TROUBLE Guitarist On Possible Reunion With ERIC WAGNER: 'You Never Know What The Future Holds'

RollingStoneIndia.com recently conducted an interview with guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell of Chicago doom metal legends TROUBLE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStoneIndia.com: There's one question a lot of TROUBLE fans still want to know the answer to — is it true METALLICA checked out your backline rig to get a similar guitar tone?

Bruce Franklin: It is true that James Hetfield looked at our onstage guitar amps in 1984 when we played in San Francisco. Anything beyond that fact is just speculation.

RollingStoneIndia.com: TROUBLE has managed to survive hiatuses and lineup changes. I know you have Kyle (Thomas, vocalist) who's come back, but would you ever want to ask Eric [Wagner] to get back on stage with you for a one-off or more?

Bruce Franklin: You never know what the future holds. Right now we have a new record with our new singer Kyle Thomas who is going to turn some heads. This type of a reunion is not in the plans for the near future.

Rick Wartell: I have learned in this life to "never say never," but as Bruce said, we are focused on working with Kyle and recording the new album with him was a great experience. So we are looking forward to getting the record out and playing some shows.

RollingStoneIndia.com: What keeps you guys going?

Rick Wartell: Music is big part of who we are. As a musician, that doesn't ever go away and you can't really separate yourself from it, unless you make a choice to do so. We have never measured our success based on its commercial appeal. We write and play what's within us and what we like, and in doing so, we've stayed true to who we are and we still love what we do.

Bruce Franklin: Well, for me, music is my life. I like to think in terms of a next album, whether it is TROUBLE or a solo type thing like SUPERSHINE. Speaking for myself, I think that there is plenty of music left in me to write. As for performing live, I love that too. I don't feel that I have lost anything in my playing yet. Maybe in five or 10 years, I won't be at the top of my game as a musician, but right now I feel like I've written some really good riffs and songs. I am sure that I can deliver in a live setting as well as I ever have done also. As for people leaving the band, the guitar riffs and sound has always been the signature of TROUBLE. That is still there today.

RollingStoneIndia.com: What's the word on your new album that was once called "The Dark Riff" ? Is it as heavy and doom as the name sounds?

Bruce Franklin: The name of the new record is "The Distortion Field". It has moments of heavy doom and also some uptempo crunch songs. A little psychedelic flavor here and there and some of the famous heavy groove riffs we are known for. Also, I might add, some really powerful vocals that are adding dimension to the music.

Read the entire interview from RollingStoneIndia.com.