Backstage Pass Radio

S4: E13: Perry Richardson - (Stryper / Firehouse) - In God We Trust

April 14, 2023 Backstage Pass Radio Season 4 Episode 13
Backstage Pass Radio
S4: E13: Perry Richardson - (Stryper / Firehouse) - In God We Trust
Show Notes Transcript

Date: April 14, 2023
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
Episode title and number:  S4: E13 - Perry Richardson (Stryper / Firehouse) - In God We Trust


Artist Bio -
Perry Richardson is an American bass guitarist who played in FireHouse until 2000 and is currently the bassist of Stryper.

Perry Richardson graduatedConway High School in Conway, South Carolina and went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina/Coastal Carolina in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

Richardson met C. J. Snare in North Carolina and started a band called Maxx Warrior. Eventually, they met with Bill Leverty and Michael Foster (who were playing with a band called White Heat). The four got together in Charlotte and started FireHouse in 1989. While with the band, they sold over 7 million albums worldwide and won an American Music Award in 1991 for "Favorite New Artist Heavy Metal/Hard Rock". He was inducted into the South Carolina Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1995.

After leaving FireHouse in 2000, Richardson played bass for country music performers Craig Morgan and Trace Adkins.

On October 30, 2017 Christian metal band Stryper announced that Richardson would be their new bass player to replace Tim Gaines


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Artist Media Handles:
Website - www.stryper.com
Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/perryrichardson777/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ThePerryRichardson


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Randy Hulsey 

 

Perry Richardson Master

Tue, Apr 11, 2023 8:26AM • 20:29

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

record, michael, striper, band, backstage pass, play, firehouse, Hulsey, good, couple, bit, house, songs, perry, studio, called, sing, great, correct, joining, Perry, Richardson, Perry Richardson, Stryper, The Final Battle, Firehouse, Love of a Lifetime, Randy, Randy Hulsey Music, Randy Hulsey Podcast, Backstage Pass Radio, Backstage Pass Radio Podcast, Interview, Podcast, Best Podcast, Music Interview

SPEAKERS

Randy Hulsey, Perry Richardson, Adam Gordon

 

Randy Hulsey  00:00

I have an exciting show today and I'm glad you guys are here listening in. My guest started out around the age of seven singing and gospel quartets and went on to play with several bands that would exceed combined record sales of 17 million units sold. Its Randy Hulsey with backstage pass radio, and my guest was former vocalist and bass player of the award winning band firehouse. And in 2017, he joined forces with Michael Robert and oz to round out the powerful hard rock quartet we all know a striper sit tight, and we'll see what's shakin with South Carolina zone. Perry Richardson when we return.

 

Adam Gordon  01:40

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge? Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcast. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio. Randy Halsey.

 

Randy Hulsey  02:09

Barry, what's shakin, man? How you doing today? Good to see you.

 

Perry Richardson  02:12

I'm doing great, man.

 

Randy Hulsey  02:14

Welcome to the show.

 

Perry Richardson  02:15

Thank you very much for having me. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  02:17

First of all, I want to give a quick shout out to Shelley for being instrumental and connecting us and this is probably the so I had Michael on the show a couple of times in the past, and we got pretty lengthy. So we're gonna have a quick chat with you today. And we'll go from there. So again, great to have you. Good to see you hope all as well.

 

Perry Richardson  02:38

Everything's great and awesome. Getting ready for this tour to get started. You know, we're doing supply dates this week and got the Masters rock cruise after that. And then we got a national grab a bus and we're out for like six weeks. So

 

Randy Hulsey  02:57

we'll keep keeping busy is a great thing, though, right? Yeah. Well, going back a little bit in time, I think you originally had started out in an outfit called Max warrior. Correct. And this was sometime around the end of the tenure with Max warrior. You met up with a couple of guys in a band called white heat. And that ultimately morphed into firehouse, correct. Do I have my facts correct? There? That is correct. And I was always kind of interested to know, like, when you hooked up with these guys, does an artist kind of know, right away that that band would probably go on to sell millions of units? Or do you ever know that? Or is it just kind of an organic thing for for artists?

 

Perry Richardson  03:47

No, you don't know, I have no idea what's going to make it what people is going to like, you know, it's like you can you try your best to just do the best you can and hope somebody you know likes what you're doing. But now we we met Michael and Bill, you know, out on the road and we were a nice lawyer and they were you know, kind of on the same circuit. We played up in Richmond area a lot too. And we did a show or two with them and was very impressed with Bill and Michael and it was that's why we had them in mind when the farmhouse sinks started so yeah, CJ got in touch with them and that's how it all got put together and we moved. kind of met Charlotte I was in Myrtle Beach. CJ was in Charlotte and and Bill and Michael are in Richmond so we just kind of all migrated to Charlotte got a band house and started writing and recording man for like a year. So that's how it came about.

 

Randy Hulsey  04:51

Well, you guys had a good run there. And I think you went on to win a like I think it was an AMA back in the early 90s sometime.

 

Perry Richardson  04:59

Yeah Yeah, I was in 91. Okay. And yeah, it was surprising because we beat Nirvana and Allison chains for their mouths open and eyes wide there for a while. Right. It was it was a great time.

 

Randy Hulsey  05:18

Well, that's not a bad accolade. The half there I wouldn't think Right. Right. Yeah. You had left firehouse around. I think it was 2000. And you'd spent some time with Craig Morgan and trace Adkins. But in 2000 I think it was 17. Some changes were kind of happening with your career share with the listeners a little bit about who had reached out to you about the rhythm section role. There was striper?

 

Perry Richardson  05:45

Yeah. I've been in national since 2001. And by that, Craig for nearly 14 years, or more total, because I left and went to trace Adkins for a couple of years and came back to credit. And I've been there and I was really wanting to move back to Myrtle Beach and kinda been playing are toying with the idea of just quitting, you know, I was going to quit them on the national scene and go back home and just see what happens there. And right before I made that decision, to do that, the striper thing kind of fell in my lap. So it was one of their managers ran into a buddy of mine, and in North Carolina, who's a little local promoter up there, and they started talking and something came up about striker might be looking for a new bass player. And he immediately wrote my name down and handed it to Dave. And it's like, you need to call this guy and Dave looked at my name and knew who I was, he'd recognize my name. And he's like, Oh, wow, Dave was in a band that open for one of the first shows where I think we're still called White Heat, okay, when we got signed or up before we got signed, we're playing the switch and Raleigh, and Dave's band at the Boys and these guys treated us so great. And they talked to us and, you know, gave us advice and all this stuff. And he always remembered me and thought, oh, you know, really nice to him. And also, he kind of pleased, man, I think it'd be perfect. And he pushed too, for them to audition me. And he called him up. And I said, Sure, we'll give him a shot. And I said, four songs down for me to learn. So we'll fly up in a couple of weeks. And we'll jam and sing a little bit and see how it goes. So that's how it that's how I got there.

 

Randy Hulsey  07:43

Yeah, so it actually was a physical audition for you to go to then.

 

Perry Richardson  07:47

Yeah, yeah, we were I was the first one went up, like four songs were in Michael's house and little studio had their, everybody's in there, and we're playing. It's like, we're just gonna play the songs without seeing, like, oh, well, I'd like to know where I'm at. I could not go by the book, or you know, is it still okay, sure. And I know, let's just play I'm gonna be fine. So we're just playing it and I'm trying to sing along in my head. Isn't that where I'm at and play the songs that I wasn't that familiar with and and he's like mad at know you played to the pic. And I was like, Well, I've never played with a pic until I moved to Nashville and start playing country and not that great. And playing with my fingers because I didn't learn that way. And I was always in the heavier rock. And I was playing fast. And I had a hard time playing fast and my fingers. So I was like, I can try to play with my fingers if you want but he's like, No, this sounds. This sounds great. It's a lot tighter. And he liked the way the attack was. Better time and all that said, like, oh, that's fine. You don't need to play with your finger. So like, cool. And we saw we played the four songs and a couple of times and he's so Okay, as good. Let's just say a little bit now. We're just saying acapella. No, you know, just singing harmonies. Yeah. So did that. No, I Okay. Well, that's good. And so we'll be in touch, you know. And so they didn't tell me right then. But they didn't even audition anybody else. They call me like two guys. If you want it said, you know, later on, he said, we knew when you walked in the room, you were the one we just had this feeling. And so it was, I mean, it was like a dream come true for me then because it was the perfect time and on top of being a striper, which was one of my favorite bands, you know, growing up and growing up was one of my favorite bands in the 80s. Yeah, you know, I could move anywhere I wanted because everybody lived all over. It didn't matter. We didn't have to be in one spot. So I got to move back home and join one of my favorite bands. So it was, it was

 

Randy Hulsey  10:04

crazy. If he said that we knew when you walked in, I would have to say they based it on your good looks because they hadn't heard you play or sing. Right? Is that? Is that a fair assumption? Surely it is right? You're supposed to go you're supposed to agree with that and go on with it. Right?

 

Perry Richardson  10:25

They said they saw my smile and just knew, yeah, abroad, this kind of, they say that I bring this calming effect to the band, where in the past, it could have been stuff going on. And it was all over the place all the time and said, You came along, and it just brought this calm and great feeling pulsating. And which is a great thing for him to say. But I mean, I that's it's just the way I am. But you know, when you're raised by great parents down south, right on, you know, you tend to be a nicer acting people sometimes are brought up that way, instead of being like, Oh, I'm from New York cussing them out.

 

Randy Hulsey  11:11

It's a South thing. I get it. I'm in Cypress, Texas, I get the whole sell thing, right, for sure.

 

Perry Richardson  11:17

Yeah, that's just the way I was raised the way I am. And yeah, they, they loved it. I mean, I don't think they've been around that many people. Right? We all fell in love with each other. And it was, it's been great.

 

Randy Hulsey  11:30

Well, that's good. And it sounds like you're in a great place. Michael's been a sweetheart of a guy to me. Again, he's been on the show a couple of times. And he's always been very generous with his time and his story. So I appreciate that. You and the boys are out on the road right now or going out supporting the latest LP called the final battle. Correct? Yep. I wanted to ask you a little bit about the you know, kind of how the recording for the final battle shook out. I know that if my facts are correct, you're of course in the Carolinas and Michael's up in mass. And then I think Oz and Robert are in Vegas or they both of them right? So I was wondering if was the recording a sending of files to one another? Did you guys get together physically in a location maybe in Michael studio, and record talk to the listeners a little bit about the recording of the final battle?

 

Perry Richardson  12:27

Dan now we physically together we we we got together two or three weeks before we record and and really hash out the songs, learn all the parts really good arrange doing any different arrangements we want to do and work out the vocal parts and all that stuff. And then we record it, but we do it in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Paul McNamara has a studio up there. And that's where we recorded. Michael's used him and Danny's engineer there. And they are two of the best people you ever meet. makes such a great time recording. And with that they have a giant, old house that was built in the early 1800s I think. So there was a horse stable and behind the house, all stone. And he turned that into a studio apartment above it. It was huge. So we just all stay in the house. The house is like seven or eight bedrooms, a huge house. Paul will cook for us. Nice. We're all in the house. And when we get ready to record, we just walk. You know, it's 100 yards down to the studio and record and it's the perfect setup. Yeah, get to live there. Then all your time there and really work on the stuff and make it good. Sure.

 

Randy Hulsey  13:52

Sure.

 

Perry Richardson  13:53

That's what we're gonna stick with this formula because it's been working Michael's used. He's recorded there with these guys. You know, I've got 12 or 13 albums. I think he says so. They're great.

 

Randy Hulsey  14:06

Well, you go with what you know, right?

 

Perry Richardson  14:08

It's such a such a good sounding room and Yeah, nobody's better than Danny and you know, engineering. And he's great at that. He's got great ears and producing a little bit it'll tell you, you know, parts are good or not. And it's awesome. And I wouldn't mess with it either. It's you know, for sure. You're sounding amazing.

 

Randy Hulsey  14:29

It reminded me of studio in the country in Bogalusa, Louisiana and you know, a lot of big artists went there in the day because it was a secluded place right. And you could focus on what you were doing there were no really outside distractions. So when you said that about we're all encompassed, you know, we're all together right there we walk 100 yards to where we're working and it sounds like it really drove focus for you guys. So and a great product came out of that.

 

Perry Richardson  14:57

Yes price a perfect situation. All except the weather.

 

Randy Hulsey  15:01

Yeah, exactly.

 

Perry Richardson  15:03

We're usually recording the winter. Yeah. And so cold

 

Randy Hulsey  15:08

stuff for a South Carolinian right. That's

 

Perry Richardson  15:11

like I'm used to you know, the winters are real bad down here. When it gets cold up there.

 

Randy Hulsey  15:16

Well, like in Cyprus, you know, we're in December. We're out in shorts still, right? It's still that kind of weather here. So you get it. What's coming up as it relates to new material may be that striper may be working on that you can of course talk about, is there anything looming out there that you guys are working on right now?

 

Perry Richardson  15:34

We know we're not working on any new albums yet. We're going to buckle down and concentrate on touring for this one. Okay, there's a upcoming album is coming out. It's already recorded. I don't even know if I can talk about it for sure.

 

Randy Hulsey  15:49

Well, don't don't don't worry about it, then.

 

Perry Richardson  15:51

It's an acoustic. Okay. All right. Yeah, they were read on a bunch of songs and I actually got to play on it. They had had this in the can before I was there, but I went in and rerecord it all the baselines and sang backgrounds on it. And, sure, I hope we made it a little better. Yeah. But that's got I'm not sure when it's coming out with that probably the next thing to come.

 

Randy Hulsey  16:17

I can dig that. That's exciting because I'm in an acoustic duo here in the Cypress Houston area. And the whole acoustic thing really resonates with me. So I'll look forward to that whenever it comes out. You'd spoke a little bit about upcoming shows, again, reiterate where you guys are going to be coming up what's on the lineup that you can remember, I know you're booked out to I think sometime around mid August if I if my memory serves me correctly, but hit the highlights there. Again.

 

Perry Richardson  16:52

The crews I told you about them were let's see what first show is on a good start the bus tour. We are in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Washington state, Oregon, California, California, California, California. Tucson, Arizona. Vegas 10. That's the that's the several shows will be in each of those states. That's the stage that we'll be hitting. So

 

Randy Hulsey  17:33

it sounds like you have the Midwest and the West Coast covered. Pretty good there. Yeah. Great. Well, I know you guys will be here in Houston. Saturday at Rhys rooftop and I look forward to getting a piece of vinyl and a guitar signed from you guys. So I'll see you you guys on Saturday Shelley? I'll you'll see something come in. If she's still sitting there. Yeah, you'll see something coming in on that pretty soon. Real quick. Perry. Where can the listeners find the band and you personally on social media?

 

Perry Richardson  18:08

Well, stalker.com Personally, I'm on Facebook. I have a personal page and a fan page on their Instagram. I don't do a lot man. Social Media Watch. Sure. You know, I don't know. I would try to post some stuff on Facebook and Instagram. But other than that, I'm not really that into it. You know,

 

Randy Hulsey  18:31

I get it. It's a necessary evil sometimes. Right? It is.

 

Perry Richardson  18:35

Michael's great at it. He's sure he's on there all the time. But surely has to be doing so much stuff around the house and I'm home I don't have

 

Randy Hulsey  18:46

the truth comes out Shelly. Right. Well, you know, it's probably better to keep all that to yourself anyway. Right. It's a blessing and a curse. As you know, I don't have to explain that to you. But in the industry in the business that we work in if you don't do it, you're not relevant. If you do it, you're you know, it can go against your for you like who knows at the end of the day, but Well, anyway, listen, Perry, thanks so much for stopping in and chatting with me. Shelley, thank you so much for the back and forth. I appreciate you. And I look forward to meeting up with you guys Saturday. And I wish you guys continued success on the road.

 

Perry Richardson  19:29

Thank you, man. I'm looking forward to being there. I love that. That club is cool. You know it is. Yeah, I had a great time there last time. And I think we've played with rad definitely last time we were there.

 

Randy Hulsey  19:41

I think so. Yeah. I think you're right.

 

Perry Richardson  19:43

I think I was right. So looking forward to it. Everybody come out and we'll we'll have good time. Yeah, right

 

Randy Hulsey  19:49

on. We'll chat soon. Perry.

 

Perry Richardson  19:51

Thank you so much. Thank you.

 

Adam Gordon  19:53

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio makes sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music, and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio