Riding with Killers may be a new name on the rock scene, but the members of the Detroit trio have seen more stages and logged more hours in the studio than most could imagine.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

My name is Taylor Roberts. I’m the singer and guitar player. Jed Thibeault just joined the band as our drummer a couple of months back. As far as a bassist, I don’t have a permanent member but I bounce between James Lascu (New Monarch) who also writes with me in studio, and Damon Austen Tate (Of Virtue, For The Fallen Dreams) for live duties. Dave Coughlin (sponge) has tracked drums in studio with me for the last few years and for the record I’m currently working on, I worked with my friend Devin Clark from Cane Hill. 

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Riding with Killers? How long has the band been around? 

My first band was Cathercist/Wild Fire that I started in my parents garage. I was apart of that group for a very long time until I left the band in 2018. Jed also currently plays for Michigan natives Avalon Black. 

I initially announced the band in 2018 even though I didn’t have any music ready but I knew that if I announced it, it would force me to work on it. We didn’t play our first show until September of 2021 opening for Tremonti and Sevendust. 

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

It’s always been Riding with Killers from the start. The name came from me meeting a man named Shane Bouvier, who I now consider family. We met on the set of “The Dirt” the Netflix Motley Crue movie, where we were both extras. After hanging out all day we exchanged numbers. He offered me a really cool job a few days later, asked if I wanted to make $2k in a week and that everything would be paid for (food, travel, hotel) and of course I said YES. Before we left for the trip he kept changing our mode of transportation and me being the paranoid person that I can be sometimes, thought it was a bit strange.

Why would someone offer me something so cool after meeting me only a few days ago. I ended up calling a mutual friend and said hey, is this guy cool? Or am I gonna end up scattered in multiple trash bags? To which our friend laughed and said “Man if that’s what he says it’ll be that’s what it’ll be”. It turned out to be one of the best weeks of my life and on the way home we joked about my paranoia and the name Riding with Killers came into my mind and after realizing no other bands had that name (which is hard to find) I went with it. 

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I’m the main writer for sure, but I’ve definitely had help from my producers Matt Laplant and Jakob Herrmann, and the guys I’ve worked with in the studio, Dave Coughlin, Tim Krukowski, and James Lascu. They’re all so incredibly good at what they do and anytime I’ve ever been stuck, the minute I’m with those guys everything gets figured out. It’s a team effort. 

As far as themes, a lot of songs are based in anger and sadness from the way I’ve been treated as a kid up until now. I’d like to think that as I progress in life, find more happiness, that the themes will evolve over time. But I write what I know and what I’ve experienced. 

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

I would say a mix of Alice In Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Elton John, Korn, Papa Roach, and Linkin Park.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Papa Roach’s Between Angels and Insects is what made me want to pursue guitar. I heard the opening riff and was so floored by it. I thought to myself, “I need to know how to do that!”

The biggest game changer for me though, was seeing and meeting Linkin Park in 2003. I was 14 and got to do a meet and greet from answering a trivia question while waiting in line. It’s beautiful when your heroes are actually cool people. Chester was so mystical and otherworldly. I still can’t believe I got to shake his hand and speak with him. I wish he knew what that meeting did for me. After meeting them and then being front row center for that show, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

I generally do a 10-15 minute vocal exercise and I’ll do a mini workout session with push-ups, a small ab circuit, and full body stretches to limber up. No one wants to pull a muscle on stage. 

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

There’s a few I’d say. Headlining the second stage in my home town for 97.9 CPR’s annual rock festival, CPR FEST, was incredible (I moved from my hometown of Gulfport, MS to Detroit) so to have my homecoming show be that, was a huge honor. I signed with Gibson guitars last year and Seymour Duncan this year as well, so it lets me know that we’re doing something right.

I’m currently in Sweden working on a second record, even though our first isn’t released, but when I got the opportunity to work with Jakob Herrmann (Vola, In Flames, Anthrax) I couldn’t say no. It was another form of validation and the fact that I get to come to the other side of the world to create is huge in my eyes. It feels like the journey is just getting started. 

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Alice In Chains and Nine Inch Nails for sure. Both of them have had such a huge impact in my life from lyrics to guitar riffs. But most of all I’d say Linkin Park, because growing up as an angry kid, they just had all the right words and notes to back them up. It was the first time I didn’t feel alone in the world. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to everyone streaming and watching our music video for HOSTILITY. It means the world! I've also just joined and am going to be playing guitar for Taproot, so I hope to see you all out there with both bands! 

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