The Salt Lake-based rock band Royal Bliss is performing at ISU on Thursday, November 29. Tickets go on sale November 14.

[LA] You guys have been together now for just over 10 years, right? And used to have a different bass player before Tommy. Tommy joined when?

[TR] Yes we have been together for ten years now. Tommy joined in June 06.

[LA] Can you describe how the band has changed in that time? Personally and musically?

[TR] Well I think we've always been pretty good songwriters. But nowadays we are extremely better songwriters and musicians than in the past. But I also think people are just starting to notice that we are what we are, great songwriters. Whether we play reggae, blues pop, acoustic metal, funk, whatever...... we write the best song we can. As far as the band changing.....new bass player new tunes. And they are awesome new tunes!!!

[LA] You mostly played bars for the bulk of those years. Was there a particular show when you can recall Royal Bliss’s draw was beginning to surpass the other Salt Lake bands?

[TR] Not true at all. We started out playing all age shows for years (backyard parties a must).....we were all under age at the time. but we have always had a pretty good fan base from the get go, because we started in high school, and all, I mean ALL of our friends would come out to shows and let me tell you, Neal had sooo many daisies friends!!! Once we started playing bars, we found out that that’s where the $$$'s at. You actually get paid for those gigs! But to answer your q around the time King Size came out 2001. We really started to get pretty popular locally and regionally, Twin Falls, Idaho started playing our songs on the radio, Reno, NV also, as well as the surrounding SLC cities Provo, Ogden, Tooele, etc...

But the show I remember was with Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain of the Smashing Pumpkins. At liquid Joes. I have the video tape of the show!!!

[LA] To date, what would you say has been your biggest show? Either in terms of largest audience, or perhaps in terms of most important, getting you the recognition that’s brought you to this point?

[TR] Too many in too many cities, viva slc was huge. Playing with Everclear at the Huntsman Center was huge; every single Sundance gig is huge, the Hinder show, Buckcherry show, etc.....

[LA] I know you’ve developed fan bases in Reno and Idaho. Have there been other areas too?

[TR] Seattle, Portland, san Francisco, LA, phoenix, very popular in western Illinois(Quincy), Abilene TX, whistlet BC Canada, wow that list is starting to grow!!

[LA] Can you recall one of the first times a fan approached you out in the ‘real world?’ and how trippy was that!?

[TR] Not trippy at all and no I can’t remember the first time...

[LA] What is it about RB, do you think, that has created such a loyal fan base? Can you summarize what the fans are telling you?

[TR] We’re down to earth, cool, and great songwriters that connect with many diff types of people! The fans tell ME to play more solos, I like that!

[LA] Tell me about your independent recordings and CD’s to date, discography, success of each. You created your own indie label, isn’t that right? What can you tell me about that?

[TR] free again 98' sold about 2,000 copies recorded in one day at big idea studios slc, Ut

gimme a little bliss 99' sold about 2,000 copies same as above " " "

king size 01 has sold about 5,000-8,000 to date. same as above but recorded the cd with bjorn thorsrud(smashing pumpkins/dandy warhols, etc)

old's cool 01 prob 2,000 cd's( this was free again and gimme a little bliss combined with two bonus live songs)

4 song ep prob 3,000 cd's same as above big idea etc. but was a demo recorded for our mgmt at the time to shop to labels, in which we had a ton of interest but then Neal fell off a balcony, and we fired our slimy LA manager. And thank god! Everything happens for a reason

after the chaos prob about 2,000 cd's rec. started at big idea then finished at Matt winegars studios.

after the chaos II prob about 8,000, 10,000+ to date same as ATC but we recorded two new songs(brave, here they come) and remixed and recorded many of the songs.

I can’t wait for the new CD!!!!!!!!!

[LA] Let’s get the story on how you got signed. When and how were you first approached by major labels?

[TR] Basically Devils and Angels went to #1 at every radio station that it got played on, most requested etc...

[LA] Why was the decision made to go with Capitol? Care to share any of the interesting negotiations that went on with that?

[TR] Well it was Virgin originally until they merged with Capitol, now called Capitol Music Group. They gave us what we wanted! It took months of negotiating though.

[LA] On what date did you sign? And can you tell us what that was like?

[TR] Not sure exactly??? It felt like I was moving up the music business!

[LA] Recording in Oregon. Tell us about the process of pre-production. And how is the end result different from the initial conceptions?

[TR] Actually not much different, except that if we fucked up during the recording process we'd get to fix it, and then add a bunch of cool kittens, guitar, strings background vox etc...

[LA] Over what dates were you recording?

[TR] Aug 1^st – Sep 28^th

[LA] Why did you decide to go to Oregon? Was it your decision or a recommendation from the label? What was the name of the studio? Sound Engineers?

[TR] We went to Oregon to try something new. We told the label what we wanted and they gave it to us. So Oregon it was, with producer Rob Daiker, who did ATCII and Matt Winegar who did ATC1, and ATCII he’s also done primus!!! The studio was called The Commune

[LA] Any personal anecdotes or stories from your time there? Personal stuff is always welcomed by the readers.

[TR] Ketel One!, smokes, Strip Clubs.....the dolphin, we went to so many up there but the dolphin was the worst but the closest to the studio. Lake Oswego apts with our cool scapula neighbors from the Midwest that we'd stay up all night playing poker tourneys!

[LA] Describe for us the music on this new album. In what ways is it similar to what we know and love, and what surprises await us?

[TR] It is RB to the next level. You’ll get good old RB and you’ll hear some new direction .... country/rock, acoustic, severe hard rock, bluesy numbers, and long solo jams!!!

[LA] Who was your producer? And what other artists has this producer worked with?

[TR] Rob Daiker, no one you've ever heard. But after us hopefully he will start to make a name for himself

[LA] Were there any guest musicians on the recording?

[TR] Only Rob, and Matt who played a little bit of keyboards and guitars. And the strings who were done by .... I'm not sure actually?

[LA] Now that you’re back. Tell me what is in the immediate future for Royal Bliss, professionally; say in the next 3 months.

[TR] BAND PRACTICE, HOLIDAYS, 08'-TOURING nonstop!!!!!

[LA] On a personal level, what are the major stressors for the members of the band at this point?

[TR] $$$$$$, $$$$$$, health care would be nice, and I'd like a tour bus; the van is getting old!

[LA] Tell me how the Royal Bliss machine (all of your support personnel) has grown since having been signed.

[TR] Nothing has changed! except that bigger pictures are available now, big booking agents wanting to line us up with way better tours than we were setting up ourselves, random companies wanting to sponsor kittens (no we are not signing no dumbass sell out sponsorship.....yet......Budweiser?) same band, same sound guys, maybe a light guy would be a nice addition in the near future, we’ll see?

[LA] Do you have advice for other struggling independent bands? Mistakes you’ve made that you’d like to share? Or specific successes that worked well for you? Maybe I’m asking, what do you wish you knew 10 years ago, that you know now?

[TR] THE DAY YOU GIVE UP IS THE DAY YOU DIE!

HAVE BAND PRACTICE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WRITE CONSTANTLY< RECORD CONSTANTLY< AND PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

[LA] What next! Tell us about the release of the new album and tours currently in the works.

[TR] Spring 08 release?, Collective Soul in Feb. / Mar. and maybe Matchbox 20 and Buckcherry ????

[LA] What is management and the label doing, specifically, to support Royal Bliss’s success?

[TR] Everyone is waiting to hear the final master of the record to say anything but so far so good, everyone is liking what they are hearing!

[LA] Besides the upcoming album, is there other media in the works? Videos? Books? New merchandise? A coffee table photo album, “This Is Royal Bliss!!” (laughing)

[TR] Always new merch, maybe a video next year to go with the single?

[LA] I know this is a dumb question, but I’ve got to ask. People want to know! Just exactly how big is Royal Bliss going to get?

[TR] That depends on how many people dig our kittens, 5,000 people 1 million people 100 mill who knows I’m down for whatever. I think we'll connect with quite a few millions hahahaha

L. Alexander

11/06/07