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**Photos used by permission of Denny Colt**
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THE METAL PIT: Congrats on a great TANG cd MENTAL POLLUTION . Did it turn out the way you
visioned it would when you started recording ?
DENNY COLT: Thanks. Yeah, it was very close.
Are
you still signed to with Raw Power UK Records ?
No
Any new releases set to come out in
2012 for TANG ?
Yes ,we have our CD set to
be released at the beginning of the new year.
How is it
working with Bonnie Parker and what she bring to the album?
Bonnie and I are a team. We really work well
together. We have different musical ideas and energy but I feel we totally
compliments each other.
Introduce TANGS line up today and describe
what they bring to the
band ?
Tang is really
me and Bonnie . We've had a revolving door of drummers in the recent past so we
had played drums on the CD ourselves. Recently we've been playing with Mark
Edwards . He's a super heavy hitter and we love that.
How or why
did you choose the band name ?
''Tuff Angry
Nasty Grrls''
When we started the band, it was a 3 piece power trio
all grrl band with Gail Kenny on drums. When we did our first tour of
Scandinavia, we got Budgie from Ace Frehley's Band.
As the guitarist what
guitarist were you influenced by?
That list
is crazy long but at the moment I'm sooo into the guitar work of Jesper
Strömblad from In Flames .
To name a few others: Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads,
George Lynch , The Edge, Johnny Thunders, Devon Townsend.
If
different from your personal influences what would be some of the rest of bands
influences?
Bonnie likes classic rock much
more than me: Zeppelin and AC/DC... I like more hardcore heavy stuff.
What could one expect from a live TANG set
?
In your face balls to the wall
!
What is the song writing process of the band? Is it a combined
effort with the lyrics and music?
I wrote
much of the music alone because I was highly inspired and was able to complete
the ideas quickly.
I've recorded much of this last CD in my own
studio. I'll write part of a song and then Bonnie comes in with some of her
ideas ...and then we argue a lot!.. lol...and after that, She'll either play
guitar or sing a melody and I'll record a rough track ....then we fight some
more...! Well, we both come up with a bunch of different ideas and the
best one wins! ...and we're always very happy with the
result.
For yourself was their one moment that made you realize
you wanted to be in the music business ?
I
always wanted to be a musician and an artist for as long as I can remember but I
really never wanted to be in the music ''business''.
Who was your first music teacher and who bought
you your first guitar ?
I was a drummer
first. In school I played drums/percussion in orchestra. I will never
forget my first drum teacher in middle school telling me "you're good but I'm
gonna give you a 'C' grade because girls shouldn't be playing drums." That
forever pissed me off!!!
My parents were cool and got me at first paper drums
and a working toy guitar at probably age 4 and I got upgrades every Christmas :)
.They got me my first electric when I was 11.
I know you have toured Canada ,Europe and the
US in the past are there any plans as of yet another TANG TOUR?
Yes, actually Bon and I are touring back in
Scandinavia in November, only this time playing with Corky Laing and the Memory
Thieves. But we also have possible tour dates for Tang there at the same
time. Corky is the original drummer from the legendary band Mountain of
''Mississippi Queen'' fame.
You have
some great endorsements : Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Diamond Amplification &
LaBella Strings. Any new endorsements out on the horizon?
Yes, those are my big main endorsements but I also
endorse Nady Wireless and TC Electronics as well. I'm about to be featured in an
article on the PRS Guitar website and magazine.
You have also
collaborated with other musicians .Who has been the most memorable to work
with?
At the moment, Corky Laing. He's such
an innovative player!
What would you tell any new guitarists
starting out learning how to play? Any "lets talk shop tips" from Denny
?
Simply: Be real, play from the heart
, mean it and give it all ya got!
What
gear do you use on stage vs in the studio?
I
always use my custom PRS guitars and my Diamond Spec Op Amp head and Cabinets.
It's a killer sound combination!
When I record I use separate effect pedals but when I
play live I use a Diamond Mac-2 midi switcher with TC Electronics G-Major and my
Nady Wireless.
On Van
Helsing's Curse : The 18-piece gothic rock opera, how does it feel to work with
Twisted Sister's singer Dee Snider amongst the other cast members below ?
Joe
Franco: Drums & Sound Design
Al Pitrelli: Guitars & Keyboards
Mark
Wood: Lead Violin & String Ensembles
Nick Cipriano: Background
Vocals
Karl Cochran: Guitar
Derek Taylor: Bass
Alan St. Jon
:Keys
It was incredible working with
such a bunch of talented players.
Dee Snider was
amazing ! What a great front man!!
Al Pitrelli was awesome . He was our musical
director. He wrote all the guitar parts and we had to first learn them at home
and then rehearse with the band. I don't read music so for me it was all
learning by ear and then remembering all the parts.
Karl Cochran was
awesome to work with . He's an amazing guitarist and a great
guy.
What's on the agenda with Van Helsing's Curse? Anything new
to come for the rock opera fans?
Not at the
moment but ya never know.
What are some
of your personal favorite moments during Van Helsings Curse ?
Performing in Vegas at The Hard Rock Casino's 'The
Joint.'' Dee and his wife Suzette renewed their wedding vows on stage to
us playing really heavy detuned Gothic wedding music.!!! It was
sick!!
Who did your hair and make up for the rock opera? BTW I
loved it!
Thanks! That would Dee's wife
Suzette. She always did my make and it was her idea for the hair. We had a
couple of great hair stylists there to execute it. Suzette's very talented and a
lot of fun!
Where can people check out and purchase your cd's
?
We have downloads available at
Itunes. The Mental Pollution Scandinavian CD hardcopies were sold
out.
For people reading this
that don’t know anything about your bands can tell them why they should check
TANG and VHC?
Why
not??
Switching gears here on the last few questions to give our
readers a look at Denny outside of music .I know you have done some acting . You
have Appeared in the cult film "Toxic Avenger" and TV shows like "Charmed" &
"All My Children". Are we going to see you in any new productions in the near
future?
Not at the moment. Right now all of
my passion and energy is in music.
Also I know your a female
motorcyclist like myself . Hence I couldnt help to ask what you ride and your
favorite road trip ?
I've had many bikes and
trips but lookin back I think my fave was early on with street legal dirt bikes.
Riding to the dirt , goin wild, and then riding home filthy. Simply
awesome!
I'm sure people have complemented you on your stage
presence . Your rock and roll/metal style . Is there any brand or designer that
you enjoy wearing onstage or when your at a photo shoot the most? What inspires
you to dress the way you do ?
I'm not into
designers... I love shiny black clothes and dark hardcore stuff. It just feels
good.
Thanks for taking the time for this interview Denny ! I see
good things for TANG ,VHC and everything else . Good luck to you. Any closing
thoughts for THE METAL PIT readers?
Thanks
much!!! Best of luck to you too!
I'll leave you with my favorite quote:
"The person who says
it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it."
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