|
David: You're signed to Downtown Records for this
album, was there any thought to going with a major
label and what would you see as the pros and cons of
being on a major label vs. an independent label?
Jesse: Well there is no such thing as an
independent label anymore, Downtown is a subsidiary of
Atlantic Records. What you do get when you sign
with an major label is a shit load of money up front
but a lot of times you are only getting 15% of revenue
and you have to pay everything back out of that 15%,
so you lose freedom and ownership of your record...
you lose lots of stuff. With Downtown we
basically licensed our record with them which is a
much better deal.
David: What's the girls been like on this tour so far
and what expectations of the ladies do you have when
they come to a EODM show?
Jesse: Oh man I love women... they have an
expectation of seeing someone who truly loves women
and to come and just shake their asses and watch a
bunch of guys shake their dicks.
David: You're doing some dates with Peaches coming
up. How did this come about?''
Jesse: We love each other and it makes
sense. That’s pretty much how it goes.
David: You've played a few of these all day radio
sponsored festivals, what's your feeling on these
types of shows? Is it all in fun or a necessary evil?
Jesse: I love all shows, I don’t have a problem
performing and I have no shame in what I do. To
me it’s a performance and it’s a chance to rock n
roll. This ain’t no bible study, there are no
morality rules here.
David: You've done your share of opening for bands,
who's treated you the best, and have there been any
dicks?
Jesse: We have never been on a tour where we were
treated badly. We’ve become fast friends with
everyone. The Strokes tour we were treated so
well. The Foo Fighters we were treated so well
it was ridiculous! Dave Grohl and those guys are
friends of ours now. It’s been a fantasy run
to be honest. The Strokes, Nick and Fab… I
love those guys dearly.
David: The EODM seem to be the party band of the past
few years, who do you put on when you’re having a
party?
Jesse: Wow, I put on T-Rex, Dizzee Rascal… I
put on James Brown, Parliament and Funkedelic. I
make sure to put on the Sonics, always the
Sonics. Van Halen, QOTSA, you know shit like
that. Oh yeah Diana Ross… like “Upside
Down” and stuff like that.
David: I've read that all your songs deal with real
life experiences, are there any topics in your life
that are off topic or have you written a lyric and
then thought "Maybe that's a little too
personal"?
Jesse: There are a couple songs that are really
personal. There is a song on the first album that is
very personal and there is one on the new album as
well. I only know how to throw it out there, I
kinda have a knack for carving myself up a little too
much.
David: You’ve never censored yourself then have you?
Jesse: That’s when the song starts to lose it
heart, to lose its punch you know… it’s a fight
you know.
David: Is there a band out there right now sexier than
the EODM? Does anyone come close?
Jesse: I don’t know man, that’s a rough bet
isn’t it? I think Justin Timberlake in a
different world maybe. No one does what we do
you know? It’s hard to compare, there’s a
lot of sexy people out there.
David: Is your son old enough to know what Daddy does
for a living and what does he think of it? Does
he groove to EODM?
Jesse: Hell yeah, he loves what I do. My
son plays drums on some of the Eagles of Death Metal
songs. He’s 6 and he’s a little smokin’
badass!
David: You have a solo album called "Fabulous
Weapons" that you've recorded and shelved.
Will this ever see the light of day?
Jesse: Yes it will see the light in about 6
months.
David: Is there anything you can tell me about that album?
Jesse: I think it will be a lot more raw,
hillbilly influenced... I think you’ll think that
when you hear it - cause I’m a Southern Hillbilly
and when I started off as a guitarist and building up
to make music with the Eagles of Death Metal, that’s
the place where I love to start from you know?
David: You recorded the new album at Sound City
Recorders, which is rich in history. The first
album was recorded at home more or less. What
was the recording studio experience like?
Jesse: Yeah that’s right, we recorded at Sound
City on really old equipment, the same that Cheap
Trick used. We recorded the first album at a
friends home studio and that was wonderful but because
we are kids who respect what we are doing and that
every day in this business is a gift, getting to come
to Sound City where Nirvana recorded, where Fleetwood
Mac recorded, where Rick Springfield recorded
“Jesse’s Girl”, where Cheap Trick recorded all
their biggest albums… the list is endless.
To be able to set up our gear exactly where Rick
Springfield did when he recorded “Jesse’s Girl”
is pretty fuckin’ awesome you know?
David: Did you feel any vibes going into that studio?
Jesse: Yeah, I mean there’s the haunted hallway there
and supposedly Stevie Nicks partied with someone who
died. There’s all these cool stories, everyone
who works there is just wonderful. It’s also the
place where they filmed the “Boogie Nights”
recording sessions too.
David: Your music has appeared in commercials for
Pontiac, Wendy's, Budweiser and many, many
others. Is there one dream commercial you would
like to have your music featured in?
Jesse: Oh yeah of course... I would love to be in
that (starts singing) “We wear short shorts”
commercial. Victoria Secret as well would be
cool.
David: When the audience at your shows are
"getting it" and totally connecting with the
band, when you look out in the crowd... what do you
see?
Jesse: Smiling faces, looks of absolute joy on
the children’s faces. I mean really it’s total
happiness you know? When the crowds getting it,
they’re having the time of their fucking lives and
they’re dancing and shakin’ their asses and they
are getting it. I mean that’s it, there’s no
intent look of profound thinking on anyone’s faces,
we’re just having a good time.
David: So it’s not exactly the place for the indie
hipsters?
Jesse: Yeah, there’s no time for being too cool for
school. I mean it’s ok to be cool but not too
cool you know?
David: If you really are the Eagles of Death Metal,
which member of the Eagles are you most like?
Jesse: Joe Walsh man. He’s a redneck
hillbilly. He was in the James Gang and he wrote
“Funk #49” so fuck yes, I wanna be like Joe Walsh.
David: Thanks Jesse for talking with us and we will be
seeing you soon around here. Also congrats on
making one of the albums of the year in my opinion.
Jesse: Thank you bro, it’s been a pleasure, we will be
seeing you in about a month or so... Thanks once
again!
|