Them originally formed in 2008 by vocalist Troy Norr as a King Diamond tribute band, performing for three and a half years with over 20 shows including performances with Mike Wead and Hal Patino from King Diamond. After returning from several other projects, Troy started to create a concept idea in 2014 and molded a story, band, album and show around it.
How did you first get in to music?
TN: I was forced to select an instrument to play in second grade. I chose the Trumpet.
Who turned you onto rock/metal?
TN: My cousin Christopher Norr. He is an accredited Cinematographer for movies like Sinister and TV Shows such as Gotham.
How did you become a vocalist and are you proficient in any other instruments?
TN: As I mentioned before I played the Trumpet and I played that instrument for 13 years. My dream as a young teen was to be a singer for a world famous heavy metal band. I became a vocalist after some of my friends in our concert band (where I played trumpet) wanted to form a heavy metal cover band.
What was the local scene in New York like in the beginning, was there a particular band you aspired to be like, favorite local bands back then, favorite local bands now?
TN: The local scene flourished. 200 plus kids would attend local shows. There was one local band I wanted to be like. That band was Coldsteel. I was offered to join Coldsteel when I was 18. Coldsteel went on to record 2 demos and a Debut album before disbanding in 1993. I resurrected Coldsteel back in 2012 to record a new EP titled “America Idle”.
Has there been times when drugs and alcohol were beneficial to the band?
TN: Never any drugs for any members. Beer is always good though!
How would you best describe your sound?
TN: As someone once penned us…a combination of King Diamond meets Slayer meets Megadeth
Is doing pre-sales the same thing as pay to play?
TN: No, not in my opinion.
What was the first music you bought and what have you bought more than once?
TN: The first music would be Iron Maiden. I purchased Piece of Mind on vinyl and went out and purchased their other albums almost immediately after.
DIY forever or signing with a label at first opportunity?
TN: To date, I have been involved with smaller labels. If you want to remain underground, DIY is the way to go!
Whats the biggest show you have played so far and do you still get nervous before a gig?
TN: Some shows on the Coldsteel / Helloween tour back in 2013. Headbanger’s Open Air Festival with Coldsteel. I haven’t been nervous on stage for many years now. With THEM, Some shows we performed with Helloween on tour in 2016. Bigger festivals for THEM are coming in 2018.
Is commercial rock radio dead?
TN: I believe it is.
Favorite songs on the new as yet to be finished album and why?
TN: A song called “Witchfinder” because it catchy and groovy as hell.
Out of all your songs which one touches you the most when you perform it?
TN: Forever Burns. It touches me because the voice of my daughter is sampled. She recorded all voices for the characters Miranda and Mary on the album “Sweet Hollow”
Are there any political or social issues hidden in Them songs?
TN: No. The songs on THEM’s debut album “Sweet Hollow” is a full conceptual story.
What was the process of putting the songs in order.
TN: Music was always first. We developed a mood chart which was based on BPM’s (Beats per minute). As a song was completed myself and the guitarist who wrote it would decide which position it would take on the album.
What endorsements do you have and what endorsements do you still want?
TN: At the moment I have no endorsements. I would not mind having an endorsement from Shure but if not, no biggie.
Bands you would love to tour with and musician or artist you would like to meet and interrogate.
TN: I would love if THEM could tour with King Diamond, Denner/Shermann, Attic. Maybe even Ghost. It would be fun to tour with any of them but of course I would be partial to touring with King Diamond. I would love to sit with King. Just him and I and have a discussion for hours.
Song to be played at your funeral and 3 albums to take to your grave?
TN: The song “Crackdown” from Coldsteel. It was the first song that made a dent in the underground for Coldsteel. The 3 albums to bury me with would be “Sweet Hollow”, “Manor of the Se7en Gables” and “Return to Hemmersmoor”. The 3 albums complete the entire saga of THEM’s main Character KK Fossor.
Final thoughts, shout outs, dirty jokes?
TN: I am fortunate to remain healthy enough to create, record and perform live. I have been told by miserable people forced into my life that I should grow up and stop chasing my dream. No, I am not chasing my dream. I am living it! I will leave with the beginning of this dirty nursery rhyme from one of my favorite comedians from the early 90’s, Andrew Dice Clay and it goes like this: Hickory Dickory Dock…
Live the dream King Troymond!
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