Hedley Are Going Worldwide

Hedley marked 2008 by finally shaking the Canadian Idol stigma while their self-titled debut was certified double-platinum. Last year's Famous Last Words will soon receive the same honour. They won four MuchMusic Video Awards and were nominated for another Juno. But this isn't enough for the Vancouver quartet. Now they want world domination.

"We've done most everything there is to do in the Canadian music industry," bassist Tommy MacDonald said at the Gibson Guitar Dark Fire launch on Monday.

"We just signed a deal in Germany. Japan and Australia aren't too far behind. We'll be going to Germany in the new year and we're already scheduled for some of the biggest festivals there."

Hedley will play both Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park, Germany's Coachella equivalents. It will be MacDonald's first time returning to the country since he was a child. The son of a military man was born and raised there before immigrating to Canada in 1990.

"It will be cool to go back because I'm playing rock 'n' roll," says MacDonald. "To do half the stuff we're able to do because we play rock 'n' roll is the biggest kick I get.

"I never expected when I was a kid to get a record deal, let alone be doing the things we're doing. It's way beyond the scope of anything in my imagination.

Hedley's early years were notorious for Blink 182-esque mischief that didn't always warrant positive attention. With two records under their belt and a fresh international business plan, they're using 2009 as a platform to develop and mature as musicians.

They've managed to write 36 complete new songs between soundchecks and minimal amounts of spare time despite mass touring this year, and they're hoping to head to a studio in June or July to record an album tentatively scheduled for an October release. They'll focus on getting their music to foreign territories during the rest of the year.

"We were told when we did our first record not to get caught with our pants down for the next record," MacDonald said. "We took those lessons to heart and we write every chance we get.

"We're not too precious about who comes in with a song or who writes a song. We throw everything we've got at the wall and whatever makes the record is the best we have."

Maybe it's thanks to Canadian Idol, or maybe the band's killer pop-rock hooks, but Hedley fans are arguably the most diehard in Canada. They follow the band on tour, associate with them in person and online and devotedly spread the word to other countries, ultimately perpetuating Hedley's success.

"It seems when we put out a record they want to get it," says MacDonald. "They want to have the packaging, they want to see the pictures and read the thank yous. I think they just want to feel a part of it.

"There's a disconnect between a lot of bands and the fans, where the fans are content just to download music because they just don't feel that connected to the band. I think our fans feel that connection and really want to feel a part of that scene."

It's obviously working because Hedley have support throughout Europe and the U.S. despite not having a regular presence there. Perhaps international acclaim isn't so far-fetched.

"Everyone in Canada seems to be in the know about us," MacDonald said. "I'd like to make the whole world in the know about us."