Pic courtesy of: Exciter "The best thing about thrash and metal in the early days was the energy level it delivered and the riffs were genuine and sincere. Today`s band`s have great riffs but their trying to impress so much with speed that they are losing the quality of the music"

CR: Hey man how are you? First thankx for the opportunity, to get a chance to have one of metal Pioneer bands in our magazine is an honor! How does it feel to be respected as an old warrior that doesn’t give up?
John Ricci: A lot of bands tell us we`ve really influenced them with our music because it is so raw and high energy. We have gained respect from the industry because we haven`t given up despite the fact we`ve never broken through to the big time. We play music that matters to our fans so we stay to our roots, this is what our fans expect.

CR: Exciter finally got an album out after 8 years; what are or were your expectations when you finally released “Thrash, Speed, Burn” this year? I mean 8 years is quite a long time in the music business, did the idea of loosing some fans during that period of time ever crossed your mind?
John Ricci: Thrash Speed Burn is a continuation of what Exciter started in the 80`s.We knew the songs on this record were strong and we felt the reviews would be positive because we definitely captured that 80`s feel. Exciter fans are very dedicated and loyal, I don`t think fans would ever abandon us because we took too long to release a new record.

CR: Like with every single album there are good reviews and bad reviews, one thing I have read in some places is the fact that those who did not like “Thrash, Speed, Burn” blame the production for the so called “mistakes” on the album…how pleased are you with the final sound of the album, production wise that is?
John Ricci: Everyone has their own opinion about the production of TSB. We have recorded in many different studios throughout the world in the past 30 years. But, no matter what studio we`re in we always sound the same. I believe it`s because of the actual sounds of our instruments and the equipment in the studio really doesn`t matter. Our instruments sound old school and that`s the way the final production is going to sound `old school`. Some people like it some don`t.

CR: Exciter has had a pretty “difficult” path to find a solid line up, it appears that you guys change people pretty much on every album; which line up was in your judgment the most stable one in Exciter history? And how do you think this constant “personnel” variation has affected you guys?
John Ricci: Every time there is a line-up change the chemistry changes within the musicianship, this cannot be prevented. Luckily every line-up change we`ve had the fans have remained loyal to us. I believe the current line-up is the best, myself, Rik Charron (who`s been the drummer since 1996) bassist Clammy and newest addition vocalist Kenny Winter. This is a stable line-up because we all get along and there are very few disagreements.

CR: How do you see this “Thrash, Speed, Burn” stand in the history of Exciter, I mean to me “Heavy Metal Maniac” is still your best work, but how and what do you see this latest effort does for a band such as Exciter?
John Ricci: All I know is that TSB has received for the most part good reviews and we`ve been invited to play at numerous festivals and have had tour offers more than any other time in Exciter`s 30 year history. So, I think this record has made some sort of impact as far as power speed metal records are concerned.

CR: How much in your eyes has the music business changed since lets say 2000 when you guys released “Blood of Tyrants”; has the Internet and the album distribution changed much since 2000?
John Ricci: Since the release of Blood Of Tyrants in 2000, many bands are not bothering to get record deals instead just selling their product themselves on the internet. On the other hand record companies are also selling on-line and not solely depending on retail store sales. This is the way of the future. The good thing about being signed to a record label is that it gives you profile and people are more aware of you.

CR: You guys will be playing at the MQMMusicFest this year; which live performances do you prefer, this sort of festivals with lots of bands or to tour with just two or three other bands? Which venues do you think eventually help more when it comes to promote a new album and a bands name?
John Ricci: We are content playing either festivals or clubs we usually put on the same show no matter if we are playing in front of 200 or 20,000.
I think promoters of club shows do better promotion because they have more risk if the show does good or bad, where festival promoters know in advance approx. how many will be in attendance.

	Pic courtesy of: Exciter "I would have no reservations if MTV for example promoted us on a daily basis. I mean our music wouldn`t change, our look wouldn`t change, our attitude wouldn`t change but this kind of exposure would definitely promote us to a greater status"

CR: After years of playing, can you still go out on the road and play in long tours around Canada and the US for example, without reaching a point of fatigue that makes you forget what was so great about playing live. Now at this age do you know your physical limitations when it comes to touring?
John Ricci: When we tour we try to pace ourselves and try to control our partying, ha, ha! It usually takes us 2 or 3 shows within the tour to get into a physical routine pace. We do watch our drinking and partying, we do have a good time but not to the point where we cannot play our instruments.

CR: Did you think that perhaps the name Exciter could have been bigger if you guys would have come from the Bay Area? Was Canada a good place to play your kind of music back in the early 80’s?
John Ricci: If we lived in the USA in the 80`s instead of Canada I agree with you, I believe we would be a bigger band today. The American music industry definitely supported the whole development of this new form of music (speed, thrash, power, death metal. etc.) where Canada on the other hand didn`t really know how to grasp it or how to promote it.

CR: This might sound like a weird question (I swear I’m not a republican hehehe); how important was the support or the negative feedback given to you in the early days by your family…how did it impacted your music and your decision to stick to what you love?
John Ricci: All our families were and still are very supportive of our careers and I don`t think there is any negative things I can think of as far as family support. We are a very determined band so I think no matter what anyone would say to us negative or positive the drive and motivation will always be there.

CR: Is speed metal actually a genre within metal or just a description of a way of playing that doesn’t necessarily qualifies as a genre? There is some sort of debate about this; I will really love to hear what you have to say about this!
John Ricci: I believe speed metal is a genre within the metal description. When you say metal it could mean one of many styles of metal, (speed, thrash, power, goth, death, progressive etc). Metal is played with aggression and all these styles qualify.

CR: On a previous interview for lordsofmetal.nl you said that Exciter hasn’t achieved its ultimate goal and I quote you “which is to sell lots of records and constantly tour.” If MTV would try and promote Exciter on its daily schedule would it be something that will interest you? And do you have any limits any “principles” in how you want Exciter to achieve that ultimate goal?
John Ricci: I would have no reservations if MTV for example promoted us on a daily basis. I mean our music wouldn`t change, our look wouldn`t change, our attitude wouldn`t change but this kind of exposure would definitely promote us to a greater status. I would have no complaints.

CR: What do you think of this supposed “thrash revival” that we have been witnessing in the past year/two years, labels like Earache records for example putting a lot of emphasis on new kids playing old school thrash metal? Do you think that thrash needed such a “wave” of publicity to be put back in everybody’s mind?
John Ricci: I think this revival of thrash is a good thing even if younger bands are playing it. These younger bands have learnt from old school bands like us and therefore are reviving interest. I think it needed this wave because metal has had so many crossover influences mixed into the point where the roots of speed and thrash are forgotten.

CR: What was the best thing thrash or metal had when you started out playing back in the late 70’s, what have we lost during all this time, what are we forgetting about metal today?
John Ricci: The best thing about thrash and metal in the early days was the energy level it delivered and the riffs were genuine and sincere. Today`s band`s have great riffs but their trying to impress so much with speed that they are losing the quality of the music.

		Pic courtesy of: Exciter "Exciter fans are very dedicated and loyal, I don`t think fans would ever abandon us because we took too long to release a new record."

CR: In the early days of thrash, like you know better than anyone; I have to ask, how much of an influence do you think hardcore punk had on the early scene, because listening to early bands such as Black Flag or Minor Threat, it sounds like it did had a huge impact that perhaps today’s kids don’t seem to appreciate? Were you influenced by any punk or hardcore bands during those early days?
John Ricci: I really liked punk music in the 70`s and early 80`s.What blew me away is that I would go to a bar to see a punk band play 3 chords combined with tremendous energy and I was so impressed I thought if you combine metal riffs with punk riffs it would be a winning combination. This was the beginning of all those classic Exciter riffs.

CR: A part from “Heavy Metal Maniac”, name two other Best of all time thrash metal albums?
John Ricci: Other thrash albums I like are Anthrax`s early records and Destruction`s Thrash Anthems album for example.

CR: In your opinion what attitudes make a band worthy of the label “legends” is it just time, or memorable riffs, perhaps a combination of those, but what do you think makes a band worthy of that title?
John Ricci: I think a band that is considered `legends` is attributed to memorable riffs. A band that can put out one great record after another is a true talent and should be applauded by the industry, fans and journalists.

CR: How much longer do we have to wait until Exciter gives us some DVD material? Do you guys don’t like that format or the situation just hasn’t presented itself as for you to actually put one out?
John Ricci: We are featured on a festival DVD, Bang Your Head 2005 in Germany; it has 3 songs on it. But as far as our own full length DVD we`ve talked about it but it has never happened, hopefully sometime in the future. A DVD is a great format to capture any band because it is up close and personal and it shows the true emotion of a band playing great music like Exciter !!!

CR: Well John I just ran out of questions here, I just want to add, thank you so much for your time, good luck in the future and keep it old school my friend!
John Ricci: Thank you Carlos for the interview