Billy Talent

The name of the band "Billy Talent" comes from the movie Hard Core Logo, a fake documentary about punk rock (oh again... punk rock). In this movie, there is a guitarist named Billy Talent. The band was formed in 1993 and at this time played under the name of "Pezz" (1993-2001).

The members are still the same since 1993 (14 years already !), and it's a good thing they play together, I hope they won't split. The members are :

Benjamin Kowalewicz - vocals
Ian D'Sa - guitar, backing vocals
Jonathan Gallant - bass, backing vocals
Aaron Solowoniuk - drums

At the times I'm writing these words (the 20th of September), Billy Talent finished a 16 months tour. I was able and happy to see them live at the end of August, at the VK club in Brussel (Belgium).

It was worth it, I live in the north of France, and Brussel is closer from my home than Paris is. A lot of energy, specially from Ben Kowalewicz, the singer, who never seems to get tired. They are now getting some rest before preparing a new 3rd album.

I hope you will discover this band soon if you don't already know them, this page is here to help ! I will tell you my story, this will be a fan version. Of course if you want the full story, Wikipedia will give you all the details.

More resources (you must visit) :
Billy Talent Official Website
Billy Talent french fan website

Even if the band first name was Pezz, and was formed in 1993, their first album under Billy Talent name was released the 16th of September 2003.

I discovered the album watching MTV2, actually I only discovered the music video of the track River Below. It represents the band playing in a garage and of their neighbour seems to have the plans to build an atomic bomb. I liked the track, and searched a little bit and found that Try Honesty was their first hit, on their first album, only titled Billy Talent.

4 singles were released from this album : Try Honesty, Nothing To Lose, The Ex (which is the true story of the singer and his ex girlfriend) and River Below.

Here is the full tracklist of the album :

1. This Is How It Goes
2. Living In The Shadows
3. Try Honesty
4. Line & Sinker
5. Lies
6. The Ex
7. River Below
8. Standing In The Rain
9. Cut The Curtains
10. Prisoners Of Today
11. Nothing To Lose
12. Voices Of Violence

Billy Talent lyrics

The walls of your room are a bit empty, and you think this space should be filled. Well, Why not look at these cool posters or framed cds :



More Billy Talent Posters

Posters are nice gifts for friends (if they're fan too of course), and they're not expensive.

I remember at the time of the first album, I read some reviews. Some people were saying this band had no future or something like that. Isn't it a little early to compare bands album when there is only one album released ?

You see, I can admit their first album wasn't a perfection, but saying they can't play and can't do better in the future is unfair. And above all, it's wrong.

This second album, titled II, is amazing, I love it, really. That's why I decided to see them live with my brother and one of his friend. I listened to their album and decided to see if they were still on tour.

The album was released the 27th of June 2006, but it's only in July 2007 that I decided to listen to it. I loved the sound, the rythm of the songs, the whole album is a success.

Of course some tracks that are my favorite, the one that I listened the most is Pins and Needles. I know for a lot it is Red Flag or Fallen Leaves, the biggest hits of the album, but Pins and Needles reflects exactly my personal story. This is a love song that tells about a break up and the words suits perfectly what I lived. Read the Pins and Needles lyrics here.

Here are the tracklist :

1. Devil In A Midnight Mass
2. Red Flag
3. This Suffering
4. Worker Bees
5. Pins And Needles
6. Fallen Leaves
7. Where Is The Line
8. Covered In Cowardice
9. Surrender
10. In The Fall
11. Perfect World
12. Sympathy
13. Burn The Evidence

The UK version includes 2 bonus tracks :
14. Beach Balls
15. When I Was Little Girl

Billy Talent - II lyrics

I saw Billy Talent in Brussel, Belgium, at the VK Club (VaartKapoen) the 30th of August 2007. I arrived at 4.00 PM, the doors only opened at 7.00 PM I think. I was on the second row sow it was easy to see the band in this small place. The girls in the first row were smaller than me so they didn't bother me.

Their was another band playing before them, their name is Severance. It was not bad, they did a nice performance and played with the audience. Interactivity is always nice.

Billy Talent began the show and it was amazing. The sound was good, the energy of the band was at its maximum, everyone moved, jump... the only trouble in this case is the people behind you who slam or crush you on the people in front or next to you. It was hot, I think there was no air conditioning system, however the security guys were cool and gave us water bottles when we asked.

The band mixed tracks from their 2 records, a perfect setlist, here it is :

How it Goes
Devil in a Midnight Mass
This Suffering
Line&Sinker
The Navy Song
Worker Bees
The Ex
Surrender
River Below
Where is the Line
Pins&Needles
Perfect World
Sympathy
Try Honesty
------------
Fallen Leaves
Red Flag

At the end of the show we were all... wet, full of sweat. I forgot to bring some more clothes. Inside the club, when you're sweating you're warm, but outside, you're cold. I felt it even more when I sit in the car. I took off my shirt and only wore my jean jacket. I turned the car heating on and it was fine, we got back home.