Interviewed by Brian Rademacher
Date: July 2010

Brian Rademacher: Hello Fred and Welcome to RockEyez

Brian Rademacher: Let’s go way back to WOLFE. What kind of music did you play and were they originals?

Fred Hendrix: WOLFE was my brother Ron’s and my first band. We played covers from SAGA, STYX, TOTO and so on. I also wrote my first music in this band, I was sixteen at that time.

Brian Rademacher: The first time you stepped on stage what was that feeling like?

Fred Hendrix: It was a real disaster. I was quite shy at that age (16) and just stared at the floor. I didn’t see anything or anyone.

Brian Rademacher: When you sat down to write your first song what was going through your mind?

Fred Hendrix: I really wouldn’t know because I don’t have an audio tape from that song anymore and don’t recall what the song was like.

Brian Rademacher: Thinking back at those early days do you feel you accomplished what you set out to do?

Fred Hendrix: No not really, I wanted to score big time but I guess I came in with TERRA NOVA 10 years too late by releasing our first album in 1996, whereas grunge was popular so I guess we missed the boat.

Brian Rademacher: Looking back what are some of things you miss as a kid?

Fred Hendrix: As a kid you live a carefree life protected and shielded by your parents not knowing what shit there’s in this world.

Brian Rademacher: Since you weren’t the original vocalist in TERRA NOVA did you have any feelings in replacing him?

Fred Hendrix: To be honest I had a real hard time replacing him. I was going from background vocals to be the main vocalist. When we were half way through the recordings of our first album I met my wife. I was afraid they would need a new vocalist but it turned out fine later but I wasn’t sure about it during the recordings.

Brian Rademacher: The first TERRA NOVA CD "Livin’ it Up" and the second release "Break Away" were both successful. How much has the band grown compared to those two releases?

Fred Hendrix: As was the third album "Make My Day". Well that’s inevitable after so many years and more stage experience. The strange thing is that we don’t often play together, as we all have different projects but once we get together it’s very easy and goes like we’ve never been apart.

Brian Rademacher: Tell me a little about TWO OF A KIND?

Fred Hendrix: TWO OF A KIND was a project I did as a songwriter/producer with Esther and Anita both very nice people to work with and with great voices. I wanted to go in the direction of HEART with it, but still different. Unbelievable that the album didn’t sell that well because the critics where just great (with it)!

Brian Rademacher: Let’s get into the new release. "Come Alive" starts it off with kind of a JOURNEY and NIGHT RANGER vibe. How do you go about picking what song is first on a TERRA NOVA release? Some nice guitar licks on "Come Alive" also.

Fred Hendrix: Well it’s just important to me that the first track should be the track that the listener knows right away after a few bars saying that’s TERRA NOVA. I always start off with an up-tempo song cause this is one of the things that TERRA NOVA is about.

Brian Rademacher: "Fighting Yourself "is such a great track that should reach AOR radio as it also has that arena feel. Were there any tracks that were left off this release?

Fred Hendrix: We only had tracks left on the first and second album. After that I knew exactly what I wanted it and how to write it.

Brian Rademacher: When you signed with Frontiers Records do they give you guidelines to work with on the bands sound?

Fred Hendrix: No, the only thing they wanted was that the line-up was me and my brother Ron and that it sounded like TERRA NOVA, which it does when I write and produce the songs.

Brian Rademacher: With your tremendous vocal range have you ever thought about doing theater? I say that because when I heard "Under Pressure", which is an amazing tune, I could see you doing soundtracks.

Fred Hendrix: Would be great, though I’ve never given it any thought.

Brian Rademacher: When you went into the recording studio what was the atmosphere like?

Fred Hendrix: Well I have small studio myself where I record everything except for the drums. With this album the guys haven’t seen each other only me as the recording engineer and producer. Like I said the drums where recorded in a different studio (I don’t have a big room) where Lars played the entire drum track on a guide that I made. He prepared well and I added some suggestions. Eric, Ron, Gesuino and I recorded all the tracks separately. This works with a band Like TERRA NOVA but I know it doesn’t work with many other bands.

Brian Rademacher: Have you any other projects in the works?

Fred Hendrix: I’m currently doing a Pop album with Esther from TWO OF A KIND. We have recorded and mixed eight great tracks so far. www.myspace.com/estherqueenbee

Brian Rademacher: What would you say is the best song in your career that you have wrote and what is your favorite song to play live?

Fred Hendrix: Honestly I wouldn’t know and I prefer to leave that up our fans. I’m proud of every track I wrote. I prefer to play many up-tempo songs mixed with a few ballads no matter what album but the last one is fresh and that is always a favorite I guess.

Brian Rademacher: If you could change anything in the world what would that be, and why?

Fred Hendrix: I would get rid off all the money in this world because it turns us into something we should not be… selfish and materialistic with no compassion for others.

Brian Rademacher: Hey Fred it’s been great and I see that Come Alive has been getting rave reviews on many sites, congrats. Would you like to say anything in ending?

Fred Hendrix: Thanks Brian for the interview and for our fans please keep rockin’ and check out our website for more news including tour news at www.terranova.name

Thanks,
Fred