Drummer Troy Patrick Farrell recently spoke to BraveWords.com correspondent Deb Rao regarding recent highlights of Rocklahoma and his upcoming appearance with BANG TANGO on July 17 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ.. Also on the July 17th bill is DOKKEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER and , Michael Schenker and L.A. GUNS.

Q: Troy, On July 10th you performed with Bang Tango at Rocklahoma. What were some of the highlights of this show?

A: "Aside from being my second show with Bang Tango, it was cool to catch up with some old mates, such as WARRANT from the airport to the hotel and the RATT boys as they did a show on the same night. NIGHT RANGER was great as it was the first time seeing them. I also introduced DeadClubs.com to Rocklahoma, where you can get a Gazzarri’s Shirt, Madame Wong’s, Starwood, and much more. It’s a concept by my partner Kenny Merrill where you take the clubs that founded a lot of the 80’s bands from Coast to Coast and allow the new kids and the old fans to get a “Dead Club’s” logo on a shirt. Check out deadclubs.com!"

Q: Do you think festivals such as Rocklahoma are helping to keep 80's metal alive?

A: "It appears so. Rocklahoma in 07 seems to have spawned a lot of other festivals of its kind all over the US with the M3 fest, Rock the Bayou, and now they’re doing mini rock festivals on Cruise Ships like Rock Gone Wild etc."

Q: You are among the new breed of musicians in Los Angeles that are giving 80's bands a new outlook. Including WHITE LION, and are currently performing in Bang Tango, PRETTY BOY FLOYD and GENE LOVES JEZEBEL. What is your goal as a musician? Do you feel you add a modern twist to the older hit songs of these bands with your performance?

A: "For the record, I’m still in White Lion... the band is off this year as we did a new album in '08, a 9 month tour that took us to South America, the USA twice, Europe twice and ended a week before Christmas in India for two sold out shows both in Dimapur and Shillong totaling 75,000 combined. We released the Bang Your Head!! '05 Festival in its entirety last year as well.

Tramp is doing another solo album and small Scandinavian tour this fall. Perhaps we’ll get together next year.

As far as the other bands, I don’t feel like a hired gun. I don’t treat the gigs like a hired gun. When I do each show, no matter who it is, I bring my business experience with advancing shows, or helping with hotels or putting together a flyer, whatever it takes. I don’t just simply show up and play the songs, get paid and leave. I’ll do whatever it takes, whether it’s press or whatever. I do however know my place and do whatever is asked big or small.

My goal as a musician is to play and it’s a job. If I was a burger maker, and Burger King let me go, I might have to go across the street to McDonalds. If I play drums and White Lion is off, I find out who is working and try to get the gig.

There are a few internet critics (ie; fans) that call these bands with different lineups “scab” versions or mercenary musicians like myself “whores”. I really disagree. For example, if Vito Bratta has no interest in touring with White Lion, who’s to say Mike Tramp can’t? They both have an equal stake in the band and Tramp is the recognizable voice of WL. If fans aren’t interested in a band with one original member, then we wouldn’t be able to book shows. Our tour of almost 40 countries last year proves otherwise.

As far as what I bring to the table with these bands; yes, my style might be different, but I play the parts I’m supposed to play and the goal is to have the songs sound like the songs people are used to hearing or expect to hear. My goal is to have someone close their eyes and think “that sounds like the band I expected to see."

Q: Will you be performing on the Bang Tango Rockfest tour with the BULLETBOYS?

A: "I will not be doing that tour for a few reasons. It’s basically boring business stuff and logistics that couldn’t work out, but it will be a great tour and expect a great FASTER PUSSYCAT as well as SISTER SIN!"

Q: Bang Tango will be performing a special show at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ with Dokken, Michael Schenker, and L.A. Guns on July 17th. Would you like to give us a preview of the show for the readers? Who else is in Bang Tango these days?

A: "It’s gonna be a great show with 4 very different bands from the same era. You’re gonna hit all four corners with this one. Bang Tango will be Joe Leste of course, Lance Eric on bass, Dave Henzerling (aka, David Michael Phillips of KING KOBRA days, and current BIG COCK guitarists) rounded out with Anthony Focx."

Q: Any plans to release a new Bang Tango album?

A: "That’s a better suited question for Joe who expects to get with Alex Grossi at some point to write some songs for maybe something next year."

Q: Will Pretty Boy Floyd go into the studio this summer? Any plans to release a new album?

A: "PBF is doing a new album of some unreleased songs as well as a cool trashy version of 70’s glam songs such as T-REX, etc. Those will be out this fall."

Q: Also, what is new with Gene Loves Jezebel? They have an unique sound that is kind of punk. Do you find it a challenge to learn their style?

A: "Jezebel isn’t so much punk, but perhaps a bit of “goth” glam from the early 80’s and out of the UK. Michael Aston has really allowed me to play the way I play and not really restrict my style. I certainly play for the song and adjust my style a bit to fit with what Aston is doing. It’s one of my favorite bands to play with."

Q: What was it like signing to Rockett Drums Works and designing your own drum kit?

A: "Rockett and Rikki Rockett have been nothing short of great to me. The whole concept from start to finish was scary, exciting and satisfying. From the paint job to the assembling of my drums in Iowa the first day of our tour... it’s great and every drummer should get to experience this. (www.rockettdrumworks.com)."

Q: Is there anything that you would like to say about your upcoming tour schedule?

A: "All of my dates are at drummertroy.com and myspace.com/drummertroy.

But coming up is:

Bang Tango

July 17 - Celebrity Theater - Phoenix, AZ (with L.A. GUNS, DOKKEN, MSG)

July 18 - O’Malley’s - Tucson, AZ (with L.A. GUNS)

July 19 - Dancing Eagle - Casino, AZ (with L.A. GUNS)

Pretty Boy Floyd

July 25 - Rockstarz Party Bar - Bakersfield, CA

And a run of dates late August on the East Coast. We are also sorting out dates for Sweden and Norway for early August and Japan for November!

I have also joined the office of Artists Worldwide as an Agent for bookings and can be reached at tpf@artists-worldwide.com .