ALAN TECCHIO

HADES & FORMERLY OF WATCHTOWER

I have spoken with Alan Tecchio, former vocalist in the legendary prog thrash band Watchtower. Alan sings in two bands at the moment, one called Power and the other is the the great speed / thrash band Hades.

What's your future plans?

To live a long happy life. Musically, there is supposed to be another Power cd with the original Dan Dalley project line up sometime in the future. I have not heard any riffs as yet though... Hades may indeed be heard from again though we’ve been dormant for a number of months at this point. I’d like to release the All Time Low recordings I did with those guys back in 95-96. That was some fun stuff.

What's your main influences?

Roberts Plant, Halford and Smith in that order. Dickinson and Tate for sure. I love Dio and I really dug and miss the voice of Ray Gillan.

What do you think of the thrash metal scene today?

I love stuff like Opeth which is a fucking brilliant band. Meshuggah are amazing... There are a lot of nü metal bands that are pretty cool too like Switched. I’ve always tried to listen to a lot of different stuff to keep my mind open. Vapor Trails by Rush is very hot.

What's your favorite album that you made?

Probably DamNation by Hades. That disc is probably the best in my opinion.

Hades - DamNation

What's the highlight of your career?

Playing to the maniacs at The Wacken Festival a couple of summers ago. Those Germans, (though attendees were from all over the world) are the best! What a great time that was for Hades.

Watchtower - Control and Resistance

Any good advice for youngsters that want to start a band?

Run for your lives! Get out while you can! Seriously though, it’s harder today than ever to get a band to explode. Especially if you are playing metal. If the music is in your heart than you will play no matter what. Find a good manager that has a lot of contacts to get you in front of bigger band’s audiences as an opener. If you’ve got anything worthwhile you can pull off any opening slot no problem.

Have you taken any singing lessons?, Or are you a natural talent?

Yes. From four or five different teachers over the years. I think some of my singing is natural ability, but to help preserve my voice, (warming up and down) the lessons were very invaluable. The really helped a lot.

How's your relation to Metallica? I've heard that they stole riffs from Hades in the song "Rape of Persephone" and used it in their song "Enter Sandman"?

They probably don’t know we exist! Those riffs were very similar but whatever... I don’t think they stole it from us.

How was it to work with D.D Verni (Overkill) and Billy Milano (S.O.D. & M.O.D.)?

Great. Those guys were both fucking great! So easy to work with and such nice dudes.

Got any funny metal-story to tell?

One time I was with Blackie from VoiVod and we were at a Nine Inch Nails concert. When the band went off everyone mobbed Blackie because they thought he was Trent. His English not being very good, he just went along and signed everybody’s autograph requests as

By/Ruthless

(07-01-2003)