TEMPERED STEEL...yet another band that will probably be like all the other
bands that are popping up like weeds....is that what you're thinking???
Well, there is quite an amazing story behind this band, and no, they are not
the same sporadic weed that pops in and out of the music biz. Introducing,
TEMPERED STEEL...armed with an array of talent and the onslaught of the BOYD
BROTHERS!! These guys have heart, passion, and potential. Read on and see
why...
Interview by - Anthony DeLuca
U.F.-Hi Steve. Let's begin first off by you introducing the band. Please give
a little info on each musician.
STEVE: Hi, I'm Steve Boyd, and I am the lead singer of the band. I've been
writing, recording, and performing music since 1987, and joined Tempered
Steel in summer '89 as an emergency replacement on bass.
Brian Boyd is the lead guitarist and my big bro. He is a co-founder of the
band. Brian's aggressive rhythms and blistering leads define the TS sound.
He claims to have had a guitar in his hands since birth. We suspect that it
was his penis.
Jim Redmond is the drummer. Jim and Brian started the band in 1988. Jim has
a tendency to break things, including, but not limited to, sticks, heads,
lamps, hotel rooms, beer bottles, windshields... He's been playing drums
since he was eight.
Rhett Runolfson uses a pink chord. He couldn't be here today because of his
love of tow trucks, but he is rumored to play bass. Rhett is a graduate of
B.I.T. (Bassists In Tow-trucks). He has been with the band since 1996.
U.F.-What were your influences as an aspiring musician when you first begain
your musical career? Was T.S. your first band? How was it started?
STEVE: Actually, my first band was more of a "hair band", kind of akin to
White Lion or Dokken. The first gig that I ever played in my life was
OPENING for Tempered Steel! I always admired Brian and Jim for what they
did, so I guess you could say that a big influence was Tempered Steel. They
certainly lit a fire under my ass to get out there and see what I could do.
U.F.-The first album released, "Hooked On Heavy Metal" came out in 1988 (sold
out). Please give a synopsis of this album for all the fans who have never
heard it. Was this album widely accepted? Did T.S. tour at all for this
release? Any fond memories of such a tour?
STEVE: I wouldn't know, I was just a fan!(LOL). "Hooked On Heavy Metal" was
Brian & Jim and a couple of other guys with their first attempt at recording
an album. The drumming and guitar playing were extrordinary, but not enough
to carry the load of the other two members, who were mediocre at best. We
would never consider re-releasing it.
U.F.-Nine years later (!), T.S. returns to the studio after hiatus to record
the EP, "Tempered Steel". Why the long wait? What happened?
STEVE: See, here's the thing. As I just said, the lineup of TS that wrote
and recorded "Hooked" was much different than the Tempered Steel of today.
Neither Rhett nor I were on that album. (As I mentioned earlier, I didn't
join until 1989.) Over the the years that followed, there were a couple of
lineup changes and other projects going on. Brian and I formed a band called
Draper Lane that was fairly successful from '92-'94. Jim joined a speed
metal band called Yexotay that was also quite popular here. But I think we
always knew that the magic was Jim, Brian and me together. So in 1996, it
was decided that we would re-unite, and that I would be the new singer. This
left us with the task of finding a suitable replacement on bass, as I didn't
want to do both. (Do I look like Geddy Lee to you?). When Rhett agreed to
join the band, we knew that, for the first time in our history, the circle
was complete. So, the way I see it, Tempered Steel REALLY formed in 1996.
U.F.-It was this same album that also sold out (WOW!!). I ask you again to
please provide a synopsis of the album and any info you could enlighten us
with.
STEVE: The four songs on the EP are from the "Escape from Utopia" sessions.
We basically released it to let people know that a full length album was on
its way.
U.F.-After a tragic fire that wiped out your studio, "Escape from Utopia" was
finished being recorded. I must say, seeing how self-financing is so costly,
AND the added loss from the fire, T.S. really shined through! Please tell
this story of how you all came together and made it!!
STEVE: Ain't nothin' easy! "Escape" was recorded at Audio Visions in Lindon,
Ut., where I worked as an engineer for eight years, and which was owned by
former Donny & Marie Osmond drummer and good friend Sam Foster. When the
fire destroyed the studio and most of our equipment, we had already finished
nearly all of the tracks for the album. Fortunately, we always took the 2"
masters home at the end of each session. The album was mixed at The Record
Lab in Provo, Ut. by Cliff Maag.
U.F.-"Escape..." is quite an interesting album. The story line is
fastinating!!! Who did the writing for this album, and what does this album
mean to you; how do you interprate it?
STEVE: I had been contemplating the story line for about a year before we
actually started writing the music. My original idea was to include a
full-color comic book, to which the cd would be the soundtrack, so to speak.
But, as you mentioned, this was a self-financed release, so that never quite
panned out. The album is full of metaphors about addiction, the role of the
media in modern society, as well as events that were happening at the time,
i.e. the "Heaven's Gate" suicides, the Hale-Bopp comet, etc. I am currently
working on writing a full-length "Escape From Utopia" novel, although I've
only written about two pages in the past three years.
U.F.-So, at this point, you've had 2 completely sold out records, and a third
release amidst a fire destoying all your equipment??!!! It's like T.S. is a
train that won't stop or slow down!! How has the press been reacting? What
about the fans?
STEVE: Like David Lee Roth once said, "The brakes is gone and we'z
freewheelin'!" (LOL). It has been most gratifying to be recognized by the
national media over the past couple of years. We've made alot of fans and
friends along the way, and I for one am thankful for each and every one of
them! People who tell you that metal is dead really don't know what the fuck
they're talkin' about.
U.F.-Speaking of the fans, I've noticed T.S. has done a lot of touring,
especially through the METALFEST events run by Jack Koshick. Has
your fan base increased greatly? What parts of the country have you visited
which you feel you might never have seen?? It must be absolutely
incredible...
STEVE: Jack Koshick is THE MAN! We always enjoy doing the Metalfest shows.
You can be sure that wherever there is a Metalfest, we will be there! We've
done four so far, and travelled coast to coast in the past six months.
Milwaukee is next in August.
U.F.-I must ask: what did you think of Asbury Park, New Jersey(LOL... GREAT
vacation spot, eh??)?
STEVE: Wait a minute, Asbury Park??! They told me we were in Nicuragua!!
Actually, I thought the venue was pretty cool. At March Metal Meltdown II in
Pensauken, NJ., there was only a curtain between the stages, so that every
time there was a musical break, you could hear the band next door loud and
clear. We were quite happy with everything at MM III.
U.F.-Seeing such a long career, T.S. must have shared the stage with some
pretty interesting bands. Which bands have you opened for/played with, and
which was the most memorable? Any bands out there that you wish to tour
with?
STEVE: Being on the same bill with Testament and S.O.D., Flotsam And Jetsam,
Holocaust, Raven... these are bands that I listened to as a teen-ager. As
far as who we would like to tour with in the future...? Ozzfest would be THE
SHIT, obviously. Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera Savatage... (c'mon, guys- call
me!!)
U.F.-So, T.S. is now signed to Versailles Records. How did you manage to sign
with this company, and please tell us about the IRON MAIDEN song you covered
for a tribute on this label.
STEVE: Well, the only signing we did with Versailles Records was for a
tribute album, ("The Second Coming: A Millenium Tribute To 80's Hard
Rock/Heavy Metal"), which we had to do with a surrogate drummer, because
this was during the time Jim was working on one of his side projects. The
song, "Revelations", has long been one of our favorite cover tunes to play
live. We may do other projects with Versailles in the future.
U.F.-The new album, "In Your Face"...is this completed? I've seen
advertisements on your site for it, yet no order info. What are your plans
for this album? (the mp3s are GREAT!!!!) Any other tour plans? Please tell
us about the show you did with HOLOCAUST here in New Jersey. That must have
been something...
STEVE: "In Your Face" is still in the works. We've got a demo version that
we sell at the Metalfests, which includes five of the new songs and five of
the best tracks from "Escape". As far as the show with Holocaust goes, we
had a killer time. They're a great band and a great bunch of guys to party
with. I'd love to run into them again.
U.F.-Where do you see T.S. headed, music wise & career wise? Is T.S. your
primary income, or do you do other work?
STEVE: WORK?! Are you insane? People who want to work for a living don't
become musicians!! (LOL). The new songs for "In Your Face" are the best that
we've ever written. On "Escape From Utopia", many of the tunes were ones
that I had composed years earlier and then submitted to the band for their
approval. "In Your Face" is a 100% collaberative effort between the four
members of the band. Its not a concept album this time, either. Its just raw
energy and power. Like the title says.... IN YOUR FACE!!!
U.F.-Any plans on breaking into Europe? Their metalfests are quite
prestigious
and the exposure is great! Any plans on returning to the east coast?
STEVE: A couple of European labels have expressed some interest in the band,
but I can't really talk about that yet until its nailed down. As far as
returning to the east coast is concerned, I know for sure that we'll be at
Metal Meltdown IV next year. We just played the "Classic Metal Festival" in
Kalamazoo, MI. on June 17th, which is pretty far east from MY perspective.
And, as I mentioned earlier, we will also be doing this years Milwaukee
Metalfest. If things go well, we'll see you again fairly soon.
U.F.-That's it Steve. It was an honor and I hope to see T.S. in my area
again!!! Any final comments, or something you would like to add?
STEVE: Thanx to all the fans, to Anthony and Unstoppable Force Webzine.
Visit our website at www.temperedsteel.net , and say hello on our
guestbook!! C-YA!!!
Discography
