Crimson Moon: How did the band get started?
Ted: Coming out of 10 years with my formed in Seattle Glam Rock band Sister Hyde, I had written scores of new tunes. I was called by my friend in Toronto who had built an analog studio with a producer whom I had worked with before-Rob Sanzo who has produced Sum 41 and tons of other high profile bands. They were looking for a band to test the waters, be a guinea pig and they thought of me. I did the songs in the studio and then put a band around the tunes to play them live. I played guitars, bass and had a fantastic drummer called, “The Juice” who had just come off a tour with Mike Monroe from Hanoi Rocks.
Crimson Moon: What kind of music do you play?
Ted: My album is hard rock, a bit metal, a bit glam but dark and dealing with relationships. I have been told they are a mix of Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie and Ozzy. They go with my image which is romantic but a total vampire romance.
Crimson Moon: How has the band response been?
Ted: Absolutely fabulous with a lot of energy coming back at us from the audience. Kind of mind-blowing actually. I must admit I have a loyal female fan-base exemplified in my Ted Axe Fangs Groups both on Instagram and Facebook where I have 3000-5000 plus devoted Fangs. I am very responsive and do not the project any kind of Big star trip as I respond to each comment and compliment personally unlike so many others. Generosity is the hallmark of an artist!
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
Ted: This band was formed in Toronto, Canada.
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members.
Ted: Marcel LaFluer on Lead guitar, Jules Biafore on Rhythm guitar, Corrado Bartolo on Bass and Stefan Ford on Drums with me on lead vocals fronting.
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Ted: All music and lyrics are written by myself Ted Axe.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Ted: They are all based on real life in one sense or another. Many are relationship- based with stories written from experience. I think that is what makes these songs off my new album Sex, Horror, Violence so relatable. People have told me amazingly enough that they are in their own minds already! This is the highest form of praise a writer can have.
Crimson Moon: How many albums/cd’s have you released?
Ted: We started the band recently so with Ted Axe there is the aforementioned Sex, Horror, Violence on Elipse Records and then with Sister Hyde I had Sex Change. So far only one album but we have started recording another!
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
Ted: Two videos your readers need to see are for the first two songs-Get Out of Rehab and Death Us Do Part which was filmed in a graveyard. Get Out of Rehab was penned after a chat with a guy who had just escaped from Rehab and was getting blitzed in the local park…not a successful stay in rehab for him while Death Us Do Part is based on a marriage that is abusive. My Own worst Nightmare is introspective and Nuthin At All is written about an ex band member. The title track Sex, Horror, Violence is about a distraught guy driving around with a gun and Femme Fatal is about an affair. Insatiable revolves around a girl meets boy sexscapade and Mothers Day is about a violent Mother. What You Want, Hurt People and TMI are all about different relationships gone astray.
Crimson Moon: Do you have any side projects?
Ted: During my self-imposed lock-down I have been writing soul-based grooves from playing my mid eastern/African drum in the park every afternoon which I do without fail. I also have an art site on Facebook called The Exceptional Art of Ted Axe. I am an award winning fine art artist as well as a musician.
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Ted: Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Bowie, Mott The Hoople, The Sex Pistols, The New York Dolls, Marilyn Manson to name few rock influences but I also enjoy listening to new Gary Newman and stuff like that and dance solo at Goth Clubs and Discos on the weekends. James Brown and 1970’s Soul music as well.
Crimson Moon: Which current bands?
Ted: None! Ha…I hate today’s metal and rock! It all sounds very contrived and generic in a digital way. As I mentioned before I am partial to Gary Newman’s last 2 albums from 2018 and 2019 which were produced Trent Reznor’s producer.
Crimson Moon: What is the band like when you play live?
Ted: The promoter introduces me as The Legendary Ted Axe and the band starts Get out of Rehab even before I come out on stage with a ton of fog and eerie lighting happening already creating a scene and an atmosphere not unlike Dracula’s castle. I am a mixture of aloofness and generosity and give it my all every time. Of course with more than 30 years experience on stage I am a natural. You either got it or you don’t! My band prefers to let me carry most of the show instead concentrating on their instruments and we are all in black and in image. I wear a black leather trench coat and a top hat a tone of makeup. It’s a Rock show!
Crimson Moon: What was the best band you played with?
Ted: My old b ”Canada’s first punk band’, -The Action opened for The Stranglers and The Ramones. Fabulous bands both! With this band we are slated to open for Wed 13 whom I like a lot out of The US. Now will it happen on the given date in Dec? Most likely not because of the bloody pandemic.
Crimson Moon: Have you guys ever played in another Country?
Ted: America…New York City so far, Chicago and LA!
Crimson Moon: How big of a crowd shows up at shows usually?
Ted: 300 minimum to 1000 on any given night! We are blessed to be attracting larger crowds!
Crimson Moon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Ted: As I say…a ton of energy coming back at us from the audience and I am very good at gaining the respect of a new audience! It is very entertaining. It is music that is meant to be a spectacle and I am Ted Axe right down the line to my black nail polish.
Crimson Moon: What is the scene like over in your Country?
Ted: Lousy. Toronto eats their own. Most of the bands here in Toronto are either shoe-gazer nerd bands or ancient Metal dudes with gray hair. Punk is long dead but Rap is huge and generic here of course Drake is from here. They say it’s very diversified and I suppose that’s true in one sense as there people from everywhere here.
Crimson Moon: What made you want to be in this band? And if you weren’t in this band what would you being doing now?
Ted: This band is me finally coming into my own while hitting what I call The Universal Jugular. It is more me than anything else I have done and That’s why I want to be in it. I also have finally managed to get guys who all get along and work to nail my songs. They are very dedicated. I would be doing my art otherwise and playing to the beat of my own drum!
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band?
Ted: We have been working on a new EP-4 songs but have not yet had the opportunity to complete the final vocals due to the pandemic. It is going to be called ”Out of Here Alive” and my Fangs can look forward to hearing a slightly more uptempo sound on this recording which is being recorded in the same analog studio with a new board known as Nevemixing consoles which were utilized on every classic rock album in the 70’s. It will be recorded in 2 inch tape! We cannot and will not play live until there is absolutely no risk to ourselves and our fangs….unfortunately since I am addicted to performing and cannot right now. I am branding myself in the meantime, paving the way for my band’s ultimate success and have been getting world-wide radio play and interviews. I have also been growing my Fan base on social media big time where my”Fangs” have dubbed me ”The Count of Rock”!!!
Thanks very much for interviewing me.
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