Testament – Chuck Billy

Originally formed under the name Legacy, Testament have ruled the Bay Area thrash movement in San Francisco since the mid-80’s, alongside bands like Metallica, Exodus and Death Angel. Since their reunion in 2005, Testament have toured constantly and released two albums. 2013 has seen them film a live DVD while touring their latest album ‘Dark Roots of Earth’, and they have been announced for next years Soundwave Festival.

Before the release of their live DVD ‘Dark Roots of Thrash’, singer (and air-guitarist) Chuck Billy spoke to Metal Obsession about touring, recording a new album, Dublin Death Patrol and his Native American heritage.

Metal Obsession: Where did you film the Dark Roots of Thrash DVD, and why did you film it there?

Chuck: We filmed the ‘Dark Roots of Thrash’ DVD in Huntington, New York. The only reason why was shot it there was that we wanted to pick a date that was a few weeks into the tour.

Metal Obsession: I noticed that the band 4ARM from Australia was a part of the Dark Roots of Thrash tour when you filmed the show. How was it touring with those guys?

Chuck: We had an absolute blast together, and we became really good friends with the 4ARM guys. When we finish the tour this year, they’re actually coming over for Thanksgiving and staying at our place for a bit. After the last tour we did, they actually stayed with us for a few days as well.

Metal Obsession: I’ve noticed that you’re a big fan of the New Wave of Thrash Metal. Do you have a favourite band from that movement?

Chuck: I can’t say that I have a favourite. But I’m really digging the new wave of thrash metal movement. It’s good to see newer bands carrying the flag for this movement.

Metal Obsession: Testament return to Australia for Soundwave Festival next year. How do you feel about coming back for a festival as opposed to a headlining tour?

Chuck: We’re all very psyched about it, because we’ve been trying to get on the festival since the first time we toured Australia. At first, we were trying to get on the Big Day Out Festival, but we didn’t have the opportunity. That’s when we heard about Soundwave and how it would be a more appropriate type of festival for us. So we were trying to get on that for a few years and had no luck. But we were finally given the opportunity to come next year, which we’re all fired up about.

We’ve had a great time on all of our Australian tours. The first time we went there, we went to Bondi Beach and stayed there for a week, then we also stayed in the Gold Coast. It was nice.

Metal Obsession: Are there any bands you’re looking forward to catch up with at Soundwave?

Chuck: I haven’t seen the full festival lineup yet, but I noticed that Green Day are headlining. I’ve never seen them before, so it would be nice to see them live. I also heard that Primus are coming over to Australia in February and March, so I’m hoping that they’ll be announced for Soundwave. It’s going to be with their original drummer Tim as well, so I’d love to see him back in the band again. I’m not sure if it’s an announcement coming up, or if they’ve actually been announced.

Metal Obsession: What are your favourite memories from previous Australian tours?

Chuck: The people that I’ve hung out with on previous tours are so nice. They remind me of people from California, cause they’re all just laid back and mellow. Everybody was ready to have a really good time, and it was really cool. The first time we went over there was with a promoter named Mark Wilkinson, and we ended up becoming really good friends. I believe that he passed away a couple of years ago, which is why we haven’t been back yet. He was the only promoter that got us over there.

Sometimes he would stay at my house in California when he was over here, and we’d talk on the phone every now and again. I made a lot of really close friends over in Australia, especially in Melbourne. I’m actually planning on staying there for a little extra time after the Soundwave tour.

Metal Obsession: Do you plan on playing any side shows outside of the festival?

Chuck: We will be playing two sideshows. I’m not sure what cities yet, since I haven’t seen the final contract, but I know we’re playing all of the festival dates and two sideshows.

Metal Obsession: Testament has been touring the new album ‘Dark Roots of Earth’ a lot over the past year, but have you been writing any new music on the road?

Chuck: After we finish our October/November tour with Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage, hopefully we’ll take a break for a bit and write a new album, and get it recorded during summer.

Metal Obsession: When I spoke to Alex Skolnick a year ago, before the release of ‘Dark Roots of Earth’, he said that you wanted to do more melodic, clean singing as opposed to your death metal vocals. Have you decided on what direction you want to head in for the next album?

Chuck: I never know until Eric Peterson throws a riff at me. He keeps me on my toes, and we never do the same record twice, so I don’t know yet. If he writes something that sounds like the ‘Demonic’ album, then I’ll probably go with the death metal vocals.
With that being said, I usually go with what he writes and what sort of vocals would suit it. I would definitely like to mix it up though.

Metal Obsession: Your Native American heritage has been shown in some of your music, like the newer song ‘Native Blood’ that won an award at the American Indian Film Festival. What do you think of the role that your fellow Native Americans have in the USA this century?

Chuck: I speak for what I see from our tribe and reservation. I think it’s the same feeling everywhere though, I feel like they’re kind of on their own, making their own way. Our reservation has a casino that keeps a lot of people employed, which is really helpful. But to me, it’s like a fight; we’re not getting enough government assistance or anything like that, so you kind of feel like you’re on the outside looking in still.

Metal Obsession: Tell me about your side-project with former Exodus vocalist, Steve Souza, ‘Dublin Death Patrol’. How often do you play shows and record?

Chuck: When we started the band, it was only meant to just be for fun. We weren’t meant to ever do an album to release. We were working together once, writing some originals, and decided that maybe we should just release the album ourselves. So we did that, and played some shows around the Bay Area, when a record company offered to release our debut album and a second album that we had recorded, but never toured on.

It’s mainly just a band for fun, and most of the guys we did it with all have day jobs, so it’s nothing serious.

Metal Obsession: Anything else that you’d like to say?

Chuck: We’re all looking forward to playing Soundwave, since we’ve been over there playing smaller clubs, it will be nice to play our music to a much bigger crowd.

Testament’s new DVD ‘Dark Roots of Thrash’ is available now through Nuclear Blast Records.

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