A Dirty Dozen with KK FOSSOR from THEM – November 2022

According to a recent press release: “Wanna take a trip to Fear City? Fear City, by international power metal band, Them, is a fantastical concept album that transports its listeners to a fictional world set in 1981 New York City which bore this nickname at the time. Following a trilogy set in the 19th century on their first three albums, Fear City takes its main protagonist KK Fossor on a 120-year time shift, to hunt down descendents of the Witchhunter through 1980’s New York. This exciting mélange of horror and fantasy story is filled with dynamic songs, featuring a hybrid of raw metal riffs, complex and frequently fast-paced grooves alongside surprisingly catchy chorus parts.” We get frontman KK to discuss new music, influences, and 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Fear City is THEM’s 4th concept album covering a single conceptual story across many albums. Fear City takes place in 1981 which is over 100 years into the future from the events that ended the 3rd album Return to Hemmersmoor.  Musically, some of THEM’s most progressive and heaviest music has been created to date and included on Fear City.  A 9-minute epic titled “The Crossing of Hell Gate Bridge” is over flowing with neo-classical greatness.  We hope you dig it!  As for hidden nuggets of course there are…  The Intro “Excito” contains clips from the same year.  There is a TV commercial I did as a child.  Can you guess which one it is?  Also, the ending of Fear City leaves the listener on a cliff hanger finding out that Minister Thompson is really NY’s underground Crime Kingpin!  Will KK live to fight another day?? Stay tuned…

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

I played the trumpet for 13 years of my life. I love music. I love all types of music.  I am most passionate about Heavy Metal.  I love performing, writing and recording in that genre. Playing the trumpet helped sculp me and prepare me to become a vocalist in a heavy metal band.  Music is fuel for my soul!  I wanted to be a musician as I day dreamed as a kid while painting heavy metal album covers on denim jackets for my school mates in High School.  The metal guys got the chicks I thought and since I liked chicks, I was down to be in a band! lol

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

Iron Maiden all the way.  I fell in love with heavy metal and became obsessed after listening to Piece of Mind.  I became a Maiden fan instantly and went out to buy any new heavy metal vinyl released!

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

Andy Sneap. My buddy Monte hooked me up with Andy to possibly produce the first THEM album.  I only had a few clips and Andy being so busy only worked with ‘A’ listers in the scene so he turned me down.  It would be nice to actually be able to sit down with him to work out a single song one day.  I have tons of ideas!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I love flipping collectibles on whatnot along with my brother Sean Peck from Cage! I sell comics, movies, games and anything related to pop culture.  I am kkflips on whatnot and ebay.  I also love collecting Retro Arcade Games and walking/hiking with my 180lb Great Dane Niyah.  I had sampled Niyah’s growls, barks and howls and edited/included them on a song called “Hellhounds” which was included on the 3rd THEM Album titled Return To Hemmersmoor.

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?

As some people have stated… King Diamond Meets Blind Guardian meets Testament. As of recently, some listeners call us a Ghost ripoff.  Unfortunately, those people must have ear wax build up in both of their ears because we sound NOTHING like the band Ghost! 😊

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

I am the one who loves to cook.  Richie likes to prepare the drinks (and drink) and MJ would crack out the guitar but Markus Ullrich and Alex will be the drinkers. Alex doesn’t drink any alcohol from green colored bottles so more alcohol for us!!

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Udo Dirkschneider… My old band (Coldsteel) performed with UDO’s solo band and I waited like a puppy for him to sign 3 Accept albums.  As Udo and the band came off the stage, I asked him for an autograph.  He looked at me and said “NO! WE GO TO BUS” and walked out with me holding a marker in my hand.  Needless to say that was the last time I ever asked for an autograph and probably never will ask again!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Creativity! I love to create, layer and sculps songs.  I always have.  I have my dream 9 to 5 job right now to pay my bills working with computer networks in healthcare.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I always want an interviewer to ask me if I use harmonizers since the couch commanders claim I do but in reality, I don’t. Everything recorded is all me unless otherwise noted.  We do have Paul Sabu singing backups on albums 2 through 4 but I too backups.  I never tire of answering any question.  I embrace all questions!

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?

No because everything that has happened has shaped me to become the person I am.  Each misstep has made me smarter and wiser.

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 you?

Queen’s Night At The Opera.  That record was way ahead of it’s time.  Seeing how “Bohemian Rhapsody” came together must have been an amazing experience for the band to record.

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Category: Interviews