Formed by members of Evanescence, Alice Cooper and Granny 4 Barrel, new band, Killington Pit, are taking to the heavier music scene with their classic rock covers and soon-to-be-released original music. Fuelled by their love for old-school rock, and mutual respect for music, the quartet prepare to show the world what they’ve been working on. Terry LeRoi (vocals) and Chuck Garric (bass) talk through everything from their cover work to their plans of live shows, and what else is to come from Killington Pit.
S] You both have experience working in other bands. What is it like for you to now be in Killington Pit?
Chuck Garric] It’s just another adventure. Being a musician grants you that option in life. You don’t just play one venue or with one band all of the time. It’s nice to be surrounded by other musicians and other projects that are happening. It’s good for your ability. It’s good for your mind. Life is about opportunity, and that’s one of the things music does give us. For us, it’s about some guys getting together in the same room and seeing what type of music and creation we come up with.
Terry Leroi] There’s always irons in the fire, with me personally, as a musician. It really does expand your horizons, and it does make you better. It’s art, it’s creative, and I love to be involved in multiple things. I’m a multitasker so I’m happy when I’m busy.
S] You chose to put out covers of Accept, Rainbow, and Judas Priest. Why was it that you chose those three bands specifically?
Terry] They’re legacy bands for me. They’re just legacy bands I grew up with. They’re part of the reason that I do what I do, and I always aspire to learn from the singers from those bands. My vocal style is kind of old school, classic rock, but I experiment around. We all have that in common. We have discussed a number of old school classic rock bands. That’s kind of how that started, and everybody pitched in and said, “Hey, what about this one?” For three and a half years.. initially, this band started because of the pandemic, but we started digging in and we just kept recording, so we’re sitting on a little cache of some really cool cover tunes. That morphed into original music so it’s kind of interspersed. But we started with that, just having fun, we became friends, and here we are now.
S] Your music videos are quite theatrical. Is that something that you guys are interested in?
Chuck] I think the theatrics are part of the visual stimulation. That’s just what you’ve got to do right? 100% of boring videos are boring videos. Nowadays, it’s even more important to keep the attention span of most people, so creating something that’s visually and sonically killer, I would think that was the goal. For me, coming from the Alice Cooper background, Beasto Blanco, Ronnie James Dio, it was never just show up and see what happens, you know, it’s time to get to work. The stage was our opportunity, or a sound studio was our opportunity to showcase what we do.
S] Will we see more theatrics with further releases?
Terry] Oh, absolutely! I’m cut from the same cloth as Chuck. You’re looking at the bass player for Alice Cooper, I mean, theatrical is the first word that comes to mind. I’ve always loved horror, and shock rock bands – Alice Cooper, and anything like that. Granny 4 Barrel was very much like that, and I feel like I always want to give the audience something to look at. I feel like I want to have a visual spectacle as well as sonic. You know, I just feel like that’s what people would love to see. I know that’s what I would love to see. And in the past, some of the great bands that I’ve gone to see have had that theatrical element, and it’s like you’re transferred to another space and time for that moment when you’re watching the band. You’re transported to another world.
S] Will we hear more of the classic covers?
Terry] Oh, yeah! We’ve got a few of them, don’t we Chuck?
Chuck] Go big or go home!
S] How do you feel about the original music coming out?
Terry] I feel great. I’m really, really excited to show people what we’ve been working on. I think we’ve got some great songs, about some great topics. We’ve crafted some really cool art.
Chuck] It’s an interesting procedure when you’re a songwriter and you’re writing music, especially original music. I think you go into it with all of the big intentions and the right intentions, and to create something that you hope people will vibrate with, but more importantly, is something that you feel good about. Terry has to believe what he’s singing about in order to make you believe, and buy into what’s happening on stage. With the combination of some of the covers that have been chosen and the combination of the originals, I think there was a real purposeful effort made to have them all coming from the same village. It’s gonna be a very cohesive collection of songs.
S] You’ll also be playing your first live shows as Killington Pit later this year. How are you feeling about that?
Terry] We’re experienced musicians, we’ve played for years and years in different bands, but there’s always a little bit of nervous energy. Even from shooting the videos, we’re still on stage together, and it just feels good. I just know it’s gonna be incredible. These guys are world-class players and I’m honoured to be in the same room as them, so it’s totally gonna kick ass. I can tell you that with 100% confidence.
Chuck] I think there’s always an element of excitement, everyday when you can put your guitar on around your neck, be in a room with people you respect and admire, and to still be doing that… it’s a feeling that you try to just be humble and grateful and work hard. One of those things where you don’t take things for granted. For me, I look at every opportunity as a learning experience, especially as a bass player. It’s always fun, it’s always challenging, and it’s one of those things when you’re never ‘done’. I love the idea of getting in there and playing some new material.
S] What are you most excited for in the Killington Pit journey?
Terry] So every band that I’ve ever been in, there’s just so much excitement and good energy. It’s just really positive. I’m just excited to show people what we have. I’m excited for people to hear the themes that we sing about and the style. It’s incredible. Like Chuck said earlier, first you want to please yourself and be honest with your art, and then after that, we show everybody.
Chuck] It’s a chance to take control of what you’ve been working on your whole entire life. There’s a level of anticipation that I get from knowing something is upcoming. It’s really nice to be surrounded by musicians that you respect, and that you love. I’m really looking forward to getting in a room and jamming with these guys.
S] Is there a song in particular that you want the world to hear?
Terry] We’ve got one right now that’s headed for mix, it’s being mixed as we speak, and it’s got an existential theme to it. I’m very excited because I think that everybody can relate to the meaning of the song. Without exposing too much, it’s basically kind of a narrative on the paradox, or the contradiction of what it means to be alive and also know that you’re not going to be alive, but then the question is: do you keep going on, and maybe you never really die? I won’t say anymore than that but I think it’s a great song, it’s a question I believe every human being has asked themselves at some point.
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