Heavy Paradise's interview with Ted Poley!

Whatever to say about Ted Poley is never enough! He put his mark with Danger Danger back in the late 80's, early 90's, as one of the most successful hair metal bands ever! He released albums with Bonemachine, Melodica but, also, a couple of very good solo albums. The result of his collaboration with guitarist Vic Rivera (ADRIANGALE) was a superb hard rock album.
Below you can read an interview that Ted Poley, one of my rock heroes, gave to me and talked about his early days with Danger Danger, his future plans and other interesting things.
Enjoy!

-Hello Ted! It's a great pleasure and honor that you accepted my invitation for this interview!

T.P. : THANKS FOR ASKING!

-You have just came back from your Australian tour! How was there?

T.P. : AUSTRALIA WAS AWESOME. SUNNY BEAUTIFUL PLACE, SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE ARE SOME OF THE COOLEST LOOKING MODERN CITIES,AND VERY COOL FANS! NEXT WEEK WE HEAD TO SWEDEN FOR MY LAST SOLO BAND SHOWS OF 2010. I THINK ITS VERY COLD THERE NOW!

-Last year you have released a great album with Danger Danger, named "Revolve". An album that received great reviews all over the world. How do you feel about that?

T.P : VERY HAPPY. I LOVE THE WAY IT TURNED OUT, BRUNO PRODUCED IT REALLY WELL.

-Can you tell me what happend back then, if I'm right it was 1993, and split with Danger Danger? I'm asking you that 'cause I'm wondering that, if there wasn't any separation with Danger Danger, you guys could have become a huge name!

T.P. : OUR STYLE OF MUSIC WAS OVER ALREADY BY THEN,,EVERYTHING BECAME GRUNGE MUSIC. I HATED GRUNGE AND STILL DO! IT SUCKED THEN AND IT SUCKS NOW.

-After all those years, the first two Danger Danger albums are both classic from that era. I don't know if that's only my opinion but most of the bands back then were releasing albums that stood still through the time. Are there any major differences between then and now in the melodic scene? 

T.P. :  YES, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED, THERE IS NO REAL "SCENE" ANYMORE,,JUST SOME COOL FANS OUT THERE THAT LOVE THE STYLE AND LOOK FOR NEW MUSIC BY SIMILAR SOUNDING BANDS. I DONT HEAR ANY NEW MELODIC ROCK ON THE RADIO ANYMORE.

-Closing the Danger Danger chapter, I would like to ask you if there is going to be a new Danger Danger album in the near future?

T.P. : REVOLVE IS STILL SORT OF NEW. MAKING IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND WAS FUN BUT STILL HARD TO DO AND STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
 I DONT THINK THERE WILL BE ANY MORE,BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. I WOULD DO IT BUT ITS NOT UP TO ME.
I WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO MAKE MORE CD'S OUTSIDE OF DANGER DANGER,THAT MUCH I DO KNOW. I AM MORE INTO TOURING AND PLAYING LIVE FOR THE FANS THESE DAYS. CONCERTS ARE FUN, PLAYING FOR THE FANS IS FUN. MAKING CD'S IS NOT FUN AND TAKES A LONG TIME TO DO IT RIGHT.

-During your career you were involved in many bands / projects. Which is the one that you had a really great time with and you would have done it again?

T.P. : BONEMACHINE WAS MY FAVORITE PROJECT OUTSIDE OF DANGER DANGER,,ALSO THE SONIC THE HEDGEHOG GAME MUSIC FOR SEGA...BUT I HAVE A NEW SOLO BAND TO TOUR WITH THIS YEAR WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST TALENTED I HAVE EVER HAD,,THEY ARE AWESOME AND WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW SET AND SHOW WORKED OUT FOR 2011!

OUR FIRST SHOW IS NEXT WEEK IN STOCKHOLM SWEDEN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALOT OF TOURING IN 2011 ,THAT IS MY FOCUS FOR NEXT YEAR,TOURING WITH THE NEW SOLO BAND ,PLAYING THE CLASSICS AND BEST STUFF FROM BONEMACHINE AND MY SOLO PROJECTS..

-I have to say that you are probably one of these artists that during the years never changed your style/sound a lot.

T.P. : THANK YOU! , I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT. THATS WHY I HAVE SUCH NICE LOYAL FANS AROUND THE WORLD, THEY KNOW I DONT CHANGE TO TRY TO GET NEW FANS, I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE ONES I HAVE ALREADY!

-Have you ever thought of releasing a more aggressive album or something different just to be in 'fashion' ? 

T.P. : BONEMACHINE WAS ALOT MORE AGRESSIVE AND I DO SIDE STUFF WITH OTHR ARTISTS THAT IS DIFFERENT SO I DO GET TO DO THOS THINGS,,BUT I AM KNOWN FOR A CERTAIN SOUND AND STYLE AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS WHAT I LIKE TO SOUND LIKE,,SO MY OWN SOLO CD'S HAVE A NICE CONTINUITY OVER THE YEARS..

-Back then, if a band had long hair, a cool image, an attitude and a couple of catchy tunes, it was easy to get a good record deal! Nowadays how easy is to have a good contract?

T.P. : IT WAS NEVER EASY TO GET A RECORD DEAL. MANY OF THE BANDS THAT GOT THEM ARE STILL AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY TALNTED BACK THEN AND CAN STILL KICK ASS NOW. BANDS LIKE DANGER DANGER, FIREHOUSE, RATT, DOKKEN, EXTREME AND ALOT OF OTHERS ARE MADE UP OF EXCELLENT MUSICIANS.

-From the new 'blood' of melodic hard rock, is there a band that impress you?

T.P. : I LOVE EVERY H.I.M CD AND I AM ALSO CURRENTLY CRANKING THE "BAD CITY" CD TOO.

-The Poley/Rivera album was a damn fine melodic hard rock album. Are you planning another release with guitarist Vic Rivera?

T.P. : NOT AT THIS TIME. THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT ON THE POLEY/RIVERA CD THOUGH, I AGREE IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL PROJECT BUT WE NEVER SEEMED TO GET A BREAK THE WHOLE TIME ,,IT WAS LIKE WAS HAD TO FIGHT FOR OUR PROJECT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
LOTS OF KILLER SONGS THOUGH, WE WERE LANNING SOME COOL STUFF FOR ANOTHER CD BUT THERE DOESNT SEEM TO BE ANY SUPPORT COMING FROM ANY LABELS SO I AM GOING TO GO OUT ON THE ROAD AND SING WITH MY SOLO BAND AND WITH DANGER DANGER,,AND VIC IS GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON HIS WORK WITH "CRUNCH".

-Which are your influences?

T.P. : TOO MANY TO LIST!

-Over the years who are the best bands you've toured with?

T.P. : KISS, EXTREME,ALICE COOPER,AGAIN TOO MANY TO LIST, I HAVE DONE FESTIVALS WITH ALOT OF GREAT BANDS WHO I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED LIKE HEART AND JUDAS PREIST. KISS WAS MY FAVORITE THOUGH,I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED KISS.

-What are Ted Poley's future plans?

T.P. : MOSTLY TO TOUR NEXT YEAR IN SUPPORT OF MY NEW GREATEST HITS CD WHICH YOU CAN GET AT WWW.TEDPOLEY.COM ITS A 2 CD SET WITH OVER 30 SONGS AND I THINK YOU WILL LOVE IT! ORDER FROM MY SITE AND I WILL AUTOGRAPH IT TO YOU! AND WE SHIP FAST TOO!

-Any message to your fans?

T.P. : YES! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NEW GREATEST HITS CD AT TEDPOLEY.COM AND I HOPE TO MEET ALOT OF YOU ON THE ROAD THIS NEXT YEAR! BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL!

-It's been great talkin' with you Ted!!!

T.P. : THANKS AND KEEP ROCKIN'!

:)  TP