METAL MAIDEN OF THE MONTH

JUNE 2009

                                                 VERONICA FREEMAN







































               



              Interview done by NICK



The Metal Pit's "MAIDEN" of the month for June 2009 :    

 Veronica Freeman vocalist for the band Benedictum


Name :                Veronica Freeman
Age:                     You know we all lie anyway so why bother? haha
Home :                 Arizona (U.S.A)
Myspace page:    www.myspace.com/benedictum
Band Website:       www.benedictum.net


Metal Pit :     Hello Veronica and welcome to the Metal Pit, it is so cool to finally get a chance to talk with you.
Veronica:        This is a blast so thank YOU!
Metal Pit :   Your new cd "Seasons of Tragedy" seems to be doing very well worldwide and finally is getting some recognition in the States,why do you think Euorpean audiences seeemed to take to this band a little more at first than everyone else?


Veronica:      Partially because of the fact that the label was based in Europe and most of the promotion was targeted there. The word is slowly spreading though and we couldn’t be happier!



Metal Pit:      Well,from what I have been hearing that is definitley no longer the case and there is a huge buzz about this band right now
and I could not be happier for you.

Veronica:    Well that comment made my day! This is good to hear and a long time coming as well. We hope the word continues to get out and thank people like you for helping in that endeavor.

 


Metal Pit:     Can you tell us a little more about "Seasons of Tragedy" and where the inspiration for the title came from?

Veronica:    My whole damn life ha ha! Actually there was a lot going on at that time and there had recently been some disastrous fires in my home town of San Diego, lots going on everywhere in the world and Seasons of Tragedy sort of captured that, but on another level, the song itself is really about a spiritual journey through life, it is about hope and knowledge and introspection and how we can better ourselves but appreciating that life abundance that is around us if we choose to see it.



Metal Pit:    Who writes the lyrics for the band?

Veronica:        I do. 


Metal Pit:     The band does a cover of one of my all time favorite tunes "Balls to the Wall" from Accept but you put a different spin on it and your incredible voice adds another dimension to an already classic tune,who came up with the idea to do that song?

Veronica:           Wow Nick, thank you.The idea to do the song however was mine, I thought it would be cool to have a woman do that song. I backed out of it after the idea came up but then Jeff talked me into it.


Metal Pit:    The band had done covers before such as Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell" and the "Mob Rules",is this something you think Benedictum might always do,include a cover tune on each cd?

Veronica:     I wouldn’t mind but Pete doesn’t want to. But maybe I can talk him into it. I think it would depend on the song as well. But I say why not make it a tradition??



Metal Pit:      It takes balls of steel to try and sing a Dio classic but you pulled it off with flying colors Veronica.What kind of feedback did you get from doing that song?

Veronica:       Really overwhelmingly positive and believe me when it came out I was quaking in my thigh high boots! It has been played on a lot of different metal radio shows that feature Black Sabbath etc and has had some cool responses so that makes me feel really grateful.

Metal Pit:    You and your band mates seem to really get along very well ,which sometimes is rare in bands.How do you expain that chemistry and can you tell us a little about the guys?

Veronica:          Well I wouldn’t be doing this without them so by all means let me tell you about them!
I have been working with our guitar player Pete wells for years, he is my best friend and writing partner and I wouldn’t be interested in doing this without him. He keeps me from spontaneously combusting and I just enjoy watching and listening to him play. I would say he is the class clown and keeps it lighthearted.
Tony Diaz is our keyboard player and he is the nerd … the professor… what can I say. He looks like a Metal Adonis but is our waist long haired computer geek. We love you Tony!!
Then of course there is Chris Shrum our bass player. He scares people, he scares us!! He scares Dick Cheney! But really he is a great guy… but he still scares me. He brings so much to the show… he scares his bass.
Our newest member..Stephen Handley…. Is our drummer. From what I have been able to ascertain, he fits right in… fun person, great talent, down to earth… he has it all and we are happy he is on board!
We are indeed the "goofiest" band in Metal!

 


Metal Pit:    Your voice is very powerful and distinct,did you start singing at an early age and when did you think you mightwant to do this professionally?

Veronica:  No I didn’t start singing till later on at least I didn’t take it seriously. It was actually Craig Goldy that got me to take another look at what I could do with my voice and for that I am so grateful.




Metal Pit:   Not only have I admired your voice and your integrtiy as a person but you seem to have this larger than life stage presence which some female performers today dont seem to have, how did you develope that skill or does it just come naturally.

Veronica:        Oh I just get out there and have fun, maybe that is what you seee. I get so nervous before a show, I have thrown up more than once (like you really needed to know that !) but once I get out there… its on! Then you have to drag me off the stage.. I LOVE PERFORMING!

 

Metal Pit:    You seem like you are having the time of your life on stage ,your raw energy and sense of humor really create a special bond between you and your fans, that has to give you a very special feeling night after night.

Veronica:    I have as much fun as humanly possible….

 


Metal Pit: Sadly,I think some bands miss the big message in the fact that you are "Entertainers" and fans are paying good money to
be entertained but Benedictum definitley gives the crowd what it pays for every night it peforms.

Veronica:      Do go on… I’m listening ha ha…again we just try and have fun as a band as well and I think that mindset spills over. We try to give what WE would like to see on stage to our fans.

Metal Pit:   In the past you have had an incredible lineup of talented musicians you have worked with such as Doro,Craig Goldy,Jeff Pilson to name a few,do you feel each one of them has contributed to your overall performance as a singer and made the band better musicians?

Veronica:     I can certainly say that of Jeff Pilson without a doubt. He has taught us so much about writing and made us better. Craig has helped me personally dare to dream and pursue that dream.
          From touring with Doro I learned how to pace myself (still working on that) and that women can have such a great cohesive bond and should uplift one another not tear one another down as I have seen.
          So yes we have benefitted in many areas from those who have been involved with us.

Metal Pit:       What was it like working with Doro on her tribute cd "Night of the Warlock"?

Veronica:       It was an honor to be asked to be on the CD. I was also really honored to be invited to her 25th anniversary show but was unable to make it and that breaks my heart to this day. Being asked to ad to the vocals on her CD was something I never expected.




Metal Pit:   Benedictum will be headlining the "Flight of the Valkeries" festival this June in Minnesota (USA) which is a concert that celebrates female fronted Metal bands,how did you get involved in that?

Veronica:    We were contacted by the promoter last year to play the festival. We had a blast and we were very shocked to be invited back so we are ecstatic!

Metal Pit:     This sounds really exciting to me to have some of the very best talented up and coming bands playing on one stage,I am sure you feel
very honored to be the headliner?

Veronica:    More than you know… a bit nervous and bewildered actually ha ha!

 

Metal Pit:     Will there be more outdoor festivals this summer for the band?

Veronica:    YES! We will be playing at the Colorado Springs Music Festival on July 25th 2009 and have a few more shows tba !  

Metal Pit:     I have been a strong advocate of women in Heavy Metal for a long time now and I feel a great sense of pride in seeing some of these incredible musicians and performers finally get their due.What is your opinion of women in the scene today?

Veronica:      I think so much has changed and there is a lot more acceptance now than there once was.
I ts just cool to be a part of it!



Metal Pit:    Did you ever think of yourself as a role model for young women who want to get into the Metal scene
and what advice would you give them?

Veronica:    I have been asked that before, I don't know about role model but mentor is cool. ;-) I would say for
one thing, follow your dream and stay true to what works for YOU and secondly get a good attorney! This business
is nasty to say the least and I had a good advice going in but didn't follow through on a lot of things that are biting
me in the ass now!


Metal Pit:     Other then being the "Queen of Metal" (haha) when you do have free time what other things do
you enjoy doing?

Veronica:     I run a company called StreetFighters Inc. We sell aftermarket motorcycle accessories for sportbikes.
Actually we import from Germany to create the "StreetFighter" look but also have some other cool accessories
as well. Check it out at  www.streetfightersinc.com our sister company is www.whaccessories.com.  That takes
up a ton of time.

Metal Pit:   You have recently been married,
congratulations to you both, How does the new
hubby like you being on the road so much and  
having to deal with all the testerone in the Metal scene?

Veronica:    Well , I think when he met me he had another
idea how this would work. At first it was difficult with me being gone...sometimes he would fly out and meet me on the road but now it is more of an issue of the companies we run together. He is the founder of Wild Hair Acessories and the sister company which is my company StreetFighters Inc. needed a ton of work to get off the ground, now that is doing pretty well there is a lot of work to be done so I have to budget my time wisely. He is pretty understanding... well most of the time anyway. ;-)


Metal Pit:   So what is on the horizon for you and Benedictum for the rest of 2009?

Veronica:  Doing as many shows as we can Stateside and writing for the new album.


Metal Pit:  What does it mean to you to be selected The Metal Pit's Metal Maiden of the Month

Veronica:   That the old gal still has it. HA...I think it's cool. ;-)

Metal Pit:      Miss V, it has been a real pleasure to chat with you. On behalf of THE METAL PIT we want to thank you
for taking time for us today. We wish you and the band continued success and hope to see you on the road sometime soon.

Veronica:     THANK YOU
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