troysuit The following interview ran a few months back, but until we have a bio for Troy we will publish this for his bio! Troy is doing the majority of our interviews with bands so his face will become familiar to you if you watch our interview videos.

Band Rescue would like to welcome Troy Davenport, better known around social networking sites as The Troy Deezy Tapdance Extravageezy. Troy is a friend of my sons and fellow band mate in the band Even Idols Die. The following article was written prior to Troy’s airing on MTV True Life but we were unable to put it on the internet until after the viewing due to confidentiality agreements.

We wanted to ask Troy a few questions as he will be featured on MTV’s True Life of a Celibate this Wednesday July 25th at 9:00 p.m. CST. The show will be broadcast at the Premiere Cinemas in the Gadsden Mall and will be free to the public.

This is the first interview we have done of a band member and hope to bring many more in the future.

BR: Hi Troy! This interview feels strange because I’m normally talking to you in person rather than typing. I met Troy while my son was in high school. I want to take a minute and let everyone know why I personally decided long ago that Troy was an exceptional individual. Prior to Even Idols Die , the bands name was Grey Haven. Troy was not in the band at that point and one night during a show, the bass player sent his bass in flight around his body and hit my son right in the forehead. I hear he bled tremendously and that it was "pretty metal". troychatty1

Afterwards, I got a phone call to let me know that my son was on his way to the hospital. Troy decided that Mike needed to be seen and drove him there personally. I met them there and since Mike was faint from the blood loss, Troy rode with me to pick up Mike’s car and gear from the show. I will never forget that because Troy most likely had better things to do after the show, but was concerned about Mike and took care of business. That is just a small sampling of the kind of guy Troy is.

Troy’s car was broken into last year at our local mall. I remember one of the things Troy was upset about losing was the With Faith or Flames CD. At that point my son was in the band With Faith or Flames as a guitarist and I had picked up a couple of extra CD’s at one of the shows. So when I found out that Troy missed his CD, the only one I had left seemed to have his name on it. As you read however, the CD is just a minor part of this story of The Troy Deezy Tapdance Extravageezy.

Troy, thanks for giving us this interview…not that I threatened taking away the bands practice place or anything. (joking) Can you tell everyone a little about yourself and how long you have been into music as well as what bands you have played in before?

TDEEZY: Well before we begin I just want to thank you for choosing me to be the first person grilled for these interviews. So thank you very much!

I would first like to comment on the "bass-swinging-gone-wrong" incident, haha.
It was not a big deal at all to help him out.
I would do anything to help out anyone.
Especially a friend and especially a friend who is hurt or health is at risk.
I also understand how a parent must feel super distressed when they can not be there when their kid is hurt or in danger. So I just wanted to give you a sense of comfort knowing that someone was handling the situation. It's all out of love! haha

But back to the question.
I'm Troy Davenport. Most people call me Troy Deezy.
I'm 20 years old. I love playing in a band with great friends called "Even Idols Die," but most importantly I am a Christian that is very vocal about my beliefs.

I have been playing guitar and bass for 7 years now.
I didn't really get into Metal and Hardcore till about 4 years ago. When I found it, I knew it was the music that made my heart beat faster and harder.

I have been in only a few bands.
I started out playing guitar in a Punk band called "57 Down" Then joined a Screamo band, playing guitar again, named "Any Other Name"
After that I was briefly in a Hardcore band, on guitar again, named "A Bullet For Juliet"
Then Finally I got in with the guys of "Grey Haven" on bass guitar.
Then we changed the name and sound of the band to "Even Idols Die"

BR: MTV, True Life I'm Celibate, has been a road to discovery for you. One of a personal nature that you are about to share with everyone. Can you tell how this came about? Are you nervous that people will know more about you than they ever have before?

TDEEZY: It was absolutely a road to discovery for me.
My whole life I went back and forth, believing in God one second and then totally abandoning the idea the next.
I would think, "If there was a God, then why do bad things happen? Why do I have to suffer?"

One thing that is not discussed in the True Life episode is how I came to believing in God.
It was the most indescribable thing really.
I remember waking up one morning about 2 years ago with an urge to find out if God is real.
I remember praying that morning. It was the first time that I truly meant what I was saying in a prayer.
I asked God to show me something, to make me believe. Because I really wanted to.
Then I went out and purchased a Teen Study Bible that I still have to this day.

From that time on I believed in God.
However I was still struggling with the temptations we have in our world.
I still drank alcohol, I cursed, I would be hateful at times, I would fight people and I would have sex if the situation arose.
All while in the back of my mind I knew it was wrong. I still did it anyways.

All of this was leading up to about almost a year ago.

The night you spoke about earlier.
The night my car was broken in to.
Was truly a crucial night.

In that car I had: Books for school, baseball equipment, clothes, a few things I was going to sell so I could get money to eat while being away at college, a cd stereo system, an ipod and other various things.
All of them were taken from me.
Things I had worked for.
Gone.

Up to this point I was a total sinner.

I was about to start slamming my car doors, punching things, screaming and cursing.
Right before I did I had looked down at my wrist because I wanted to see what time it was.
But it wasn't my watch that was on my wrist.
It was a W.W.J.D. bracelt.
In an instant, I knew that what I was about to do was wrong.
I knew the way I had been living was wrong.
So I just stopped.
It felt like upon my realization all of my hate, anger and bitterness was taken from my body.

I stopped right there and prayed for the man that stole from me.

Not for me.
But for him.

I could go on and on but I would have to write a whole lot.

After this incident I realized I had to stop the other sins I was commiting.
I stopped drinking.
I stopped cursing.
I stopped being angry.
I stopped judging people.
I stopped having sex.

All of them had a different level of difficulty in ending. It seemed like I knocked them out one at a time.

After I had fixed these things and totally given my life to God, I came to one final lesson.

It was the end of November when a friend and I was traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama the night before the Iron Bowl match up between Alabama and Auburn football teams.
On the way there that night around 9 O'clock, just ten miles out of Tuscaloosa traffic became congested.
We were in dead stop. No cars were moving.

My friend and I were just listening to music when I heard her say, "Oh my..."

A car traveling around 70-80 MPH.
Hit us from behind while we were completely stopped.

It was absolute mayhem.
But at the same time it seemed like it was all in slow motion.

It was at this time when two seconds felt like 30.
During this time, in my mind I prayed to God.
I said, "God, I am ready"

I thought I was about to die. Although it may seem strange to some but I actually wanted to. I wanted to go where there is no sin.
I wasn't sure if I was going to go to heaven or not but I wanted to give it a shot.

It was then after I prayed, "God, I am ready."
For the first time in my life, I felt he responded.
In my heart he responded with, "I know."

The car hit us so hard that we were rammed into the car in front of us.
My skull bounced off of my window, shattering it.
My door was pounded in and rammed into my right side.
We skidded out into the median sideways.

After all was said and done, I had gotten the worst out of everyone in the wreck.

My left hand was gashed open and bleeding.
I had cuts in between fingers.
A piece of glass was lodged stuck in my nose.
I had two cuts on each side of my head that were bleeding.
A bloody nose.
And a right leg I couldn't walk with.

With all of this, I couldn't help but smile.
Because it was in the moment, those two seconds.
I realized if I would have died.
I would have gone to Heaven.

I felt like I had just won the Superbowl.
Sure, I was sore.
However, victories don't come without hard work and sacrificies.

In those 2 seconds when I thought my time on earth was about to end.
I told God that I was ready.
He told me he knew.

This showed me I was ready.
This showed me that every hard time I ever suffered through in my life had a purpose.
It was a learning experience from God.
I was no longer confused about my past.

As for the question about being nervous that people will know more about me than they ever have before.
No, I'm not worried at all.
If a person can't discuss and admit their mistakes to people then it is a mistake they haven't fully discussed and admitted to God.

BR: You have always been an upstanding individual and seem to strive more each day to be a better person. Where do you pull your strength from that gives you the energy to pursue life in such a positive way?

TDEEZY: Without a doubt it's The Bible. It is a blueprint for the way we are all supposed to live our lives. Every problem known to man can be solved by not just reading but studying and applying the Bible. I do so every night and at every opportunity.

BR: Your parents must be awesome people and I am sure family means the world to you. Have your parents always been supportive of your music involvement?

TDEEZY: My family is some of the greatest people in the world to me. I am so happy because here lately we have become even closer.
It's very easy for me to say that if it were not for my parents. I would not be in a band today.
I probably would not even have a guitar. They bought me guitars and amplifiers on more than one occasion and understand that I had a hunger for music.
They did those things even when I wasn't a very respectful and wise young man at times. So I am very thankful for them and everything they have done for me.
I love them so very much.

BR: What is it that brought you to the point where you made the decision to become celibate and has that affected your social life at all?

TDEEZY: I had an extreme thirst for God.
To be true Christian you have to stay away from sins. Sex before marriage is obviously one of those sins.
It was included in my list of things to knock out so I could become a true Christian.
Although I will admit here, to everyone that ask and I admitted on the show, that it was definitely the most challenging of sins to end. As for it affecting my social life. f anything it has made it better. When I go out with friends and other people I'm not thinking about "scoring with chicks" or "getting drunk."
I am going out to be with my friends and to build relationships.
Because the love and relationships you form in your heart is what you take with you when you die.
Not a girl or a beer.

BR: You have been attending college at Snead State and are transferring to the University of Alabama in the fall. What is your major?

TDEEZY: I will be majoring in Political Science, minoring in Theater. Hopefully after I am through with that I can attend Law School.

BR: You are also a model with an agency in Atlanta, GA who has done some up close and personal photo shoots with gorgeous young women. How do you get past the beauty and the fact that you have made this commitment to be celibate?

TDEEZY: I just keep in my mind that this is a job.
Sure, if I work with girls, they will probably be good looking. However there is a difference between acknowledging someone is attractive compared to wanting to have sex with them.

Also one thing I want to touch on, is in the MTV show I do a photo shoot with a friend of mine named Holley Dorrough who was Playboys April 2006 Playmate of the month.
During this shoot we took some rather risqué shots, that I now see as lustful. She was never naked, but she sure looks like it in some shots, haha.
So I have announced that I will never do a photo shoot that is aiming for a lustful theme again.

BR: Do you plan on continuing with the band and modeling after you move to Tuscaloosa, Alabama?

TDEEZY: Absolutely. I, at a point in time was thinking about walking on and continuing to play baseball at Alabama. However, I began to think that this would interfere with the band too much.
So I abandoned that idea.
I can feel God would rather me be in this band, rather than play baseball. I will definitely be trying to model some as well.

BR: When you decided to make some personal changes in your life you stopped drinking. I know when I was 20, not drinking wasn’t even a thought in my mind. I was very busy having a good time and was usually nervous around those who didn’t share my love to party.

Are you ever nervous around those who don’t share the same sober attitude as you? Do you find yourself picking up the pieces of those around you at times? Have you become an expert designated driver?

TDEEZY: I do have beliefs and a way of life that contradict with many of those around me. I can see that they are obviously living the wrong lifestyle. However I am very accepting of those people because they can change.

I by no means ever get nervous.
Because there is a possibility that a time will come when those people will start questioning their way of life.

Start wondering about God.
Wondering if they need to make changes.

I want to be that guy that can help them when that time comes.
I don't want to take myself away from the opportunity to introduce a broken person to God.

BR: Your myspace name is unusual and there might be some people who don’t know where you came up with the name. Can you share that with us?

TDEEZY: My myspace name was inspired by a band I like called, "The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza"
Of course I had to insert a few changes to make it a little more of my own. haha

They still have never responded to comments I have left them, haha.

BR: What kind of equipment do you play in the band? Do you have a wish list of equipment you want in the future?

TDEEZY: I play out of a 6x10 rockin Ampeg cabinet and a sweet Ampeg head.
For bass guitar, my weapon of choice is a Peavy Grind.

I'm not wanting much, except for a wireless system.
Ohhhh, a wireless system would be fantastic.
troyholley
BR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

TDEEZY: I honestly couldn't tell you.
However I do know that whatever career I am in, I will still be loud about God and I will still be trying to introduce others to Him.

BR: I know that you will be successful judging from the way you pursue life. What is the best thing that has happened out of your MTV experience?

TDEEZY: Don't jinx me! haha (knock on wood)
I think the best thing that has happened out of the experience is yet to come.
The show hasn't even aired yet but hopefully after it does I will be granted an opportunity to tell even more people about God.

BR: There was an article that came out in the Gadsden Times today about this. The very last paragraph struck me. Can you share with us what the paragraph said?

TDEEZY: The last paragraph spoke of how when I was trying to become a better Christian, the story of Daniel was one that I held very close to my heart and still hold very close.

It says: "When this was going on I started reading the Bible, and one thing that struck me was the story of Daniel," he said. "The only thing his enemies could say about him was that he was godly, and I thought, I want to be like that."

I find Daniel to be one of the most admirable men in the Bible.
Not only did he stand up to kings that threatened his life, he was the epitome of a Christian man.
He followed the Bible's teachings down to the core.
When he had disagreements with others, the only thing they could put on him was that he was Godly.
That isn't an insult at all.

How cool is it that if you were to ever get verbally attacked by someone and the only thing they could say is something like...
"Oh well...you know what...you’re a...good guy and you live a great life!"

BR: Thank you Troy so much for sharing with us here. When I’m old and gray I’ll be able to look back on the times that the band had together at our house and will have some great memories. I’m proud to know you and am glad that you are in the band. Any last thoughts or comments you would like to make?

troychatt
TDEEZY: When I am old and gray I will remember a certain mother of a friend and band-mate of mine that would have done anything for her son and her son's friends. Who would have done anything to help out another person. That is truly Christ-like character.
Not only will you be remembered by those here on earth.
You will most certainly be remembered by Christ upon your arrival at our true home.

Finally I would just like to invite anyone and everyone that would like to speak with me to do so.
Whether it's about God, music, sweet-tea or whatever.
I would love to hear from you .

I love you
God Bless,
-td

BR: This concludes my interview with Troy Davenport of Even Idols Die. You can visit Troy on his myspace page . Read his blogs, they are incredible. (note: Troy is no longer on Myspace....His Facebook page is here.)

Update: Gadsden Times Article Now Included

By Tamara Henderson, Times Staff Writer
Published July 21, 2007

MTV is known for its youthful appeal and lively edge, but sometimes the network can get real. With the help of Gadsden resident Troy Davenport, the MTV audience will get a glimpse into the true life of a young college student, male model and celibate person.

Davenport said he is a Christian but had been struggling with being a devout one. At the time he saw the casting call on the MTV Web site, he already had decided he should work to be more devout.

"It's sort of funny, because I think this all happened for a reason," he said. "I hadn't always been devout, but out of all the things I wanted to stop, this was the hardest thing for me."

Davenport is 20 and has been enjoying his college years at Snead State Community College. He'll transfer this fall to the University of Alabama.

He is also a male model, which most can imagine draws a lot of female attention. It doesn't help that he also is an athlete.

However, he does not let that stop his belief that every Christian should try his or her best to walk closely with Christ.

"I'm doing the college thing," he said. "But I'm putting my beliefs over human urges."

So when Davenport saw the casting call online, he said he knew if he submitted his information, he would be chosen for the show, "True Life: I'm Celibate."

"I wasn't surprised when I got the call," he said.

Davenport sent an e-mail and photos to MTV. Representatives called within a week and conducted a phone interview. Thirty minutes later, they called back again. The next call was to tell him they would be filming him the next week.

The cable network has told Davenport the episode will air at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

"I think they picked me because I do a lot of things," he said. "They probably figured that it's surprising that someone in their 20s is not having sex."

Davenport does live the life of a typical college student. He said he goes out with friends to parties and bars, but he doesn't drink. He doesn't think there is anything wrong with being social, but he knows where to draw the line.

"They filmed me at Snead State," Davenport said. "A lot was going on that week. They filmed at (Panama City Beach), homecoming, baseball games, church and parties."

Davenport said he's not ashamed of anything he did on camera. He said everything the cameramen filmed was real except for one instance.

"They had me turn off the lights and get in the bed, but I wasn't really going to sleep," he said. "That was the only thing that was fake."

Davenport said he even "got real" with one of the cameramen who seemed to be on the fence about his faith.

"I was really nervous ... but I tried to say things about Christianity and make it make sense to someone who doesn't believe," he said. "I took him to church with me, and I told him God would give him signs that he was there."

Davenport said before the man followed him to church, he told him the lyrics to a song about faith.

The next day at church, the preacher used the exact same song in his sermon.

"He just looked at me. He was shocked," Davenport said.

For Davenport, this was the reason for the MTV experience. He said he wanted to show the world that with God's help, one can get away from sin.

"When this thing was going on, I started reading the Bible, and one thing that struck me was the story of Daniel," he said. "The only thing his enemies could say about him was that he was godly, and I thought, `I want to be like that.'"