Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly recently took a few minutes to chat with 'Loudwire Nights' host Full Metal Jackie. The conversation started with the band's newly named mascot, which was voted on by fans at Loudwire, then ventured toward the group's Savages album and what it's been like touring with Bush. Check out the chat below.

Tyler, you've got a newly named mascot Fall Out Phil. What made you start thinking that Theory of a Deadman might need a mascot?

I don't think we ever thought about it. I know we have this new guy I should probably remember his name that started doing some artwork for us, T-shirt designs and stuff and we just started thinking, "Hey we need some sort of theme or person or something to tie all these shirts together." So we had to ask him he could come up with some sort of cool image or mascot and we thought it was badass. So we thought it would be fun to do a little contest. We thought we need a name for the guy so every time we talk about him we have a name to talk about him. So we let the fans decide and they all came up with names and voted and that was it.

I think it's a pretty cool name.

Yeah, I like it. I mean it could've been something completely different but we would still go with it. It's funny because we could have faked it. You know, what if they picked something that was terrible or whatever? We could lie and say this is the winner. But naw, that's the winner. It's the one the fans picked, which is kind of cool.

Songs are a very personal way to communicate. Tyler, what’s the most uncomfortable way about opening up that much in your songs?

It's cathartic. You hear that word a lot which just means, you are venting out all your frustrations. Something the song is therapeutic in a way. That part is pretty cool because I get to write about all my issues with women and life or what not and then it's gone, which is great. I think the hard part is probably reliving it. People ask me what's this song about and then I have to explain it which kind of brings it back. But I don't know, I dig it.

You get a lot of fans commenting how the songs really help them in their lives and stuff. That part is amazing for me as a lyricist. You know, fans coming up and saying that part of a song really helped me with a breakup or depression or something. That stuff's cool because the stuff I'm writing is real and relating to fans and that's exactly what I'm trying to do.

You’re touring with Bush right now. Musically, what makes that band so compatible with Theory of a Deadman?

You know they're a rock band that's for sure. I think when we got asked to do this tour we said yes right away because we listened to Bush growing up. They've got a lot of great songs and you know women love Gavin. So we essentially thought there's gonna be a bunch of hot chicks on this tour. So why would we not want to do it?

Are there chicks throwing panties up on stage to him?

I haven't seen any panties, a lot of "wooing,” “take it off” and stuff like that. "I love you" and stuff. I've been married a couple times on this tour so far. A couple babies conceived. But I can't speak for Gavin, I think he's happily married with some kids.

Compared to other Theory of a Deadman albums, Savages is darker and more vulnerable. Are you able to listen to it without going where that’s emotionally difficult?

You know it's funny because probably like a lot of other bands we don't listen to our music much after it's recorded. It's not something we put in our car and listen to all the time while making it or performing on stage. Yeah, I don't know. We kind of came from this dark kind of thing. Our first record was very dark and dirge-y. We kind of just went back to that sound that we started with in 2000, 2001. It kind of felt actually more like a homecoming for us. When we play these heavier songs like "Drown" and "Savages," it almost feels like we are going back to when we were younger, learning how to be in the band and first time we were in the tour bus. That's the kind of feeling we get.

What aspects of this latest record Savages that were new to Theory of a Deadman would you like to continue to explore on the next album?

Well, we always have a bit of diversity in our records. There's a song we fought with the label with, it’s called “In My Life,” it's kind of a country song. It’s such a Theory of a Deadman song, but it’s pretty much a country song. We had Joe Don Rooney from Rascal Flatts come and play and sing on it and the label is like, what is this? What are you going to do with this? We were like, I don't know. We have no idea. But I think that's something we’ve always been able to do, I don’t think we’ve ever been pigeonholed as one kind of band. We’ve always been diverse. On this record, we’ve done something like that where it kind of worked. A lot of our fans dig that song and that’s something that, I don't know, maybe the next record we’ll do something cool and different as well.

Even after doing it for a while, what reaction to the new album caught you off guard?

Probably the new single, “Angel.” That’s the most ballad song we’ve released in a long time. Making such a dark record, it was such a contrast. The label was so obsessed with making the song a single and we were adamant about not having it be a single. It’s not heavy enough, it’s not rock enough, and as soon as we got it out there the reaction was the biggest one out of all the songs. It’s got the most downloads out of any song on the record, so we were kind of blown away by that. Once again, chicks love that song, which is a nice added bonus, as well.

Thanks to Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly for the interview. The band's Savages album is available via Amazon and iTunes. And you can catch them on the road at these locations. Tune in to Loudwire Nights With Full Metal Jackie and Tony LaBrie Monday through Friday at 7PM through midnight online or on the radio. To see which stations and websites air ‘Loudwire Nights,’ click here.

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