Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:14):
What's that? Everybody?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Lord Anthony here Bloodline.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Interviewing the awesome, powerful, almighty Chuck Billy of Testament.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
What's up, Chuck? What are you doing to see you? Man?
I can just feel that.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I could just feel the awesome going on in your presence.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
How is that possible?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Do you think it's just the whole twenty five years
of just rocking with testing it?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I think it's definitely. You know, you know, we're probably
one of.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
The starting metal bands that started thrash, you know, twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Something years ago in the Bay Area sound you know.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
So here we are still still doing it, you know,
twenty five years later.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So with thrash music and in general, when you would
describe it into your own personal feelings as far as
as you as a person and as your heritage and
culture goes, how would you involve the thrash music scene
the music improvides to you as a person towards other
people like yourself.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Well, there's just a lot of there's a lot of
power in this style of music. When I first started
in this band, this culture, thrash style of music was
so new, and you know, I was I was older
than the rest of the guys in the group, so
I listened to more like rock kind of stuff, where
these guys were more into Merciful Fade and Venom and
(01:37):
more black metal kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And that early eighties.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
When thrash Metal started half with Exodus, Metallica and everybody,
there was just so much energy and power and it
really there was something about that music that just definitely
when it was a life performance that drove people crazy,
People like stage dove and got the pit going, and
it really made people move and want to express themselves.
(02:05):
So I think, you know what drew me to that
was when I first joined the band. Thrash metal was
new to me, but what drew me to it was
just the power and the energy. You know, these guys
were like young kids fifteen sixteen, but the music had
so much power and energy. It was beyond their age,
you know for me and to me, I was like, wow,
this is something new. And me being native American and
(02:27):
a bigger guy and stuff it was about I didn't
fit into that glam scene or you know, hair bands
and all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I didn't fit into that.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
So when I got together with thrash Metal, it was
right up what I wanted and what I felt like, Man,
this is what I should be doing. I feel the
power and the energy, and I feel that I have
something that I can contribute to this style and gendre
of music and bring to it.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
And it's totally it's totally true.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Like twenty five years later, it's all about seeing new
younger generations of kids come in there, getting in the pit,
stage diving, and it's the power of the music, you know,
and it's it's it's one type of music that's always
stayed consistent for that never swayed and went anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You know, that is awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Like when when you go.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
To these shows and you're on the road and you're
on tour and seeing these different crowds. You know, each
each crowd has a different pretty much ethnicity.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Nationalities and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As far as from where you come from, can you
explain about your your tribing, your people and what their
cultures in the streams are.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Well, our tribes you know from Hoppland, California, Pomo, and.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know ours is a small tribe and pretty poor tribe.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
You know, there wasn't much there for every since I
was growing up, when we'd go to the reservation. It
was basically a stereotypical reservation. A lot of broken down
cars and garbage and then landscaping overgrown and stuff, and
a lot of that was just the way it was until,
of course, a casino popped up on the reservation and
(04:11):
then things changed a little bit for our people. You know,
we started having better transportation to get kids to school
and sports activities, and just just getting the water system
up and running there. There was just so much that
that helped. Since that since then, that's only been like
(04:32):
twenty years, you know, so our culture you know, coming
from really like nothing, and it was kind of losing
the language and the heritage and you know, our tribes
known for basket weaving, you know, so a lot of
that was being lost, you know, through the generations, just
of neglect and not paying attention too much to it.
(04:53):
And I think now that there's something there on the reservation,
the casino, they they have money to actually spend in
program to keep the language there, the education, the basket weaving,
so all that's kind of you know coming back in
our tribe and our people, which it's it's good. I mean,
everybody thought casino would be a bad thing. But it
(05:14):
actually for our small little you know, reservation, it's totally
night and day.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Now that's really good, really good because a lot of
times you get these reservations and they get their casinos
and then they seeing a lot of things boost up.
You know, you get suicides, get a lot of alcoholism,
just people.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Kind of using the money the wrong way.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, I mean there's always going to be that, and
there's like you know, of course, the first time the
casino's up, you know, the first tribal council, you know,
there's always a word of stealing money and you know,
taking money, and and you know it's it's it's almost
like expected almost because you got a big multimillion dollar
company coming into the people that never ran a multimillion
(05:56):
dollar company and don't know better, and you kind of
just learn by just doing it, you know. And so
early years in our casino there's a lot of money
lost and missing and and you know, it's like money money,
everybody's grabbing it and wanting the jobs, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So but it's gotten better.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You know, they finally figured it out and brought people
in that have rand casinos and and and are running
properly now so it's a good thing because I think
that the kids there's what's going to benefit from it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You know, Yeah, that's awesome. Do you think you will
ever see Chuck billion counselman.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
My cousins and all my friends on the tribe are
trying to get me to run, But I don't know.
You know, it's like my I got my older all
my brothers came with me here today, so you'll sell
my brothers and you know, they're they're involved with.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
The tribe and stuff.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
My younger brother Andy, you know, he worked in the
casino and he's the council and everything. But you know,
my other cousins there, they just they they they think
me because I'm in a band and I got some popularity,
that that's something they need, you know, something that would help.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I don't know necessarily.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I think that like most of our family, once they
reach a certain age, they move out of civilization, go
back to the reservation because we've got property and they
got a job there for sure, and you know, so
you know, I mean, I don't know. Maybe one day
I'll be retired up on the reservation and then it
might seem appropriate to do that because I'm there yeah,
(07:38):
I think living off the reservation, I don't think it
feels right, you know, So with.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Your brothers here, I mean I remember checking into some
stuff about you guys having a band back, you know,
a while back, going on.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And Death Patrol.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Well, there's a record coming out in May, but we're
not we're not really touring anymore. We kind of it
was only a thing we got together to do for fun,
and it was about my brothers and my friends that
I grew up with in Dublin, and you had to
be from Dublin to be in the band. Okay, and
Phil Demo from machine Head and Troy Luketta from Tesla
and a couple other guys were recorded on the record,
(08:19):
and it was only just supposed to be for fun,
and it ended up turning out that the record went
to Europe and we took got to go over and
tour Europe and open up for Black Sabbath and do.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Some really positive and good things.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
So the guys had fun with it, but it was
just like, you know, everybody's got day.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Jobs and families and it's not like a real thing.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So you know, we kind of did a record and
just if shows come at us, we do them, but
if not, there's no plans to do anything.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Wow, it's pretty interesting. So going to Europe, you know,
touring the States all.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
These different places. Where are your most memorable shows?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I guess i'd say maybe your top three.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Well, when we were I'd say, like in nineteen eighty
eight the Monsters Rock in Germany. It was a massive
It was about one hundred and twenty thousand people and
that was the biggest crowd I ever played to. And
there was Kiss and Van Halen and Black Sabbath and
I made Iron Madeen, I mean, all my haros. I
was like, wow, you know, thrown in backstage my dressing
(09:17):
and right next to David Lee Roth and everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I'm like, this is it right here, you know, And.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
That was pretty memorable because you know, we're we're just
starting our career and pretty young at the time and
didn't know.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
That the way it worked, you know, really, we just
kind of just did our thing.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
So here we are, the young kids with the with
the veterans playing this monster massive show. And that that
to me stuck in my mind because I met David
Lee Roth that time for the first time and total
cool guy and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I met them at that time.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
And that was the one thing I really remembered a lot,
you know, me my haros were sticking.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And you know, so that that was one show.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
Another show, probably our very first show out of California.
In nineteen eighty seven, we went to New York to
Lamores to open up for Slayer. Oh wow, two nights
opening up for Slayer. When this is back in nineteen
eighty seven, so any band who opened up for Slayer
was going to get ripped apart no matter what. So
(10:25):
we knew that we were going in for, you know, a.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Beating up there on stage. And we played two nights.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
In the first night, people were like kind of booing
and spitting and throwing things and throwing drinks, and we're.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
We're young kids. We were like, yeah, little cares, go ahead,
come on throw it.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
You know, and we just went at it right back
at them. And by the third or four song that
stopped and we captured them. They were they were like fans,
right then, that's cool. And so that was like real
the real turning point bull time. You know, we knew
we were going to get beat up by Slayer. Fans,
but we wanted to challenge, we wanted we were confident
(11:07):
in what we were doing and that we were going
to take it on and let's do it.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know. So that's probably the second one that really
sticks out, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Nice So with all that, you know, changing you know,
people's perception of you know, who you guys are on
stage and you guys are off off stage, and just
bringing that into everything, you know, having people know who
you are guys are as as testament and as you
as Chuck Billy being a Native American. And then also
(11:35):
you know, getting on the cover of this magazine Native Entertainment.
I see this magazine a lot of places and a
lot of kids and a lot of fans of heavy
mental music.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Have this issue.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I've seen it in like at a travel seminaries. I
seen it in fibred stands and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
So all these different places, you know, you just kind
of run into it.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So it's great. I think it's a really good thing.
I mean, I was.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
I was fortunate enough to be on the very first
Native American Music Awards at the Foxwoods.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
This must have been ten.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Years ago or so, and it surprised me how many
Native artists there were that were doing really well, selling
a lot of records, really just touring a lot of
reservation circuits, just playing a lot of casinos and doing
really well. And at that time, I thought, well, where's
(12:26):
all the heavy metal bands here? You know, there was
no heavy metal bands nominated or categories or anything like that.
So it kind of made me think like, wow, that
must not be that really that much heavy metal and
Native American artists, you know. So you know, I've seen
over the years it's grown. So I've always felt like,
(12:46):
man if Testament or I could at least get to
my people, you know, and go to I even thrown
it from my booking agent and managers, you know, book
Testament and some reservations.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Let's do some reservations.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Let's go out there and play because you know they're
not maybe maybe they're not fortunately to have the money.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
To come down.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
We'll come down, bring a cheap price ticket and just
get to see the show and get turned on to
what we do, you know, and see what it's about.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
You know.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
So that's something I'm trying to work on and it
and to me, it was like, wow, a lot of
these guys are bands were platinum bands and just doing
a casino circuit. Yeah, you know, selling a lot of records.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Now, but that was again back when people are selling
a lot of records. You know, It's it's different today,
but still I think it's still a good thing to
get out there and represent.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Yeah, definitely, it's it has to I don't know for
me on my point of view, it's kind of like
you have to see like the culture and the historical
part of it, you know, going back so many years
of like how natives have been kind of pushed down
a lot when it comes down to a lot of
the things because there's a lot of natives only like
in music, but like in the arts and then you
(13:59):
know all kinds of things a theater, poetry. Oh, there's
so many talented natives out there, and when it comes
to like the rise of them, you know, it's just
there's not so much recognition, you know, and when it
comes to something like this, this is huge, you know,
you being here for it, you know, being putting the
permanently be placed here at the hard rock casino.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I mean that's it.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Meant a lot to me and my brothers, and that's
why my brother's like you know, we're going to come
there and support because they know it's a big thing,
you know, and and you know, of course Tito trying
to get us in other hard rocks and stuff would
be great.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You know, we travel the world.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
We've been a band together twenty five years is our
anniversary this year, and we're founders of a lot of
the thrash metal movements.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So we should be letting the people around the world in.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Every hard rock cafe know that Testament not just being Native,
but Testament being Testament should be there. And on top
of it, being native, you know, is is icing on
the cake for it.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, that's awesome. I'm really proud that you kept representing.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
The people out there.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
That's that's something they're really hard to do because a
lot of people just don't understand, especially when it comes
to like band members and whatnot. You know, uh, sometimes
they're just you know, don't really think about the big picture.
It's kind of more about like, uh, you know, more
think of themselves or you know, what's going on. But
as far as your band members go, now, how are
(15:31):
they about Testament being placed in Hurtle Casino?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Look are to this issue, They're they're they're excited. They're
really happy for me to you know, and we're seeing them,
we're all together yesterday and they're just like, you know,
have a good time, enjoy it and congratulations, you know.
And on Facebook and Twitter, all my friends and bands
out there are totally supportive and just like, you know, right.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
On, it's about time, you know, right on.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
You know. So that's good. It's a good thing. It's
it's a first step. Say at least, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
So you've you've been in this game for quite some
time now, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Pretty sure a lot of viewers.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Are gonna check this out and as far as you know,
being a part of this magazine and anything related to you,
they're going to follow you, just like on Twitter and
on Facebook and stuff like that. But I wouldn't want
to get your thoughts on advice to young musicians or
young rising metal bands that are you know out there,
you know, pushing what they got, you know, because like
(16:31):
I know, you've seen the scene come from uh you know,
straight up mailing your memo.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
Stuff and that's out we started, you know, mailing to Europe,
you know, just getting in the mail order and it's
you know when people ever asked you what do you
got to tell for the new upcoming bands or anything.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It's such a different world today than it was twenty
five years ago. In the record business, of course, budgets
are a lot less that there.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
The major labels aren't signing more metal style bands. It's
more independent labels which kind of took over their Independent
labels are huge now. So whenever people ask what's the
one they can tell people, I say, well, if you
can take ownership and keep control of your music, that's
the best thing. Because the record business isn't the most
(17:20):
honest business, and nobody I don't know anybody who just
throws money at you until you come asking for it,
you know, So you know, there's a lot of money
that gets lost in the music business system. So I
always felt and for Testament we even did it. Like
in nineteen ninety four we started our own record label.
(17:40):
So every Testament record from ninety four till today, we've
been licensing to labels to put the music out. Now,
if they do a bad job or screw us over,
guess what, I get to take my music and go
somewhere else and give it to somebody else who wants.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
To do the right thing.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
So that to me, I always tell people, if you
can own your music, you know, go for it. That's
a key breaker and a deal man, keep to keep
your music, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Definitely, man that some good stuff before we go. What's
tell me some stuff about the new record and win's.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Gonna be out?
Speaker 1 (18:14):
How bad? The new record's going to be out April
twenty seventh.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
It's called The Dark Roots of Earth and it's got
it's gonna be a really good record. It's got some
We took a long time writing this record, putting it together.
We've we we started a lot of it, recording it,
then did the Anthrax tour and that angel and then
now we just got back last month and we're working
on it for the whole month. We've got about three
(18:39):
days left in the studio. Yeah, Wednesday we delivered the
record to start mixing it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
So I would say that this record, it's.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Every song on this record stands on its own. There's
not a theme really about the whole record. It's definitely
it's definitely a testament record. I'd say matured a little bit.
I don't know how else to describe it. But I
wouldn't say commercial or sold out or somebody.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
It's got some really good songs on it, you know,
and it's just not thrash sash sash.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
It's got some really good songs and melodies and stuff
on it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So we're proud of this record. It's gonna be, I think,
a really good record.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I'm looking looking forward to hearing it definitely.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
I like how everything's just coming full circle for you,
you know, like it's just with the guys from Antrax
and yeah, Angel is just coming back together.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
It was like twenty five years ago. You got started
touring with them twenty five years ago.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
So it's pretty awesome, you know, all all this stuff
in the magazine, it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
When we were planning a video right now, we're shooting
the first singles called Native Blood. Oh awesome, and so
the video is definitely gonna have a lot of Native
in it. We're gonna we're thinking of bringing when we
say native blood, and I'm not just thinking like Native American,
it's just it's it's every culture is like their native culture.
(19:56):
So the meaning is beyond just saying Native America because
it's native and everybody. So the videos, I think we're
trying to plan a pretty cool looking video. It's definitely
going to have Native you know, probably a lot of
reservation stuff and dancers and stuff like that going on in.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
A sweet definitely.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
All right, guys, Chuck Billy with Native Entertainment Magazine res TV.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
My name is Lauren Anthony.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
You guys got to be here. Wish you guys were here,
because this guy is totally awesome. He brings out some
awesome vibes and some good stuff to hear. So check
out Native Entertainment Magazine res TV, and thank you Chuck Billy.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay, I appreciate it, all right, man,
What's that? Everybody?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Lord Anthony here Bloodline.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Interviewing the awesome, powerful, almighty Chuck Billy of Testament.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
What's up, Chuck? What are you doing to see you? Man?
I can just feel that.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I could just feel the awesome going on in your presence.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
How is that possible?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Do you think it's just the whole twenty five years
of just rocking with testing it?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I think it's definitely. You know, you know, we're probably
one of.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
The starting metal bands that started thrash, you know, twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Something years ago in the Bay Area sound you know.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
So here we are still still doing it, you know,
twenty five years later.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So with thrash music and in general, when you would
describe it into your own personal feelings as far as
as you as a person and as your heritage and
culture goes, how would you involve the thrash music scene
the music improvides to you as a person towards other
people like yourself.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Well, there's just a lot of there's a lot of
power in this style of music. When I first started
in this band, this culture, thrash style of music was
so new, and you know, I was I was older
than the rest of the guys in the group, so
I listened to more like rock kind of stuff, where
these guys were more into Merciful Fade and Venom and
(01:37):
more black metal kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And that early eighties.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
When thrash Metal started half with Exodus, Metallica and everybody,
there was just so much energy and power and it
really there was something about that music that just definitely
when it was a life performance that drove people crazy,
People like stage dove and got the pit going, and
it really made people move and want to express themselves.
(02:05):
So I think, you know what drew me to that
was when I first joined the band. Thrash metal was
new to me, but what drew me to it was
just the power and the energy. You know, these guys
were like young kids fifteen sixteen, but the music had
so much power and energy. It was beyond their age,
you know for me and to me, I was like, wow,
this is something new. And me being native American and
(02:27):
a bigger guy and stuff it was about I didn't
fit into that glam scene or you know, hair bands
and all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I didn't fit into that.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
So when I got together with thrash Metal, it was
right up what I wanted and what I felt like, Man,
this is what I should be doing. I feel the
power and the energy, and I feel that I have
something that I can contribute to this style and gendre
of music and bring to it.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
And it's totally it's totally true.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Like twenty five years later, it's all about seeing new
younger generations of kids come in there, getting in the pit,
stage diving, and it's the power of the music, you know,
and it's it's it's one type of music that's always
stayed consistent for that never swayed and went anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You know, that is awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Like when when you go.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
To these shows and you're on the road and you're
on tour and seeing these different crowds. You know, each
each crowd has a different pretty much ethnicity.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Nationalities and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As far as from where you come from, can you
explain about your your tribing, your people and what their
cultures in the streams are.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Well, our tribes you know from Hoppland, California, Pomo, and.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know ours is a small tribe and pretty poor tribe.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
You know, there wasn't much there for every since I
was growing up, when we'd go to the reservation. It
was basically a stereotypical reservation. A lot of broken down
cars and garbage and then landscaping overgrown and stuff, and
a lot of that was just the way it was until,
of course, a casino popped up on the reservation and
(04:11):
then things changed a little bit for our people. You know,
we started having better transportation to get kids to school
and sports activities, and just just getting the water system
up and running there. There was just so much that
that helped. Since that since then, that's only been like
(04:32):
twenty years, you know, so our culture you know, coming
from really like nothing, and it was kind of losing
the language and the heritage and you know, our tribes
known for basket weaving, you know, so a lot of
that was being lost, you know, through the generations, just
of neglect and not paying attention too much to it.
(04:53):
And I think now that there's something there on the reservation,
the casino, they they have money to actually spend in
program to keep the language there, the education, the basket weaving,
so all that's kind of you know coming back in
our tribe and our people, which it's it's good. I mean,
everybody thought casino would be a bad thing. But it
(05:14):
actually for our small little you know, reservation, it's totally
night and day.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Now that's really good, really good because a lot of
times you get these reservations and they get their casinos
and then they seeing a lot of things boost up.
You know, you get suicides, get a lot of alcoholism,
just people.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Kind of using the money the wrong way.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, I mean there's always going to be that, and
there's like you know, of course, the first time the
casino's up, you know, the first tribal council, you know,
there's always a word of stealing money and you know,
taking money, and and you know it's it's it's almost
like expected almost because you got a big multimillion dollar
company coming into the people that never ran a multimillion
(05:56):
dollar company and don't know better, and you kind of
just learn by just doing it, you know. And so
early years in our casino there's a lot of money
lost and missing and and you know, it's like money money,
everybody's grabbing it and wanting the jobs, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So but it's gotten better.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You know, they finally figured it out and brought people
in that have rand casinos and and and are running
properly now so it's a good thing because I think
that the kids there's what's going to benefit from it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You know, Yeah, that's awesome. Do you think you will
ever see Chuck billion counselman.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
My cousins and all my friends on the tribe are
trying to get me to run, But I don't know.
You know, it's like my I got my older all
my brothers came with me here today, so you'll sell
my brothers and you know, they're they're involved with.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
The tribe and stuff.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
My younger brother Andy, you know, he worked in the
casino and he's the council and everything. But you know,
my other cousins there, they just they they they think
me because I'm in a band and I got some popularity,
that that's something they need, you know, something that would help.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I don't know necessarily.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I think that like most of our family, once they
reach a certain age, they move out of civilization, go
back to the reservation because we've got property and they
got a job there for sure, and you know, so
you know, I mean, I don't know. Maybe one day
I'll be retired up on the reservation and then it
might seem appropriate to do that because I'm there yeah,
(07:38):
I think living off the reservation, I don't think it
feels right, you know, So with.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Your brothers here, I mean I remember checking into some
stuff about you guys having a band back, you know,
a while back, going on.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And Death Patrol.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Well, there's a record coming out in May, but we're
not we're not really touring anymore. We kind of it
was only a thing we got together to do for fun,
and it was about my brothers and my friends that
I grew up with in Dublin, and you had to
be from Dublin to be in the band. Okay, and
Phil Demo from machine Head and Troy Luketta from Tesla
and a couple other guys were recorded on the record,
(08:19):
and it was only just supposed to be for fun,
and it ended up turning out that the record went
to Europe and we took got to go over and
tour Europe and open up for Black Sabbath and do.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Some really positive and good things.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
So the guys had fun with it, but it was
just like, you know, everybody's got day.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Jobs and families and it's not like a real thing.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So you know, we kind of did a record and
just if shows come at us, we do them, but
if not, there's no plans to do anything.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Wow, it's pretty interesting. So going to Europe, you know,
touring the States all.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
These different places. Where are your most memorable shows?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I guess i'd say maybe your top three.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Well, when we were I'd say, like in nineteen eighty
eight the Monsters Rock in Germany. It was a massive
It was about one hundred and twenty thousand people and
that was the biggest crowd I ever played to. And
there was Kiss and Van Halen and Black Sabbath and
I made Iron Madeen, I mean, all my haros. I
was like, wow, you know, thrown in backstage my dressing
(09:17):
and right next to David Lee Roth and everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I'm like, this is it right here, you know, And.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
That was pretty memorable because you know, we're we're just
starting our career and pretty young at the time and
didn't know.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
That the way it worked, you know, really, we just
kind of just did our thing.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
So here we are, the young kids with the with
the veterans playing this monster massive show. And that that
to me stuck in my mind because I met David
Lee Roth that time for the first time and total
cool guy and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I met them at that time.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
And that was the one thing I really remembered a lot,
you know, me my haros were sticking.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And you know, so that that was one show.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
Another show, probably our very first show out of California.
In nineteen eighty seven, we went to New York to
Lamores to open up for Slayer. Oh wow, two nights
opening up for Slayer. When this is back in nineteen
eighty seven, so any band who opened up for Slayer
was going to get ripped apart no matter what. So
(10:25):
we knew that we were going in for, you know, a.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Beating up there on stage. And we played two nights.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
In the first night, people were like kind of booing
and spitting and throwing things and throwing drinks, and we're.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
We're young kids. We were like, yeah, little cares, go ahead,
come on throw it.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
You know, and we just went at it right back
at them. And by the third or four song that
stopped and we captured them. They were they were like fans,
right then, that's cool. And so that was like real
the real turning point bull time. You know, we knew
we were going to get beat up by Slayer. Fans,
but we wanted to challenge, we wanted we were confident
(11:07):
in what we were doing and that we were going
to take it on and let's do it.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know. So that's probably the second one that really
sticks out, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Nice So with all that, you know, changing you know,
people's perception of you know, who you guys are on
stage and you guys are off off stage, and just
bringing that into everything, you know, having people know who
you are guys are as as testament and as you
as Chuck Billy being a Native American. And then also
(11:35):
you know, getting on the cover of this magazine Native Entertainment.
I see this magazine a lot of places and a
lot of kids and a lot of fans of heavy
mental music.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Have this issue.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I've seen it in like at a travel seminaries. I
seen it in fibred stands and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
So all these different places, you know, you just kind
of run into it.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So it's great. I think it's a really good thing.
I mean, I was.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
I was fortunate enough to be on the very first
Native American Music Awards at the Foxwoods.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
This must have been ten.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Years ago or so, and it surprised me how many
Native artists there were that were doing really well, selling
a lot of records, really just touring a lot of
reservation circuits, just playing a lot of casinos and doing
really well. And at that time, I thought, well, where's
(12:26):
all the heavy metal bands here? You know, there was
no heavy metal bands nominated or categories or anything like that.
So it kind of made me think like, wow, that
must not be that really that much heavy metal and
Native American artists, you know. So you know, I've seen
over the years it's grown. So I've always felt like,
(12:46):
man if Testament or I could at least get to
my people, you know, and go to I even thrown
it from my booking agent and managers, you know, book
Testament and some reservations.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Let's do some reservations.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Let's go out there and play because you know they're
not maybe maybe they're not fortunately to have the money.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
To come down.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
We'll come down, bring a cheap price ticket and just
get to see the show and get turned on to
what we do, you know, and see what it's about.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
You know.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
So that's something I'm trying to work on and it
and to me, it was like, wow, a lot of
these guys are bands were platinum bands and just doing
a casino circuit. Yeah, you know, selling a lot of records.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Now, but that was again back when people are selling
a lot of records. You know, It's it's different today,
but still I think it's still a good thing to
get out there and represent.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Yeah, definitely, it's it has to I don't know for
me on my point of view, it's kind of like
you have to see like the culture and the historical
part of it, you know, going back so many years
of like how natives have been kind of pushed down
a lot when it comes down to a lot of
the things because there's a lot of natives only like
in music, but like in the arts and then you
(13:59):
know all kinds of things a theater, poetry. Oh, there's
so many talented natives out there, and when it comes
to like the rise of them, you know, it's just
there's not so much recognition, you know, and when it
comes to something like this, this is huge, you know,
you being here for it, you know, being putting the
permanently be placed here at the hard rock casino.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I mean that's it.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Meant a lot to me and my brothers, and that's
why my brother's like you know, we're going to come
there and support because they know it's a big thing,
you know, and and you know, of course Tito trying
to get us in other hard rocks and stuff would
be great.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You know, we travel the world.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
We've been a band together twenty five years is our
anniversary this year, and we're founders of a lot of
the thrash metal movements.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So we should be letting the people around the world in.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Every hard rock cafe know that Testament not just being Native,
but Testament being Testament should be there. And on top
of it, being native, you know, is is icing on
the cake for it.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, that's awesome. I'm really proud that you kept representing.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
The people out there.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
That's that's something they're really hard to do because a
lot of people just don't understand, especially when it comes
to like band members and whatnot. You know, uh, sometimes
they're just you know, don't really think about the big picture.
It's kind of more about like, uh, you know, more
think of themselves or you know, what's going on. But
as far as your band members go, now, how are
(15:31):
they about Testament being placed in Hurtle Casino?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Look are to this issue, They're they're they're excited. They're
really happy for me to you know, and we're seeing them,
we're all together yesterday and they're just like, you know,
have a good time, enjoy it and congratulations, you know.
And on Facebook and Twitter, all my friends and bands
out there are totally supportive and just like, you know, right.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
On, it's about time, you know, right on.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
You know. So that's good. It's a good thing. It's
it's a first step. Say at least, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
So you've you've been in this game for quite some
time now, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Pretty sure a lot of viewers.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Are gonna check this out and as far as you know,
being a part of this magazine and anything related to you,
they're going to follow you, just like on Twitter and
on Facebook and stuff like that. But I wouldn't want
to get your thoughts on advice to young musicians or
young rising metal bands that are you know out there,
you know, pushing what they got, you know, because like
(16:31):
I know, you've seen the scene come from uh you know,
straight up mailing your memo.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
Stuff and that's out we started, you know, mailing to Europe,
you know, just getting in the mail order and it's
you know when people ever asked you what do you
got to tell for the new upcoming bands or anything.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It's such a different world today than it was twenty
five years ago. In the record business, of course, budgets
are a lot less that there.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
The major labels aren't signing more metal style bands. It's
more independent labels which kind of took over their Independent
labels are huge now. So whenever people ask what's the
one they can tell people, I say, well, if you
can take ownership and keep control of your music, that's
the best thing. Because the record business isn't the most
(17:20):
honest business, and nobody I don't know anybody who just
throws money at you until you come asking for it,
you know, So you know, there's a lot of money
that gets lost in the music business system. So I
always felt and for Testament we even did it. Like
in nineteen ninety four we started our own record label.
(17:40):
So every Testament record from ninety four till today, we've
been licensing to labels to put the music out. Now,
if they do a bad job or screw us over,
guess what, I get to take my music and go
somewhere else and give it to somebody else who wants.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
To do the right thing.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
So that to me, I always tell people, if you
can own your music, you know, go for it. That's
a key breaker and a deal man, keep to keep
your music, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Definitely, man that some good stuff before we go. What's
tell me some stuff about the new record and win's.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Gonna be out?
Speaker 1 (18:14):
How bad? The new record's going to be out April
twenty seventh.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
It's called The Dark Roots of Earth and it's got
it's gonna be a really good record. It's got some
We took a long time writing this record, putting it together.
We've we we started a lot of it, recording it,
then did the Anthrax tour and that angel and then
now we just got back last month and we're working
on it for the whole month. We've got about three
(18:39):
days left in the studio. Yeah, Wednesday we delivered the
record to start mixing it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
So I would say that this record, it's.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Every song on this record stands on its own. There's
not a theme really about the whole record. It's definitely
it's definitely a testament record. I'd say matured a little bit.
I don't know how else to describe it. But I
wouldn't say commercial or sold out or somebody.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
It's got some really good songs on it, you know,
and it's just not thrash sash sash.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
It's got some really good songs and melodies and stuff
on it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So we're proud of this record. It's gonna be, I think,
a really good record.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I'm looking looking forward to hearing it definitely.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
I like how everything's just coming full circle for you,
you know, like it's just with the guys from Antrax
and yeah, Angel is just coming back together.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
It was like twenty five years ago. You got started
touring with them twenty five years ago.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
So it's pretty awesome, you know, all all this stuff
in the magazine, it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
When we were planning a video right now, we're shooting
the first singles called Native Blood. Oh awesome, and so
the video is definitely gonna have a lot of Native
in it. We're gonna we're thinking of bringing when we
say native blood, and I'm not just thinking like Native American,
it's just it's it's every culture is like their native culture.
(19:56):
So the meaning is beyond just saying Native America because
it's native and everybody. So the videos, I think we're
trying to plan a pretty cool looking video. It's definitely
going to have Native you know, probably a lot of
reservation stuff and dancers and stuff like that going on in.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
A sweet definitely.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
All right, guys, Chuck Billy with Native Entertainment Magazine res TV.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
My name is Lauren Anthony.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
You guys got to be here. Wish you guys were here,
because this guy is totally awesome. He brings out some
awesome vibes and some good stuff to hear. So check
out Native Entertainment Magazine res TV, and thank you Chuck Billy.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay, I appreciate it, all right, man,
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