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Interview and Review from August 30, 2001. In the year 2000, the first year of the new century, melodic hard rock music made new friends in the band, Melodica.� The singer was Ted Poley.� The Guitarist was Gerhard Pichler. And the album was �Long Way From Home�.� It featured 11 heartfelt, bittersweet gems that earned it the #8 album in �The Music and the City Top 10 Albums of 2000�.� Music fans everywhere saw the potential of this band.� Melodica released their second album, entitled �Acoustica�, later released as �USAcoustica� with a slightly different track listing.� The album contained acoustic versions of songs from their debut along with a few songs from what was to be �Lovemetal�.� Just as the name �Melodica� defines the music they play, the name �Lovemetal� does the same.
The opening track �Summer Nights� paints a perfect picture of what it's like to be young and in love.� It's on songs like this that Ted proves that he is in fact �the voice of Melodica�.� �Head Over Heels� follows in the minor key, melancholy feel of the bands first album.� The title track, �Lovemetal� is bound to become the band's national anthem.� The lyrics read like a hopeless romantics vision of love.� The music is complimentary and definitive.� Just to make sure you don't think Ted's a sap, he hits you with the bitter �Broken Promises�.� Very moody and very cool.� The next song takes us back up to the highs of love and romance with �I�ll Never Break Your Heart�.� More broken promises in �Out of My Mind� followed by the hard rocking �Shake�.� Love the backing vocals on this one.� �Crazy� keeps things kickin� along.� Ted shares lead vocals with TNT/Westworld singer, Tony Harnell.� They both experiment with their vocal tone a little here.� �Keep on Runnin�� and �What Number are You?� round out the vocal songs on the album.� The final track, �Gotta Save Yourself� is an instrumental where Gerhard gets to shine just as he did on �A Long Time Ago� that ended the bands first album.
After 56 minutes and 26 seconds of music, two words stay in your mind��Lovemetal Forever�.
(Photo from thetourbus.com )And now, in a Music and the City exclusive, lead singer Ted Poley tells his fans the story of Melodica.
1. Please explain briefly how Melodica came to be.
Melodica has only been together for less than 2 years.� I met Gerhard when he contacted me and played me his music.� In that short time we have released 4 CD's and toured overseas twice, also demoing the 2 studio CD's in that time and doing work on the Jason Becker tribute CD.� We work a lot.2. What is the band's relationship with Now & Then/Frontiers Records and Sumthing Distribution?
Now and Then has licensed "Lovemetal" for Europe.� We are an unsigned band technically.� Sumthing distributes "USAcoustica" in the U.S. so it will be in stores all over.� "Lovemetal" is available directly from our site at www.tedpoley.com.3. While Melodica's first album received positive reviews, it also received several negative ones as well.� What effect does that have on an artist?
Not much.� I don't really care what people who can't do what I do have to say about what I do.� If they could make music then they would.� I find most of them are frustrated that they aren't musicians themselves.� I do like the positive reviews but I don't take them any more seriously than the negative ones.4. Many of the drums on your albums sound as though it's a drum machine.� Is it?� What is your opinion on live drums vs. a drum machine?� Which will you use in the future?
Live drums with a great drummer is always best.� No, I don't use drum machines at all except on the first Bone Machine CD, "Dogs".� We used one on some tracks because we didn't have enough tracks available on the tape machine to do it with real drums.� I hate drum machines since all the Danger Danger records were done that way since Steve isn't a real musician and couldn't cut it in the studio.5. Why did you decide to release "Acoustica" as your second album?� How do you feel about the Scorpions naming their latest album, "Acoustica" as well?
The Scorpions can suck my ass and come up with something original next time.� I released the acoustic CD's to prove that I could sing without fancy studio tricks.6. Melodica is a self produced band, but on "Lovemetal" it says "Vocals produced by John 'Full Finish' Pace".� Who is he and why did you
call him in to produce the vocal tracks?
He is a great guy and has worked with Desmond Child and a lot of others.� I had him just produce the vocals so that no one would say I was out of tune this time as some did on the first CD, even though I wasn't.� Just a little insurance against the asshole reviewers with an agenda that put me down on anything I do.� Most are very nice to me but some are just jerks no matter what I do.7. On the song "Crazy", there's some irony in that Tony Harnell
co-sings with you, being that he is in the band Westworld with a former band mate of yours (Bruno Ravel of Danger Danger).� How did the duet with Tony come about?
Tony is my friend and doesn't care what Bruno says or thinks.� He has his own mind.� Tony did it as a favor to me and I really appreciate that.� I just love Tony.� He's a great guy.8. Do you write all the lyrics to Melodica's songs?
Yes.� And the vocal melodies too.� All to Gerhard's music.9. Which are your favorites to sing?
I like all the new ones.10. The lyrics are often about love and relationships.� It even states in the liner notes that "Lovemetal" is a concept album.� What advice could
you give to those looking for love?
Listen to the CD and learn from my life experiences.� I don't write about pyramids or spaceships or storming castles.� Just about what I know and have learned in real life.11. You recently auctioned the band at ebay.com.� Did that show happen yet?� How was it?
I got a $1000 bid but that's not enough for a show.� I have to pay my band and crew, pay for hotels, transportation, etc.� So I won't be doing that one, but I appreciate the bid.� It was just a promo idea.12. How many shows has the band played so far?
Just five.� All overseas.� We are now doing more shows this year.� We did four CD's in one and a half years.� That's a lot of time in the studio.� I am ready to go out and play live again now.13. Will there be any U.S. dates?� Where and when?
First one is August 31st at Flagstaff in Jim Thorpe, PA.� Future dates will depend on the turnout.� We will see.� I also have some possible dates with Def Leppard on the next tour.14. If Van Halen offered you the lead singer position, would you take it?
No way.� I could never stand working under a dictatorship again.15. What bands would you say "yes" to?
None.� I like to do my own thing.� And I hate replacement singers and certainly don't want to be one.16. One last fun question.� What does the phrase, "He who dies with the most toys wins", mean to you?� (Note to reader:� Ted collects vintage toys and I thought this was going to be a fun question...)
Nothing.� When you're dead nothing matters except what you have done for people.� You can't take it with you so who cares what you have.� The more you have, then the more you have to give up when you croak.Please buy my new CD, available at www.tedpoley.com.� Thanks!
Melodica bio and song samples at Now & Then/Frontiers
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