Interview With Billy Price Of Unholy
June 23rd, 2009 by Marisa Connelly
Billy Price sounds like the name of an A-list Hollywood actor. I can hear the deep resonating tone of the voice-over beyond the sound of explosions and car chases, “Billy Price and Angelina Jolie star in this next edge of your seat thriller!” His appearance champions his name, seeing that he looks the part as well. Uncommon in the metal scene, yet truly appreciated by us few females that are brazen enough to embrace it’s sinister notes. But beyond his thespian moniker and appearance, Billy Price was a cheerful, easy-going type of guy. Very modest and polite, contrary to the intimidating ferocity of his stage performance.
I caught up with the newly-signed hardcore quintet Unholy at The Lost Horizon in Syracuse, NY. They were direct support for label-mates All That Remains, who I was originally supposed to cover. Because of unfortunate circumstances involving a self-important merch guy and a dickhead sound guy, I was left with no material and a long drive home. Not wanting my night to be completely ruined, I asked Unholy if they would spare a few moments to chat with a very determined journalist. Luckily, Billy was much obliged. So although he may not be the leading man in any upcoming summer blockbusters, he was definitely the star of that night, and always will be in the eyes of one thankful metalhead.
YOU HAVE A NEW ALBUM OUT, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT?
Yeah, A New Life Behind Closed Eyes, it came out on Prosthetic Records, it’s our debut album with the label. We’re a recent band on the roster, so we’re all super excited.
WHO WERE YOU WITH BEFORE?
Lambgoat Records.
AND PROSTHETIC PICKED YOU UP?
Yeah, Gojira, All That Remains, we’re with good company.
NICE! AND YOU RECENTLY HAD SEVERAL LINE UP CHANGES?
Yes. I’m one of the new guys, so we’ll trace it back to when I got on board. Probably about a year and a half ago, fall of ‘07, the old singer and the band parted ways. Some issues with touring in general, not being on the same page. Then I joined up with those guys, did a couple tours. Then in the last three months we had a couple more line up changes. Our old drummer and us parted ways. [Drummer] Andy [Miller], who played with us tonight joined the band probably mid-January of this year. He was like this dude that just came out of nowhere, just like the ultimate diamond in the rough story. Like, the Syracuse music scene is kind of dried up anyways. There’s not a lot- well, there’s talent- but not a lot of people doing the kind of music that we do around here. In terms of players, and everybody that’s a really solid drummer especially, are already in bands. So it’s real slim pickings, and an old mutual friend of everybody in the band, it’s his younger brother. And he was like, “Oh, my brother’s been playing, he’s got his chops up. He really digs your band and wants to tour, and is looking to try out.” And we didn’t even know that he did drum teching for Unearth and a couple other bands, maybe Walls of Jericho. So he’s got experience. He was already out on the road doing drum tech stuff, touring and stuff. We tried him out and he clicked immediately. He picked all the songs up, great tempo, hits hard. Real all over solid dude, and he’s a great fit. [ex-Bassist] Gary [Mann] joined the band, who is no longer with us because we parted ways right around January when Andy got on board. He didn’t want to tour anymore. He was in If Hope Dies before, I don’t know, maybe that kind of broke him, or whatever. He decided he didn’t want to do the road thing, so Devon Hubbard, new bass player, played with us tonight. That would be the most recent line up change. And he’s [Devon] doing the Earth Crisis tour, it’s not like, solidified yet- we haven’t announced him as a new member. Just because so many things have been switching, we want to make sure he’s on the same page, but we’ve been super happy with him so far. Good chops, good guy. So, he’s doing the Earth Crisis/Walls of Jericho tour with us.
THEY’RE COMING HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS. WAIT, YOU’RE GOING TO BE HERE TOO? AGAIN? THE SAME MARKET IN A COUPLE WEEKS?
We’re coming right back! Well, I feel like tonight is more of a radio K-rock type show. I guess it was pushed really heavily through the airwaves. They did a lot of publicity for the show, through 95X and K-rock. Most of the shows we play don’t get that kind of radio support. We’re used to playing to a more like, bar crowd or hardcore type crowd. Which the Earth Crisis is going to be more predominantly the hardcore kids. So, two different crowds. Yeah, the dates are pretty close together, but we feel like it’s worth it to play to new people.
AND ME, AGAIN.
[laughs] And of course you! I’m sure you’ll be a big fan!
OH YEAH! I’M GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN IN THE WORLD! [LAUGHS]
Slowly, one show at a time. Don’t want to overshoot it.
I DON’T THINK I’M ANYBODY’S BIGGEST FAN.
That’s good.
I SEE FANS GETTING TATTOOS OF BANDS, I JUST THINK THAT’S KIND OF CREEPY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FANS GETTING TATTOOS OF BANDS THEY LIKE?
It’s not my thing, personally. Like, as much as music means to me, and there’s a lot of bands or performers that have a big influence on my life or have influenced me to do music, expressing it in that way is not my thing. I think it’s cool if somebody wants to do it. It’s their own thing. I’m sure that anybody that’s in that band- obviously we’re not close to that stature. Actually, we do have one person! One girl has an Unholy tattoo.
WHERE?
On her arm. It’s the artwork for one of the old EP’s. She came out to one of our shows and showed us. It was before I was in the band, so it didn’t really click with me. But I’m sure that for the rest of the guys it was really flattering. It’s cool, to each their own. It’s definitely a cool tribute, I guess. More of an extreme fan type of move, but cool nonetheless.
OK. SO YOU DON’T EAT JUNK FOOD, AND YOU OBVIOUSLY WORK OUT.
Yeah, I try to be consistent. On and off, but pretty consistently try to stay away from the junk food. This tour is a little rough though. I have a massive sweet tooth, but I try to have willpower. I try to eat pretty clean, pack food, eat healthy meals, protein bars.
YOU KNOW THEY TASTE LIKE CARDBOARD, RIGHT?
Most of them do. There’s some good ones. I know some secret ones, that I don’t think anyone knows about, that I personally enjoy. Yeah, try to keep it healthy. I think it all relates back to performing and being in good shape to put on a good show. Try to keep energy levels up and have endurance to get through sets, like give your all I think that has a big part to do with it. So, it’s all hand in hand, goes together.
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
29.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE AT HOME?
I’m a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym. So, I work.
SO YOU’RE ALL ABOUT PHYSICAL FITNESS?
Yeah, it’s like every day if I’m not working out, I’m training somebody. It’s a pretty good part of life for me. It’s something I enjoy, and it gives me freedom to tour and come back and still have job stability. So that’s another big part of it that’s really cool. Even though I haven’t told them that I’m leaving in like, two and a half weeks, I’m sure they’ll be cool with it. I’ve left for two other tours before, and they’re pretty supportive.
YOU HAVEN’T TOLD WORK YET?
Not yet. I decided to wait on this one. Probably this week I’ll break the news, but they’re usually cool about it.
SO WHAT OTHER BANDS HAVE YOU BEEN IN BESIDES UNHOLY?
Just really one other band, War of Attrition, from Syracuse. We had a different name before that, but we were together for five, almost six years. Everyone was in college, so we’d play on breaks or over the summer, than disappear for four months, get back together. I did vocals for them also. That was fun, it was cool. Even though we’re not active anymore, doing that allowed me the opportunity to be able to do Unholy. I don’t think I’d be ready for that if I hadn’t done anything prior, obviously. Just conditioning-wise and everything. So, just that one band. And those guys, a couple of them went on to do Freya. The two guitar players that were in War of Attrition, John [Sullivan] and Brendon [Flynn], those guys play in Freya now. So it’s cool that they’re still doing music.
HAVE YOU LISTENED TO THE NEWEST DYING FETUS ALBUM CALLED WAR OF ATTRITION?
No, I have not. Everybody said that to us too. But it was honestly and purely coincidental.
WELL, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS, PRIOR TO THE DYING FETUS ALBUM, AND BESIDES, THEY’RE DEATH METAL AND YOU’RE HARDCORE.
Yeah, but we had a different name before that, but I think it’s still prior to the Dying Fetus album.
SO YOU NEVER WANTED ANY LEGAL REPARATIONS FROM DYING FETUS FOR TAKING THAT NAME FOR THEIR ALBUM?
Um, no. We thought it was best to just not push our luck with that. Nobody’s trying to sue us, so just leave it at that. [laughs] Play it safe.
IF YOU COULD SAY ANYTHING TO JOHN GALLAGHER [DYING FETUS] ABOUT THE ALBUM WAR OF ATTRITION, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO HIM?
Not having really listened, I don’t think I could comment on it. From what I’ve heard of them, they’re really good.
WAR OF ATTRITION IS ONE OF THEIR BEST ALBUMS, SERIOUSLY!
Cool! I’ll check it out.
ANYTHING ELSE?
I think that’s it. Check out the new album. That’ll do it.
COOL! THANKS!
Thank you.
Info:
www.myspace.com/unholy
