Hanna Tsepesh: Hello C.P.Rossio! Thanks so much for accepting this interview and Welcome to THE GATES OF METAL! First of all: how are you and how are the things doing with your concerts?
C.P.Rossio: Thank you Hanna! Just getting over a month long nasty cold, I hate being sick (laughs)! The shows have been full of energy as usual, actually just played a sold-out gig with All That Remains a couple of weeks ago, it was badass!
Hanna Tsepesh: for those who do not know the band, could tell us a little how it all started?
C.P.Rossio: Well, in 2003 I decided to create a project that would hopefully grab a few people from every kind of race, genre, gender, etc. by making music that almost anyone into having a good time would enjoy, and I think we’ve accomplished this task…now, it’s time to take on the world, why the hell not!
Hanna Tsepesh: What inspired you the most to create the lyrics and what process the band use to create the riffs to comply with the lyrics?
C.P.Rossio: When I write lyrics, I like to use my imagination as much as possible, but sometimes I throw truth in as well, your never know what is real and what is not, because it all seems very possible in many individuals lives…most of the time the lyrics are done before the riff/drums are laid down, we find this the easiest and smoothest way to writing material.
Hanna Tsepesh: What are your favorite bands? You have any musician that you admire the most?
C.P.Rossio: Favorite bands, wow, I like a little bit of everything, but bands, let’s s
tart with my favorite classic rock bands…AC/DC, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent (He’s the Michigan boy I grew up listening to the most, he’s Uncle Ted!) I could go on and on…Metal bands, Pantera, period!Hanna Tsepesh: I would like to know if you had or have any guttural technique lessons or other preparation?
C.P.Rossio: Not really, the way I sing is not preferred by voice teachers, I sing with my throat, a big no no in the bizz, but for some reason I can pull it off over and over, can sing 4 – 5 nights in a row on tour and it holds up just fine, BUT, I do have to baby it a little more than more singers…I gotta drink a gallon of water every morning, almost OD on Ibuprofen, and stretch the shit out of my throat and neck muscles.
Hanna Tsepesh: What was the highest and lowest point of your career as a musician?
C.P.Rossio: Highest was opening for HELLYEAH 2 years ago in Detroit, MI. @ The Fillmore in front on 2,000 people, Chad the singer even went as far as to ask everyone in the crowd to give it up for local boys TENSION HEAD, it was the best feeling ever! The lowest was when a previous drummer was so drunk, we didn’t even get through the 1st song of our set, when we all decided to leave him on stage, ho fucking embarrassing…and I don’t get embarrassed, that’s how bad it was!
Hanna Tsepesh: Let’s talk about the “Do Or Die” album. For people who don’t listen yet can you tell to us about this album?
C.P.Rossio: Well, if you actually believe that there is a full cd worth listening to all the way through anymore (not just 1 or 2 songs, shit, we don’t have any hits, they all just rock), this is it! Plenty of music for you to get your heart beating a little faster while driving a little faster (laughs)! If you like to move your head to good beats at the very least, I think you’re going to enjoy!
Hanna Tsepesh: at recording studio, you guys faced with difficulties?
C.P.Rossio: Not really, it’s all business when we get in there, after all, time is money…we just make sure our shit is together before we enter!
Hanna Tsepesh: How has the response been to the album by the fans and media? C.P.Rossio: The thing I hear most is that people just can’t take it out of their cd player or it’s the top of their ipod, etc., and I do hear a lot of people telling me that they know all the lyrics by heart all ready, and many of them sing along to all the songs at live shows, it is a very cool feeling! Oh Yeah!
Hanna Tsepesh: If one of our readers wants to buy your album, what they can do?
C.P.Rossio: They can go to our MySpace page: www.myspace.com/tensionhead
Or to www.myspace.com/therevolutionmusicllc
For a hard copy…if they want it digital, we’re on i-tunes, shockhound, amazon.com, rhapsody, napster, and pretty much all the big internet music stores!
Hanna Tsepesh: what is your favorite music in this album and why?
C.P.Rossio: I like’em all, but I’d have to say “Brawler”, it’s about fighting off those who dare to get in your way of achieving your goals and fighting to get what you deserve! Plus: it’s a great tune for fighting for sport which is something I have always been a big fan of, I Support MMA 100%!
Hanna Tsepesh: What is your opinion about the metal in your country (United States)? It is easy to get some support? C.P.Rossio: Hell NO, Metal is actually one of the hardest markets to break into…in the US I’d say from the Top to the bottom of genre’s it would start with Country (which is what my mother says I should just go by a cowboy hat and go solo, and then I’d make it big and make millions, then I always have to tell her, Mom, it’s not about the money never has been, never will be!) Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, then finally Metal…there are shitload of Metal bands over here, way too many, and yes, many of them shouldn’t think about quitting their day jobs (laughs), that’s reality! It’s a small market and only a select few do it for a living, don’t be fooled by the Rock Star status, many of the National Metal bands out there, still have to work a day job when they get home from a tour…We know Europe loves Metal, and that’s why we’re doing everything to get our asses over their ASAP!
Hanna Tsepesh: What is your big advice for a young musician?
C.P.Rossio: Big/best advice I could give to a young musician is take every opportunity you get, no matter what! Play every show that comes your way, even the free ones, benefits, etc., but never pay to play (don’t sell tickets, I NEVER have, you will never recover from it and most promoters will never respect you as anything more than a band that pays them at the end of a night, truth!) If your material is good enough for you and a few, believe in it 100%, and if promoters feel the same about your stuff, they will be contacting you soon, that’s respect earned! Oh Yeah!!!
Hanna Tsepesh: Do you want to send any message for the people who going to read this interview?C.P.Rossio: Yeah, we know that we can’t make this any farther without more T.H. Fans/Friends, so with that in mind, we thank each and every one of you for your Support; it’s almost TENSION HEAD Time! Oh Yeah!!!
Hanna Tsepesh: Thanks o much for your answers and time. THE GATES OF METAL wishes the entire band a big success and a great 2010! Hope to see you guys very soon in here…C.P.Rossio: …likewise Hanna/ THE GATES OF METAL
Hanna Tsepesh: Thank you so much! All the best
By: Hanna Tsepesh
To listen to some TENSION HEAD music’s and for future information’s go at:
www.myspace.com/tensionhead
