Terry Dunn - Guitarist for Banshee

Terry Dunn is one of the most underrated guitarist of all time. With blistering guitar riffs reminiscent of the late Randy Rhoads, Michaell Shenker and Eddie Van Halen. Dunn has crafted those influences to his own defined style and signature tone.

He started playing guitar at age 12 when his mother bought him his first guitar as a birthday gift. First influenced by rock music when hearing Alice Coopers "Be my Lover" on the family car radio he was then bitten by the music bug and began his long journey of playing in countless bands. He then moved to LA in 1980 with a band called Granmax signed to LAX records. The project stalled and then Dunn moved back to Kansas City and was asked to play in a band that his sisters boyfriend was the singer in Called Frodo. Terry then out grew the gig being tired of doing cover tunes and was ready for something new, and he found it upon hearing Tommy Lee Flood. Flood's band (The Lick band) was playing at One Block West in Kansas City when he was introduced to Flood.

"He was the best singer I had ever heard!" Dunn said. Dunn then obtained Tommy's number and called him to discussed the possibility of starting a new all original band which would go to to become BANSHEE!

Banshee was hot in the late 1980's and early 1990's, but then they just disappeared. Well, they're back! They are on the lineup and will be playing at Rocklahoma 2008 this year. I recently had a chance to speak with Terry Dunn, the man who shreds guitar for the band. Overcoming addiction, the death of his parents and depression Terry is ready to come back with a vengeance. This is the first interview he has done in over 18 years.

[BR] So what happened to Banshee?

[TD] First of all for the record Tommy Flood had nothing to do with the demise of Banshee. It was poor management and a total break down of communication with our record label. You know the story. It happens to all bands at some time in their careers!

[BR] So what happened after the band split up? What did you do after that?

[TD] Well, I put together a solo project with some guys from Des Moines and it was going really well. We had a prominent music attorney shopping demos for us and then things just didn't work out due to some band member's personal issues. After that I was like, fuck this shit, and I decided it was time to take a break from the music buisness, which turned out to be a VERY long break.

[BR] So what were you doing?

[TD] Actually, fucking nothing, I was without a band for the first time in my life and didnt really want to be in one. So I guess I did what most people in my position would do, which was to drown my self in party and excess! The band did do two reunion shows in 1999 and 2000 at America's Pub and The Uptown in Kansas City, but that was about it for me musically during that period.

[TD] I went into a deep depression and really didnt care about shit! A few years later, I moved to Bakersfield, California for a teaching job which helped alot but my parents were not doing well and I moved back to Kansas City to help take care of them. Then my dad passed away after a long bout with cancer and my mom died about 4 months later from heart failure but I was there with them both until the end.

[BR] I'm sure that was hard.

[TD] Yes, it was the hardest thing I have every had to deal with in my life but, I know they are smiling down on me and with me at all times.

[BR] So you live in Cadillac, Michigan now. Why there?

[TD] Well, after my parents died I really did not want to be in Kansas City any more and I was sick of the City, so I went to Cadillac with a friend to visit his family and I loved it! It's so laid back and beautiful here, especially in the summer.

[TD] I came across a music store that had just opened that day called The Music Station. I went in to check it out and sat down and started playing and the owner Larry Bouza asked me if I wanted a teaching job. I said sure! So, I bought a house and stayed!

[BR] How did you guys get the Rocklahoma show?

It was harder than you think actually. Some fans had told us about Rock Fever Fest, aka Rocklahoma, last year. It was too late to get on 2007's lineup. Around the beginning of this year I called Brad White of CEU Entertainment and started discussing the idea. He was enthusiastic about us doing the show right off, reminiscing of Banshee back in the day. After two months of phone tag and email exchanges between Tommy, myself, Brad White, Max Baker and their assistants, we had confirmation that we could do the show. We can't thank Max and Brad enough for letting us be part of this incredible event. We are really looking forward to performing.

[BR] So will you be moving back to KC to put the band back together?

[TD] I will be going back to KC in June to rehearse and I'm not sure what will happen after that.

[BR] So where does Banshee go from here? What are your plans? Will there be a new music tour?

[TD] Tommy and I have been discussing those very questions. There has been a lot of interest in the band since the Rocklahoma announcement. We do plan on rereleasing a new CD set, basically a Best of Banshee collection. It should be available before summer. We do have a few other possible shows in the works. We have had 3 more offers in the last week to play festival shows in the midwest, for example. There has been some interest from a few record labels shopping the idea of re-releasing our early work, but we're biding our time on that at the moment. Hopefully, we'll have some of our music available digitally very soon too. Things are coming together for the band.

[BR] You have alot of influences but they all seem to merge into your own style. How would you describe your playing style?

I am really just a fast blues player with a little classical influence.

[BR] Who are your favorite guitarists?

[TD] Well, I have always loved Alex Lifeson of Rush. He is so expressive in his playing. Also, Michael Shenker is one of my very favorites and of course Randy Rhoads, he was so great and a great person. I was lucky enough to meet him in Kansas City just 2 months before he died. He was very cool! Eddie Van Halen is also one of the best guitarists to walk the face of the earth!

[BR] Speaking of Randy Rhoads. I heard that you auditioned for Ozzy after Jake E Lee was out of Ozzy.

[TD] Yeah. thats true. I was actually in LA At the time when this girl I know from Kansas City called me and she was dating the road manager from Ozzy. She had a demo tape of mine and her boyfriend had heard it. They wanted me to audition. So i stayed in LA an extra day and did the audition, which went great, but I was a little too late, because they had already auditioned Zack Wylde. Ozzy was pretty set on him and I think they made a wise choice. Zack is Awesome! I was told later that i was in the top 3 picks, so im just proud of that alone.

[BR] So what's next for you and Banshee?

[TD] Well this is so weird because I never thought in a millon years that Banshee would reform and we would be playing a show like Rocklahoma or anywhere for that matter. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens next. It would be great if we finally had our time to shine since things were so fucked up back then. Maybe the gods are with us this time, for once! I know that things happen for a reason and I am very excited about the future.

©2008 BansheeRocks.com - You have the right to freely distribute this interview. You must include this copyright notice and link to the BansheeRocks.com web site.