Sleepwalking Strippers: Billy Talent

Billy Talent, the sleepwalk-streaking Canadian punksters, slipped Gigwise a glimpse into the warped and wonderful world of Billy Talent: “I love your country, I think your people are great, your music is great, but your food fucking sucks!” spouts lead-singer Ben Kowalewicz after an unsatisfactory trip to the nearby food chain.

Chilling in a modest changing room backstage at Northumbria University, the lads look confident and grateful to have returned, as Ben rants: “We are really excited to be back, there was a time when we didn’t think we would be able to ever come back, but then we wrote a really good record!” Billy Talent are becoming quite the experts on the UK with another tour on these shores planned in September. Ben proclaims: “The crowds are good, the beer is good, the food is shite…”  “Except Fish & Chips” interjects Ian. “I love the English Breakfast” pipes-up bassist Jon Gallant, making Ben quickly back-track as he jokingly states: “So we actually love your food!” Er, right.

Down to more pressing matters, the craziest thing the guys have done on tour? The answer was unanimous. Bassist Jon Gallant reluctantly reveals: “I got drunk in Japan and found myself running nude through the hotel after I had gone to bed, so I was sleep-running naked!” In between fits of laughter Ben chips in: “I opened the door and Jon said: ‘fuck dude let me in’ I was like: ‘what’s going on?’ and he just said: ‘I dunno dude, we’ll talk about it tomorrow!’” Ben laments: “We are kinda dorks, we aren’t one of those bands who say ‘yeah we drunk a whole lot of Jack Daniels and banged loads of girls!’ Just imagine a bunch of nerds in nerdy situations and that’s us”.

Reflecting on their humble beginnings, Ben reminisces: “Me, Jon and Aaron all played in a band together but it was pretty awful. Then we met this kid (points to Ian D’Sa) who was the best guitar player hands down in our area. We had one rehearsal with him and said: ‘hey man this feels alright!’ Thirteen years later we are sitting here in Newcastle!” Their big break came in the form of a record deal as guitarist Ian explains: “We were releasing records independently up until 2001. Then we released a four-song E.P that caught the attention of Warner Music Canada who eventually managed to get us a deal with Atlantic Records - and that’s when it all kicked off.”