Jon Howard: So many crazy things. Two incidents that scared the (crap) out of me in the tour van were our trailer tire flying off bouncing down the road ahead of us. Our axle hit the ground, sparks flew everywhere, and we fought to get the rig off the road. We were up in northern Canada stranded in the middle of nowhere. Not fun! The other is when a deer jumped in front of the van. It ended up running out of the way but jumped back into the side of the van. We had chunks of fur stuck on our rig. Touring Canada is dangerous!
Describe the first show your band played.
The very first Threat Signal show was held in Hamilton Ontario at the Underground. We had been rehearsing, recording demos, and preparing to release this new band for quite a while, so the buzz was growing within the city and people were anxious to see us. I believe it was late 2004, and before the doors opened the line up was enormous. The club held about 300 people and we ended up selling it out. The fans were intense! Some people already knew the lyrics from listening to the demos online, and it was a constant mosh pit. At this moment I realized this is where I want to be for the rest of my life, and that I would always be playing music.
What’s the best prank you’ve played on bandmates or other bands?
We’ve done many things in the past like throwing fireworks, duct tapping stuff, putting vodka in water bottles, drawing on people’s faces when they pass out, and the list goes on. But the best story comes from my buddies in Protest The Hero, even though I can’t tell it as my story, I gotta tell it. They had a problem with one of the bands they were playing with, and when that band was on stage, Protest ate all of their pizza and took a dump in their pizza box. So after the band go off stage hungry, they had a special treat. I would have done the same thing! Honestly our practical jokes are small, silly and entertaining at the time, but don’t make great stories. That one does.
What’s the dumbest thing you’ve said on stage?
I said “How you feeling tonight Cleveland!” problem was we were in Rochester. I made sure not to do that again!
How did you get started in music?
My family is very musical. I grew up with violins, horns, piano, guitars, whistles, many instruments lying around the house that I could fiddle with. I actually started by taking piano lessons but quit because I hated the theory and the stupid songs we would have to play. I then took up playing guitar. The first songs I learned here Nirvana because they were so damn easy. I thought I was the best player around because I could rip on these simple songs. It’s was a great start for me.
What was your first band?
I was in a band called Armageddon back in high school. We basically ripped off Metallica riffs and played shows in my mom’s basement. We played a few shows at venues around town, but when the movie Armageddon came out, we changed the band.
Who are some fellow vocalists you admire?
Layne Staley is one of my favorite vocalists of all time. I also look up to Phil Anselmo, Speed Strid, Robert Plant, Chris Cornell, and a few more. Any singer with great range inspires me.
What is your all time favorite album?
That’s a tough question. I have so many favorites. Would be something from Alice In Chains, Metallica, or Pantera. Alice In Chains - Dirt I could never live without.
What’s the biggest misconception Americans have about Canadians?
That you can ski here in the summer and we live in igloos.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
I started a new band with my boys Christian and Raymond from Fear Factory. The band is called Arkaea and we released our debut album Years In The Darkness on July 14th 2009 on E1 records. If you like Threat Signal and Fear Factory, check it out!
