Billy Talent reflect on 25 years of touring as they join the ranks of Canada's Legends of Live

You might think the life of a touring musician sounds pretty glamorous, but the reality is musicians are usually packed into a cramped van, spending hours, even entire days, driving to their next gig. When they do get to sleep, they're probably sharing a bed with one of the people they were just stuck in that van with.

Touring can be a pretty intense compatibility test for a band, but somehow, Billy Talent have made it work for the last 25 years. Since they started out as high school kids in Mississauga, Ont., the veteran alt-rock band has stuck it out through every hurdle, whether that's been slogging it out through tiny gigs in the beginning, or facing serious health issues, more recently.

This week, Billy Talent are being recognized for their long, and dedicated career on the road as they accept the Legends of Live Special Achievement Award, which will be handed out Friday, May 11 in Toronto at the Live Music Industry Awards, as a part of Canadian Music Week.

Tom Power speaks to three members of the band, lead singer Ben Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa and drummer Aaron Soluwoniuk, about their big honour and their 25 years on the road together.

— Produced by Frank Palmer