Billy Talent Surprised by Four Juno Award Nominations

Billy Talent frontman Ben Kowalewicz swears he didn't expect to get nominated at this year's Juno Awards, even if his band consistently sells out arenas in Canada and has sold 800,000 albums domestically -- including 140,000 copies of their latest, 'Billy Talent III.'

The Toronto-based band is up for Rock Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year for 'Rusted From the Rain,' and Group of the Year -- not to mention they'll be performing alongside massive musical exports like Justin Bieber, Drake and Michael Bublé.

"To be totally honest with you, I don't even think about it," says Kowalewicz, who had just kicked off their Canadian headlining tour in Victoria, BC when the announcement was made in early March. "All of a sudden I was getting all these texts, 'Congratulations.' Like what the f--- is going on? Is Rachel pregnant?" he quips about his fiancée.

Kowalewicz had been playing with the same three guys -- drummer Aaron Solowoniuk, guitarist Ian D'Sa and bassist Jon Gallant -- for 17 years, starting with a previous incarnation Pezz until 1999. Billy Talent's self-titled debut came out in 2003 and the follow-up, 'Billy Talent II,' in 2006; the first sold 350,000 copies; the second 300,000, according to SoundScan Canada.

Billy Talent have previously been nominated 15 times at the Juno Awards and have won five awards -- Best New Group in 2004; Best Group in 2005; Best Album in 2005; and both Best Rock Album and Best Group in 2007. Kowalewicz calls their nominations this year "not too shabby" but adds that group of the year means most to him.

"It's a testament to how hard we work, and we work our butts off. It's nice that people recognized our ethic," he explains.
Although Billy Talent have attended and performed at the Juno Awards in the past, they're excited that the trophies are being handed out in the small Atlantic city of St. John's. The ceremony was held there once before in 2002.

"I've always heard from other bands that the Junos in St John's, Newfoundland is amazing. The people go off and it's a really fun weekend so we're super stoked to be, one, invited; two, nominated; and three, get a chance to play.

"This year Metric's gonna be there and they're good friends -- and Tegan and Sara, who I met a couple of times, I'm looking forward to hanging out with them."

While Kowalewicz doesn't play in the Juno Cup -- the charity hockey game pitting musicians against NHLers -- Gallant will get the chance to lace 'em up.

"He's so excited about it that he gets to play again this year," says Kowalewicz. "He plays on a hockey team with [Blue Rodeo's] Jim Cuddy so it's like an old boys club. And for these guys, for Jon, who is a huge hockey fan -- as am I, but I don't play hockey -- to get a chance to skate with Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour and get to meet all these ex-NHL legends is very, very cool."