KT: A couple of years ago, Slayer put up on their website that they were looking for a drummer when Paul left the band, Dave Lombard was temporarily filling in. So I sent my tape,
it was a video of me playing Slayer songs to their management. They said wow this is good & I ended up auditioning for the Slayer gig. After I did that of course Dave decided to rejoin permanently. In 2001 Slayer and Chimaira did a tour together
and became buddies with the guys. When Chimaira needed a drummer they called Kerry King. Kerry King was like this guy Kevin Talley is awesome you should get him. So they called me up and that's how I got it.

Q: On The new CD were the songs already written? Or when
you came into the band did you hand a hand at writing the new material?

KT: Yeah actually there were no songs written. We finished up the touring cycle for the last record. When we got home we started writing. We did like Mon-Fri for 6 hours a day, everyday and just sat down [then] wrote it all. I had a lot of input on this CD, so it was really cool. It was kinda weird at first cause their last drummer didn't have a lot of input. Mark and Rob would write the drum parts. I've always written my drum parts in every band I've played in. At first they were telling me what to play and
I was like whoa guys this isn't working out and they said the same. It took about 3 weeks but it all worked out eventually.

Q: How does playing with a band like Chimaira differ from playing with a band such as Dying Fetus?

KT: On a musical level I feel like it's just as brutal as playing in Dying Fetus. It doesn't have to be played at a million miles an hour to be brutal. I enjoy playing Chimaira's songs just as much asDying Fetus. I love both bands for different things, I mean I love f*cking playing double bass and headbanging and beating the sh*t out of my drums. On a professional level it's more consistent with Chimaira. With Fetus you never knew what you were going to get when you pulled up to a club.

Q: I understand you have an instructional DVD out, how did that come about?

KT: When Misery Index got their drummer, this guy named Matt. Jason and Sparky asked me to make a video for him cause at the time he wasn't very good. I made the video then they put on their website that he was a student of mine. I was like whoa dude. Then word got out that I had this video and it was a real ghetto video. It was like hey Matt here's a few of my techniques. Then people started emailing me wanting to get a copy of the video. I was like ah it sucks though. So people kept emailing me so I said I've got to make a better video, which it was still ghetto but way better than the first one I made. In March I make another one but this time my drums were all mic'd up and way more professional.

Q: How long have you been playing drums?

KT: 16 years.

Q: Who were some of your early influences when you first started?

KT: Lars was a big influence, Vinnie Paul, but Igor Cavalara is probably my biggest influence. When I'm writing drum parts I think what would Igor do. (Chuckles).

Q: How's everything been going with the tour and do you have any plans for any festivals this year or next?

KT: Tomorrow this tour ends. We have 3 weeks off, then we start the Danzig tour. That's going to be in October. We'll probably go to Europe early next year probably in January (of 2006) sometime.

Q: Thanks Kevin. Is there anything you want to say to the people reading this interview.

KT: Just come out to the shows, hang out and have a beer. Keep supporting us and please pick up the new CD.

Chimaira is:

Mark Hunter - Vocals
Matt DeVries - Guitars
Rob Arnold - Guitars
Jim LaMarca - Bass
Chris Spicuzza - Electronics
Kevin Talley - Drums

For more Chimaira information log onto: Chimaira.com.

Interview by Shawn Brandon - Copyright © 2005 Florida Entertainment Scene - All Rights Reserved.