Theory of a Deadman

Theory of a Deadman's "The Truth Is..." debuts at No. 2, leading a pack of five new entries in the Top-15 on the Top Albums chart; Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" returns to No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100; and Craig Smart spends a second week on the Canadian Emerging Artists chart with "123". - Nielson Canada

Theory of a Deadman frontman Tyler Connolly is prepared for the backlash likely to be generated by his band's new song "The Bitch Came Back." The track, which appears on the Canadian rock quartet's newly-released fourth studio album, "The Truth Is...," is notable not only for the inclusion of horns and a chorus inspired by the children's song "And the Cat Came Back," but for particularly harsh lyrics excoriating an ex-girlfriend "so f**king stupid that she's singing along." It also includes the blanket statement "The trouble with girls is they're all the same / Forget the diamonds and pearls, they just want a ring."

In conversation with Connolly and bassist Dean Beck in the lobby of a swank Toronto hotel the day of the album's release, I tell the singer that I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt when I assume that he doesn't actually hate women.

"No," he says. "But they are all the same. I'm sorry."

Beck leans in to my recorder. "I want to go on record as saying my relationship... is wonderful."

Connolly laughs. "That's why it's good sometimes to be Dean because he can say, 'I didn't write the lyrics!' And all the girls are like 'f**k you, a**hole!'"

"Chicks dig it, though, man. Like the "Bad Girlfriend" song [off 2008's "Scars & Souvenirs" album], the label's like 'it's totally a guy's song; guys are gonna dig it,' and it turned out chicks love it. They just scream; they love that song.

"They'll like "The Bitch Came Back," Connolly adds, his confidence evident. "I don't know what it is. Chicks just love to be called bitches. Maybe it's because they ironically like to be one."

Um, okay. Controversial sexual politics aside, "The Truth Is" follows up the considerable success of "Scars & Souvenirs," Theory of a Deadman's third album and the first to make a real dent outside Canada. It went platinum and yielded the aforementioned "Bad Girlfriend," a #1 Mainstream Rock Radio hit, as well as the live staples "So Happy" and "By the Way."

The band, which also includes rhythm guitarist David Brenner and drummer Joey Dandeneau, recorded the new record in Los Angeles earlier this year over the course of two sessions with Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, 3 Doors Down) who also produced "Scars" and its predecessor, 2005's "Gasoline."

While other producers were floated, the band members insisted upon rehiring Benson, especially in the wake of the commercial beachhead they established in America with their last Benson-produced effort.

"I was like no, no, no, no, no," says Connolly. "Not now. I don't think it's a good time for us to get in a room with somebody we don't know and the guy's like 'I don't know. I don't like the song' and we're like 'oh boy.'"

The album's first single, the anthemic "Lowlife," explores the joys of being unrepentantly white trash. The video features actor Donal Logue (TV's "Grounded for Life") as a hillbilly who steals ice cream from kids and trades in his wedding ring for a bowling ball before accidentally blowing up the band's trailer. I ask Connolly why he thought lowlifes needed an anthem.

"Because there are a lot of them," he deadpans. "I guess it stems from the old 'you can't change something you can't understand' kind of thing. It's just anyone in general, whether they're broke or a dirtbag, they should be shown some respect. We get a lot of those at our shows so it's an anthem for our people."

Adds Beck diplomatically: "There are probably a lot of rich banker lowlifes, too, but they're a little harder to spot."

The band, which has shared stages with the likes of Mötley Crüe, Godsmack, Daughtry and Stone Sour, is set to criss-cross America in August as part of the Carnival of Madness tour alongside Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and Emphatic. More American and European dates will follow. Beck and Connolly are eager to play the new songs in concert and admit to writing with an ear to how their music will sound live.

"Because we always kind of go back to basics when we work on a song," Connolly says. "We'll get in a room, drink some beer -- I think that's really important -- and try not to make it so sterile. A lot of bands get big and content and gotta ship all their gear to some awesome rehearsal space, and they bring in their guitar techs to tune their guitars to work on a song. We just need rental gear, one guitar out of tune, beers, microphone... and it just takes us back to when we started in my basement. And so when we jam a tune it feels like we're on stage in some sh**ty club."

Indeed, while Theory of a Deadman has come a long way from its origins in Delta, BC, Connolly and Beck insist that neither the band nor its ambitions have changed much since they formed in 2001.

"I think to be a successful band you do have to dream big and always set goals," says the drummer. "I know that we've never become complacent with where we are, so just striving for bigger and better has always sort of been our mantra."

Adds Co - MSN Entertainment Sean Plummer

For Theory of a Deadman lead singer and Vancouver, British Columbia, native Tyler Connolly, living in Los Angeles for the album cycle of 2005’s “Gasoline” was cathartic.
“It was really refreshing to be down there,” Connolly said during a recent phone interview with LiveDaily. “It was always so nice and hot all the time. It was almost like it helped to
write some fresh songs. Vancouver?s a beautiful place, but it can rain a lot. Sometimes it can be a little depressing,
and it?s almost like it comes out in the writing. You write a little bit darker.”
The result of the time in the sun is the band?s 2008 release “Scars and Souvenirs,” which includes the guitar-
crunching “Crutch” as well as the singles “So Happy,” “Bad Girlfriend” and “I Hate My Life.” The album?s title aptly
describes its songs, said Connolly, whose band recorded Vince McMahon?s theme song, “No Chance in Hell,” for
“WWE: The Music, Vol. 8.”
“It?s more or less the emotional scars and souvenirs of the record,” Connolly said. “Throughout your life, you acquire emotional scars and souvenirs through relationships and whatnot. The album has a lot of that going on. There?s a lot
of stuff that?s happened in my life, it?s the emotional scars and souvenirs.” Aiding the band with its “Scars and Souvenirs” is former “American Idol” contestant and platinum-selling artist Chris Daughtry on the song “By the Way.” Daughtry and Theory of a Dead Man–a band that?s rounded out by guitarist
Dave Brenner, bassist Dean Back and drummer Robin Diaz–share a producer in Howard Benson, who hooked up the collaboration.
“He?s super down-to-earth,” Connolly said of Daughtry, whom he?s only spoken to on the phone. “He?s really nice.
He?s from North Carolina … I don?t know how to describe him. He?s a rock guy. He listens to the same kind of stuff
that I do. I think they need more people like him representing the scene.”
The recent album has been a breakthrough of sorts in the United States for Theory of a Deadman, thanks to the
raunchy single “Bad Girlfriend,” a tune that almost didn?t end up as a single. Connolly explained that the song was kind of an afterthought.
“The label didn?t like it and it was the very last song I sang on the record–and I didn?t even think I sang it that well,”
Connolly said. “I just thought, „Oh, whatever. It?s not going to be a single.? I kind of feel stupid now that I didn?t spend
more time on it. It still turned out great. But it?s one of those songs no one expected to do well. When the record came
out, everyone gravitated toward that song; it was just a no-brainer from that point on.”
Connolly, whose band will embark on a college jaunt with Hinder [ tickets ] this month, said the label didn?t like the
song because of its sexually explicit lyrics.
“I guess it was a very shocking song, especially from our band,” Connolly said. “We didn?t have any gritty, sleazy songs on our past two records. For them, there was a cheese factor they couldn?t get over. They didn?t know what to do with the song. It didn?t really matter. As soon as the fans loved it, things changed. That song and [the latest single] "Hate My Life,? those are two songs when we play live that fans just love to sing along to. We had to release it as a single. I?m glad that we did.”
The band recently wrapped up a stint of dates with Motley Crue, and will again join the ?80s rockers on their summer Crue Fest tour. - Cage Rattle.com - April 15, 2009

CD Review
Theory of a Deadman
Album Title: Scars and Souvenirs
Label: Universal Music Canada
Released: March 25, 2008
4 1/2 Stars

With the new single of "I'm so Happy" dominating the airwaves, fans can easily recognize the
strong vocals of lead singer Tyler Conolly and distinct rock sound of the band Theory of a
Deadman. Their new CD Scars and Souvenirs brings the heat with songs that make you want to
headbang along to the powerful beats, as well as some slower songs helping to balance out the
CD.
Beginning with a somewhat slower song, "By the Way" still has the capability to prove that this
CD is all about power and the desire to blow your speakers out! This is established by the deep, authoritative voice of Conolly and master guitar skills of bassist Dean Back and guitarist Dave Brenner.
This third album shines through with a lot of varying emotion. According to Conolly, "the
songwriting on the record is really about someone's past or and present, their relationships and how they shape everything." But it still shows passion whether it be a soft or fiery song.
The only quip I have is that every song, new and old, has a similar sound. It would be refreshing to hear something a little different and more exploratory of different guitar styles and studio sounds. But really, if you love ‘em then you love ‘em for their signature sound.
The CD ends with a similar vibe as the start, a little slower than the rest but still projecting great energy. The last song "End of Summer" is a very appropriate way to "end" a CD.
So for all you rockers out there, this is a CD you're going to want to pick up. And of course we all love to support some good Canadian rock talent!
Suggested Downloads: "I'm so Happy", "Crutch", "Girlfriend"
1. So Happy
2. By The Way
3. Got It Made
4. Not Meant To Be
5. Crutch
6. All Or Nothing
7. Heaven (Little By Little)
8. Bad Girlfriend
9. Hate My Life
10. Little Smirk
11. End Of The Summer
12. Wait For Me
13. Sacrifice - Amanda Waschuk, Calgary Correspondent-Canada, April 8, 2008