Once Inside and Silent Majority broke up, it seemed that all of the Long Island bands from our golden era were gone. Instead, a brand new band was formed out of these two revered groups. That band was Blood Red. That was the fall of 2001. Now, one year later, Blood Red has released their first full length, "Hostage", on Initial Records. The record speaks to the Long Islander in all of us, and is one of the most sincere releases of the year. We caught up with Tom Corrigan, singer of Blood Red, at Backstreet Blues a ways back. Actually, before the album even came out, but it's still good.
Band Site: www.bloodred.net
FE: Okay, just for people who don't know, just say who you are and what you do in the band.
Label: www.initialrecords.com
Interview by Paul, transcribed by Rachel
Tom: I'm Tom, and I sing in Blood Red.
FE: How did the band start out? How'd you guys get together?
Tom: Well, my brother plays bass, and he was playing with everyone else in a band called Inside, and I was in a band called Silent Majority, and we all just knew each other, and started a band.
FE: How is it being in a band with your brother?
Tom: It's awesome. Not a lot of fighting, it's cool.
FE: Your new full album is out on Initial, I'm assuming you got that hook up because of the Silent Majority album…
Tom: Kind of, yeah. A little bit of both.
FE: How does this album compare to the EP?
Tom: It's a lot longer, and it's just better. The songs are more complicated, more driving. Its in the same vein, it's just a little different.
FE: The last song you played tonight, Suburbia what'd you write that about?
Tom: That songs about someone I knew when I was younger, like in my teen-age years, who I looked up to, and they turned out to be like a complete asshole, like a maniac.
FE: Well you've been doing this for a long time, what do you think of everything nowadays, like the Long Island scene?
Tom: I think the scene here is awesome right now. There are a million good bands, a cool show every week…I think it's up top. It's doing well.
FE: What are some of the bands that you like around here?
Tom: I like On the Might of Princes, The Wishing Well, Maybe Tomorrow, all the Suffolk bands, like Fall of Icarus…I don't know…I like The Staples, Movielife, and Taking Back Sunday. I like everybody.
FE: So where do you hope to go with Blood Red?
Tom: I just want to put out good albums. Just put out cool records. Tour a little bit, and just put things out.
FE: When is the album coming out?
Tom: album comes out in June. I'm not sure of the exact street date, but June.
FE: You guys are going to tour a little bit?
Tom: We're going to do a couple weeks in the summertime, and some weekends in the fall.
FE: Do you know who you're touring with?
Tom: I have no idea. Probably ourselves.
FE: Have you done any tours in the past?
Tom: We toured last summer for like 3 weeks. We went out to California and back. It was cool, it was hard.
FE: Who with?
Tom: Just ourselves. Booked it ourselves, and went and did everything ourselves. It was cool, it was tough. The road is tough.
FE: Do you have any advice for these new bands that are coming up?
Tom: Be original, number one. Do your own thing. Listen to all your favorite cd's and don't do what they're doing.
FE: Out of all the shows that you've played, what was your most memorable performance?
Tom: In Blood Red it would have to be we played in Lindenhurst at this little bar. It was like this little pirate cove, a pirate hang out called Diamonds. That was a cool show. Five bucks, it rocked.
FE: And with Silent Majority, was it the last show?
Tom: Yeah, the last Silent Majority show was pretty good.
FE: You have anything you'd like to add before we rap this up?
Tom: Thanks a lot for doing the interview; I really appreciate it, and good luck.