During his first concert as lead vocalist for Shotgun Messiah, Tim Skold thought he was going crazy. It took him a few songs before he realized the voices he was hearing weren't coming from his head, but from the audience.

"It was amazing, because these kids were singing almost all the songs along with me," the Swede said in perfect English. "You don't need to lip sync when you've got fans like ours."
"I was concentrating so hard on not blowing my first gig (as a singer) that I blocked everything else out of my head. But after a bit, I relaxed and realized the fans were accepting me in my new job."
It's not like Messiah's disciples we unfamiliar with Skold, who, along with guitarist Harry Cody, started the group in their native Sweden. But back then, Skold was the groups's basist. When singer Zinny J. San quit, Skold took over the vocals and the group recruited American bassist Bobby Lycon. ("Bobby is the only New Yorker in the group, but it doesn't really show unless he's driving," Skold said.)
The band also includes Swedish drummer Stixx Galore.

"It's weird not playing bass on stage anymore, but it's kind of nice too," said Skold, whose hard rock band will open for Vinnie More Sunday at the Vic.

"When I was the bassist, Ikind of went overboard practicing. I'd lock myself in a room and practice for up for 14 hours in a row. After a while, music became a science rather than an art. It was crazy. I'm a lot more relaxed about music now."

"I'm not arrogant about it, but I do like to have fun with music. I don't go to a vocal coach or watch what I drink, because this is rock'n'roll," said Skold, who began his singing role just a few weeks ago.
"There should be a little temptation involved, I think (Guns'n'Roses singer) Axl Rose is proving everyone wrong. Not that we're anywhere near Guns'n'Roses in popularity or financially, but I think if you get to be too comfortable with what you do, you lose that edge. You can be a millionaire and still be frustrated. Axl still seems to have some motivation."

Shotgun Messiah's current album, 'Second Coming', showcases the group's eclectic musical tastes, from metal to rap to pop and even classical. Cody's blistering guitar work is the stuff that rock gods are made of, but his playing never distracts from the vocals.

Even though the musicians relocated to America five years ago, Skold said they still tend to feel "homeless". The Swedish music scene gave them very little support when they lived there, but accused them of selling out after they moved to the United States. Their bigest coup back home had nothing to do with music, but with "hiding" their hair so they wouldn't have to cut it when they served mandatory time in the Swedish army.

"Most people percieve usus as this Swedish band that went to Hollywood and became an L.A. band. But we never really made the scene here," Skold said, calling from his Hollywood home.
"We sell more records in Denver than in Hollywood, which I think is really cool. When I talk to my friends back in Sweden, even if I say I'm broke and am driving on an expired license, they think 'You're in Hollywood. You have a swimming pool and live with glitter and glamour.' I do like it here, butthe thing about Hollywood is, if you start to fit in, you should seek professiopnal help."

Jae-Ha Kim