People Need A Little Joy: Interview with Gelatin Skelatin Vocalist Brad Kelly

On August 9th, 2024, Glam Metal "Resurrectionists" Gelatin Skelatin released their debut record Big Trouble via SRS/MVD Entertainment.

Gelatin Skelatin is comprised of vocalist Brad Kelly, guitarists Sebastien Thisdelle and Myles "Slam" Rourke (Annihilator), bassist Billy Jessup and drummer Joel Agnew.

Big Trouble is a love letter to a period and genre of metal that is cherished globally for its resilience against contemporary trends and its capacity to transport us back to a simpler time.

Recently, This Day In Metal (TDIM) had the opportunity to catch up with Skelatin's vocalist Brad Kelly (BK) to discuss the recording of Big Trouble, what makes 80's metal so revered, and his future plans for the band.

TDIM: Five years have passed since the inception of the band and the recording and release of Big Trouble; was it a natural timeline or concise choice to wait to release a record?

BK: "I had a limited edition EP last year to tide us over, but the time definitely feels right to put out our LP. People seem to be digging it so far."

TDIM: After listening to the record a few times through, the two words I would use to best describe it are “fun” and “seamless.” Was it an intentional choice to create such smooth transitions from song to song?

BK: "Thanks for saying so. I was hoping the flow would be good. I am glad to hear that it is. It works for me."

TDIM: Given that the consumption of music has changed significantly, was there a target audience in mind? (IE, those who prefer individual tracks or complete albums.)

BK: "I figure a lot of old school glam metal fans still like physical media, so the album is out on CD, I'll be doing the singles on streaming as they come, but my focus is going to be the album. We will also be making videos for the singles."

TDIM: Was there a process for writing the material? (group setting or file sharing)

BK: "I wrote a lot of the songs with collaborators online with file sharing; it was an interesting process. Now that I have a lineup locked in, I figure the next one will have more inner-band collaborations."

TDIM: Two songs (Ship of Fools, Scream & Scream Again) on the record were written by MikeTrebilcock (Killjoys); how did that collaboration come together?

BK: "I know Mike from the independent movie biz, where I also work. Mike wrote Scream and Scream again and suggested that Gelatin Skelatin would do a great job on a cover. I agreed, so we did it. Mike co-wrote If You See Kay with me and some tunes that will likely be on our next album."

TDIM: Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) has worked with some of Canada’s most prolific rock groups; what would you say were his main contributions to the project?

BK: I hired him to master the tunes. He did a great job. I saw Harem Scarem play live back in 1990, so it's cool to have him hear my music.

TDIM: Speaking of Hess, was the album recorded in his studio (Vespa Music Group); if not, can you share where/how the record was recorded?

BK: "Nope, I actually recorded the vocals at my friend Howard Sonnenburg's studio, and the rest of the tracks were recorded in home studios and emailed to me. Lol. The wonders of modern technology."

TDIM: Did you utilize any era-specific production techniques or gear?

BK: "No, all modern stuff. But our music is definitely 80s-inspired."

TDIM: How has the reception to the band/material been so far?

BK: "Amazing so far. The UK and Japan have been the first ones to catch on, but the US and Europe are starting to give positive feedback. Hopefully, we can tour the world and say thanks in person."

TDIM: You have some dates coming up in the next few months; what are their plans for a wider tour of the country, and what can fans expect from a Gelatin Skelatin performance?

BK: "I'm looking into some Canadian dates; promoters should contact me. We are also looking at revisiting the UK."

TDIM: What do you feel keeps people so enthralled with this particular period of heavy metal?

BK: "It was fun music that talked about having a good time, with no doom and gloom. People need a little joy, and I hope we can help with that."

TDIM: What is the best way for fans to connect with you?

BK: "Our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/gelatinskelatin we are also at
www.gelatinskelatin.com"

TDIM: Who would make up your Mt. Rushmore of Canadian metal bands?

BK: "Probably Helix, Killer Dwarfs, Lee Aaron and Kick Axe. But if Slik Toxik, Sven Gali, and Big House want to reunite and tour, please let us open. lol."

Track List

1. VHS
2. 80s Ladies
3. Bad Alphabet
4. Ship Of Fools
5. If You See Kay
6. Last Call For Love
7. Scream and Scream Again
8. If You Can't Do What's Right (Do What's Left)
9. That's Rock N Roll