Hard Rock Hideout Interviews Danger Danger’s Ted Poley
Ted Poley, THE voice of Danger Danger recently talked to Hard Rock Hideout about the upcoming release of Danger Danger’s new album “Revolve”, an album 5 years in the making and also his newest solo effort “Greatestits” which is a retrospective of his post Danger Danger career and a couple of glimpses of the future as well with the tracks “You Won’t See Me Cryin'” & “Tokyo Nights”
HRH: Ted, first of all thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.
Ted Poley: Thank You!
HRH: It’s been 5 years since it was first announced you had rejoined Danger Danger. How excited are you for all of D2s fans to hear the new songs on “Revolve”?
Ted Poley: Very Excited! In my opinion it’s the best D2 c.d. yet!
HRH: In my review of “Revolve” I described the sound as coming from an older more mature band with 20+ years of music business experience behind them. Would you agree with that description?
Ted Poley: Well, we are older but I am not more mature…I just released a Greatetits c.d. with boobs on the cover…(Laughing) The c.d. rocks that’s all I know.
HRH: When it was announced you were rejoining Danger Danger in 2004 it had been 11 years or so since you had played with Steve and Bruno. What was it like that first show back at the Sweden Rock Festival?
Ted Poley: I don’t remember, the photos look cool though. Actually it was my first day back and it was in front of the biggest crowd D2 has ever played for.
HRH: What was it like going back in the studio with them the first time to work on the new album? Did you feel nervous or more like you had never left?
Ted Poley: It was just another studio gig for me. It was great to work with Bruno because he is such a good producer and I knew he would make my vocals perfect, so I trusted him and just let him direct me in order to get exactly what he wanted. Some lines are first takes and some phrases he made me sing 20 times until I got just the right feel for him. I never argued with him once, I trusted him completely in the studio and it came out exactly as I expected, Killer.
HRH: I guess one question a lot of people would like to know is why did it take so long for “Revolve” to be recorded and released?
Ted Poley: No idea, that’s a question better left for my 2 bosses.
HRH: What songs are you looking forward to singing off of “Revolve”?
Ted Poley: I hope we play “That’s What I’m Talking About”, it would be a fantastic way to open the show. I also think that “F.U. Money” would be a great crowd sing along.
HRH: How many songs off the new album will you play live?
Ted Poley: Again, I don’t plan that stuff, it’s up to Westy & Bruno. I’m just the eye candy. (Laughing)
HRH: Speaking of playing live will D2 have a full fledged tour of the states or will it be more like pick and choose dates?
Ted Poley: It’s always pick and choose with us. When D2 is off the road (most of the time) I go out and tour the world as a solo artist. I have solo dates coming up in the USA, Brazil, UK, and Peru. Check my Myspace page for all tour dates, and please visit TedPoley.com to buy my new 2 c.d. set “Ted Poley – Greatestits”
HRH: Of course Danger Danger released 3 albums (Dawn, Four the Hard Way, and the Return of the Great Guildersleeves) with Paul Laine on vocals. It seems like most singers do not like playing songs off of albums they weren’t involved with. Are there any songs from those albums you would like to sing live or put your touch on?
Ted Poley: Not really, I really like “Grind” and “Dead, Drunk, and Wasted” and wouldn’t mind singing those songs. But I don’t really know anything from their other c.d.’s, I’ve never heard them I only have that one Guildersleeves c.d. But I do have a back catalog of over 40 D2 songs that I actually recorded so there’s plenty to choose from.
HRH: D2 played this year’s Rocklahoma in July what was the crowd’s reaction to the band?
Ted Poley: Well they looked pretty hot to me. It was way over 100 degrees and sunny. We didn’t play any of the new songs but the band and the crowd had a blast!
HRH: How did it feel playing with a heat index of 114 degrees that must’ve been hard?
Ted Poley: Hard, Yes! The hardest gig of my life, my mic was so hot that I had to keep switching hands! My new tattoos were fucking bleeding!! All of the ink from the session I had 4 days before Rocklahoma has to be redone, the colors faded and I sweated out all of the ink!! I had to keep pouring ice cold water over my head to keep from passing out, but it was fun. I would do it again, but hopefully not in the same time slot. It was the lethal 4:45 slot in direct sun with no shade and no place to hide!
HRH: What are the chances of the fans seeing a full reunion with Andy and Kasey coming back to play with D2?
Ted Poley: Nothing is impossible, but that is improbable. Personally I would love to see a reunion show with all of the original band members and film it for DVD release.
HRH: Since you returned to Danger Danger you have released 2 solo albums, a Poley/Rivera album, and a project called Pleasure Dome, and the newly released Greatestits Vol. 1 so you definitely haven’t been sitting around waiting. After everything involving “Revolve” slows down will we be seeing a new Poley/Rivera album or a new Pleasure Dome album?
Ted Poley: Pleasure Dome, great c.d. but nothing more is being planned, it was a one-off project. Poley/Rivera? Hell Yeah! We are already writing, upgrading the studio and getting ready to record the next one for a planned Fall 2010 release.
HRH: You covered a lot of ground musically with Greatestits Vol 1. What has the initial reaction to the album been?
Ted Poley: Completely amazing! Fans love it, it’s selling out fast though there are still a few available at TedPoley.com. It’s one of the most popular c.d.’s I’ve ever released, if you are reading this and you don’t have a copy yet. What are you waiting for? Come & get it!
HRH: One song that really caught my attention is “Wastin’ Your Luv” simply because it is the heaviest song I have ever heard you sing. What project was that initially recorded for?
Ted Poley: Many people have told me that! It’s my buddy Jack Frost. We did it for his really great solo c.d. He is one of the Gods of Metal and one of my best friends He has a ton of fans worldwide, please look him up and buy his stuff, that’s one of the reasons I made my “Greatestits” c.d. so fans could discover new things and go buy them.
HRH: Last year Andy Timmons and you played some shows together in Brazil for the first time in 15 years. What was it like playing with Andy again in a live setting?
Ted Poley: Well I find that playing in a live setting is better than playing in a dead setting. (laughing) No seriously, it was a total wet dream come true, Andy is a great guitar player and a great guy. I had fun with Andy at many Brazilian Churrascurias. We would eat Brazilian BBQ and drink red wine. Andy is quite the wine conneseur. I called him “Andy Winehouse”! He knows what he wants and “He knows how to drink it” (sung to the tune of Naughty Naughty)
HRH: He also co-wrote and played the solo “Yeah You Want It” on “Collateral Damage”. Is there any chance we could see the two of you working together on your next solo album or maybe a project together?
Ted Poley: I wish! If he ever needs me for anything I am on call! I was so happy when he played on that song, he wrote it along with Bob Held, it’s on my “Greatestits” c.d. available at TedPoley.com (laughing) seriously buy it now!
HRH: You were recently immortalized by C.C. Banana with the song “Ted Poley”, which is a parody of Kiss’s “Unholy”. For the people that may not know, what’s the story behind that song?
Ted Poley: One day, very early in our first tour with Kiss, I am backstage right after the D2 set and I am walking to my dressing room where my whole band was already waiting for me. I looked down the long typical white cinderblock arena backstage corridor towards my dressing room , and to my horror, there stood Paul Stanley, my ultimate hero, the Starchild, with his cool black Paul Stanley cowboy hat on, looking just as cool as fucking ice, walking in my direction. I knew at that point that it was inevitable. Our paths were going to cross. This was IT. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to leap out of my mouth.
This was my big chance, the chance I had waited for ever since i carved my first KISS logo into that first math desk. “in 10 seconds” I thought to myself, ” I am going to speak to Paul Stanley… and then, just as Paul walked past me – nothing!
Not one word would come out of my mouth. In the blink of an eye, all of a sudden I am Helen Keller. My mind just went blank and i put my head down and just kept walking. I fucking BLEW my big moment to say hello to Paul Stanley. I had shamed myself and my bandmates, none of who had met KISS yet and who all probably saw the whole thing.
I made it to the other end of the corridor, completely crushed and disappointed in myself…when all of a sudden at full volume, the corridor boomed with the Voice.
Yes, it was unmistakable. It was THE VOICE OF PAUL STANLEY. MY HERO. MY IDOL, MY REASON FOR BEING IN THAT HALLWAY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
And to the tune of “UNHOLY” he sang…”TED POLAAAAAYYYYY”
I heard it. My band heard it. But for a second, I still couldn’t believe it, until Westy said real loud, “Yeah, he knows you!” and everyone laughed, including Paul.
At that moment, I turned around to see Paul smiling at me with his hand out to shake mine…Paul Fucking Stanley, the coolest guy on Planet Earth.
He knew I was too shy to say hello. He had been watching my show, and I still don’t know how or why but he knew MY name and he sang it. I finally got a chance to say hello to Paul and life was finally complete.
I never made a million dollars but I wouldn’t have traded that moment for the million even if I had gotten it. I have seen Paul a few times at KISS concerts over the years since then as a fan and I still get the same thrill every time he says “Hi Ted”. So, to make a short story longer – Paul actually came up with the “Ted Poley” chorus…it was his idea 15 years ago and my buddy C.C. filled in the blanks.
HRH: When everything is said and done, musically what would you like to be remembered for?
Ted Poley: I guess being a good singer, a good live front man, making a lot of people around the world smile and releasing a c.d. called “Greatestits” with boobs on the cover.
HRH: You are on Myspace and tedpoley.com is there any other ways fans can keep up to date with you online?
Ted Poley: TedPoley.com, your one stop shopping spot for all things Ted Poley.
HRH: Ted, once again thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. Is there anything else you would like to tell the fans before we let you go?
Ted Poley: Yes! Thank you everyone for enabling me to continue to live my life long dream. I love you all and hope to see you on the road sometime soon. Oh! And please buy my “Greatestits” c.d. set at TedPoley.com
Advertisements
Comments