OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Riding high on the success of their debut album and a non-stop touring schedule, Sydney’s pop-punk rulers, HEROES FOR HIRE are excited to announce the release of their 2nd full-length album Take One For The Team on May 13, through Shock Records.
HEROES FOR HIRE made the jump from the highways of Australia to stereos worldwide, with their debut album Life Of The Party in April last year, a record any passing fan of Blink 182, Fall Out Boy and New Found Glory would be instantly enamoured of. Not surprisingly, their catchy-as-hell lead track Bright Lights In Paradise snagged the attention of Triple J Unearthed, who awarded the band the only Australian spot on the Sydney leg of the 2010 Soundwave Festival. The album debuted at #4 on the AIR charts, and held strong before peaking at #3 a few weeks later.
Since then, HEROES FOR HIRE have been gallivanting around the country on national tours with Fireworks, Boys Like Girls, House VS Hurricane, Hot Chelle Rae and The Wonder Years, as well as landing slots on the Come Together festival, and the inaugural No Sleep Til festival. They most recently completed a national support run with iconic San Diego pop-punks Unwritten Law, and they are about to hit the road again for the massive This Is Bat Country tour with Short Stack this July! Phew!
Even though the HEROES touring schedule would break a lesser band, the quintet still found the time to head to Baltimore, USA (in November/December) to complete their sophomore release Take One For The Team with esteemed producer Paul Leavitt, who had previously worked with All Time Low, Senses Fail and many more.
Take One For The Team is set for release on May 13, 2011 through SHOCK RECORDS and the band’s vocalist Brad took one for the team in answering our questions!
Let’s start with the formalities first, as there are probably a bunch of our readers who are not familiar with the band – how long has the band been together and what is the inspiration behind the band name?
We started the band in 2006 and have had a few member changes here and there. The band name was just something that I randomly came out with one day in the hope we could dress up for a photo shoot one day…this is still yet to happen 5 years on!
Can you briefly introduce each member of your band and give us a rock “n” roll fact or myth about each?
Right, well I’m Brad. My rock n roll myth would be that I don’t smell bad.
Potter is our bass player and his fact would be that he could out-drink almost anyone.
Lee is our drummer and the fact is that he is a bastard.
Duane is our guitarist / other singer and a fact is that he writes awesome songs even though he looks like a possum.
Lastly is Alex, who plays guitar as well. A fact about Alex would be that his family’s homemade Rakia (look it up) is a terribly awesome beverage.
Your 2nd album ‘Take One For The Team’ is due out on May 13th. How would you compare the songs you aimed for on this album compared to the awesome rock we hear on your first album?
I feel this album is the next step we needed to take; it’s a more fun upbeat album that really shows what our band really stands for. We also went into this record with the goal of writing a record as opposed to just random songs we had ready.
In terms of your songwriting, what do you consider to be the most important ingredients that need to feature in a Heroes For Hire song?
Meat pies and beers.
You headed to USA to record the album with producer Paul Leavitt. What drew you to Paul to make you head over to the USA to work with him on this album?
We kicked around a few names and Paul’s kept coming up, he had worked on a lot of records we liked. We decided it would be an adventure to record in Baltimore then try and make it to Perth for the no sleep till tour so we went for it!
In terms of production and sound, having benefitted from the experience of your first album, what did you set out to achieve on this, your second release?
We just really wanted to make a more flowing upbeat record that all fit together a lot better than our last record and I feel like we have really nailed that on this record, this record is a lot more fun.
Having given the promo release of the album and a few spins, I have to say one of my favourite songs on the album is ‘No Milk Will Ever Be Our Milk, with it’s crunching guitar riffs. What is the lyrical inspiration behind this song and do you have any interesting stories to share from writing and recording this song?
More than likely we went to O’Sheas, the pub next to the studio, at some stage during the recording to eat Baltimore crab soup and drink cheap tall cans of beer, then maybe watch a ravens NFL game. 
From my own interpretation at least, the genre of pop punk is certainly dominated by the likes of American bands such as New Found Glory and my own personal favourite, Bowling For Soup. How have you found the Australian market responding to the pop punk style of Heroes For Hire?
Australia has a long history of pop punk with Frenzal rhomb, the hard ons, Bodyjar and so on popping up. We try and do our own thing and just play good shows. Some of our friends in pop punk bands are killing it at the moment like Tonight Alive, Short Stack, Skyway and Highways.
You have twenty seconds in an elevator to try and convince someone to listen to your brand spanking new CD ‘Take One For The Team’, what do you tell them?
“Want to hear the new lady gaga record?”.
What or who inspires/influences your music the most, in both a lyrical or musical sense?
We write songs from our life experiences whether it is about friends, family, Girlfriends, partying or something we caught from that girl at the club last night.
What bands did you grow up listening to and how did they help create the style of music that can now be heard throughout your album?
The usual suspects, Blink 182, New Found Glory, NOFX, and Frenzal Rhomb. They are all bands that world wide made this genre what it is and had a huge part in the members of this band even liking music.
Having gone through the process of writing, recording and now releasing your two CD’s, as well as playing a whole bunch of live shows all around Australia….I gotta ask, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being in Heroes For Hire?
The fact that we get to meet so many amazing people out on the road whether it be other bands, fans or random people on the street. That and the fact we get a rider with alcohol in it now.
What touring plans do you have during 2011 beyond the upcoming tour with fellow Aussies Short Stack?
We have some rad shit lined up for the rest of the year but as usual can’t say too much just yet.
Speaking of touring, you have certainly done your fair share of live shows around the country in support of overseas touring bands. What have been some of the key experiences you have picked up from no doubt hanging out with bands such as Unwritten Law, Boys Like Girls and those that played on the No Sleep Till. Festival etc?
We definitely learnt that you need to give 110% every time! Whether kids are into it or not, those bands put on tight amazing shows day after day. It really is amazing to watch.
With 2011 already a few months down, here’s a chance to gaze into your crystal ball. In 2011, Heroes For Hire will have:
1. A broken down van
2. Lots of frequent flyer miles
3. Non-existent bank accounts
Essential Information
From: Australia
Sounds Like: Punk Pop Rock
Website: www.heroesforhire.com.au www.takeonefortheteam.com.au
Latest Release: Take One For The Team (Shock records)
