PERRY- The Templars are Carl-vocals & Guitar, Phil-drums, Chet-guitar, and Perry-bass. Carl's about to leave for Seattle for grad school, Phil's in New York, Chet's in Atlanta and I'm back in Illinois for the school year.
BB- How did adding Chet from APA add to your sound and is he still playing with you?
PERRY- Chet's a solid rhythm guitarist and he's been a great addition to the band. We definitely sound heavier now. Yes, he's still in the band, but we're taking a sabbatical from playing live for a while.
BB- I really dig the covers for the last two albums are they original if so who does 'em and if not where are they from?
CARL -We stole them from some books on the Templars. They're old paintings. Phil actually picked them.
BB- Where are the photos on the back page taken?
PERRY- The photos on the back cover of 'Horns of Hattin' were taken at a church in N.Y. I think the photo on 'Omne Datum Optimum' was taken in Atlanta but I can't really remember.
BB- After listening to the "Video Age" I couldn't help but wondering if you had ever read 1984 and where did the inspiration come from?
PERRY- Carl wrote that one, so I'm not sure what inspired it. I have read '1984', it's a great book and should serve as a lesson not to take freedom for granted.
CARL - Of course I read 1984 when I was younger. I was thinking about all the paranoid people and their conspiracy theories. They seem really crazy, but I see that there's some truth to their paranoia.
BB- Speaking of books have read anything good lately?
CARL - I just finished reading Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for the 10th time. Most of the other stuff I've been reading is school related and not that interesting. I recommend Harry Harrison's The Hammer and the Cross trilogy.
BB- Are the samples from the Templar Movies you mentioned before or from another source?
CARL - They're from the Amando Ossorio movies about Templar zombies. If you’re a horror movie fan I recommend them.
BB- Can you explain the principle of Ockham's razor for those who may not know?
CARL - It's a theory used by scientists which states that the simplest solution to a problem is the better solution. It can be applied to most things, including life.
BB- Do you think people focus on the interracial lineup of the Templars more then the points you make in your music?
PERRY- Most people seem to pay attention more to the sound of our music than to the color of our skins. There are so many multi-racial bands in the U.S. that it's not a big issue anymore. Maybe it's still an issue to some of the right-hand brigade, but that's their problem.
CARL - I think people focus on the music. That's the main reason people like or hate a band.
BB- Most Oi! and punk bands like to pretend that nobody in the scene lives in the suburbs. But you acknowledge them, why?
PERRY- The majority of punk kids in the states are middle-class kids from the suburbs, so why perpetrate? All of the Templars live or have lived in the 'burbs and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
CARL - Perry hit it right on the nose. I know plenty of suburbs that are harder than most cities.
BB- Was GMM’s deal w/ Victory the reason the "Horns of Hattin" was delayed so long and how did Red Distribution effect your sales?
PERRY- The CD delay was due to the cover. It took much longer to finish that we anticipated. GMM's deal with Victory had nothing to do with it. It has helped sales greatly. "Horns..." has sold more in three months that "Omne Datum..." has sold to date. We couldn't be happier. I used to play in a band with Tony Victory in the late 80's and have lots of respect for the guy. Got to give him his props for what he's done with the label.
BB- I read somewhere that you (Perry) weren't into the scene in Chicago (or couldn't relate), has that changed at all?
PERRY- It's not just Chicago, I'm basically out of the scene period nowadays. Playing with the Templars is my only real link. I've still got my friends, still wear some of the clothes, etc. However, the time comes when one must focus on other things and that's where I'm at right now. The rumor mill (which has victimized me many times) is another reason I keep to myself especially locally. Once bitten-twice shy & all that.
BB- On the new disc which songs were written by who?
PERRY- To be honest I don't remember. I think Carl wrote all the music on it. I wrote the lyrics to a few songs; "H-Street", "Shift the Blame", and a couple others.
CARL - Perry has been writing a lot of the lyrics lately, which is a blessing for me because I've been having problems writing new lyrics. I think I wrote all the music on the new one
BB- What is your favorite Templars song?
PERRY- Very tough question, but the first one that popped into my head was "These 4 Walls"
CARL - I like the stuff of the split with the Glory Stompers and the stuff on the 1118-1312 10". I guess Easy Way Out would be one of my favorites.
BB- When can fans expect to see any of these releases: Templars/Anti-Heroes split single, "double live album" project, Templars/Bulldog Samurai split ep, Full-length release entitled "Outremer"?
PERRY- We're still writing for the "Outremer" CD, Next release will be a singles collection. Not sure whether the other project will happen or not.
CARL -The split should be out by next month (Anti-heroes, March/April 02). I don't know about the Bulldog Samurai split. I'm still writing material for Outremer. It should be complete by the end of this summer.
BB- What else is in the works for the next year?
PERRY- Besides releasing a new album who knows. Carl & I are going to school full time, so playing live might be difficult.
CARL - Hopefully we'll finish Outremer and play some shows.
BB- The most important question to me, What will it take to get the Templars to play in Chicago?
PERRY- The same thing it takes to get us to play anywhere: Airfare, hotel, decent guarantee, and adequate venue...
BB- Do you think today's world would benefit form an order like the Templars or has the time for such ideas past?
PERRY- There wouldn't be much room in our fast paced high-tech world for anything like that I'm afraid.
CARL - There are groups that claim to carry on the Templars traditions, such as the Freemasons. I don't think an order like that would go over well today. It wouldn't be politically correct.
BB- When people are listening to the Templars what influence would they be most surprised to find?
PERRY- I don't see names like the Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, or the Who getting dropped as influences by many oi bands, so those would probably be the most surprising.
BB- Perry do you ever think of getting Chapter 21 back together?
PERRY- Mike (the singer) and I joke about it occasionally while we're out fishing but it will never happen. He's the only member of the band I'm still in touch with, he's got a family now, lives in Michigan and doesn't have the time. The other guys have lost touch with the scene completely and moved on.
BB- Phil is a Doctor, what are you a Carl doing and if your still in school what are you looking to do when you finish?
PERRY- Carl is starting graduate school at the University of Washington and is majoring in Scandinavian Studies. I'm majoring in Geography at the University of Illinois. I'm considering a career in urban planning, but who knows what I'll end up doing.
CARL- I want to find a job that pays well enough for me to pay of my loans. I'm looking into work at embassies and consulates overseas, though it might be kind of dangerous nowadays.
BB- Since you mentioned it, being a patriotic band from NYC what kind of effect has 9/11 had on you personally and musically?
CARL - Personally I am quite angry about it. Luckily no one I know was involved. I think everyone knew it would happen someday. Musically it hasn't affected me.
BB-Are you planning to put out any other bands on Templecombe and where does the name come from?
CARL - It's a name that Phil came up with. It's a place in England. I'm sure we will be doing more on Templecombe, most likely a rarities collection.
BB-How do you decide what to put in the CD inserts?
CARL - We like to put pictures of our friends and supporters on our inserts as a kind of thank you. The lyrics are usually available on the internet.
BB- What do "Qui desiderat pacem, paraeparet bellum." and "Les Brigades de segurite" mean?
CARL - "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." is a quote from Vegetius, a Roman military expert and it means "Let him who wishes for peace prepare for war." The other is French and means "The Security Brigades"
BB- Anything else you'd like to let your fans know?
CARL - Thanks for all the support you've given us over the years
