Interviews: FUELED BY FIRE

We have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal band FUELED BY FIRE from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

We wish there could be a cool story about the origin of our band name, but its pretty ordinary. Around the time the band first formed, the first bass player to jam with the band was a friend named Adrian Gallego, when it came time to naming the band he came up with "Fueled by Fire" because he thought it sounded cool. The rest of the members said "ok" and that was it, we've been fueled by fire ever since.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We all shared a passion for classic heavy metal. bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio were our first main influences but as we grew into ourselves as musicians, we started to embrace the influences of heavier and more aggressive bands like slayer and exodus. To us, thrash metal incorporates all the genres of music that we love, especially live. With the punk/crossover attitude and speed and power of metal, there is nothing like a Thrash show!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The core of the band has known each other way before the band was created. Our drummer Carlos Gutierrez and bass player Anthony Vasquez have known each other since they were kids, Vocalist/Guitarist Rick Rangel met when we were all pre-teenagers. We all bonded over our hobbies of extreme sports skateboard and BMX biking we all discovered our favorite music through those outlets and eventually jamming together in the band. Lead Guitarist Jonathan Rubio, has been in the band for over a year now, we've known him since he was a teen, but we are a few years older than he is.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Rick Rangel: Iron Maiden

Carlos Gutierrez: Iron Maiden

Anthony Vasquez: Iron Maiden

Jonathan Rubio: Iron Maiden

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Different things inspire us. Lyrically we are inspired by all that is dark and extreme in this world. Musically, the motivation comes from different places for each of us. Different musical influences motivate us to create the heaviest, fastest, high-energy music possible.

6. Where was your last gig?

We played at the World Famous Whisky a go-go in Hollywood on August 20th, 2021. It was great to be back on stage after such a long time due to the pandemic. It was a sold-out show with moshpit maniacs hungry for live music. The show had a great vibe and everyone enjoyed a night of loud music, headbanging, and circle pits!

7. Where would you like to act?

Any stage, anywhere. Large festival shows are definitely on the list, Waken open-air, Download festival, Resurrection fest.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We've featured with some all-time favorite bands, I don't think we can top bands like Slayer and Iron Maiden so we're good. 

9. Whom not?

Any artist that has a Dj in the band haha

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Not really, I can't really call it to stage fright, I think we get anxious to get up there and just plug in and play. I think stage fright is normal for beginners, but it's something that I think happens when over-thinking the performance too much. keep it simple and stay loose have fun, fuck it.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Iron Maiden has influenced us in many ways since day one. From the music, visual art to the consistency of great albums and tours/stage shows year after year and doing it all, their way! Though there are other bands that inspire us as well, like Black Sabbath, Dio, king Diamond, Slayer, Vio-lence, Cannibal Corpse, to name a few.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

I can't really think of anything strange that has been asked, but I definitely say the weirdest gift I have ever received came from a fan. After a gig in France, a fan came up to our van and with a slight whisper and said "hey, great show.. I would like you to have this" and he handed me a prop human bone. A femur to be exact haha. It was really weird and random, and it looked extremely real like it could actually be a real human bone, so it was very weird haha

13. What do you think of your fans?

We're always thankful for their support and dedication to the music. We always end up making friendships with fans, its cool being around like-minded people, we like a lot of the same things, especially related to music.

14. What do you think of our site?

It's a great site for artists, I think it's great that there are websites that dedicate everything on it to music and art.

15. Something to add?

We have new music coming in fall of 2021, we feel like this is the best stuff the band has ever written and I hope everyone checks it out. Thanks!