Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications
Leading Ohio-based Metallica tribute band The Four Horsemen—fittingly named after the classic 1983 Metallica song, formed in 2004 and solidified in 2010 and has since shared lineups and stages with artists including: Theory of a Deadman, Nickelback, Bush, Vanilla Ice—recently took time away from their current extensive tour to discuss the band’s success, the pressures to live up to their name (performing precise, album quality, crowd-pleasing songs from Metallica's first four classic albums: Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice For All, along with popular anthems from the Black Album), today’s rock music, interests and much more in this interview with vocalist, guitarist Sean Perry.
When you close your eyes at a live show, you can’t tell the difference between The Four Horsemen and Metallica. Is there a lot of pressure on you to carry out such a performance? If so, how do you cope?
There’s always pressure to perform at a high level.The best way to ease your mind is to prepare.We play this material more than anyone, even Metallica themselves with nearly 100 shows per year on our schedule.We are pretty busy each week, so there’s some comfort in the fact that we actually live this material week in and week out.The main focus is my vocal cords.I have to make sure my voice is in the best shape it can be feasibly.This isn’t easy since allergies, colds, lack of sleep, straining, screaming vocals for the old songs, dry ice/fog or cigarette smoke from the crowd at outdoor shows can irritate my throat.I can play all day.But the vocals are the one factor I can’t always control, so I do my best to keep hydrated, take vitamins and work out to help my body be in the best shape I can be.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced with being a successful tribute band?
Separation and growth.Separating yourself from the tidal wave of amateur Metallica ‘tribute’ bands out there.There’s so many that just barely get through the material, but fans don’t seem to realize just how bad the material is being played.We are the only album-quality Metallica tribute in existence.We’re the only band playing this stuff to nearly exactly what it was recorded like in the studio.Most bands I see, regardless of who they tribute, are not playing the songs that great.There are a few that really do it right for whatever band they are tributing, but I’ve not seen one Metallica tribute live up to that word “tribute.” Most just cover the material, average to poorly.It irritates me to hear the songs I grew up with, the songs that were my fight songs, be played at a subpar level. Growth is the other challenge.Opening new doors in new markets.Most every new market we get into already has one of these local Metallica tributes and they play for peanuts.It waters down the entire music scene when amateur musicians call themselves a tribute and start playing shows for next to nothing.Even amateur cover bands knee-cap other quality cover bands cause they’ll play for much less.Fans need to vote with their ears and their wallets.We cater to the discerning fan—the one that hears and sees the vast dichotomy between our band and the rest.When you’re pushing to get into a new area, it can be tough to gain the attention of new buyers.They don’t care who you are, they may not like Metallica or that genre of music, so you have to be pretty relentless and work past these people and find the buyer who will give you the shot you’re looking for.That’s what I do.Every day.
What’s your opinion on today’s rock music as compared to that genre in the '80s?
I don’t listen to today’s rock music.I wouldn’t know what they’re doing besides corporate rock.The radio industry was bought out in the ‘90s. There used to be a lot of indie rock stations.They’re all gone.There’s about three big companies that own them all now, so all programming is handed down by corporate suits.If you’re not on the labels they work with, you’re not on the radio.I grew up in the ‘80s. Music was organic.It was undeveloped and experimental in the sense that the artist was allowed to create it, not some corporate cookie-cutter handing the songs down to the player and within 30 seconds of each radio song you were already at the chorus.It’s way too mass-produced for me, so I don’t even bother listening to new bands.
If you could be in any other tribute band with timeless and recognizable songs, what band would that be and why?
Possibly an AC/DC tribute—if there was someone who could actually do Brian Johnson or Bon Scott justice on the vocals.But I’ve not ever heard anyone truly embody those vocals.I love old AC/DC.They were my first hard rock band.When I heard Hell’s Bells I was instantly hooked.I’d be happy with either the Angus or Malcolm role.Probably prefer the Angus role though. But I am totally happy and grateful with what I’m doing here.Metal is truly where my heart is at.Hard rock is a close second.
What do you do in your free time outside of the band? What are some of your interests?
I don’t have much free time.There’s always work to be done behind the scenes of a growing national act.But, if I could think of things I like, it would be working out, riding my motorcycles, watching comedy, sci-fi, or action movies. I like learning about nutrition, so I watch a lot of videos on that while I am researching venues and creating routes. I like investing in real estate and stocks, playing drums once in a while, hanging out with good friends and relatives when I get the rare time off, going to various tourist destinations once in a great while is nice as well.
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Watch The Four Horsemen “Master Of Puppets”