Blind Fury Interview

Blind Fury are from Boise, Idaho and have played on tour dates with acts such as Judas Priest, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Dokken and L.A. Guns. I recently got to interview guitarist/vocalist Eric Cliff to find out more about what the band is currently working on.

MM-So tell us a little about how and when your band formed?
EC-We formed in Dec 24th 1994. My brother Dwight and I were playing in a band in L.A. in the 80's and early 90's called Prototype. We were in 94 earthquake in Northridge. It destroyed my house and about crushed me inside. So at the point I had decided enough of L.A. for a while and decided to come back home to Idaho. We had been playing the biggest clubs in L.A. , Roxy, Whiskey A GO GO, Troubadour, etc. We had write ups in Hollywood Gazette Magazine, and Variety Magazine, Bam, Sreamer Magazines.Grunge music was starting to get big at that time so the metal scene was dying. So I came back to Idaho to re-group and started Blind Fury. It took a while to find the right musicians in Idaho because there just are not a lot to choose from. But we finally came up with the right combination of players.

MM-How would you describe your band’s sound?
EC-We are a melodic heavy metal band with duel guitars and duel lead vocals. With touches of the 80's,90's and up to date with today's sounds. Ripping lead guitars and powerful vocals and vocal harmonies.

MM-How is it going with trying to land a record deal?
EC-We have 2 cd's out from 1997 and 1998 and have recieved air play from Germany, Brazil, USA and many others and have had a great response from the audience's. One of our songs from our 2nd cd Master of Allusion went to 89th in the world ratings on MP3.COM and we had John Weakland from Columbia Records show interest in the band. Then the band had a misfortune of the bass player went to prison. So we had to find a new bass player and re-group again. We lost some momentum from that and had to start again. Then I was diagnosed with a potentially deadly disease (coccidiomycosis) and was very sick and wasnt sure if I was going to make it or not. Slowly I got better from the medication and we got back on track. We just recorded our new CD Do or Die with a top producer from L.A. Jerry Deaton. Jerry has worked in the Industry for many years and is in Music, Movies, TV Commercials and has worked with the best in the business. So we are just now getting the new cd out to the labels. I have my friend from Billboard Magazine, Bryan Reesman helping me get it to the right people at the labels. So far I have had one response from Alfie Falckenbach the Pres. of Mausoleum Records,Belguim. He said that he went to our myspace site and listened to the tunes on the site and said it was (very promising) and hoped the rest of the cd was as good. And for me to send him the full cd. I just sent it to him and am waiting to hear from him at this time. I have several labels I am waiting to hear from so we are keeping our fingers crossed.We just hope someone gives us a chance. We have put a lot of hard work into this.

MM-If you were to secure a record deal soon do you already have an albums worth of material written or would you have to come up with some more songs?
EC-We have a full cd of new music we are getting ready to record. Some of the songs on our cd Do Or Die are actually old songs. We just wanted to get a product out to have something to shop and for our fans that keep asking us for a new cd. Our new stuff is really our best stuff and we are excited to get it out. We have no problem coming up with new material because everyone in the band rights music.

MM-What is the music scene like in Boise, Idaho?
EC-The scene here is not that great. We have some good clubs and concert arena's to play at but there isn't anyone to really get you to the right people. It's to bad because there is some really great bands here. I am lucky in knowing contacts from my past in L.A. so I have the advantage. It is getting better here all the time and soon to be a great place to come and discover bands. The music world is starting to notice Boise as a hot spot for talent that no one has discovered yet.

MM-What bands have you played with so far?
EC-We have opened for Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Dokken, Skid Row, LA Guns, April Wine, Nazareth and many more. They all ask us why are we not signed. We usually impress them quite a bit. Many of them have come back stage to meet us and talk to us. Judas Priest came back and met us and took pictures with us and Jane Andrews their road manager was trying to help us get a touring budget so we could go on tour with them but because we are not signed to a label she couldnt help us. I personally have jammed with Neil Schon/Journey, Jeff Watson/Night Ranger, Paul Gilber/Mr.Big, Phil Wolf/Wasp and many more.

MM-Have you played much outside of Idaho?
EC-We have toured in Washington,and California. We just dont have the budget to tour. We all have good jobs and for us to leave we would have to have a major deal. My drummer is a Doctor/Surgeon so for him to take off is pretty hard. We will have to secure a Deal.

MM-Did anyone in the band play in any bands before Blind Fury?
EC-Yes we all have played in other bands. My bass player is from Ohio or Iowa, cant remember and had a record deal on an indie label. My drummer has played in several bands. My brother and I played in a band Prototype and Tamerlain in L.A. Prototype was very big in L.A. We won the first DEMO LISTEN competition for KNAC in L.A. in 1991. We had several labels talking to us but the earthquake put an end to it all.

MM-After getting a record deal, what other goals do you have for the near future?
EC-Go on tour and show the world what we have to offer. We put on a great live show. We sign autographs after every show which is very unusual for a band that isnt signed. So we feel we have the right goods. Our music is the kind of music that you have to listen to a couple of times to really break it down and then you start to get hooked on it and see the capabilities of each individual musicain. We have been on stage with the best and held our own and we think if we can get the right exposure we can do some great things. We average 40,000 hits a month on our web site with absolutly no promotion,and have lots of fans around the world. So we just want to tour and show the world what we have to offer.

MM-What are you doing that other bands today are not doing?
EC-I can't say that we are doing a whole lot of different stuff. But we still play mean lead guitar riffs and we are very fluent on our instuments. We have good powerful vocals. We just play good rockin music.

MM-What bands would you love to open for?
EC-Anyone who is a major player in the metal world at this time. So we can get exposure.

MM-What are your songs about and where do you get the ideas for your topics?
Love, Sex, Drugs, Terrorist,God,Life Goals, Evil,Broken Hearts. Good ole life stuff. We get it from our dirty little minds. TV topics etc.

MM-What do you think is the best thing about the music business? What’s the worst thing about it?
EC-Touring seeing the world. Being on stage, the rush you get. Being told that one of your songs changed somones life from one of your fans. Meeting your idols. The worst is the politics involved. Its who you know not how good you are. Having someone else decide if your good enough to make it. That always kills me, what makes someone think they know what is going to be a hit. Know one really knows, it is pretty much up to the public, they are the ones that really decide. Sure there are some people in the biz that have been in it for a long time and do have the knack for realizing what a hit is. But there are definitly some bands and songs that know one thought was going to be big and they turned out to be major players. It sucks to have someone else decide if your going to be the next big thing or not.

MM-Is there anything else you want to say about your band or your music?
EC-Take a chance on us. Listen a couple of times and you will probably get hooked on the music. It sinks into you soul after a while and you will be humming the tunes and they will be stuck in your head. We are pro's and have the right attitude to be successful. We are not on drugs or have alchohol addictions. We are a pro act and will deliver the goods.We are fortunate to have been given a gift and just want to show the world what we do.Thank you to all the fans around the world that have supported us. We owe it all to you. We hope to see you on tour!

http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomblindfury

**Thanks to Eric for doing the interview.