Alex Varkatzas Interview I

FES: What went through your mind when you found out Atreyu was going to play the main stage on this year's Family Values Tour?

Alex: We were really stoked. It was kind of a shock I don’t think we expected something like that growing up as a punk and hardcore band from north L.A., we really thought that wouldn’t happen so we were really down for it.

FES: It’s a well deserved honor.

Alex: We’re so excited. We’ve done Ozzfest and stuff like that, but this is a really cool slot and I feel really gratified about it.

FES: How long will Atreyu's set will be?

Alex: I think around 45 minutes long.

FES: Will Atreyu be playing mostly songs from "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" or will it be a mixture of old and new Atreyu songs?

Alex: We’re going to keep it pretty balanced. I think we’re going to play 3 songs from each record something like ten (10) songs.

FES: How does the band decide which of those songs will be played on the Family Values Tour?

Alex: I think we just pick the songs that are fun for us to play and that the kids like.

FES: Do you have any personal favorites to perform live?

Alex: I like to play the new songs they are always fun because they are hard, but I really like to play “Creature,” it’s a fun song and it feels good in my throat.

FES: "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" is scheduled for release on August 28, 2007 on Hollywood Records. In your opinion how is this record different from previous Atreyu records?

Alex: New art work, new CD layout no just kidding. [Laughs] We got laser focused on this record but still had a fun relaxed time making it. Does that make sense?

FES: Yes it does.

Alex: The machine was running good. The start wasn’t like hesitant but we had all these ideas and they covered such a broad spectrum of music, how is this going to work out? Some of the songs are so different which I think is a good thing I want to make a diversified record. In the past we were always like probably not a good idea.

FES: I think as a band matures change is going to happen.

Alex: Definitely. Working with John Feldmann [Good Charlotte, The Used, Lost Prophets] who produced our record. John has all these crazy ideas. I think we’re definitely the heaviest band by far he’s ever worked with. I think he had all these ideas in his head and he got to throw them out with us.

FES: How long did it take to record the album?

Alex: I want to say maybe two months. It was pretty spread out. We would take whatever song we were working on just break it down play it on acoustic guitars come up with a chorus or verse and if I had lyrics already for the song see what we had change words here and there change parts of it. It would work like that for every song on the record. We would go downstairs and play it a bunch of times electrically while they were doing that I was working on the lyrics more. As they’re playing it over and over they’re doing different drum beats and timings here and there just getting dialed in to what’s going to sound the best. That’s something we had never done. John taught us how to make a real record. Which was very cool.

FES: "Becoming the Bull" is the first single scheduled to be released. How did the band decide this would be the first single?

Alex: We just felt like it was a real powerful song. It’s about empowerment too; taking control of your life even though shit kind of crazy around you. It just seemed like that’s what this record feels like a little. It just felt right. It was the first song we wrote or the first song we jammed out. John liked the riffs.

FES: What other songs will be released as singles?

Alex: I don’t really know yet, I don’t think we have gotten that far down the line.

FES: What was it like to work with Josh Todd on "Blow?"

Alex: It was great, I wasn’t there. [Laughs] I mean that in a nice way. I had a good day that day where ever I was. I heard he was cool. He took his short off and banged out some vocals.

FES: Are there plans for Atreyu to release a live DVD of performances from this year's Family Values Tour?

Alex: No that I know of.

FES: Do you think Atreyu will do a live album or DVD in the future?

Alex: I don’t think it’s out of the question but I’m not super into live records. I don’t think they sound that great. In my opinion playing live is about something a little different than playing your record. When you listen to that record you’re not seeing the band running around going crazy. Your just hearing what your hearing that’s not the whole cohesive thing. I would much rather consider doing a live DVD. It’s this day and age let’s step it up and do a cool live DVD. Who likes live CD’s their boring. Why not just go listen to a real CD it sounds way better.

FES: Do you think online sites that sell music now will mean the end of the CD?

Alex: I think it’s hard to say. The record industry is a tough son of a bitch that doesn’t want to go away. If you want a CD you’re going to buy one.

FES : Do you have anything to say to Atreyu fans who read this interview?

Alex: Thank you for your support, past, present and hopefully future. We work really hard at this and its gratifying to know everything I am allowed to do in my life is because of the band. It’s real humbling I can do this. I have good days and bad days like anybody else but I have a rad job.

FES : Alex, thank you for your time I wish Atreyu much success.

Dan Jacobs Musician Interview

Q: how did you come up with the name Atreyu?

Dan: Our friend Scott Lloyd came up with it. We were looking for names out of movies or comics cause a lot of good names seem to come out of there and he thought of Atreyu.

Q: Who inspired you to become a musician?

Dan: Billy Joe of Green Day, suprisingly. I always loved music but when
I was 12, I saw the Green Day basket case video for the first time and fell inlove with the idea of being in a band.

Q: How did the band form?

Dan: Alex, Brandon and I were in a punk band that started when we were in junior high. After a while our taste in music changed and our songs started to not sound so punk and started to come off heavier
with a little singing thrown into the mix. We then decided that maybe it was time to start fresh and do things diffrently. We eventually picked up Travis when he and Alex worked together at Hot topic. Marc we picked up recently after loosing our orginally bass player Chris.

Q: How long has the band been around?

Dan: Since 1999. So about five years.

Q: How long did it take to record Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses?

Dan: 2 weeks.

Q: What tracks on the CD are your favorites?

Dan: Personally, I like 'Lip Gloss and Black' and 'Tulips Are Better.'

Q: How does the band decide what songs went on the CD?

Dan: We put every song we write onto our cds.

Q: Rumor has it that you have a new CD coming out next month called "The Curse" is this true?

Dan: Yup. (Editor's Note: "The Curse" is scheduled for release June 29, 2004 on Victory Records.)

Q: Atreyu is scheduled to perform on the Ozzfest tour. Can you give us your thoughts on performing on a tour of this magnitude?

Dan: Words cant descride the feeling. It's truly a dream come true.

Q: How does the band decide which order songs will be played at their concerts?

Dan: It changes every tour. we try to mix things up so that we don't have all our stronger live songs in a row.

Q: Out of all your concerts which one has been your favorite one and why?

Dan: Hmm, that's a tough one. Probably our last home town show at
the Glasshouse. It was sold out and I truly feel that our fans put on a better show then we did. I still feel the best part about a show is watching the crowd. Mad props to the OC kids. You guys Rule!

Q: Were do you see Atreyu in 10 years from now?

Dan: Playing dive bars to 30 year old metal heads.

Q: How does the band spend their time when their not touring or recording albums?

Dan: Being lazy, going on the internet, video games. Same stuff every other kid our age does.

Q: If a stranger asked you to describe your music how would you do so?

Dan: Heavy Metallic Rock.

Q: What do you like best about being a musician?

Dan: All the free stuff people give us. Never thought in a million years that I would be given free guitars. Doesnt get much better than that in my opinion.

Q: If you weren't a musician what would you be?

Dan: A sushi chef. I love that shit.

Q: Do you have anything to say to the fans of Atreyu?

Dan: You all are amazing and we would be nothing without you. Thank you all from the bottom of mine and the rest of The dudes in Atreyus Hearts.

Q: Thank you for your time I wish you loads of success!

Dan: Thank you.

Interview by Mandie Enos - © 2004 Florida Entertainment Scene.

ATREYU BAND MEMBER

ALEX VARKATZAS  - Lead Vocals (1998 - Present)

Name: Ektor Alex Varkatzas
D.O.B: Orange Country, 17 January 1982
Race: White
Nationality: American
Twitter: @EktorV
Facts:
- one of the three band memember who started atreyu
- Loves boxing (especially thaibox)
- loves bulldogs
- loves UFC (combatsports)
- He currently lives in Orange County, California with his wife and 2 dogs
- loves his bulldog "boo"
- He has a large number of tattoos, many of which are based on Japanese and horror movie imagery
- alex'sappearance has gone through many changes since the release of Suicide Notes And Butterfly Kisses and The Curse; he has slimmed down and stopped dying his hair thus revealing his natural blonde
- Most of atreyu's 2006 album, A Death-Grip on Yesterday, is based on the struggles Varkatzas went through quitting his drinking habit.
- Varkatzas is a health and fitness fanatic and no longer drinks alcohol.

 

BRANDON SALLER  -  Drums (1998 - Present)

Name: Brandon Kyle Saller
D.O.B: 24th June 1983, California
Race: White
Nationality: American
Twitter: @Brandonsaller

Facts:
- one of the three band memember who started atreyu
- married
- Joke cracker
- Befriended well with Tal cooperman of DCMA, and Benji madden GC.
- used to be a saxophone player
- Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers is his one biggest influence in drumming
- he play drum and also sing

DAN JACOBS  - lead guitar (1998 - Present)

Name: Daniel Jacobs

D.O.B: 30 June 1982, Orange Country

Race: White
Nationality: American
Twitter: @Daniel_L_Jacobs

Facts:
- He loves sushi
- he play guitar since the age of 12
- he loves rock 80's musics
- owned a clothing line called Rokk Clothing with his brother joe jacobs
- He thinks Japan is awesome
- His passion for eighties rock and clothing has been a major influence in developing his unique style
-nicknamed "Big" Dan Jacobs because he stands 5'0 feet tall (the shortest member)

TRAVIS MIGUEL - Guitar (2001- Present)

 Name: Travis Miguel

D.O.B: 25 March 1979,

Race: White
Nationality: American
Twitter: @TravisMiguel

Facts:
- his past story was far away from metal genre
- he worked for 3 years as cast member in outdoor vending department
- alex asked him to join atreyu
-While Travis is normally the band's rhythm guitarist, he does play leads on certain songs.

MARC MCKNIGHT - bass (2004- Present)


 Name: Marc Mcknight
D.O.B: 12 July 1983, Alabama
Race: White
Nationality: American
Twitter: -
Facts:
-He joined the band in 2003 after Chris Thomson left
- He also has a website in which he shares pictures of his time on tour, and filming of music videos and other pictures as well
- ex-bassist for Nightfall

ATREYU

HISTORY

                Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller. The band was originally named "Retribution", but later changed their name to "Atreyu" (after the character of the same name from the fantasy book/movie The Neverending Story), when they found out that another band from Hemet, California had been using their original name. Since their formation the band have since released five studio albums: Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, The Curse, A Death-Grip on Yesterday, Lead Sails Paper Anchor, and Congregation of the Damned. In 2008, they were on the Projekt Revolution tour with Linkin Park and headlined the smaller Revolution Stage along with 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, and Armor for Sleep.

1998–2000: Independent years
In 1998, Atreyu released an independent 7-track EP titled Visions. The album was sold at their live performances. Their second release, was a short 5-track EP titled Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty released by underground label Tribunal Records and featured tracks that would be re-worked in later releases. Atreyu signed with Victory Records in 2001, and their most critically acclaimed works would be to come from these releases.

2001–2006: Victory Records
               In 2001, Atreyu signed with Victory Records, later releasing in 2002 their first full-length album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. The band also introduced a second singer, Brandon Saller, the drummer, who would become more prolific in their later releases. However for Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, his parts were largely confined to choruses. Music videos were filmed for the singles "Ain't Love Grand" and "Lip Gloss and Black." The latter video found significant airplay on Headbangers Ball and Uranium in fall of 2003, gaining Atreyu some of its initial mainstream attention.
            The group's second album, The Curse, was released in 2004, selling 450,000 copies, The band was then featured on the soundtrack to the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith with a cover of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name",Atreyu was also featured on the soundtrack to Underworld: Evolution with "Her Portrait in Black." "Right Side of the Bed" also appeared on the Burnout 3 Soundtrack, a racing video game.
            In 2006, Atreyu released its third studio album, A Death-Grip on Yesterday, on March 28, 2006. The album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 69,000, The band gained further fame when the first single, "Exs and Ohs", appeared on the soundtrack to Madden NFL '07. The album was said to have a balance of Brandon Saller's melodic singing vocals and Varkatzas's aggressive screaming . The album was met with positive reviews."


2007–2009: Hollywood Records
               In early 2007, Atreyu signed a record deal with Hollywood Records for America and an international deal with Roadrunner Records. With a new label, the band began to prepare its fourth studio album, Lead Sails Paper Anchor. A jigsaw puzzle was released on the band's website, as the goal was to put all the audio clips of the single "Becoming the Bull" into correct order, forming the whole song. Lead Sails Paper Anchor was released on August 28, 2007, and debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 43,000 copies. The American release of the album had a bonus track, a cover of the song "Epic" by Faith No More while the European and Australian bonus track was a cover of "Clean Sheets" by The Descendents. The album was received with mixed reviews, and was a notable change in sound for the band.
Atreyu toured in the United States on the Taste of Chaos 2008 tour, alongside bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, D'espairsRay, Mucc, and Blessthefall. The band also toured with co-headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine in Australia and New Zealand. They also played the UK Taste of Chaos tour, headlining with Story of the Year and As I Lay Dying.
                 On April 22, 2008, Lead Sails Paper Anchor was re-released with new cover art, two bonus tracks, a DVD, and a digital booklet. From July to August 2008, Atreyu headlined the Revolution Stage of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution. Their setlist consisted of 45 minutes of various songs. With them on the stage were 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, Armor for Sleep, and Street Drum Corps. Atreyu was also a part of the KROQ-FM Epicenter '09 Show where they did a meet and greet to benefit the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives.

2009-2011: Congregation of the Damned, Covers of the Damned, and hiatus
             Atreyu's fifth studio album, Congregation of the Damned, was released on October 27, 2009. The album, which was produced by Bob Marlette (who has worked with Ozzy Osbourne and Airbourne) and mixed by Rich Costey (who has worked with System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine), was said to be "darker" and "heavier" than the band's previous albums. According to lead singer Alex Varkatzas, the record is a "mix of everything we've ever done. For every song that's more melodic or rock-driven there's a total shit-kicker, and I think that's what makes us a well-rounded band.”. Atreyu has also described the album to "Make more sense than the other ones because they finally realize what they are".
             The band started a co-headlining tour with Hollywood Undead, Escape The Fate and The Sleeping in October, and as promotion of album debut songs like "Bleeding Is A Luxury" at K-Rockathon 14 in New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY., and "Gallows"Atreyu also promoted the album with five webisodes, released biweekly from September 1 to October 20. Congregation of The Damned debuted at #18 on the Billboard 200, selling 27,412 copies on its first week. Atreyu recently announced that they will be recording an EP Covers of the Damned with tourmates Chiodos, blessthefall, Endless Hallway, and Architects (UK). It was to be released on October 12, but was leaked on the internet on October 9. Atreyu is touring Australia in November with the No Sleep Til Festival playing most locations with Dropkick Murphys, Alkaline Trio, Megadeth and many more. In December, along with Bring Me The Horizon they supported Bullet For My Valentine across the UK.
               In a short series of Twitter postings, Singer Alex Varkatzas confirmed that the band was taking a break from touring and recording to "recharge and focus on other parts of our lives." In these same twitter postings Alex also stated that he has been working on a new project with Bleeding Through vocalist Brandan Schieppati called I Am War.