Bangalore Choir: Back On Target!

We wrote about Bangalore Choir way back in the early years of Highwire Daze magazine.  Their debut album On Target was the perfect collection of catchy rock and metal that would have made them legends in the Los Angeles music scene and beyond.  The band featured an amazing front man named David Reece, who was once the lead vocalist for Accept (on Eat The Heat).  Bangalore Choir’s songs had hit potential written all over them and should have been played ll over rock radio.

Unfortunately, On Target was released in 1992, at the dawn of the mighty grunge movement – during a time where metal acts would soon be swept on the back burner in favor of more popular musical faire such as Nirvana, Mudhoney, and the like.

Reece would return in 2007 with various new bands and an idea to release the next big metal edition to the Bangalore Choir saga.  And in 2010, they are back on target and ready to roll with a brand spankin’ new album entitled Cadence.  It is an honor to now present our interview with Bangalore Choir founder David Reece…

It’s been nearly 18 years since the first and only Bangalore Choir CD. What made you decide to return to the band after all this time?
First of all thank you for the chance to speak with you again!!! For a long time I’ve wanted to do another Bangalore Choir album because truthfully we were never given the chance to really tap into what we were all about. Also when I returned to music in 2007 I went to Sweden to record the ‘Gypsy Rose‘ record with Martin Kronlund and while there, we played the Sweden Rock Festival, before the gig people were holding the first record “On Target” for autographs, asking when we might do another record? Of course I was elated because when we were dropped we were told it was over and no one cared.

What will the new Bangalore Choir CD be called and how do the songs compare to the first one?
The new title is “Cadence” and of course I knew that the fans of the first would expect a comparable return, so with that in mind, we set out to not recreate but stay true to the old sound. Hopefully we have done that and also grown musically.

Where did you get the ideas for some of the lyrics on the new one. Please cite two songs and what inspired you to write those particular lyrics.
One track which I co-wrote with Tommy Denander is called ‘Livin your dreams (everyday)‘, it’s about standing your ground and not letting anything or anyone sway your intentions. Another is called ‘Martyr‘ which I co-wrote the lyrics with a guy named Kyle Roberts is about pleading with your lover for forgiveness after you’ve been wrong and trying to recapture what you had before.

What additional touches were added to the re-release of On Target?
Martin Kronlund who I’ve worked with now for say 3 years remastered the record because it never had that punch it so deserved!!! It finally has everything it needed – also there’s a different cover and a history of the group inside.

Where did the name Bangalore Choir come from?
My brother Bobby is a marine and when I was looking for a name he said “Why not call it Bangalore?” I asked what a Bangalore was and he told me it’s a military style torpedo so being that we use big harmonies I added Choir to it meaning explosive vocals.

I think I saw you guys play once in a little club in Glendale when Kathy Pellizzi was your publicist. What did you think of your live show back in the day and will there be any live shows with the new band?
Wow!!! a blast from the past eh? Our live shows where real – we did the harmonies live and we always focused on rehearsals to get it right! We will begin touring here in Europe in October starting in Switzerland and ending up in England at ‘Firefest’. I am currently speaking with Udo Dirkschneider’s promoter in Russia and working on dates there for November as well.

What other thoughts do you have on the Los Angeles music scene back when Bangalore Choir was active, and about the record business in general.
To be honest when we were touring everything seemed normal! We had great radio exposure and did a ton of gigs, but like overnite we were dropped and told to go home. In those days all the A&R people were pointing the finger at everyone else and blaming all the bands for the failures and changes, in fact it was them who signing every band that sounded the same. Bangalore Choir weren’t part of the Hollywood scene and we prided ourselves in that. The industry now only has it’s self to blame really! When artists complained about Napster and such they were ignored and look where it’s gone?

Who is in the current lineup of Bangalore Choir and what other bands have they been involved with?
To do a new record I needed as many original members as I could, so I reached out to Curt Mitchell and he agreed as long as Danny Greenberg was in, which Danny agreed too. Also I’m working with Andy Susemihl on this record again he co-wrote the majority of the songs with me and is producing and mixing this record, Andy is a brilliant songwriter, guitarist and producer who also co-wrote and produced my solo record ‘Universal Language‘ Also Martin Kronlund will master this one too and Martin does a solo as well as my friend Chris Voysey who also has done the artwork on the re-release and is doing the new artwork for ‘Cadence’! A friend named Christian Tolle from the group Cooper Inc. also contributes some guitars as well.

What was the experience like briefly replacing UDO as the singer in Accept and what did you think of the album Eat The Heat?
For me it was pretty scary in the beginning? I mean coming to Europe after being in club bands I thought I knew it all but I was wrong!!! LOL! They taught me how hard it really is honing your craft and the work it takes to succeed. The record I’m proud of and actually is still selling to this day! So overall a good learning experience?

How did you feel when UDO returned and do you still keep in touch with any of the members?
I just saw Udo on the 10th of April – he came to see me play and I had his sons band .damaged open for us. Udo and I are good friends and as far as the other guys? Stefan Schwarzmann played drums on my solo record ‘Universal Language‘ and we speak once in awhile but I haven’t spoken to the rest of the band in years.

Have you ever heard the UDO cover of X-T-C from Eat The Heat, and if so, what did you think of it?
Sorry never heard it? but I’m sure my good friend UDO slayed it!!!

What was the experience like auditioning for Judas Priest when Rob Halford left the band?
I never actually auditioned in person. I was contacted by their management and we faxed back and forth for awhile but I became frustrated and sent K.K a letter saying “Hey if you wanna rehearse lets just do it” well I guess he didn’t appreciate me writing him directly so they declined – probably a good thing as we all know that Halford is Priest!!!

Are you still involved with Gypsy Rose and Reece? If so, what are is status of both those bands? Will either band be playing live in LA or touring any time soon?
I’m working with Martin Kronlund – still we co-wrote together on the last ‘Salute‘ record and we are gearing up to write another Salute record next month. As far as ‘Gypsy Rose‘? we spoke last night about it so who knows? And I’m about half done writing a new solo record which I hope to release early 2011 also I will be touring with an American group called ‘Tango Down‘ in the summer starting at the ‘South Dakota Rockfest’ in July thru August and I’ll sing on their new record as well so I’m a busy dog of late!!

What advice would you give a young band searching out a label deal for the very first time?
READ THE CONTRACT! If your not satisfied with some of the deal change it! If they send you a contract they want to sign you and if they say “Well we wont change a thing!” they aren’t ever going to do anything for the group anyway only throw out a few thousands units get their re-coup and profit and that’s it! For me after my hiatus from music, I gained the strength to say No and I use it where it’s needed and that feels good!!!

Do you have any messages for longtime David Reece/Bangalore Choir fans?
Only that I’m honored by all the fans who actually take time to speak with me, buy my music and are still there for me, without them I’m nothing.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions! And by the way, thank you for including Highwire Daze in the original “thank you notes” of the Bangalore Choir CD. You may not remember, but this will be the second time the band has been written about in Highwire Daze…
The pleasure is all mine Ken and thanks to you all for giving me the opportunity to share my story again with ‘Highwire Daze’!!!!!
Yours in voice David

(Interview by Kenneth Morton)

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