Billy Klippert
 
Billy Klippert has proven that he has a right to be in the recording industry. This rocker from Calgary, showed nothing but class on Canadian Idol, never showed shame in performing in his own style when the show allowed it, and made it to the top 3. With a great first album on his belt, many shows in the books, Billy is looking ahead, to a new album, a theatre production and maybe if time permits it, a trip home. Billy graciously accepted my request to do an interview on the site, to launch with his spotlight page.

I have been looking forward to picking Billy's brain on the pre-Idol part of his life, and what lies in his future. Rocking our asses off seems like a pretty good guess in my books!! Read On!!
Toe: Billy, what have you been up to this summer? What is new with you?
Billy: I’ve been really busy this summer playing shows and writing the next record.

Toe: Have you been able to catch any of Rockstar INXS this summer at all? If so, what do you think of it? I think I would have liked to see you in a showcase like that, with a full band, playing some originals etc, than Idol. No dis on Idol, it just seems like the INXS thing is more open to letting artists be themselves..

Billy: I would have loved to be on that show but I’m very happy to be where I’m at right now. The one thing about the idol show that was a little frustrating for me was having to sing songs that really didn’t fit my character. Motown week still brings back frightening memories. haha.

Toe: Speaking of Idol, what is it with the 3rd place contestant being in my eyes (and many others) the potentially best person to win a competition? Yourself, Jacob H and now Aaron W, who I considered the best in the Top Ten this year were all by far the best to go out and forge a career in this business, and the general voting public did not agree?

Billy: I don’t know what to tell you about that one. The shows rigged that’s all that comes to mind. There are some really good things that come out of not winning however. I was able to pick my label and manager rather than having them appointed to me. I was also able to have a lot more creative control over the record than the winner did.

Toe: Tell me a bit about recording your first CD. You were a co-writer on many of the songs. Was it difficult to let others write material that you were going to perform?

Billy: I had a lot of influence over most of the material and I worked with some great people so it wasn’t all that bad. The record needed to be made in a very short time so I was kind of nervous as to how it would all turn out. I had months to record my previous album with my band Kovered In Lies so I was not used to letting things go so quickly. Overall I’m very happy with the how the record sounds.

Toe: Who were the musicians in the studio with you? Did they eventually come out on the road with you also?

Billy: Due to time restraints I really didn’t get to know the musicians that played on the record well but I enjoyed the experiences I did have working with them. This record is going to be a lot different in that regard and I’m looking forward to playing most of the guitars parts myself.

Toe: I was reading that you went for a real “roots” type of rock and roll experience back in 2001, where you actually packed up and went to Australia and busked?

Billy: It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I initially went Oz with the thought that I would fruit pick my way around the country but that all changed. I got stuck in a place in New South Wales called Warren. This place was very much like Hell. I had a girl that traveled around with me and we decided it would be a great idea to do a little cotton picking. When we arrived in the town ( a million miles away from normal human beings) I realized that my girlfriend was the only girl in a town full of lonely men. I’m going to try and make this story a little shorter than it is. The work was terrible, the heat was unbearable, I got into a hundred fights and yet I couldn’t leave. We only got paid once every week and the only bus out of the town left the day before pay day. I never could save enough to get out of that place, just week after week of slave like work living in a tiny tent in fear for my for my life. My dad finally bailed me out of there, I wanted to come home but he convinced me to go somewhere nice before I made that decision. I went to the Gold Coast with the little money I had. It was a great place just Heaven compared to where I had come from. Anyways the money ran out and there was no way I was going to go back to a place like Warren again. I had never busked before and had never thought very highly about buskers in general so I was a little worried about trying it out. Anyways to make a long story short I spend my last 20 dollars on some liquid courage and sat on the street with my guitar. I even though I must have sounded awful that night after a few hours I had made the exact same wage as I did in the cotton fields. I decided the next day I’d try it out without any added help, and I made about 60 dollars an hour. After a few days I figured where and when were the best times to busk were and things turned around. Some people would complain that I was to loud but I think the fact that people had never heard a busker screaming Smell Like Teen Spirit out at the top of his lungs kept me busy. I played everything I knew which was basically Seattle sound grunge music and people loved it. The cops didn’t care about my loudness or the fact that I had no permit they actually requested songs. My best night I made 279 dollars in 3 hours. Anyways I realized over a week that as long as I had guitar I could make enough money eat and pay for my little tent space on the beach. I ended up traveling all over Australia busking, and after 10 months I was able to upgrade to trailer trash.

I overstayed my working visa and eventually made enough money to buy a plane ticket to Fiji, where I arrived with 10 bucks but that another whole story.

Toe: How much has your life changed since you signed with The Orange Record Label? They seem like a great label for an artist. I have enjoyed how they have worked with me so far, in getting a hold of you to do this. Very open and friendly.

Billy: These people are made of solid gold. Recently my Grandmother passed away while I was on tour with Soul Decision I didn’t have the funds to go home for the funeral at the time so the head of my label paid for the flight home then picked me up from the airport and drove my to the next show. The label is made of very caring and skillful people. I am very happy to be part of their roster and look forward to growing with them.

Toe: What was it like working with Harry Hess? (I love Harem Scarem)

Billy: Harry is a very talented person, he knows how to get things done fast and right.

Toe: I hear you have a Live in Calgary DVD out. How did that project come about?

Billy: I have a great website (www.billynotes.ca) full of amazing people that have done nothing but been totally supportive. Some of them have taken personal initiatives to make things and spread the word about Billy. I am very appreciative.

Toe: Any plans to tour out West soon?

Billy: It will have to wait for a while but I’m looking forward to seeing all my fans and family back in the west soon.

Toe: So, what are the future plans? Any new material for an album perhaps?

Billy: I am working on the new record and hope it will be out before Christmas.

Toe: What is this I hear that Alan Frew (lead singer Glass Tiger) is going to play..your father in an upcoming theater presentation? What is that all about?

Billy: Snow White and the Grupov Seven. I can’t wait for this one. I play a dim witted member of a boy band called the Grupov Seven. I live in the Dwarfs house while they are away auditioning for the Lord Of The Rings musical my father is Alan Frew, who spend most of his time on the sauce through the play, my brothers are Ryan Malcom and Gary Beals

The theatre production starts in December and plays at the Elgin Theatre til the middle of February I believe. I’m very excited to work with Alan that guy is truly funny. I was fortunate enough to play a few shows with him earlier this year.

Toe: Billy, thanks for taking your time to do this, and I hope you let us know when you are in BC, and maybe we can track you down to see a show, and have another chat?

Billy: No problem man. Have a great rest of your summer