Art of Dying is currently on the Uproar Rockstar Energy Tour. After performing, they invited their fans to spend some time with them at the artist’s tent.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, Art of Dying took to the Best Buy stage in Bonner Springs, Kan. They welcomed the crowd to the tour, then began to rock the area. Around the stage were a sea of bodies throwing up rock fingers. As the band played chart topping songs such as “Get Through This” and “Die Trying” the crowd began to jump and sing along. Hearing the voices of the crowd singing in harmony with the band was an amazing experience, the vibes flowing through the crowd seemed to connect everyone to the music. After the set was finished, lead vocalist Jonny Hetherington invited everyone to meet them at the Art of Dying tent, saying that they would die trying to meet everyone.
Shortly after the meet and greet, Hetherington and Tavis Stanley hosted the Ms. Uproar contest while I got the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with the band. Cale Gontier was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions.
Elicia Nichols, PopWreckoning: How did you and the boys meet and end up getting together as Art of Dying?
Cale, Art of Dying: Everyone was involved in different projects. Jonny and Jeff brought everyone together and we all clicked and we eventually started to play music together. That was about five years ago. When we first got together we were all really cool with one another. It was a special connection we had from the beginning and it has stayed that way. We don’t like violence we just like to be cool and have a good time.
PW: Where did the name Art of Dying come from?
Cale: The Art of Dying comes from a longer statement. It is the art of dying is my live to live, meaning we must spend our time wisely.
PW: You guys have been signed to Disturbed’s label Intoxication, how did that happen for you guys?
Cale: We put demos out everywhere and somehow Dan got a hold of it and he liked it. Dan began following us on MySpace and saw our hard work. One day Dan called and talked with Jonny for about an hour and we did not hear anything until one year later when he called again. When he called back he asked us to open for Disturbed. That tour was pretty much a showcase for us we had no idea at that time that Disturbed had a record label. After the tour was finished they signed us and since then we have been on a few major tours.
PW: How many records have you released?
Cale: We have released one with Intoxication, Vices & Virtues in 2011. In 2007 we released an independent record called Die Trying.
PW: So your song “Get Through This” is featured on the Transformers 3 soundtrack, can you tell me a little about how that opportunity came your way?
Cale: Yeah, it is on the soundtrack. The soundtrack is completely different from the songs in the movie. We were just contacted and asked if we would like to have the song on the soundtrack and of course we said yes.
PW: When you are on stage how would you describe the vibes the crowd gives you and how does it feel?
Cale: It’s a special thing to be on stage and see the crowd get into the music with you. It’s nice to watch the crowd grow and it is fun to watch them sing and get into it.
PW: For those who don’t know your sound what kind of genres would you say the Art of Dying fits into?
Cale: We are into grunge, some hard rock mixed with a more modern rock sound.
PW: What is your favorite thing about being on tour?
Cale: I love waking up in a different city with my boys. We spend most of our time on the bus with each other, and when we have some time off we stay in hotels.
PW: So Jeff what is the key around your neck for?
Jeff, Art of Dying: The key unlocks the rhythm inside me.
Written by Elicia Nichols
