My name is Dane McCartney and I am the singer. We Jess Naputano on the drums, Chris Cassidy on bass, Ralph Circelli and Rick Voss on the guitars.

We actually did have three guitarists. The third one was also responsible for the keyboards. But he has cocky and arrogant and we do not have room for that in the band.

Well, I was in an original band called SCEPTER and we were on a CD release party where we played the songs with acoustic guitars. About a week later Chris, the bass player, and said You sound a lot like Bruce Dickinson and you will be perfect for JUDAS BEAST. So, I went to play with them as an audition with the intention to do a couple of songs and then turned them down because I actually did not have the time to do it. But it was like magic! We are all big fans IRON MAIDEN fans and the chemistry between us was just amazing.

I am a huge IRON MAIDEN fan and I do like JUDAS PRIEST.

Well yes. I like JUDAS PRIEST and I know what they have done to the Metal scene but I also believe that IRON MAIDEN have taken better care of themselves than anybody else and that back in the 80s they were sounding far better than any other band. I think that they have never compromised for anything even in their latest albums where the songs are long and not that radio friendly.

Yeah, I kind of agree with you. You know Bruce has been underrated for his frontman abilities. Many think that David Lee Roth is a better frontman but actually he is not that good singer like Bruce who runs up and down the stage and does a phenomenal job with the crowd.

Sure, there is no question about it. I was always a confident frontman but when you are presenting your own material you are really nervous about the crowd's response. And eventually you are holding back some of your vocal and on-stage capabilities.

I think we will. My proposition is to make a medley. One long song that will include 12 IRON MAIDEN songs or maybe do one from MAIDEN one from PRIEST and try to combine them all. I think it would be cool. I definitely don't want to do what the female tribute band IRON MAIDENS did; you know put an album with all the IRON MAIDEN with absolutely nothing new on them. I want to do something more that a cover version.

I am working with a guy who is in a Prog Metal band and actually we are putting together some recordings.

It's more like a project but if it turns into a full time band I would like to call it DISTANT MIND. Because I always feel that I cannot fit anywhere (laughs)

This is definitely Where Eagles Dare especially if you are going to sing like Bruce does. From PRIEST I have to say that Painkiller is the most difficult to sing because it is all falsetto. Actually this is what I like with Dickinson; all his notes come from his pelvis and not from the back of his head like Halford's. So, falsetto does not come naturally to me and this is difficult for me to do.

Paschendale is a really tough one. You know people think that with the new stuff MAIDEN follow something like a formula and that they do not work on their music. I disagree because some of this music is really difficult when you are trying to replicate. You get a new respect for them.

From PRIEST I will say Exciter. I don't actually feel that song and to tell you the truth I never really like it.

(thinking) This is a good question. From JUDAS PRIEST I would say Sentinel. From IRON MAIDEN believe it or not is Judas Be My Guide. Because we are JUDAS BEAST and would be nice and also has a melodic chorus that I really like.

I'd like to travel and go to places where IRON MAIDEN don't go frequently and give them what we believe is a good live experience. I want to get the chance to perform in large venues in front of big crowds and I think travelling is the answer to that. Because the US is really tough place on live shows.

Yes there is no question about that. There is a certain level of respect that I will never get by being in a cover band. I have my original band and music and I do want to do something on that.

No we haven't. There is kid in the Bruce Dickinson forum who is going to send to Bruce a CD with cover song from his solo career and with MAIDEN as a present for his 58th birthday. He will send this to the radio station where Bruce has his show on. We are going to do a live version of Two Minutes To Midnight. Actually we are the only band that chose to do a live version.

Yeah I had with a Russian guy. He was my vocal coach and actually he was very good. Before I went to him I had some serious problems keeping my voice in key. Apparently when I was singing in the lower registers I was doing fine sounding like Bruce but when in higher pitches I was loosing the key because I was trying not to sound like Bruce. So, he told to just follow my natural voice and that I sound like Bruce and this was a big compliment for me.

First of all thank you for doing this interview and for coming to see us live. I would like to say that I believe we have a strong product here and that eventually we will get some publicity and why not some die-hard fans like MAIDEN do.