The Relapse Symphony is, without a doubt, the band to watch! Together less than a year, this band already has die hard fans known as "Rebels", are signed to Standby Records, released an EP last December and are currently writing their first full length studio album. Last year's Time's Running Out EP showcased the band's rock n' roll style which lead vocalist, Bret Von Dehl, says will expand on the new record. The band (Bret Von Dehl - Vocals, JC Charles - Guitar, Alex Foxx - Guitar, Brandon Kile - Bass, Tyler Gloyd - Drums) recently opened for Black Veil Brides on 2 dates of their Church of the Wild Ones Tour and are continuing to build a following. I recently spoke with Bret about opening for BVB, the new record and his love for TRS's fans. Check out our conversation below!
Bret: It's really hard for a band to say "We sound just like this band". We've been told that our music is kind of like a mix between My Chemical Romance, Skid Row, and Green Day. I can agree with that. We're all very influenced by those bands.
FPMN: What inspires you as a performer and a musician? When did you first realize that music was a passion for you?
Bret: For me personally, it was at an extremely early age. My father was always into rock music when he was a teenager. As a kid, I always grew up on it. My dad still listens to rock music. We go to shows together sometimes. He's always at our shows and all that stuff. When I was about two years old, I had an Elvis Presley VHS tape that I watched religiously until it completely wore out, and I grew up on bands like Motley Crue and Poison and stuff like that. For me, it was like around that age that it just made sense to do that.
FPMN: What was it like opening up for Black Veil Brides a couple of weeks ago?
Bret: It was fantastic! Me and Andy have been friends for quite a few years. They were around on the East Coast, and he wanted us to play some shows. He likes the band and everything. We thought it was cool. I hadn't seen him in a while. It was good to see those dudes and everything. They were really cool to us and everything. It went great. The crowds were insane! They have a really insanely awesome fan base, and everything went well with us. The crowds loved us, and it was too cool.
FPMN: When can we expect new music from you guys?
Bret: We're actually in the middle of writing a full length. We've been writing and demoing our asses off. We've been really excited about all this new material we've been working on. The full length is gonna be really, really rad. I think with the EP, we were still kinda finding what we wanted to do. I'm really proud of what the EP has done and what it sounds like. It's probably my favorite piece of music that's been put out in quite a few years. I think we finally got a hold on what our sound is. It's gonna be really cool for everybody to see where this band is going, and we're really taking the bull by the horns this time.
FPMN: What mark do you hope to leave on the music industry?
Bret: We hope to leave a huge mark. We'd like to be remembered for a band that's just a rock n' roll band and a really damn good one. Sort of the way that a band like Guns N' Roses is, I guess.
FPMN: What is something that you would like my readers to know about your music?
Bret: First of all, it's fantastic so you should go listen to it. So, there's that. (Laughs) Not to be narcissistic at all! Obviously, we have a look, and everybody thinks "theatrics". People go "Oh, you're a theatrical rock band". I don't think so. A band like My Chemical Romance, you mentioned Black Veil Brides, they're very theatrical, and that's cool. We like what they do, but we're just a rock n' roll band. Our songs, we write about real life, everything, our experiences and all that. I think we look the way we look because of the bands we're influenced by. I think it was bands like I mentioned like Guns N' Roses and Skid Row that we grew up on as kids. It just makes sense in our heads. We're not trying to put on any kind of theater or anything like that. I just wanna be known for being a really good rock n' roll band. That's basically our aim.
FPMN: One thing I've noticed about the band is that you're really close with your fans. Would you like to say anything to them?
Bret: I definitely look at them like a big family. As for the band, we don't even like calling them fans. It just feels uncomfortable to us. They care so much about us, and we care so much about them that it doesn't even feel like a fan relationship. The fans write me on Facebook and Twitter, and I always make sure I get back to them. I just want to say to them thanks for all the support and they should get stoked for our videos and the record we're writing. I'm really, really excited about it, and I know that they're gonna love it also. I can't wait for them to see what's coming up.
Random Questions:
FPMN: If you could collaborate with one band or artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Bret: I always have trouble with these questions because there are so many people that I would just love to work with. I'd have to say- I'm actually looking around at the posters on my walls right now to answer this question. It would be awesome! (Laughs) I'd love to write with Slash because he's such a badass riff writer. I love everything the dude has done from GnR to Velvet Revolver. I think that would be fantastic.
FPMN: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bret: Oh, I have so many. I'm your typical asshole lead singer. (Laughs) My biggest pet peeve though is probably wind. I hate being outside in the wind. It drives me insane. I don't know. It sounds dumb, but it just fucks your hair up, and it's annoying! I don't know, it drives me crazy. I also hate when you're texting someone and they're online on their Facebook or Twitter and they're tweeting and you're like "Wow, what a dick. I can text you, and you can tweet but not text me back." That's a big pet peeve of mine as well. Yeah, so wind and tweeting but not texting me back pisses me off so nobody do that to me.
"Burning Bridges"
Be sure to connect with The Relapse Symphony on Facebook and Twitter, and buy their EP here! What do you think of their music? Comment below!
~Paige
