Interviews: Tempest Saint

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Metal band Tempest Saint, from England. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE. 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

Joe came up with the Name during a session at the Gym. He heard the word Tempest on a podcast, and though the association with storms was a good start for a name for a Trad-Metal band. He then searched for a biblical word to match it up with, in keeping with the vibe of the bands from the 70s and 80s, which ended up being Saint. Voila, Tempest Saint.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We all grew up with Old school metal. As a teen, Luke enjoyed a lot of Maiden and loves playing fast and hard on the bass, and enjoys speed metal the most. James has always been a fan of old school metal and blues, Joe grew up with AC/DC and Queen, before graduating to Priest and so on, and Lee became a drummer, in no small part thanks to Stryper, so we do it because it's the one genre we care about most. We play to each other's strengths, and it just works out best that way.

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

James and Luke played in another band together directly before Tempest Saint, with original Drummer, Matteo. The end of the Project left the three looking for a singer, which led James to Joe, who he'd heard about on the local grapevine, being a singer in a band from James' area. Lee was known to James and Joe through his band, Skarlet Envy, and was recruited when Matteo left. Otherwise, we didn't know each other beforehand.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Luke: Joy Division or deftones.

Lee: Stryper, or Whitesnake.

Joe: Judas Priest.

James: Thin Lizzy

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Besides the bands we listen to, we inspire each other. The other bands in our Scene are absolutely thriving at the moment, too, which pushes us to work harder to keep up with them all.

6. Where was your last gig?

The Bullingdon pub in Oxford, with Skullmaiden and Bare Knuckle Asylum.

7. Where would you like to play?

Honestly, anywhere and everywhere, we're in it for the love of the game. In terms of a dream venue? KK's Steel Mill is up there, as well as any of the biggest Metal Festivals, so we can bring our music to as many like-minded people at once as we can, with the proper scale and showmanship our genre is famous for.

8. Who would you like to support?

Names like Saxon, Priest, Accept, Riot City, Dream Evil, Grave Digger, and Living Colour come up a lot; they are the dream, but we're happy to play any set that works. If the lineup is great and the crowd is roaring, that's enough for us.

9. Who not?

The only band we can think of is one we don't remember the name of, but it was a Jamiroquai cover band. They were very nice guys and interesting to talk to and learn about, but it was a bad show. The fans didn't get along with each other at all.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Luke's answer to this is the best one from us: "We all get anxious, but the best thing to remember is, people are there because they want to see you. When we do get nervous, we just bite the bullet and play. After the first song, I find the nerves fade quickly. It's just getting past that initial wave of anxiety and grabbing the bull by its horns. Just do it, hahaha!"

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For our sound as a whole, there are a lot. The core ones are Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, and Deftones, but some of the less obvious ones are Boney M (for Luke's basslines) and Living Colour (For Joe's Vocals).

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

Oral Sex, no joke.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love them. Most are very respectable and great to meet after shows. We tend to have a more mature crowd, even among the younger ones, and they tend to have an understanding of social boundaries and understand that we are there to put on a show and do a job. I think we have a very healthy and respectable relationship with them, and without them, we wouldn't be where we are now. We have a core few who come to almost every gig, and they've become an essential part of our story as a band, and we love them for it.

14. What do you think of our site?

Love it.

15. Something to add?

We are very excited to move forward, as we have a ton of music coming up. We want everything we do to be bigger and better as we go. We are also working on finishing touches for our music videos and England tour for Hyperbolized. We can't wait for everyone reading this to join us on our journey.