When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
EDMONTON -- For eight long years, Ben Kowalewicz carried a painful secret.
He was in love with one of his friends -- but couldn't get up the guts to tell her.
The affable Billy Talent frontman even wrote a song, Surrender, about his unrequited love.
Finally, Kowalewicz decided to follow the advice of his band's first smash -- Try Honesty.
The two are now living together.
"Every other girl I ever dated paled in comparison to her and every other girl I ever dated knew I had a thing for her," he says. "I wrote (Surrender) a long time ago -- but I got her in the end.
"
That's only one of the latest chapters in the (fairy) tale of Billy Talent.
After scrimping for more than a decade, Kowalewicz and his gang of punks are one of the hottest bands in the land, shooting big-budget videos with acclaimed director Floria Sigismondi and headlining their first arena tour -- including Thursday's sold-out show at Rexall Place.
"I can't complain about anything in my life," says Kowalewicz.
"We are really blessed and fortunate."
Those blessings include three Junos based on the strength of their bratty debut, 2003's Billy Talent, and its three hit singles-- Try Honesty, The Ex and River Below.
The foursome can count on a few more nominations for their second album, Billy Talent II, which includes Kowalewicz's ode to his girlfriend, Surrender.
Most of the dark and fiery disc was recorded in producer Gavin Brown's Vancouver studio, but the frontman ended up doing his vocals in a "hole in the wall" in Toronto.
"I can't sing anywhere else," he laughs. "It's weird.
It's a shitty little thing with disgusting shag carpets and purple velour padded walls. It's about two feet by two feet. I did all the first record there.
I like to skateboard to the studio -- or take the street car -- and work for a couple of hours, then go home. Singing, to me, is a big catharsis ..
. and I need to be in the right headspace. If I'm not in it, then I can go home for a few hours.
"
While Kowalewicz still feels uncomfortable in other studios, he has no problem revealing the inspiration for his songs.
He didn't like talking about his cryptic lyrics on Billy Talent's first record, but he feels he can be a little more honest with II.
Fallen Leaves was inspired by two friends who moved to Vancouver and got hooked on heroin.
Devil in a Midnight Mass recounts the story of a Boston priest who was sentenced for molesting more than 150 children over a span of 30 years.
"While he was in prison, somebody broke into his cell and killed him," says Kowalewicz.
"The story just really resonated with me -- it's the worst thing that a human can do to another.
I've gotten a bit of heat for the song, but this stuff does happen and even if it is an awkward topic, we do need to discuss things like this so we can prevent it."
To that end, Kowalewicz and his Talent-ed ones are donating some of their tour profits to the Kids Help Phone.
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