A Dirty Dozen with COLTEN BELL of TESTAROSSA – September 2019

According to the band bio: “Charlotte, NC Hard Rock Band TESTAROSSA has released the official music video for their newest single, “Rock-N-Roll.” “Rock-N-Roll” is available to download / stream via The Label Group / INgrooves. Testarossa is a hard rock party band. We bring five guitars to the show and only play two, just because it looks cool. Our stage show will get the place shaking like like a bad ball joint on your ’89 Camaro. We write simple, catchy songs that will have you singing along. With loud, flamboyant guitars, thundering drums, thumping bass, and bourbon and pipe tobacco tinged vocals– if our music doesn’t make you wanna have a good time, you probably weren’t gonna have one anyway. So come on out and see us for a visual and audio induced euphoria that will leave you craving more.” We get lead singer Colten to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release, “Rock-n-Roll” is exactly what you’d expect. It’s rock-n-roll.  I get so bummed out when I see a song with a title like “Rock-n-Roll” and the song fails to live up to its name. Make no bones about it, it is rock-n-roll through and through. The rhythm section is fat and tight, the guitars are emphasized, and the vocals are aggressive. We take great pride in our ability to write catchy songs and play our instruments well. It’s a four minute and nine second adventure into an abandoned sonic territory— that nobody is sure why we ever left it in the first place. The sound is familiar without being a parody. It’s a party. There is one hidden nugget that once you hear, you can’t un-hear it. Can’t really say, but it is there.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

KISS. I saw a PPV of KISS Symphony and that was it. I wanted to do what Tommy Thayer was doing. After that fateful viewing, my life has been consumed by an uncontrollable urge to perform. My focus has since shifted from lead guitar to frontman, but the concept is the same, give the people their money’s worth.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I’m guided by a simple principle. A song is good if you can party, fight, or make love to. That being said, my taste in music is very diverse. I listen to music because I want to feel a certain way. If I feel nothing, I can not get into it. I love everything from Taylor Dayne, to Aerosmith, Black Oak Arkansas, Mötley Crüe, and David Allan Coe. I tend to prefer music that is catchy. There is nothing wrong with a good pop song.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Jim Dandy Magrum, David Lee Roth, Aerosmith, David Allan Coe, and 80’s Pop Music.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Jani Lane. Rest his soul, he was pound for pound, the most underrated songwriter and frontman of the 80’s rock scene. It’s a shame people only know him for “Cherry Pie.” The dude was a stellar singer, especially live and he wrote some of the prettiest power ballads ever written. “I Saw Red,” “Let It Rain,” “Heaven,” and “Sad Theresa” are prime examples of how a power ballad is meant to sound. There’s a video on youtube of him performing some unrecorded songs and ideas on an acoustic guitar, by himself before a show. It’s easy to see the man just oozed talent.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Rock-n-Roll in the same vane as Aerosmith, AC/DC, and Mötley Crüe. Music you can party to. I haven’t had any cringe worthy reviews, or haven’t seen them at least. Call it what ever you want, think what you will, we don’t care. We are just here for the good vibes and the free drinks.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Spending tens of thousands of dollars on gear to make literally hundreds of dollars. We make hundreds of dollars.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Arby’s usually does the cooking, who’s got time for that? Jordan likes beer. Blake’s most likely going to pull out a guitar. We are pretty simple people. Nothing crazy going on most of the time…

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

The only time I’ve been star struck was with Rikki Rachtman. I was beyond shocked to see him in a club we were opening for Jackyl at. I actually yelled his name before I could think. I definitely think he was a bit weirded out a bit. He was definitely surprised someone remembered when MTV used to play music.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Stay at home mom.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I haven’t had a chance to royally screw things up yet. I’m still hoping that moment comes. If I’m important enough to make a really bad decision, I must be doing something right, right?

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to yoy?Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood. It is the pinnacle of music production. No body has been able to top the sounds contained on that album since. It’s sonically beautiful and so enjoyable to listen to.

TESTAROSSA LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

Category: Interviews