Interviewed by Mark Balogh
Date: March 3rd, 2006

Since New Jersey-based rockers Trixter broke up in the mid 90's, not much has been heard from singer Pete Loran. Pete moved out west to Arizona and in 1999, he released a solo album titled "Be of This Time" on a small indie label. Well, it's 2006 and Loran is now back in the game with his participation in the Christian-based Justin Murr project named Liberty N' Justice. The album, "Soundtrack of the Soul", was due out on LNJ Records in the U.S. and MTM Music in Europe on March 28 and features a plethora of 80's hard rock vocalists such as Loran, Sebastian Bach, Mark Slaughter, Ted Poley, Russell Arcara (PROPHET), Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) and Stephen Pearcy to name a few. Pete was nice enough to play catch-up with us here at Rockeyez to fill us in on his participation in Liberty N' Justice, and to also talk about his solo album and his days in “the mighty” Trixter! So check out the review of the Liberty N' Justice album here at Rockeyez, and visit the Liberty N' Justice site and Pete's own personal website (and MySpace.com page) to keep up-to-date on the latest from both camps.

Pete, it seems like forever since we've heard from you! You are currently involved in a project called Liberty N' Justice. Can you tell us a little about that and how you got involved with it?
I was contacted by Justin Murr and he asked me if I was interested in doing a song for the CD. I said that I was, but it actually took about a year before we firmed things up. I really enjoyed being involved in the project.

Can you describe the song that you sing on the Liberty N' Justice album?
I had heard a few tracks and we were trying to see what would work for me. So when I heard "Thy Will Be Done" I knew it was a good match for my voice. The song is fairly laid back in the verse and then the chorus hits you real hard. Mark (Slaughter) (whom Pete duets with on this track-editor) is totally in your face on his part. When listening, people say his voice sounds a bit like Dio... now who doesn't think Dio has a great voice?

Back in 1999 you released a solo album entitled "Be of This Time". Can you give us a little background on that album?
The songs were just recordings that I was doing in my basement on an 8-track cassette machine. I was doing them just to please myself and to see what I could do on my own. I was seeing who the real me was vocally. I got approached by a couple of guys who were starting a label and they begged me to be the first act. So I caved in... the songs on the release are the basement tapes… they were never re-recorded. We got some great sounds considering what we were working with.

Can you tell us a little about the songs on "Be of This Time"? Were they written post-Trixter or were they songs you had around from the Trixter days?
The song "Jane" was written right after the first Trixter record. I brought it to the table for the second record and it didn't make it. Most of the other songs were written right around '96. You see I didn’t really start to find myself vocally until that time. The first Trixter record was tough because I had no idea what my voice was like. I hadn't been singing that long before we got our record deal so I was extremely rough in the studio. Anyway, the songs are about things that were going on in my life at that time. Things I would hear friends tell me or things that I directly had contact with.

The track "Stand Clear" is a personal favorite of mine off of your album. Your vocals are outstanding and the groove of this song is great! Can you share a little about this track in particular?
This song was written during a 3-day jam session at my house... yup, jam all night, get up, eat, and start jamming and drinking again! This song wrote itself... my buddy Mike started the groove on the drums, I was playing bass and my buddy J3 was on guitar... it just happened, even the melody. I just had to write lyrics. The song on the CD was recorded live except the vocals.

Do you have any favorite tracks off your solo album?
I really love the title track! Once again, my friend J3 and I wrote this song. It was actually written to go on Eric Martin's solo record ("Somewhere In The Middle") at the time. It didn't make it, so I kept it!

If memory serves me, after Trixter broke up you moved out to Arizona. Are you still living out there today and how are things going there for you?
Indeed I am still in AZ. I love it here... no snow!!! 60 degrees is cold to me now... what a puss!!!

Do you get to visit family and friends back in New Jersey much?
I do from time to time but they all love to come visit us here a lot!

Going back to your Trixter days, can you tell us a little about what led to the demise of the band?
There were so many reasons. The music scene was changing of course... we got dropped from MCA Records, fired our management and I think we all felt it was just time. It sucked and was good at the same time. I still talk to all those guys!!!  Check out PJ now in a band called Ra!

There has been mention of a Trixter live album being in the works for a while now. Can you tell us anything about the progress of this release?
From what I know, it's finished. I think there is still a thought of releasing it one day. Steve has been threatening to do it for years, so I know he will.

I also seem to remember reading somewhere that two new songs were recorded to be added to the live album. Can you tell us about them and when they were recorded?
First of all, the songs are really good!  The tracks were recorded back in '94 or so. I sang on one of them back then and totally forgot about it until Steve sent it to me to do new vocals on. I sang the stuff about a year ago and it was tough getting the spider webs out of my throat!!!

Do you stay in touch with the other guys from Trixter? Any idea what they are up to today?
Yes I do.... Steve is in 35 bands I think!!! (ha-ha) He is a busy dude...  check out Stereo Fallout!!!  PJ is in a band called Ra as I mentioned earlier, and Gus is an Indian Chief!

Can you tell us a little about your days in Trixter? Any great memories (or not so great) you'd like to share?
You know, we were so lucky to do what we did. All the memories are great. We did things most people can only dream about. I am so lucky to have been involved!

Are there currently any other projects you are working on that you would like to let people know about? Have you recorded anything since the release of "Be of This Time"?
I am working on a few things-some for me, and some for other people. I missed making noise so I put a nice little studio in the casa... I'll keep ya posted.

As I've seen on your website you have played some solo shows in the past out in AZ. Do you still get a chance to play out from time to time?
I have been slacking!!! I have been saying for a couple of years that I'm going to start playing out again… maybe just an acoustic thing... not sure yet… I've got the itch again!

What kind of music are you listening to these days? Are there any artists or bands that have really caught your attention?
I'm all over the place, just heard some demos from Guns N' Roses... WOW, I love it!  I dig stuff like Ours, Ra, Doyle Bramhall, Ian Moore, Kings X, My Chemical Romance, Tommy Lee (solo stuff), Avenged Sevenfold, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Linkin Park, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Muse, Papa Roach, Nickelback, Pillar, Audioslave and lots more!

Here's a bit of a fun question. What's in your CD player (car and/or home) right now?
All mix cd's in the car... like the people I mentioned above. At home it's iPod world... zillions of songs!

I guess that's about it Pete. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Is there anything you'd like to add before you go?
Yes... Check out www.libertynjustice.net, www.peteloran.com, and www.myspace.com/peteloran.