JON TORRES

-The ANGEL of WARNING

Mad by: Miggo

During the eighties there was a lot of activity in the thrashy US. The Bay Area sound was formed but there was loads of bands other than the "Big Four". Being into thrash at the time I stumbled on LAAZ ROCKIT at the end of the decade. From that band to perennial favourites ANGELWITCH there was a red thread - Jon Torres. Further bands that the man himself has been in are I4NI and THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG . But what about the man behind the mask? Me and Jon had a little chat to get things clarified.

The Underground Years
I'm told that from the start in 1980 Jon kept THUNDERHEAD running for two years before hooking up with Brian Poole and Tany Filari who would be partners in crime in various bands. The first effort was called HADES but that name wasn't kept for long. After that WARNING was a fact, and a going concern for four years. The replacement became known as ULYSSES SIREN A band that Jon thought the world of but also a very problem-filled band. After two years of problems Jon quit.

The Spotlight Years
In late 1988 Jon quit ULYSSES SIREN to join LAAZ ROCKIT, the band with the striking album covers. That adventure lasted for three years (and the title track to the third Texas Chainsaw Massacre series instalment) before Jon got dismissed. The very day of the hatch Jon joined ANGELWITCH only discover that legendary guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne was on the verge of getting deported back to England. That happened two moths later but Jon stayed with the Witch until Kevin put the band on ice in 1992.
Next stop was band with Brian Poole in the ranks again. Strengthened by former EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting PLEASURE AND PAIN started life, only to be renamed I4NI when former OVERKILL guitarist Bobby Gustafson joined the fun. After a year Bobby was leaving, Tom left and Jon once more left for pastures green. Not just any old field either but the indecisive Kev Heybourne who eventually reformed ANGELWITCH once more. After three more years in that fold Jon quit and got involved with THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG with whom he did an album.
At present Jon's left the LORD WEIRD and has his mainstay in three bands, ANGELWITCH, WARNING S.F and ULYSSES SIREN, back to the roots!

The Humble Beginning
But behind the gigging and the famous bands there's always the musician himself, with all the ifs ands buts. What got you started and when Jon?

Jon claims his cousin Greg provided him with the feeling for it but his brother and his cousin Dave got him motivated. The first band might be a bit of a surprise...
- I had been in bands at school from a very early age but, I played brass instruments...mostly the trumpet.

Apart from that earthshaker Jon and his bro. and his cousin played air guitar in his bedroom to bands like BLACK SABBATH, SEX PISTOLS and KISS, just like all normal kids, until the will to do it for real came along. Jon and the mates wound up with two guitars and a bass and the rest is history. The availability of both bass and guitars might explain why Jon's been caught on tape playing both varieties?

Warning S.F
The WARNING S.F-part originally started in 1982 as we've been told. The WARNING S.F idea came along 19 years later, why?

The band was formed in 82 and had more member changes than an infantry unit during WW2 from what Jon tells. They played alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH, EXODUS, MORDRED, HEATHEN, largely the entire elite of the thrash movement. But the constantly changing band seems to have been their own major enemy. The even operated as IRON ASSAULT for a short while. In 1985 they entered a studio to do their demo "Not a Chance in Hell" before they casualty list got into overdrive. Jon left for ULYSSES SIREN shortly thereafter.

The Unavoidable Comparisons
With so much experience under the belt I can't deny myself to ask Jon to compare WARNING S.F to LAAZ ROCKIT and ANGELWITCH. Any comments Jon?

- WARNING S.F is a bit different from both those bands but a bit like them both as well. WARNING S.F is more "gritty" than L R and A W but like them in certain aspects as far as tempo and technique. I´d say more like A w in the darkness and vocal aspect but a bit more like LAAZ ROCKIT in the tempo department at times. There are certain similarities but WARNING S.F is WARNING S.F. No comparison really.

There you go, word for word. This makes me even more sorry that Mausoleum haven't sent a copy.

The New Album
How many years of writing are we talking Jon?

Apparently the new album was written betwixt 1980-85 by Jon and Brian Poole. The seven re-recordings are old ones with new lyrics and new vocal arrangements by Torre Carstensen. The three bonus tracks are from the 1985-effort "Not a Chance in Hell" and are included to please the old school fans in search of nostalgia, yummy! All re-recordings were done with all new members apart from Brian Poole. Thunder drums with precision by Will Carroll from VICIOUS RUMORS and lead guitar extravaganza by Aaron Jellum.

Touring and media
- Yeah, what about touring! We were supposed to tour this year in Europe, but it doesn't seem to be possible at the moment. We should have some dates coming up soon.

Apart from that Jon seem really happy with the reviews he's seen and he has also been to Belgium recently to promote the album. Everything seem to be going according to plan, all we need now is a few Swedish dates to let them prove themselves. More news to follow at www.warningsf.com and www.mausoleum-records.com

All right that wraps it up. Be sure to check out the above net addresses and rest assured, the Angel of warning is here to stay!

Miggo