Formed in 2001 from the ashes of metal band Dominus. VolBeat comes to America with a vicious and heavy new sound. meshing together Heavy metal and Rockabilly then kicking out jams from Hank Williams and Dusty Springfield. This Danish quartet will be melting faces while opening for Metallica with Machinehead, December 12th in San Jose, CA. Lead singer Michael Poulsen, was kind enough to sit down with Examiner.com to answer a few questions about touring with Metallica and life on the road.
Who are your biggest influences?
It's definitely a lot of bands that I grew up listening to. my father would play Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, those types of people. But my biggest influences would have to be Elvis Presley, Metallica, Social Distortion, Black Sabbath, Manic Street Preachers, mostly bands like that.
What made you pick "I'm so Lonesome I could Cry" to cover on the album?
Actually, the first time i heard that song, it was sung by Elvis Presley, I have always said "Don't touch the King's word." I was really afraid of covering the songs that Elvis did, but you know its not an Elvis song. Its a Hank Williams song, i heard Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do it as well. I really loved the song and it is really beautiful. At the time I was listening to it, I said "I really want to do this song too, just my own way." So i kept all of the verses and just sped it up.
Is it a dream come true, touring with Metallica?
Yeah of course, its really cool to be on tour with them. I have been influenced by Metallica even before I was in my first band. I remember being in my room as a kid at my parents house looking at Metallica posters on the wall and now i am on the road playing with them. It has been crazy but it is a really great honor.
What do you like best about being on the road?
When you get used to it, there is a certain freedom about it. When you go on tour you get ideas about how the business is and how it works. I always get to listen to new music when I'm on the road, and that's what i like. There is a certain freedom to being on the road, playing different stadiums and country's every day. Meeting new people, seeing their reaction, seeing all of your hard work going somewhere. Its good being at home, of course, when I'm at home i always have things running through my head. I start working on songs, but i always miss the road.
What can we expect from VolBeat with your show on the 12th?
The thing is we only get to play for a half an hour, when we play and tour in Europe we are headlining and we do a full show. There is a build up and everything, but here we have to put it all into a half an hour. We give it everything we have and we want to show people that we are not just a new band. We are definitely here, we have something special to show you. People can expect a great and entertaining show from us for the whole thirty minuets.
I am glad to hear that you are doing better, last week i heard you had some trouble on stage?
Oh yeah, I was real sick a week ago. But you know, I am back and ready and doing good, Thank you.
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