Part of a continuing series.

By day, he's Tim Tyran, a 12-year AA Aircraft Mechanic based in Denver. By night, he's the driving force behind the alternative/electronic/industrial music of Bunker Soldier. And both sides of his personality know that his musical success is due at least in part to the Bunker Soldier Web site, http://www.bunkersoldier.com/.

"The Web is one of the few ways underground musicians can get their music heard all over the world without backing and money from a major record label," says Tyran. "Besides, a Web site today is your calling card. No one takes you seriously without one. When someone hears something about you they usually do a Web search to find out more."

Tyran's Web site helps potential listeners find out plenty; for instance, the 31-year-old New York native has never actually served in the military. Instead, his musical alias is taken from the title of a 1980 song, "Bunker Soldiers" by his own favorite band, OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark). He has produced two CDs, the 1996 debut Quite A Dilemma, and its 1999 followup Innuendo. A third CD, Warlock, will be released some time this spring. Samples of work from the first two are available in MP3 format at http://www.mp3.com/bunkersoldier/.

Critics have been kind to Bunker Soldier; for instance, reviewer Daniel Hinds of the music review Web site The Plague wrote of Innuendo, "The vocals are strong ... there are greater things yet in store for us from Bunker Soldier."

"My Alter Ego"
"People love taking chances on new music," says Tyrell. "After they've heard snippets on the Web, I've had responses from all over the world — as far away as Japan, Australia, Brazil and Romania. A Web site can make you look bigger than you really are." Tyrell lists Prodigy, Gary Numan, Nitzer Ebb and New Order as the main musical influences on Bunker Soldier, and according to the Web site, his motto is "Dance or be taken hostage!"

Until now, Tyrell has kept his "AA life" separate from his musical identity. "Bunker soldier is my alter ego. I didn't want people at work to know just how crazy I get when I'm onstage and I definitely didn't want fans to know that I work midnights changing tires and brakes in the snow to pay for my musical endeavors. So I tried to keep it low-key."

But now, he says, "after getting the airplay, magazine reviews and some positive feedback from select AAers I'm ready to go full throttle. And of course, without my AA job, there would be no way to do Bunker Soldier; electronic music is so expensive, and the chances of getting a record contract can be like winning the lottery."

So Tyran entered avionics school at the age of 17 in order to train for a job that would help pay for his musical career. "I never wanted to be a mechanic," he acknowledges. "I always wanted to be a rock star. But the job with AA is too good, and I do enjoy it." Besides, he adds, "I have a beautiful new house with a mountain view, a brand new baby boy and no worries about how I'm going to pay the rent. As a musician that would be a daily worry."

Tyran, who has a commercial pilot's license, also admits, "I have been actively pursuing a new career with AA — as a pilot. Can you imagine that? Captain Tyran during the day, Bunker Soldier the 'mad techno warrior' by night."

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