If you want to see the fire eating guy, the bearded lady, or just want to enjoy an eventful day under the big top eating popcorn, go see Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. Investing in a ticket to see Circus Diablo however will buy you some good old fashioned out of your seat, headbanging entertainment. This alternative band (fronted by Billy Morrison of the Cult) has taken off with an all-star cast and exceeded even the highest expectations. These boys have already rocked the crowds at Ozzfest and have blown your minds with their debut album. Read on about how Billy himself got into music and formed Circus Diablo, his journey on Ozzfest, and learn about the new video from their single “Loaded”…

Shout!: You’ve been in the music industry for about a decade. What got you involved in music to begin with?

Billy Morrison: I can remember watching the Sex Pistols on TV when I was just a kid, and feeling a change in my whole being. Almost a physical change. It switched a switch inside my head that has never been turned off since. The anger, the emotion, the whole look and feel of that band made it clear to this young kid that there was another way - another path that did NOT involve working in a shoe store or selling insurance. You might call it life changing!

S!: Tell us a little more about Camp Freddy!

Billy: Whaddya wanna know? I can tell you that the term ‘Supergroup’ is VERY overused these days. But it could easily be applied to Camp Freddy. It is a collective - a group of friends that work in the music business that honestly just wanted to do what we all love to do - play music. Jam on the cover tunes we all know and love. Get together with our friends, peers, other musicians that we respect, and play Led Zep, ACDC, Sabbath,
Pistols…anything classic (and a few left-of-center as well!). Oh yeah - and have FUN!! Remember that concept?? And we have been doing it for five years now. Me, Dave Navarro, Matt Sorum, Scott Weiland, Chris Chaney, Donovan Leitch…and a bunch of our friends. I fucking LOVE doing it.

S!: Do you prefer playing guitar or being in the vocalist spotlight?

Billy: I actually enjoy both equally. There is no feeling in the world quite like connecting with an audience, and knowing that you are entertaining them, and being able to speak to them, to sing to them, to connect with your lyrics. Circus Diablo has afforded me that luxury already, and I relish the feeling of being in that much direct contact with the audience. But playing a Gibson Les Paul guitar through a decent Marshall amp that is turned up fucking loud…I mean, THAT right there is the same kinda feeling you get when you drive a Ferrari or swim with sharks…at least it is for me.

S!: How did you come up with the name Circus Diablo?

Billy: I’m not too sure. I can’t clearly remember, but I do know that we realized the name felt right. It’s the Devil’s Circus, the freak show, the place where everyone who doesn’t fit can finally belong. No big tops, no clowns, no elephants, no bearded ladies… unless that kind of shit turns you on.

S!: Circus Diablo has only been around since early 2006. How did everyone get together and form it?

Billy: It really was an organic process. I’ve known Billy Duffy for years, and we just decided to write a song. It’s what musicians do. Over the course of the next year, Ricky Warwick moved to L.A. and got involved, and the three of us took our demos into Matt Sorum’s studio purely to hear what real drums would sound like on the tracks. 9 songs into this process, we all sat back and realized we’d made an album. Possibly the most un-stressful way to make a record and definitely one of the reasons why our album sounds so real and honest. Brett Scallions had left Fuel and wanted to branch out as a
musician. I saw him playing bass in a club in New York. Brett’s the shit! He joined immediately. Finally, Matt Sorum, although having played on all the tracks was unavailable and slightly busy! Enter Charles Ruggiero who nailed it from day 1 and has been part of the family ever since.

S!: You signed with Koch Records in April. When can your fans expect the debut album?

Billy: The album was released July 3rd in the U.S. and has since been released in Japan and Australia with a forthcoming European release very soon. In other words… it’s in stores now, kids!

S!: What is the writing approach you’re taking with the album?

Billy: As I said before, the writing process was very organic and most of the tracks involved writing the music first and adding the lyrics later. Although a couple started life as written word first. I wrote all the lyrics to the album and have been waiting for a long time to write this record. The ideas flowed quickly and having Billy Duffy and Ricky Warwick throwing huge rock riffs at you on a daily basis made it all extremely easy for me.

S!: Circus Diablo had to drop off of Ozzfest early due to your bandmates wives’ about to give birth. (Congratulations to them by the way!) Tell us about your short-lived experience on Ozzfest.

Billy: Ozzfest was quite simply the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Despite being the “odd band out” we were received with love and respect at every show we played. What I mean by this is that the second stage of Ozzfest has become a stomping ground for the extreme and heaviest of metal. Circus Diablo play hook-laden, riff-driven rock and roll, and it has a melody. I truly believe we were a breath of fresh air every day, and I have to thank Sharon and Ozzy for allowing us to be part of such a ground
breaking event.

S!: Where was your favorite stop?

Billy: Kansas - by far! From the moment I woke up on the tour bus, the skies opened and a torrential rain kind of like a tropical storm just came down on us. By the time we had to hit the stage, everything including our equipment was soaking wet. But the audience was not only one of the largest we saw, but one of the most receptive. The place went crazy, and I was off the stage and into the audience at every opportunity. When 5,000 soaking wet kids raise their hands in the air, and give you the horns up, it leaves a lasting impression.

S!: What was it like on the road with so many awesome dudes, including the
Prince Of Darkness himself, Ozzy?

Billy: Everyone on the Ozzfest is so fucking amazing. They all work super hard, and play just as hard. It was a great bunch of guys out there - the Hatebreedn guys were cool, as were Daath, 3 Inches, In This Moment…everyone was just awesome. And Ozzy? Well, he’s Ozzy Fucking Osbourne!! Watching him do his thing every night is a blessing. We should all appreciate that. Plus he’s an amazingly kind and genuine guy. The vibe on the tour was, as it is EVERY year, perfect!

S!: You just finished up with the “Loaded” video. What was it like being on the set?

Billy: What was it like? Hmmm - 13 hours of sitting on a tour bus waiting to be called to jump around for about 3 minutes!! No - I’m fucking about! - Well, kind of. It is a LOT of waiting about, but just like everything we have done, it was our concept and our baby, so we were all busy making sure that we got the right shots. Making a video is a long day, but we did what we set out to do, and thanks to Rage and his crew, we have an awesome Rock N Roll video.

S!: What was the concept behind the video?

Billy: It’s not the most ‘concept’ driven video in the world! This is Rock N Roll, and we wanted that to translate into the video. The song is about the similarities between sex and drugs…and how staying loaded one way or another was my goal for a long time. The video concept (if we have to have one) is that the black n white shots are what is going on in MY head, and the color shots are real life. It’s pretty much a great performance video,
with girls in it!!

S!: What can your fans expect next from you guys?

Billy: More touring, the premier of the “Loaded” video, more internet exclusives (V-Blogs, podcasts, interviews etc), maybe some small, exclusive acoustic performances, and another album (at some point!). Oh…and a movie that has both me and Ricky in it!! Evilution (horror movie with tons of blood!!) will be out next year.

S!: Are that any last words you would like to say to your fans out there?

Billy: Yeah. Do something nice for someone…and don’t tell them. I honestly hope you give the Circus Diablo album a listen, and I hope that you enjoy it. If I connect with any of you at any level, then my job is done. Everything else is a bonus. Peace, Billy.

• Official Site: http://www.circusdiablo.com
• MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/circusdiablo