Interview with

INTRUDER are one of the most under-rated bands of all time. Anyone who has heard their music knows how powerful the band was and that power is still there when I listen to them today. INTRUDER can be easily compared to FORBIDDEN...soaring vocals,lightning-fast guitar work,and truly excellent songs put them a league above most other bands from around the same time. If you can find ANYTHING from INTRUDER,I urge you to check it out and find out what REAL FUCKING METAL truly is. The bands drummer,Jonm Pieroni,was kind enough to answer my questions about the bands past and possible future. Check it out-Chris.

Interview by - Chris O'Brien (RUSH OF POWER WEBZINE)
*** USED WITH KIND PERMISSION ***

How did you develop an interest in music?

My father was a professional musician so I was always around music. He is an incredible keyboard player. He also can play just about any musical instrument out there. Ahhh, if I was only half as good as he is! He's still jamming.

What made you decide to be a drummer? Who was your main inspiration to play the drums?

When I saw Micky Dolenz of the Monkees on TV as a kid. He was just the coolest to me and I wanted to be just like him. Then my father took me to see his band play when I was 7 or 8 and the drummer just blew me away! He was incredible. When I saw the band play live, I knew that was going to be me up there onstage one day!

When did you begin to develop an interest in metal? When you started drumming, did you know you wanted to be in a metal band?

When I heard Black Sabbath. My God, at the time they were the heaviest shit out there! They still are the Godfathers of metal. Bill Ward was my hero! I love all kinds of music, but when it comes to playing, metal is it. So, yes, I knew I wanted to be in a metal band.

What was the first band you ever played in? Did the band do anything as far as recording goes?

I played in a lot of little bands that never lasted more than a week or two. So this band I consider my one and only!

How did TRANSGRESSER form?

INTRUDER started out as TRANSGRESSER in 1984, as a 4-piece. Original members were myself & Arthur Vinett (lead guitar), plus Gary Todd on bass & Ronnie Cline on vocals. The line-up changed in 1986 with James Hamilton replacing Ronnie and Todd Nelson in favor of Gary.

What prompted the band to change names from TRANSGRESSER to INTRUDER? What were the early days of the band like? Did the band change the name because of member changes? Were there any TRANSGRESSER demos?

When we went into the studio to record Live To Die, we found that there was another band with the same name and we were also getting called a black metal band because of the name. We changed the name to Intruder in 1987. The early days were a lot fun, still learning as we went along. We played tons of live shows. That's the only way to get good! We made 2 demos as Transgresser.

What was the Tennesee metal scene like at that time? Did people support TRANSGRESSER/INTRUDER as far as concert attendence went? What bands did you play with live at the time?

There was a really cool scene going on at the time we were getting started. We had great support even from early on and we usually sold out the shows. F.U.C.T was a popular band that we played a lot with. There were tons of other local metal bands. Ahhh, those were the days!

Was the bands first album "Live To Die" a self-released product or was it released by a label? What was the response to the record like? Was it any easier for the band to get shows after the record?

The LP was release on Iron Works Records. Dave Richards, owner of Iron Works, really helped push the band. We had a killer response from all over the world. It stayed on the Burn magazine charts in Japan for months! We never really had any problems getting shows as word was out there that we were a killer live band.

How did you guys get signed to Metal Blade records? What was the contract they presented to you like?

We signed to Metal Blade on the strength of the LIVE TO DIE record. They signed us sight unseen. It wasn't a bad contract for a new band. I really can't remember the particulars.

Were Metal Blade behind the band when the second album "A Higher Form of Killing" came out? Did they offer you anything as far as tours went? How was the promotion for the record? How many copies did the band sell?

They were to an extant. They did not want to pay for us to go to Europe. Promotion as OK but not what we would have like to have seen. Metal Blade had a few bands that they really pushed and the rest were mostly left to fend for themselves. I really have no idea how many we sold as we never received any statements from Metal Blade after the 1st release. That's all I can say about that!

Why did the band re-record songs like "Cold-Blooded Killer" and "Kiss of Death" for the "Escape From Pain" ep? Did Metal Blade show ANY intrest in re-releasing "Live To Die" at the time?

To be honest, I don't know why we re-recorded those songs!! The ESACPE ep was an excuse for us to go back out on the road. The never really expressed interest in releasing LTD and we owned the rights!

The band's last album "Psycho Savant" is a true masterpiece. Did Metal Blade treat the album as a priority,or did the band get lost in the shuffle as far as promotion for the album went?

Thank you! I believe we were at the best we could be when we recorded that album! It was NOT treated as a priority and they did not even give us tour support money for the tour. We went out on the road and financed the tour ourselves. They dropped us in the middle of our tour.

Did INTRUDER ever tour the United States aand/or Europe?

We did 3 North American Tours. The first tour we opened for Helstar and the remaining 2 we headlined ourselves. We never got to Europe and that has always been a dream of ours. Metal Blade did not want to foot the bill. To bad, as we had a huge following in Europe!

What led to the band's break up after "Psycho Savant"? Did the band have any songs which were written for another record? Was the contract with Metal Blade up?

Metal Blade, burn out and internal strife within the band…not in that order! We had a few songs completed. I believe we still had another album or 2 in our contract.

How come the band went on hiatus for so long? Were you or any other INTRUDER members involved with any bands after the break up?

We had such an intense focus for 10 years that when it was over, it was intensely over! I did not touch my drums for 3 years! And jim did not sing for about that long. Around '95 or '96 Arthur, Todd and myself created a band called FRACTURE. We had a key board player and we played a lot of different sounding stuff. Then a few years later Artur, Jimmy and myself formed a band called 500 GRIT. It was killer Stoner Rock. WE played one live show and then that was it. Never seemed like we could keep it together for very long!

What prompted the band to re-unite and play at the Classic Metal Fest 2 last year? How did the crowd react to the band? How long was it since the band had played together?

We got an offer and we were able to do it. It gave us a good reason to get together and jam again. We all stayed in contact through the years and remained friends, so why not? People say we looked and sounded as good as we did 10 years ago. I don't know about that but it sure felt good up there! Crowd response was great. There was not that big of a crowd, but people who were there made up for it.

What can you tell me about the re-release of "Live To Die"?

The ink has dried on the contract with Hellion Records in Germany. There will be bonus cuts. The 3 song demo we recorded for Iron Works will be on there. Just got done remixing that and it sounds pretty damn good for a 17 year old demo tape! A new cover, extensive liner notes, etc. It should be cool! Not sure of an exact release date. Sometime in the summer I believe

Does the band have any plans to record a new album? Is this reunion going to last,or was it just for the Classic Metal Fest 2 show?

No plans at this time. Can you believe we have been accused by some that we only got together now because it is 'cool' for bands to do that now?? What a crock of shit. If we record another album, it's because WE want too and the fans want it, NOT because it's a hip thing to do. We will be playing another show here in Nashville in June and maybe a few more in the summer. We're just having fun. That's what it's all about!!!

Why did you guys cover "25 or 6 to 4" by CHICAGO and "(I'm not your) Stepping Stone"? Was it just to fuck with the fans a bit?

Ha! More like show the fans that we had a sense of humor. A lot of our songs dealt with dark subjects, so we wanted to lighten up now and then. Plus, they are damn fun songs to play!

The song "It's a good life" from Psycho Savant...is that song based on an episode of the Twilight Zone? How about "Mr Death" from AHFOK? Are you a big fan of shows like "Twilight Zone"? (I personally like the one where the guy sees slot machines everywhere and the drive him to jump out a window.)

You got it. Both songs were based on the Twilight Zone. I was (and am) a huge fan. I mean, how could you not be??? Rod Serling was a twisted genius! His show Night Gallery was awesome, too! Yeah, I love all kind of shows like that.

If you had to describe the sound of INTRUDER,what what you say to them? What band or bands would you say that INTRUDER sounds like?

Speed metal, thrash metal, power metal. We have been called all three at some time in our career. I'd have to say that speed metal would do it just fine. People have compared us to Slayer (Guitar playing) and Anthrax as well as others. But to be fair, back then you could not help but be influenced by all the bands that were playing back then.

How come the band isn't on the Metal Blade Box Set? Did the band ever do music videos for any of the albums?

We did do one video (which we self financed. See a trend here?) for the song INVISIBLE off the PSYCHO LP. As for the box set, I think that speaks for itself about how Metal Blade felt and still feels about the band.

Are there any plans to re-release the albums you guys did on Metal Blade anytime in the near future?

I would love to do that, but Metal Blade is not interested.

What is in the immediate future for INTRUDER?

We plan on doing a few more shows and then, who knows!!

How can people contact you and the band?

All e-mails can go to jpieroni@intruder.biz

John...it has been my pleasure to do this interview because I truly enjoy the music of INTRUDER. Any final words for people reading this interview?

Thanks again for the opportunity to get out my thoughts to the masses. And a big thank you to everyone who keeps the true metal alive! Metal forever!

DISCOGRAPHY

Live to die (1988)

A higher form of killing (1989)

Escape from Pain (1990)

Psycho savant (1991)

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