fanatix: Mate, what is the craziest rumor you had ever heard about yourself and or the band? Brian Wheat: The craziest rumor I have ever heard about myself is that I was dead. As far as the band, I don’t know what the craziest rumor would be. Most of the shit that’s said about us is true [laughs]. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Who have you been surprised to learn is a fan of the band? Brian Wheat: The biggest surprise was when Jimmy Page told me that he really enjoyed the ‘Five Man Acoustical Jam’ record when I had met him for the first time. I said “dude, I didn’t even think you knew who I was”. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Brian Wheat: It doesn’t get any bigger than that! Metal Fanatix: Yeah mate, that’s for sure! You have grown up influenced by some of the greatest bands in rock n roll history such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Do you feel you have played a large role in influencing many of today’s hard rock acts? Brian Wheat: Ah, I don’t know man. There are young bands that come up to us and say they grew up listening to us. Just the other day we played a big festival and Papa Roach, Buckcherry and Hinder were also on the bill. It was really nice to see them all sitting on the side of the stage to watch our set. We played before the three of them and they all had quite a bit of respect for us which was really nice. Metal Fanatix: When you leave Australia you guys are heading to Japan to play the loud park festival. That’s an amazing festival featuring some killer bands. After all these years do you still get nervous when you’re sharing the stage with a legendary band such as Black Sabbath? Brian Wheat: Yeah of course man! You’ve gotta bring you’re a game! Metal Fanatix: Looking back to when you first started out did you ever think that more than twenty years on you would still be releasing albums and touring the world? Brian Wheat: No. You never really imagine that! It’s been twenty one years and when you look back on it, you wonder where did all the time go. But it’s what you do. It’s in your blood, it’s part of your life. Metal Fanatix: Mate there is so much more id love to talk to you bout but it seems we’re running out of time so I just have a couple more questions for ya! After all these years in the business what goals have you set for yourself these days? Brian Wheat: To enjoy myself! It’s gotta be fun still. If it’s not fun it’s not worth it. Metal Fanatix: Has there been too many times over the years where it’s seemed like more of a burden? Brian Wheat: At times it has been a pain in the ass, when the focus wasn’t on what it should have been. At the moment we are all having a pretty good time. Metal Fanatix: Brian, what is the one band you never want to hear again and why?
Metal Fanatix: Yep! Brian Wheat: Oh man you’re putting me on the spot, no matter what I say I’m gonna look like a prick! Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] I know it can be hard to narrow it down! Brian Wheat: Let me just say that there are several bands that I’d never care to hear again in my life but I won’t say who they are! Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Well we will leave it at that mate [laughs]! Brian once again I want to thank you for ya time today. All the best out on the road and with the release of ‘Reel to Reel 2’. Do you have any last words for our readers? Brian Wheat: Yeah, I can’t wait to get Australia. The band is super excited to come and finally play there! The goal is to make this tour a huge success so that we can keep coming every year now and make up for the twenty one years you never saw! Tesla's new album Reel to Reel 2 was released on September 25th Grab your copy where all kick ass albums are sold To keep up to date with all the latest news on Brian and Tesla check out the following websites: http://www.teslatheband.com - Official Tesla Site http://www.myspace.com/teslatheband - Tesla MySpace Site http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints - Inside Out 666 © Cameron Edney September 2007, April 2008 Not to be re-printed in any form without written permission. |
