Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Billy Talent On Their Past Struggles: "It Was Fucking Hard"

The Canadian rockers candidly discuss their bumpy road to success.

More Billy Talent Billy Talent Profile

They might be the band that Rolling Stone tagged as being able to make your blood pump faster than normal, but Billy Talent have opened up about their past struggles.

Lead singer Ben Kowalewicz has admitted that the band's long journey to success isn't far from their minds despite their critical and public acclaim.

“It was fucking hard man. We can get a bottle of whiskey and we can talk about it all night long,” he laughed.

Getting serious again though, Kowalewicz said, “I know it sounds hokey, but I knew in my heart of hearts it would happen and we'd get success. I just knew we had to keep going. We all had this innate thing in us to keep going. It wasn't like we wanted money or fame – it was about trying to get music in front of as many people as possible and that remains our aim.”

As the band continue to find success not only in their homeland Canada, but across the globe, Kowalewicz is certain they won't forget the sacrifices they made to get there.

“Any good story has a struggle. Anything worth fighting for is hard and being able to look back and reflect on everything can be confronting. When we were teenagers a few other friends of ours were in bands but gave it up for girls or whatever else came along. We didn't and have been in a longstanding relationship ever since.”

You can read the full story here.

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans