Interview by LordsofMetal.de

In last months issue, I introduced you to a new great heavy metal band from
the New York area: Titanium Black. I e-mailed singer and mastermind Terry
LeRoi and asked him if he was interested in doing an interview for our
webzine. Fortunately he had the time to answer my questions. This band is
doing well and will conquer the world within a year or two, I'm convinced
about that!

Text: Koen

In my 'Bleed For You' review, I introduced the band in a limited sort of
way, could you introduce Titanium Black more specific please?
This band started out as somewhat of a solo project. I had most of the songs
written before I even pursued band members. These musical and lyrical ideas
had been kicking around for a few years and needed to be expressed. So I
decided to make a record. It was after producer Michael Wagener and I
decided which direction the music was taking, that I began to find musicians
to record with. The guitar player, John Matthews and I had been playing in
bands together since high school and had written many songs together....I
knew that I wanted John to be part of this. Other players on the record
include studio musician John Billings on bass (Donna Summer, Suitcase
Pimps), keyboardist Paul Taylor (Winger, Steve Perry), drummer Rob
Spagnoletti, orchestral arrangements by Scott Brasher and some additional
guitars by Brad Henderson. With the exception of the drummer, these
musicians were referrals by Michael. After the CD was finished I started to
assemble the band you see in the photos.

With each CD, a titanium body jewellery ring, manufactured by LeRoi Inc. is
enclosed. I'm curious if you are the president of that particular company?
Do inform our readers about that firm!
Yes, I started this company eleven years ago and we've grown into one of the
largest body jewellery producers in the world. I also own a retail show room
and a body-piercing boutique in New York City. I initially got into the body
jewellery industry because of music. Since I was a jeweller before I started
LeRoi Inc., a lot of my musician friends and pierced friends would ask me to
make them body jewellery. At the time body jewellery was a fairly new
industry and I thought that this was a great business opportunity... and it
was! I've been very blessed to be part of such a cool thing.... I love this
business. We thought making the titanium ring part of the packaging was a
unique idea... we really wanted to give the fans of our music more for their
money so we include a titanium body piercing ring with each CD. We used
titanium instead of steel for the obvious reasons.

'Bleed For You', is it a demo? Is it a full-length debut album? Is it a
self-release? Great Dane Records is it the bands own label?? I' m a bit
confused. Please explain!
'Bleed For You' is a full-length album produced by world famous rock
producer Michael Wagener. The label Great Dane Records is our own label.

You already mentioned him before, 'The 'Bleed For You' album was produced by
the notorious Michael Wagener. How did a big shot producer end up on a self
financed release of a relatively unknown band such as Titanium Black?
I always loved the bands that Michael produced in the past and I had always
dreamed of working with a famous producer. One of my good friends and I
decided to try and contact him and ask him to listen to the songs I had
written. We found his contact info online, called him and he said: "Yes,
send your demo to me". Once he received it, he contacted us within days and
said he loved the songs. We then went to Nashville, Tennessee to meet him
and shortly after we decided to work together. It was a privilege to work
with him and I learned so much in the seven months it took to record the CD.
Michael is so down to earth, such a wonderful person and amazingly creative.
He put his name on this project because he loves it and believes in it.

Of course I want to know if record companies have showed interest in the
band with good reviews from magazines from all over the globe?
Actually because of the great press we are getting, there is interest from
record companies. Everyone including yourself has been so kind in helping to
promote this band....we are extremely grateful!!

The recordings were made two years ago. Why did it take so long before they
were released?
The CD was released in the U.S.A. just briefly and began to gain interest
quickly, but it never got the proper push and got sidelined until now. This
time we've got some new people on board to help break the band and we are
being very aggressive about getting people to hear this music. Until now no
one has really even heard of us.

Have new songs popped up already? I' m convinced you are willing to record a
successor of the debut album as soon as possible since it's been a while
since the first recordings…
We've got two more albums worth of material ready to go and many new ideas
on the way. I'm getting very anxious to record the next record. It will
totally rock... I promise!!

I compared your music to the mid Eighties heavy metal bands such as Crimson
Glory, Q5, Queensrÿche or Sanctuary. Do you approve that and what are your
main musical influences?
Absolutely! Those are all great bands. I believe an artist is always
influenced by what they listen to and enjoy. The music I've listened to over
the years is part of my being and has helped to shape my own original music.
My primary influences include everything from AC/DC, Judas Priest, Black
Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Accept to Helmet, Tool, Pantera & solo
artists like Tori Amos, Neil Diamond & Johnny Cash. Also other assorted
songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's, and current music. I love great songs, for
me it's always about the song!!

Do you think we will ever be able to see the band over here in ancient
Europe?
Yes, in fact we are working on a late fall European tour right now. We've
been getting a lot of positive press from many different countries including
Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Austria, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland.
Everyone has been very excited about our music.

Do you have a message to our readers? The space below is yours....
This record is extremely diverse; emotionally and sonically. There are some
very heavy songs as well as ballads on this CD. Although the record could be
considered by some as having a classic metal sound it has some very unique
qualities about it. There are seven core human feelings; sad, lonely, anger
etc. and this record captures and touches on all of them. Michael did an
exceptional job on the recordings and if you've enjoyed any of his past
work, I think you'll love this CD. I really appreciate the interview Koen,
thanks for everything and we hope to see you and our new fans in the very
near future!!

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