Q. Where are you based?
Talon are best known as a Midlands based band. Perhaps that's because the gigs in the early years were mostly around the Birmingham area. Also, the offices of Talon Music Limited known as 'Talon Towers' are based in Coventry and the PO Box is in Hinckley. However, having said all that, Peter originates from London but now lives in Hinckley. Chris is from Nuneaton but now lives near Ashby de la Zouch. Simon hails from Essex and lives near Ross on Wye. Tony's roots are to be found in Walsall although he now lives near Hull. Only Jonny still resides in his hometown of Redditch.

Q. Where did the name of Talon come from and why did you choose it?
Talon is an Eagles claw and was suggested as the bands name by Paul Outen, a drummer and colleague of Chris & Peter’s from their cruising days. When choosing the name it was important to have a name that gave us our own identity. We didn’t want to play on the word Eagles or an Eagles song title.

Q. Where did the Talon logo come from?
It was designed by the original bass player, Mark Jones.

Q. How often do you rehearse?
Because we are touring all year round, we only rehearse together for a few days before the Spring Tour when we introduce a new show. However, each member rehearses individually quite extensively before we get together. Rehearsals for 2008 should prove to be the most extensive to date with the release of the new Eagles album 'Long Road Out Of Eden'.

Q. Do you play anything other than Eagles songs?
Our show is called 'The Best Of Eagles' so therefore has to be Eagles or Eagles related. However, the Spring of 2005 saw Talon release their debut original album entitled 'Better Than Before' with a subsequent Tour the following Autumn.

Q. Why did you choose to pay tribute to the Eagles?
Chris and Peter’s vocal quality has been the foundation for many projects over the years. They wanted to build on that. The Eagles were the natural choice giving them the challenge to work with five part harmony and musicians that have the ability to double on several instruments. With Jon, Simon and Tony, Talon achieved the perfect line-up. It was also their judgement that enough people would want to listen to the Eagles recreated to such a standard that to get any closer you’d have to hear the Eagles themselves.

Q. Have there been any line-up changes?
Yes. The original line-up was Chris Lloyd, Peter Anderson, Conrad Carpenter, Mark Jones, Simon Millest and Chris Chaplin on sound. Mark was replaced by Jonny Miller in January 2000, Chris Chaplin was replaced by Dave Morris in July 1999 and Conrad was replaced by Tony Vegas in September 2003.

Q. Why are there only 5 of you on the photo's and website when there are usually 6, 7 or even 8 of you on stage?
Although Talon have always been a 5 piece band, since October 2000 we have augmented the line-up with guest musicians as and when we have felt it necessary or the budget has allowed us. Over the years we have used many superb Pedal Steel players, a String Quartet, extra Keyboard and Guitars and more recently Alto and Tenor Saxophone. We will continue to keep an open mind and always endevour to keep the show interesting and moving forward. 

Q. Do you have to pay the Eagles to sing their songs?
Yes, we pay a percentage of every performance to the Performing Rights Society.

Q. Is this all you do?
Yes. Talon keeps us busy all year around. Being a self-promoting band, all our time outside of touring is spent working on the next tour. Booking, marketing, finance and logistics. It’s a big job just to keep the vehicles in good order and have the hotels booked. All venues require marketing material as well as newspapers and radio. Venues are booked about 6 – 12 months before the actual event, and of course we have to keep on top of our performance. We are continually endeavouring to improve the quality of sound, lighting and production of the show. In January 2001 Chris, Peter and Simon started their own Production/Management Company called 'Talon Music Limited' to look after all the bands business affairs. They are currently looking at options to Produce other shows for Theatre and Manage other Bands.

Q. What does the future hold in store for Talon?
In the short term we will be rehearsing new material from the new Eagles album 'Long Road Out Of Eden' and looking forward to the rest of 2008 and touring our new show called 'Take It Easy To 'Eden'. As for the long term, we have always maintained that as long as we feel we can keep up the high standards we have set for ourselves and also that our audience keeps turning up to support us, the show will continue. Whilst we are all fully aware that there will be an end to this beautiful journey eventually, we sincerely hope that it will not be any time soon.

Here are our top ten questions that we refuse to answer.

1. Why don’t you have a snappier name like Showwaddywaddy?
2. Why don’t you do some Elvis and ABBA songs in the set?
3. Are you singing to midi disc?
4. Are Chris and Peter brothers?
5. Does Jonny Miller have a girl friend?
6. Is Vegas Tony’s real surname?
7. What’s in the bottles on stage?
8. I know all the words to Desperado, can I sing it with you?
9. Is a 12-string guitar twice as difficult as a 6-string to play?
10. Which is the best chord to finish a song with?