Brian Fair from Shadows Fall

I (Anthony Pollock) recently caught up with BRIAN FAIR (vocalist) of SHADOWS FALL fame to discuss new album "Retribution" and their upcoming tour with LAMB OF GOD. Well, I got that plus Brain's take on business strategies within the music industry, listening to Skid Row on the tour bus and signing unborn babies...

Hey there Brian, how are we today?

Brian: Really good dude.

So, Brian I kind of fell into the whole being a fan of SHADOWS FALL quite by accident. It was a couple of years and it sort of happened when one of my mate's got back from a metal gig he couldn't stop raving on about and all he kept on saying was "the frontman has the longest fucking dreads you will ever see"...

Brian: Yeah well I kind of figured they looked cool and it's just got to the point where I'm sort of trying to set the benchmark for dreads in heavy metal. I'm not quite there yet but I'll see how I go. [Laughs]

Me personally I've been a fan for a number of years of not only SHADOWS FALL but also a number of the bands from the Massachusettes scene of Metal. I must say it's amazing of how when everyone started out the close ties that everyone had amongst the major players. Phil Labonte (All That Remains) who used to sing for SHADOWS FALL, Adam D (Killswitch Engage) as session drummer, even how you yourself and Mike D (Killswitch Engage) originally started out playing in Overcast. As you guys get on and become more and more popular are ties between all those bands still as close as ever?

Brian: No alot has really changed in terms of that. Alot of us still drink at the same bar and live down the road from one another. In fact we just did a show about 2 weeks ago with Killswitch and All That Remains. It was just a one big mass metal party. [Laughs]

I've noticed that with Retribution it seems to be like a return to form for Shadows Fall. At least the key elements that were there (to be heard) on the first 2 releases seem to be evident on this release. Is that what Shadows Fall were aiming for? A return to the old school days?

Brian: Umm no we're just trying to balance all our influences you know from the thrash and the melodic death metal to the arena rock and we love all that stuff and this record was probably the closest we've come to bringing all those elements so that it will all work together. That's really our goal, sometimes with each record we just want to find a way that it will all work together in a cohesive way so that it doesn't sound like it's all just cut and pasted together. I think this record came really close into getting that combination just right.

One thing I've noticed with this release is that again you guys have jumped ship in terms of record labels.

Brian: Yeah we just worked out a whole new way to do a record deal. We signed a distribution deal with Warner Brothers Music, so we still have a major label force that retail and gets it in stores with the manufacturing but we retain the ownership of the album and do the everyday thing. Then we hired a few independant labels to work in conjunction with Warner do the every day sort of stuff. So its the best of both worlds where you have the power of a major label, the forethinking of an independant label and then the band making all the decisions. It's really a perfect business situation to be in.

And you often hear of bands even in the Metal scene when metal heads hear that are  a specific band are answering to a certain beauracracy when it comes to their music they often seem to get lost with the fans so its good to see you guys staying true to form and yourselves.

Brian: Yeah well the thing is some bands can let a label influence them but the thing is even when we were on a major label we were so selfish that we wouldn't even play our music til it was finished. [Laughs] We've never been that kind of band. We never think too much about the label or what their influence may be. Now we make sure that everything we do and that every bottomline has the band's best interest in mind. It gives you the best gratification on a business level when you do it for yourself, you know? As opposed to paying for someone's nice car or having them sit in their nice office somewhere. [Laughs]

So it definitely seems like you've found a perfect balance so you guys can get in and do what you need to do whilst still having fun with the music?

Brian: Yeah it's really become a perfect situation. I really think alot of these bands are going to go with the distribution angle especially if you're an established band that already has a fan base. I don't think that you really need a traditional label anymore. Times have changed so much and people are getting music in many different ways as opposed to just going out and buying CDs. The whole model has really just reinvented itself which I'm really excited about and I think that's the way it should be.

Now you guys have quite a big following over here in Australia what are you looking forward to when you get back over here (in December)? What makes your shows here different to everywhere else across the world?

Brian: Honestly it's always been an amazing time. The metal fans and the crowds that we've played for there have always been super rowdy but obviously always just there to enjoy the music and have a good time first and foremost which is always the way (Shadows Fall) approach our shows. We look at our shows as more of a party then just a concert and teaming up with LAMB OF GOD just fuels that. We've been partying with those dudes and touring with those dudes for a long time. It's just a perfect situation. We're just looking forward to good times, fun and sun, good beers, and we'll be hanging out in the crowd after the show to watch Lamb Of God and just partying so people... Keep an Eye Out! And don't be afraid to buy us a beer we never say no.

Yeah I've heard something about us Aussies being able to drink.

Brian: Yeah yeah I've seen this for myself and it's definitely true. I plan to bring some of my Massacheusettes drinking skills to the party.

You guys have some influences which are quite loud and proud on your past albums but what mainly influences you now in terms of your music? Do you find that your influences have changed with the travelling you've done and growing as musicians?

Brian: Oh definitely and without a doubt. Sometimes it might even be subconscious. Sometimes it might even be a vibe that you get from touring with a band that helps you look at things in a slightly different way. That's what keeps it all exciting and that's why I like touring with a variety of different bands because you can definitely learn something new whether it be the performance aspect or the song writing or even just the attitude or the vibe. We've even been lucky enough that we've toured with Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath for an entire summer and if that doesn't inspire you then 'Dude! Get Out Of Metal'  It's even just an honor for us when we get to do something like playing with Metallica at Ozzfest this summer. Just getting to play with bands like Iron Maiden, Anthrax and Testament is to us is such an unbelievable surreal moment where you can't believe that this is actually happening!

When you guys are on tour what albums spin regularly on the tour bus?

Brian: If we're partying up front it's a lot of classic metal and 80s metal like Skid Row and Ozzy to sing a long to but honestly a lot of times when it's after the show and you just want to mellow out we put on some ambient instrumental music. Whatever brings the vibe but as long as the booze is flowing then we're always cranking some 80s metal.

And you can never get passed 80s metal that's for sure.

Brian: Exactly!

One question that got put to me when someone found out I would be interviewing you is "Name the Strangest Thing that you guys have EVER signed" ?

Brian: On this recent tour just a week ago everyone in the band signed an unborn baby. Right on the mother's belly, on the kid, right there on the lump so that actually replaced signing the fake leg and so that would honestly have to be the wierdest thing we've signed yet. That baby's going to come out just throwing the horns immediately!

I guess there's a market for Heavy Metal Placentas somewhere?

[Laughs]

Now you guys have a pretty hectic touring scheduel almost all the way up to Christmas now what should Shadows Fall fans really expect into 2010?

Brian: Yeah right when we get home we've got a couple of weeks off and then we're back out into the United States to do a second leg of the tour we just finished to hit up all the other city's that we didn't play at. From then, with Spring we'll prob hop over to South America and even just some European festivals for this summer as well. We're not going to be taking any breaks at all til at least late next year. We're going all out Full Steam.

No rest for the wicked, ay Brian?

Brian: Without a doubt.

Well thanks heaps for your time Brian and I'll be sure to catch you guys on your tour here in December with Lamb Of God.

Brian: Not a problem man. Thanks heaps for spreading the word.