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| Dale Thompson |
BRIDE WAS FORMED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY IN THE EARLY 80S, BY BROTHERS DALE AND TROY THOMPSON. THEY ENJOYED A LOT OF SUCCES DURING THE HARD ROCK HEYDAY’S OF THE 80’S ALONG WITH CHRISTIAN MINDED METALERS LIKE STRYPER. THE BAND HAS CHANGED MUSICAL STYLES MANY TIMES, BUT PROMISES TO RETURN TO THE HARD ROCKING ROOTS OF THEIR BIGGEST ALBUM SNAKES IN THE PLAYROUND. I CAUGHT UP WITH FRONTMAN DALE THOMPSON TO GET THE FULL STORY.
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September 2006
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SO YOU’VE BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS NOW AND THERES A NEW CD ON THE WAY! THERES NO KEEPING YOU GUYS DOWN!
As long as we continue to be inspired we will continue to write and record CD’s for our fans. We have too strong of a support not to work towards a CD release as quickly as we can.
BRIDE HAS A STACK OF ALBUMS ALREADY, WHAT IS SKIN FOR SKIN GOING TO GIVE US THAT’S BETTER?
Bride has matured in its approach to song writing and the result is 12 incredible songs that showcase years of experience as songwriters and musicians. This particular CD was written in a different manner than those in the past. Troy and I pretty much had the songs ready before the rest of the band arrived so that when we rehearsed the songs most of the structures were complete. This saved a lot time and allowed the players to add their parts easier than all of us ganging up in a room and hammering out song after after until we found something that worked.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEW STRYPER, I’M THINKING IT WILL BE SIMILAR IN THE SOUND AND PRODUCTION?
I have heard the new Stryper CD and Skin for Skin in no way is to be compared with their production. They went after something altogether different which works for them but would not have worked for the aggressive sound of our CD.
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Still rocking hard |
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WE’RE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWING MICHAEL SWEET THIS WEEK. IM SURE YOU GUYS HAVE CROSSED PATHS MANY TIMES BEFORE.
Yes we toured with Stryper not long after the release of Against the Law and I actually filled in a couple of shows for them when Michael wasn’t available back around 1991 or 92. The guys in Stryper always showed us great humility and proved to be great guys.
WAS THERE EVER A COMPETETIVE EDGE BETWEEN YOU GUYS IN THE 80’S AN EARLY 90’S, OR EVEN TODAY!?
In the early to mid 90’s we were very competitive as a live band and if other bands are honest about playing with us back in those days they will tell you that nobody wanted to open for Bride. We were top of our game and always felt like Mike Tyson on stage delivering a knock out blow. We are a different sort of band these days but still know that our live show is something fans truly look forward to. We would love to tour the states again but it just doesn’t look possible.
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Bride VS Stryper - back in the day |
ANYWAY. SO YOU’RE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THE NEW ALBUM SO FAR?
I am stoked about the new CD and I never use the word “stoked” in my vocabulary. I think that our last CD This is it was a good CD but Skin for Skin is the CD that our fans have wanted ever since the release of Snakes in the Playground. This is not part 2 but people will want a Skin for Skin Part 2.
LOT OF OLDER BANDS PREACH THEIR NEW ALBUMS AS ONE OF THEIR BEST YET, BUT RARLEY DELIVER.
The CD will speak volumes.
ARE YOU GIVING ME A ‘RETURN TO FORM’ GAURANTEE HA, HA?
The backup singers that we brought in for Skin for Skin were Bride fans and they were blown away. So this assured me we were on the right track and they never got to hear all of the songs, just their parts. Let’s just say that when you think you have a song figured out it takes a turn. And good luck to anyone who try’s to learn Troy’s guitar parts.
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WHILE IM GIVING YOU A HARD TIME, I HAVE TO BRING UP THE SO CALLED ‘BEST OF BRIDE’. I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR INVOLVMENT WAS, BUT IT WASN’T EXACTLY…GREAT. HA, HA.
I had nothing at all to do with that CD. It was a cheap way for Star Song to make money when they found out we were not re-signing with them.
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The So-called Best Of album |
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IT MUST BE HARD JUGGLING THE WHOLE ‘CHRISTIAN’ METAL THING. YOU CAN GO FOR THE CHRISTIAN CIRCLES AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO AND COAST WITH THAT RIDE. BUT, YOU’RE NOT SAVING ANYONE? IS IT EVER A STRUGGLE TO KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS FROM YOU? HOW HAVE YOU GONE IN SECULAR CIRCLES?
Actually there has been literally hundreds of people that have written to me throughout the years to thank us for coming through their town on tour or from people who have heard our CD’s through friends. These people will write and tell me how they were involved in drugs, alcohol, living a lie but something in one of our songs spoke to them and they turned their life over to Christ. I have always had a great secular audience that supports us. There is even a half dozen full blown atheist that claim to be big Bride fans. We used to play clubs early on but I hated the smoke, the smells etc and they didn’t pay you. So we did what we could to play in the Christian market. Now the Christian Metal scene is virtually a ghost of what it was so we are stuck merely writing and recording with the only touring outlet to be Brazil and Europe.
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY LIFE, DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO JUGGLE IT ALL?
I have been with my wife for 23 years, I have a 20 year old son in the Airforce, a 14 year old son that started High School this year and a 10 year old finishing grade school. We raise Chows and at the moment we have 4 dogs. I compete in power lifting events and hold two Kentucky State bench press records with a 510 pound press about a year ago. Right now I am more of a family man than a rock n’ roller. But that will change when the CD is released.
YOU SURE ARE A BUSY MAN MY FRIEND.
Between writing, recording, training at the gym 4 nights a week and now getting involved in MMA fighting yeah I still have time to include family activities.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BRIDE ALBUM AND/OR SONG?
NO not really. Mainly I liked what we were doing at the time of each CD. Kinetic Faith really changed the face of Bride and we started down a new path at that point. We have written a lot of really cool songs throughout the years I couldn’t name one favourite.
WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES DALE?
UFC, Dark Chocolate |
Yo!, God! |
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Favorite SONG?
Anything by Rage Against the Machine. Even though Chris Cornell is my all favourite singer Audio Slave needs to hang it up and Rage needs to come back.
Favorite MOVIE?
Harvey with Jimmy Stewart
Favorite TV SHOW?
Cops
Favorite PAST TIME?
Lifting weights and boxing
IF YOU WERE A SUPER HERO OR CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Superman
YOUR DREAM CAR?
70 Chevelle SS
WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE HOTTEST NEWS READER ON TELEVISION;)?
Robin Meade Headline News
AND FINALLY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD -
Bride used to be a group that tried to convey a loving message of salvation through a lot of aggression. Nothing has changed, we are still aggressive but less hostile and hopefully a little wiser and compassionate in our approach. I no longer see any man after the flesh for Christ is the light that lights EVERY man that comes into the world. My hope for all people is in a God who is not willing that any should perish but that all would receive life age lasting.
Cheers Dale, goodluck with the new album.
Check out Bride online - http://www.bridepub.com
J.L.
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