TROUBLE Guitarist Says Singer KORY CLARKE 'Wasn't The Right Fit For The Band'

Maria Voutyriadou and Dimitris Kontogeorgakos of Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with guitarist Bruce Franklin and new vocalist Kyle Thomas of Chicago doom metal legends TROUBLE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Kaoz: Has Kory's [Clarke, vocals] exit caused any problems/setbacks, regarding the new album? I mean do you have to re-record songs or even re-arrange some to fit Kyle's vocals?

Bruce: No setbacks at all. Kyle already has half the album lyrics and singing melodies completed and they are awesome. We didn't need to change any of the music. He really knows how to sing to TROUBLE stuff because he was a fan from way back.

Metal Kaoz: Metal Kaoz doesn't like the "statements war," but it would useful to know the reasons for parting ways with Kory.

Bruce: What seemed like a good idea in the beginning increasingly became obvious that it wasn't the right fit for the band. Even though you might like someone's work with other projects, [it] doesn't mean that it will work within your band.

Metal Kaoz: I can't help it so I'm gonna ask; ex-former TROUBLE members [Jeff "Oly" Olson, Eric Wagner and Ron Holzner] have created THE SKULL. What is your point of view about that, since reunions are so in fashion these days?

Bruce: People like tribute bands. They like nostalgia. Who hasn't gone to see a BEATLES tribute band or a PINK FLOYD tribute band? THE SKULL just happens to have some former members who want to do a tour and make some money.

Metal Kaoz: [To Kyle] Was it an easy decision to take and join TROUBLE?

Kyle: I would say yes, it took very little debate for me to join TROUBLE as an official member. I got the call from Rick [Wartell, guitar], and he had informed me that they wanted to move in a different direction for their new recordings. As a fan and with former experience playing with them live, I agreed to join. We discussed typical artistic and business topics, and shortly after that I spoke with Bruce on the same subject. I love these guys — my entire experience with them back in the '90s was phenomenal. I had no reason not to want this job.

Metal Kaoz: Kyle, how does it feel working with Bruce and Rick again? Do you see this opportunity as a challenge or as a lost chance in your career, since TROUBLE haven't released an album with you on vocals?

Kyle: Every album is a challenge. The ones I have written with the other bands I have played in were, and so will this one be. That is the beauty of art, though. Creating something from nothing is an amazing thing. I really couldn't say it is a lost chance, either. That would be unfair to Eric Wagner, whose presence in this band was obviously deserved when I stepped aside for his return. They had given me four songs to work on when I was jamming with them in anticipation of possibly doing the album that came to be "Simple Mind Condition". I did demo one song, but nothing I did ever made it to the album. Things turned out the way that they have between then and now, and here I am. Lost chance? Naah. Great opportunity by way of a long and storied path? Damn right! As I have already stated, Bruce and Rick have always been great to me as people and business partners. I was made to feel an equal back then, and the same goes for now. That is monumental for me — I grew up listening to these guys and now I am a member of one of my favorite bands. You can't beat that. I guess KISS and BLACK SABBATH are next. (laughs)

Read the entire interview from Metal Kaoz.

TROUBLE's current lineup is:

Kyle Thomas (vocals)
Rick Wartell (guitar)
Bruce Franklin (guitar)
Shane Pasqualla (bass)
Mark Lira (drums)