*RONNY MUNROE*

*Metal** **Church**, Rottweiler*

*Interview By: **Cameron** **Edney***

* *

*When you think of Thrashin Metal bands it's always the same handful that
come to mind, Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer & of course the mighty
Metal Church. **Metal** **Church** has been thrashing it up to audiences
across the world for over twenty years now and the guys are showing no sign
of slowing down any time soon. Last year saw the release of 'The Weight of
the World' which received praise amongst metal audiences around the world.
With a new line-up announced the band was back, bigger, stronger & louder
than ever! Almost two years on I caught up with front man Ronny Munroe to
speak about his time with Metal church, recording 'The Weight Of The World',
the new still untitled album, the new dvd, possible box set and much more!
Ronny Munroe is defiantly not a new face in the rock/metal world. Once front
man for Rottweiler Ronny has been singing up a storm on stage for over
twenty years in various bands until finding a permanent place in one of the
worlds greatest heavy metal bands! **Metal** **Church**! I hope you all
enjoy the interview.*

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Hi Ronny hows things mate? *

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Things are great!

*INSIDE_OUT666: First of all I want to thank you for taking the time out to
answer the following questions for our readers. *

* *

RONNY MUNROE: No problem at all, anytime!

*INSIDE_OUT666: I'd like to start by talking to you about the show you guys
played on September 2nd 2005. I believe you filmed the show for a new **
Metal** **Church** documentary. How did the show go & what can you tell us
about the documentary?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: The show went great; when we are on-stage is when the Metal
Flows, it's great! The Documentary is going to be called 'Beyond the Black'.
I believe it's going to be about the history of Metal Church. How it has
evolved from past to present & a lot of other things as well!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Has there been a release date set yet?*

RONNY MUNROE: No, not yet but stay tuned!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: In 2004 you became the new vocalist for **Metal**
**Church**& released 'The Weight of the World' which will be known as
one of the
greatest **Metal** **Church** albums to date. For those fans who don't know
much about you, fill us in on what you were doing up until the time you
became a member of the band?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Well, I've been around for a longtime, in the Seattle Scene,
I've done a lot of different projects over the years & been in a lot of
different bands but it wasn't until 2001 that I really made a jump into the
industry, I was asked to sing for 'Rottweiler', who had been around since
the early eighties, they needed a singer to play the Wacken Festival in
Germany in 2002. After that we were in the Studio recording a new CD when I
met Kurdt Vanderhoof & he asked me if I was interested in Metal Church & I
said Hell yeah!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: When the guys approached you to audition for the band did
you think you would get the job & what was the process like?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I had a pretty good idea, because Kurdt had heard my demos &
friends of his also knew me & heard me sing many times before. As far as the
process, we had a rehearsal, I sang one song & put the mic down & Kurdt
asked me if I wanted the job & the rest is history!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: I could never imagine how hard it would be to replace a
singer of any established band, the fans are always going to be the biggest
critics, how did they respond to you at those first performances with **
Metal** **Church**?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: It was very big shoes to fill! Both previous singers were
great. But I have a lot of confidence in my abilities & I deserve to be
here! As far as the first performance, there was a lot of folded arms &
prying eyes, but after the first song that goes away & most of the
naysayer's become believers. There will always be some people who do not
like my voice, because as we all know it's hard to please everybody.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666; Many fans may not realise that you played a big part in **
Steve** **Unger** becoming a member of **Metal** **Church**. I believe you
have played in bands with **Steve** in the past. Tell us more about your
relationship?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Steve & I have been friends for years & played in a few bands
together. When we were looking for a new bass player-he just seemed to be
the obvious fit!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: It's no secret that **Metal** **Church** has had a few
line-up changes over the years. Do you feel confident that the current
line-up is here to stay?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Yes! The line-up is set in stone! Were gonna be around for a
long time.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Metal Church were recently on the bill for the Metal Blast
2005 tour along with W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns & Stephen Pearcy, how did you guys
get involved with that?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Through our agency, we all thought it was a good idea to go
out & expose ourselves to that market. All the bands got along great & we
had a killer time.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: You also recently did a tour of **Europe**. **Europe** seems
to be the new home of heavy metal how did the tour go?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Actually, Metal never left Europe, in the 90's when grunge
took over here, Metal stayed strong in Europe, & today is stronger than
ever. Europe* *is a very important market for Metal Church & they have some
of the craziest fans in the world.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Do you do anything specific to warm up & prepare for a show?
*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I do some vocal warm up's, stretch out a little, drink a beer
& I am ready to go!**

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Do you guys have any plans in the future to tour **Australia
**?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: We would love too! It has been talked about but has not
happened yet! I'm sure after the next album comes out we will find our way
down there. I'm sure the fans are great & for me it's a place I have always
wanted to play!

*INSIDE_OUT666: When you're not in the studio or out on the road what do
you like to get up to?*

RONNY MUNROE: I like to go to the gym, spend time with my kids & write
music.

*INSIDE_OUT666: What can you tell us a little about the other members of **
Metal** **Church** that we may not know?*

RONNY MUNROE; I'm gonna save this one for the documentary! Next Please!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: I found it amazing that on your first **Metal**
**Church**album 'The Weight of the World', you wrote the majority of
the lyrics. With
most major bands the newest members never really get to contribute much to
their first album. In most cases the majority of an album would have been
written etc. You must have been very pleased to have so much input in 'The
Weight of the World'?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: That is the case most times, but after Kurdt gave me some
songs, & I wrote lyrics to them, he looked them over & liked them. I was
surprised & very pleased about that because that was a huge compliment to me
coming from such a legend from the industry.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: I'd like to talk to you about song writing. Tracks such as
Hero's Soul & Sunless Sky are just two of the tracks that evolved from your
own experiences. Do you feel that as a writer it is more important to write
from what you have experienced rather than writing from another perspective?
*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I write what I'm feeling from the music. My mood & feelings at
the time. I also write a lot about life's struggles & obstacles & one thing
I always try to do is keep it positive. There is enough negativity in the
world without me adding to it.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Every artist has there own ways of creating music, when it
comes time to prepare for a new album what comes first the lyrics or the
music?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Usually the music, Kurdt gives me a cd with a couple of songs
and I listen to them and then start writing what I feel.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Now you guys are currently working on a new album. How many
songs do you guys currently have in the works & can you tell us any of the
working titles you have floating around?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: We are tossing around about twenty five songs at this time &
as far as working titles, the fan's will have to wait until we are further
along until I can divulge any of those.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: What different factors have surrounded writing the material
for the new album?*

RONNY MUNROE: Being on the road and just life the last couple of years,
every year is another year of knowledge.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Will the new album be heading in the same direction that you
guys took with 'The Weight of the World'?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: As always we are going to keep it heavy & try to top the
'Weight of the World'. We are really going to focus on the roots of Metal
Church, the first two albums & try & recapture some of that magic.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: You mentioned that you guys are currently working on about
25 songs the new album. It's obvious that only 10 - 13 tracks will make the
final cut. What I want to know is will the tracks that don't make it ever
get released along with other demos etc from past albums as part of a metal
church box set?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: We've been tossing around ideas for awhile now and I think a
Box Set is a great idea and that's what we'll probably do, we'll keep you
posted on MetalChurch.com

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: To become a star these days it seems the only way to make it
would be to go on a reality music show like Idol or Pop stars (if you wanna
call it that), Rock Star Inxs etc. What do you think about the mass wave of
reality shows looking for so called "Talent" and do you watch any of them?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I watched 'American Idol' because there were Rockers on it &
I've watched 'Rock Star Inxs' a couple of times, what a great way to get
their name back out there, great marketing! But all in all I think people
should get out of the house & go to your local bar or venue & support the
local talent. There is a lot of talent everywhere!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: During the eighties I can remember seeing so many different
hard rock & metal videos hit our television screens but these days they are
few & far between, do you feel it is still important to spend so much money
making film clips that don't get anywhere near the airplay they deserve?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I say if you can afford to make one, do it, any exposure will
help your Band and you can make some cheap videos, So no I don't think you
need a lot of money on your video.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Some of your biggest influences are Ronnie James Dio, Rob
Halford, Bruce Dickenson, & Steve Perry all of which are fantastic singers;
What is it about those guys that made you want to become a singer?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Well they all have technique & power, melody, and they are all
great performers. Each one has his own uniqueness. I respect all of them
very much!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: In your honest opinion what do you think about the direction
that Hard Rock & Heavy Metal music has taken over the last few years?*

RONNY MUNROE: I think there is a lot of good music and a lot of crap, but
as long as you have the love for music, if it's crap or if it's good, it
doesn't matter. Because your still making music & that's what counts. Music
is always evolving.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Are you currently listening to any of the newer bands if so
who?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: There's so many, one that I like is Three Inches of Blood,
they're really good. Other than that I stick to the classics.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: What advice would you give to up and coming rock/metal
bands?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Stick to your guns, settle your differences like adults, write
good songs & don't give up, it took me twenty years to get here, it can
happen to you too!

*INSIDE_OUT666: After all these years in the business what goals have you
set for yourself these days?*

RONNY MUNROE: To continue to raise my worth in the industry, write good
songs have a good time and be able to support myself and my kids. Those are
my goals for right now.

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: If you could put a band together consisting of musicians
passed and/or present who would they be and what would you call the band?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: I'm happy with Kurdt Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington, Jay Reynoldsand
Steve Unger & that Band Would Be Metal Church!

* *

*INSIDE_OUT666: Any last words you want to share with our readers?*

* *

RONNY MUNROE: Support your local metal scene & most importantly... Keep
Metal Alive & We Will See You Soon! Cheers!

*(c)** **Cameron** **Edney** Sept. 2005 *

*To keep up with all the latest from the **Metal** **Church** camp check
out the following websites:*

*http://www.metalchurch.com*

*http://www.myspace.com/metalchurch*

*http://insideout666.mysite.freeserve.com*


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