As the bassist for Armored Saint and Fates Warning, Joey Vera has carved a unique legacy in the genre, spanning decades of uncompromising musicianship and reliable low-end on both these bands. With Armored Saint, he’s been an integral force behind the band’s dynamic blend of power, melody, and raw energy, while his tenure with Fates Warning has seen him contribute to the band’s progressive metal soundscapes, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.
Joey toured with Anthrax in the mid-2000s and more recently played with Mercyful Fate until conflicts of schedule led him to leave the band. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also a member of the hard rock outfit Motor Sister, along with vocalist/guitarist Jim Wilson (Mother Superior), guitarist Scott Ian (Anthrax), drummer John Tempesta (White Zombie, The Cult) and vocalist Pearl Aday (Pearl)
Armored Saint has been on a particularly tumultuous path. The loss of guitarist Dave Prichard, who succumbed to leukemia in 1990 was definitely the lowest point, and difficulties with the record company and the overall market landscape led to their split in 1992. Singer John Bush would join Anthrax and record a series of albums, and Armored Saint would only reunite in 1999, although their output would be sporadic back then. The release of 2010’s “La Raza” marked a period of more intense activity from the band, and nowadays they seem more active than ever.
Recently touring the U.S. and Canada in support of Queensrÿche and later doing a set of headlining shows in the US, Armored Saint had a handful of hectic few weeks and will take a break until the busy festival season during the summer months in Europe.
During their recent stop in Toronto, bassist Joey Vera sat down with Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf to discuss the recent tour, a few memorable shows from his past, and plans for the remainder of 2024. Listen to their spirited chat in the links below.
Podcast: Download (46.1MB)
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