The Bulletboys formed in 1988 during the heyday of the Rock, Metal and Glam scene in Hollywood, California, signing with a major record label and releasing their self-titled album Bulletboys the same year. With hit singles Smooth Up in Ya, Hard As a Rock and a cover of the classic song For the Love of Money by the O’Jays.
Fast forward almost three decades to 2015, the Bulletboys are making a resurgence with the release of their eleventh album Elefante a well written and executed album, with the current lineup: Marq Torien (vocals/lead guitar), Nick Rozz (guitar), Chad MacDonald (bass) and Shawn Duncan (drums). Being the opening band at the “Cathouse Live Festival” in the unbearable heat to touring actively through 2016.
The Bulletboys are one of the many bands playing from the 80’s era, along with Lita Ford, Bret Michaels, Slaughter, Vince Neil, Kix, Yngwie Malmsteen…and more at the “Sirius XM Hair Nation Festival” at Irvine Meadows on Saturday September 17th.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Marq Torien, Nick Rozz and Shawn Duncan of the Bulletboys, at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood, California for the “Sirius XM Hair Nation Festival” press conference, about the album Elefante, “Anti-Bullying”, “Hair Nation Festival”, and signing a new record deal with Frontiers srl Music.
Hi guys!
Your album Elefante was released last June, and has received great reviews. What is it about this album that has stood out, to receive such accolades?
Marq: I just believe that song quality and we took our time to write it. I just think that basically it’s an anomaly for a band like us from the late 80’s or the 90’s to come out to do something fresh. The moment I first joined, not only our audience from the past can relate to, but our new audience that were coming from different places and with that we’re very very blessed.
Shawn: I think that album kind of speaks for itself. You know there’s a lot of strong song writing on it and it was obvious that the band spent more than a weekend to go in there and record it and cared about how it sounded. You know, it’s more of a labor of love than a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am album.
I understand it took about two years?
Marq: About two and a half years.
Every album has a song that the fans can relate to, a reminder of the past or a situation they’re going through now. What song on Elefante has struck that emotion with the fans? And what’s been the response?
Nick: You know what the audience really seems to relate to Symphony a lot I noticed. It’s in the set every night and there’s always at least a couple of people in the crowd up front singing it. And in fact, there was a night in Detroit a few weeks ago, there was this guy who was singing his heart out to his wife. That’s great I can see that especially with the new stuff and it really connects with somebody and that’s important.
Marq: That everybody sings the new songs in the audience, I absolutely agree with you, Symphony is definitely that’s song that really touched peoples heart, so that when you listen to Symphony, it can take you to any type of situation that you’re going through in a positive way.
You’re currently on `The Long Hot Summer Tour’, started in July and goes through Oct 1st in North America. The middle of October you have 3 shows in Tumon Guam, is this the first time touring there?
Marq: Yes
Shawn: Yeah, first time.
Do you have any expectation, what you’d like to see or what you like to present to the fans?
Marq: I think we just talk about it collectively, really excited about going and playing for our military. And there’s a lot of military personnel there in Guam, so we’re really excited about doing that, we have stern support for our military in the United States, all branches and we can’t wait to get out there.
I didn’t realize it’s for the military.
Marq: Well it’s for everybody but from what I understand there is a big military base there, so we’re really excited about going out to that show.
That’s awesome!
Shawn: Yeah, that’s it’s going to be good. Actually, I read this article not too long ago. It said that it’s voted the most exotic place in the United States but it’s so rarely traveled to because it’s a long way out there, it’s not like going to Hawaii.
Nick: It’s where America starts its days, it’s their motto [laughter]. It is 21 hours ahead, from here.
Shawn: Yeah, you actually go back in time and that’s awesome.
Nick: That’s true. I can make some really bad mistakes the day before I leave, and I can go back there and fix it all.
[laughter]
That’s good.
Nick: Oops, sorry, I didn’t do that. I was in Guam.
[laughter]
Will you have time to sightsee, or is it a turnaround trip there for the three shows and back?
Marq: We’re going to be there a day early so we might be able to. Actually, we have some friends and I made contact with my sister and they want to do like a Luau for us that day. So, we’ll see if it happens and that will be awesome.
Marq ,you have become a voice in the Anti Bulling campaign. Sad to say we hear more and more about this in today’s society. What does this mean to you?
Marq: Because when I was younger, I got a lot of bullying. I dealt with being different, dealt with being kind of small, but I always felt that a lot of people that are around us, family, friends and fans that are almost a character from, what is that place called, oh my gosh, “Island of the Misfit Toys”. So, I really believe that now, that everything is so one stop, you can go anywhere on the internet, say anything you want and be whatever you want to. They don’t understand you or they were jealous or they got to be first place, they didn’t have that so I think that stems from the internet, children, young people, adults getting bullied for no reason. I don’t understand this. It’s illogical to me. Back in the day when you had a bully, you go have a fight, in the end you know, “this could be a fight in the end” [laughter] and you see most of the time even if you’re the one that loses you end up being friends afterwards. So maybe in some way without physical contact, fighting could be a common way to and maybe that’s how we eradicate annoying people. It’s has to be stopped somehow. It’s too sad this country with some of the brilliant young minds that really have talent, they are succumb to that behavior. There’s got to be some way, really it’s so worth it. We’re trying to bring it to fruition, trying to bring it as all other artists are trying to bring it into the light, there’s got to be a better way.
Do you have something set up, or are you more of a voice at this time?
Marq: Yes, I think we’re a quiet voice that’s getting louder, along with other musicians.
Unfortunately, it happens to both the younger and older generations.
Marq: Oh yes, it happens with us every day.
[laughter]
Marq: But there’s a thing called a delete button, you just delete and you’ve got to do that sometimes.
The Bulletboys played at the “Cathouse Live Festival” last August, in the blazing heat and put on a killer show. We’re back to Irvine Meadows this year for the “Sirius XM Hair Nation Festival”. What is it about festivals that appeals to you as musicians?
Marq: I personally like the festivals because I can see different bands, and there’s different genres. I don’t know, I personally like that there’s a lot of different bands in one place.
Shawn: And playing is fun too because it’s a like a big rock and roll circus. Everybody kind of knows each other from somewhere that we all cross paths what not, so it’s like a big reunion every festival, you know what I’m saying? So, the backstage aspect is a lot of fun for us too because we get to play with everybody and see everybody and then you got so many people around, the atmosphere is cool.
This festival is a little different, is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing that you haven’t seen in a while?
[laughter]
Marq: Inside joke.
Inside jokes are always good!
Marq: I’m looking forward to seeing everybody. I’m actually looking forward to hanging out with my band and chilling and enjoying the day. It was pretty crazy to play in about 170 degrees and they had us opening up the whole festival so we set the bar pretty high as musicians. And this time we’ll be able to relax, I think we play like six o’clock.
I haven’t seen the set times.
Marq: Hopefully it will be a little cooler for us, oh please be a little bit cooler.
Oh yes, please. [laughter].
Marq: If it isn’t we’re going to go out there and do what we do.
[laughter]
Thank you for your time.
Marq: Thank you for having us.
Yes, it’s great to see you again!
Marq: Well, I think we’re bringing up some friends, a horn section and the Pistolettes are going to be there, so we’re going to make it a big to do.
Very Nice, Thank you very much.
Marq: Thank you for giving us accolades on Elefante.
You’re welcome.
Marq: We really need some accolades as writers, as musicians, as the guys that are putting out new music.
Oh sure. Well, you’ve received great reviews, that’s an accomplishment.
Marq: And off to the new one.
I should ask, do you have something new in the works?
Marq: Yes, we just signed a two album deal with Frontiers Music srl Universal.
Congratulations.
Marq: And I’m really excited, yay! [laughter] So we’re going to putting out a new record hopefully sometime February or March and we’re going to be starting off our tour. We’re going to be touring extensively next year on the record, we don’t want to leak out any titles or anything else but let’s say that this new record is going to be a drawing from “Bulletboys” “Funk”, “Rock”. “R&B” and “Metal”. It’s going to be carrying on different but congruent sound that we had on Elefante.
I’ll look forward to it.
Marq: Yes.
Thank you very much.
Marq: Thank you darling.
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