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An Exclusive Q&A With Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connelly!

Growing up in a small town outside Vancouver, Canada, the three founding members of Theory of a Deadman lived a long way from any big dreams of rock 'n' roll stardom. But a demo tape placed in the hands of Nickelback's Chad Kroeger changed all that. Kroeger liked what he heard and made Theory the first band signed to his new 604 Records imprint. And the rest, as they say, is history.

As the band's second album, Gasoline, continues to gain momentum on modern rock radio, vocalist Tyler Connelly took a break from their non-stop touring to answer a few questions from ARTISTdirect.

AD: Gasoline came out over a year ago -- does it feel like it's been that long or does the time fly by when you're out touring and promoting a record like this?

Tyler: It feels like it was just yesterday we released our record, time flies when you're having fun I guess. We have been working very hard on this record and are so amazed how long we have been out on the road supporting it.

I hear the town you all grew up in is pretty small -- give us an example of how small it was (like, how many traffic lights)?

It wasn't that small but I have alot of great memories from my childhood there. Lots of trees and bogs. Everyone I knew played hockey and played in a band. It was just something you did. I never played hockey so I guess I spent more time on music. It was a small drive to Vancouver which is a big city and I was always scared of it when I was young. I'm definitely a country boy.

Your first big break came with having a song featured on the Spider-Man soundtrack -- were any of you fans of the Spider-Man comic books when you were kids?

No, not really, I watched the old Spider-Man catroon which was horrible. It wasn't even really a cartoon, more like moving drawings kinda like South Park.

Tell the world something about Chad Kroeger that most people probably don't know.

He still has the first car he bought after getting signed, a Dodge Stealth. I've been telling him for years to sell the fucking thing but he keeps it for nostalga, kinda like your first guitar.

Okay, so what's your beef with LA? You've got a song called "Hating Hollywood," and "Santa Monica" doesn't paint a rosy picture, either...is LA really that bad?

No, actually I don't. "Hating Hollywood" is a song about how people worldwide are drawn towards American culture and the myth of traveling to L.A. to live their dreams and "making it" only to have their bubbles burst because of the reality of it all. Santa Monica is a beautiful place that I have actually been to. After going there I decided to use the city name in a song about losing someone. Santa Monica became a metaphor for a better place the girl goes to, leaving me behind sad and lonely.

You recorded Gasoline in Los Angeles -- was your time in the City of Angels good, bad, or indifferent?

It was so much fun actually. We stayed in the famous Oakwood Apartments where a lot of bands stay while making their records. No lie, we were staying there when Rick James died. We saw TV vans and police and were wondering what was going on, soon to realize that Rick James had just died in the apartments.

Who's the cutie in the "Santa Monica" video? (We're talking about the girl, not Tyler.)

An actress from Vancouver...can't remember her name.

What's the coolest (or weirdest) thing a fan's ever done for you?

Banged one of our crew guys.

At what point did you realize the band's initials were T.O.A.D.? And are you cool with people calling you that?

Personally I like 'Theory' better, but whatever our fans like is cool with me.

Let's say you're all multi-platinum, spoiled-rotten superstars (like Nickelback, only more obnoxious). What special item does each of you have to have in his dressing room before each show?

Smoothie stand and Starbucks!! I love chai tea lattes. Man that sounds lame!

Theory of a Deadman's latest album, Gasoline, is available now in the ARTISTdirect Store.