Hey, today on the show, we got Jimmy Neko, his band. Ours has a new self titled album out. And they're also currently touring. And we had a great conversation. Jimmy is a very deep guy. And this isn't the simple music talk. You know, same old story, we discuss some of the lyrics and themes of his new album. We talked about Jimmy's purpose and you know, the role of music in his life
purpose. We and then we have some fun stories that he has to tell about meeting Bondo and Johnny Depp and a couple of big bands that he came close to joining. And I think some of the stuff may blow you guys away a little bit. It definitely blew my mind. Some great stuff from Jimmy overall very interesting and fun interview from a talented guy. Check it out so how are you doing today?
I'm doing well. We're we're on the road and yeah, which sets are pretty, pretty wild. It's a wild ride.
Which so what city are you in now?
We're in Charlotte. North Carolina.
Okay, I've been there. It's humid. Yeah. Now though, are because it's a little it's not like I went in the summer and like June it was like miserable.
Yeah. No, it's really beautiful. Right now. Okay. Yeah, it's been perfect.
Which venue? Are you playing the Fillmore?
We played Amos's.
Okay. I went saw royal blood at the Fillmore. That's a cool venue. That's cool. Are you familiar with that band?
Yes. Yes. Love them.
Yeah, they're really good. So yeah, you guys have a new album out? I mean, I guess is it it's new, right? It's the newest the South Wales.
Yes. It's, we still see it as new.
Because this is the first time you're able to tour to support it. Right? Because you couldn't tour in 2021.
Exactly. Exactly. Yes. So for us, it's this is it. This is a new record.
Yeah, so what would you say? Like I was listening to the album today, what do you think is the best way to listen to this album? Because it's, it's like it has a certain like mood to it and like vibe, it's not necessarily like get up and dance to it, you know, it's like, I don't know, how would you recommend listening to it?
That's a good
question. Something we've definitely thought about Well, it's kind of it's a long ride basically that there there are kind of three sections the first the first section is a bit more up kind of feeling like I'd say you know, it's difficult to say because you have to either in my opinion, tackle it in chapters because each each kind of group of songs like the first and then the second the third have their own ride and the different because some parts of it are higher energy than other parts
are really chill. So I think that there are some songs that are better great to just crank up in the car and be outside and crank them up this time where I don't feel like we always had that almost like a tailgating thing be exciting thing and then there are other songs that you kind of just want to you know lay down and stare at the ceiling and listen to so yeah it's it's it's tough to say I listened to it you know a lot with with running I run a bit so 17 songs would be a pretty long
run. Yeah, but But I listened to it that way. You know and helps helps me actually run more because it's it is such a ride but yeah, you know it's not there's some songs on the again that are we do get into a really feel good space that I think I think you can dance to a bit but then it doesn't stay there.
Right? Well yeah, cuz it's interesting because it starts off so dark I feel like and then it's like write the song see the light I think there was some right before that, that kind of turned it and then see the light was like, oh, and now it's like more upbeat and you know, the Lyric, the sun will shine will be all right. I'm like, okay, that's very different than what like don't lose yourself or the lyric says don't lose yourself in this hell. Who's the ghost in the
mirror? Can you tell like that was pretty spooky.
Yeah, yeah.
Which what does that song about?
About don't lose, don't lose yourself. Yeah. Basically I guess, a decade ago when, when I lost my mother think it I've prepared, you know, something to prepare for your, your whole life, you know, if you're fortunate enough to even have your parents, you know, growing up you know, the the fear of losing them, you, you know, for me I
prepared for it. And so I had a bit of a delayed reaction when my mom got sick, because I spent so much time trying to be strong, and feeling like, okay, now I have I got this, I know, I knew this was coming, we all know this is coming at some point. And this is the point it ended up hitting me a lot harder
and a delayed way. And so basically, it's kind of that it's like, feeling like, written from a perspective of just a think, saying that the, the, the worst thing for a parent, thinking about their children's was that they wouldn't want their children to, to be suffering, they would want their
kids to be happy. And so there's something in there to my, my journey towards becoming whole again, after feeling like a, you know, like, a part of legit a part of me somehow was ripped and ripped from Me and dad, like figuring out how to how to exist now with with this new there's no existence, which which felt like, you know, like I said, a huge part. My mom and I were
really close. So you know, it's like when, when she got sick, I got sick normally when and what she, you know how she would get sick, I would get the same thing. But we were really dialed in with one another like that. So yeah, it just ended up hitting me pretty hard. And so I had done a solo, during the time that she was, you know, her health was fading. And that was
a really heavy, sad record. And I knew that I wanted this, which, you know, in my eyes, which could have been the final hours record, I knew that I wanted it to really lift people's spirits, and that I wanted the album to have a lot of joy in it. And, but I also knew that my strengths aren't about just going and singing super happy songs, without giving some sort of context of where something's coming from
the depths of hell. And like, you know, the, I think it's about the idea of letting those know who are inhale, feel that they, you know, for whatever, if they're going through something that they that they're not alone, that that I'm not just in a trite way saying, Okay, we'll be happy, it's gonna be okay. It's that I felt like I had to
give context to it. You know, and that's why to say, I walked alone in the burning sand, Parts Unknown in search of a friend to jobs in my hand, they wouldn't understand if the whole thing is a really. You know, it's a narrative of like, my, my own journey. Like saying, Look, I've, I've been down and down. And then and this is, this is my journey to coming back to this place that what you're about to hear is record goes on,
transition into joy. It's not just, it's not because I smoked a bunch of pot and all of a sudden, like, yeah, man, it's cool. It's because I've been down in this in this space, where you are, and I, and I want to grab you by the hand and walk alongside you. And together, you know, walk towards having joy again in our lives. And I think something happened for me the time that again, that my mom had
died. And I was over in Europe, and I heard The song walking on sunshine and growing up, I never really liked that song because it was just again too happy for me and I liked the songs. You know, I really do. But I never liked it. So it's, you know, well, you know, me it's like, but something happened in that moment where I felt like I felt what it was like to have been so upset and hurt and being able to
smile again. And so I think that was with me, and I wanted to really create that kind of experience for listening. So it is, it's a bit of an emotional and cerebral record. So to fully answer again, to go back to it, I think that it's a record that you, you jump into if if you are interested in in feeling some things, but you're not going to wallow in them. On this record, we put in the time to make sure that that there is there is joy, and you will be lifted by by the
end of the record. So it doesn't, it doesn't leave me in a space of like, wow, I'm really sad or anything, nothing like that. It's just to me, it is a much better description of you know, season and how early on maybe my earlier records like this sort of televise it kind of record kind of leave you down in a sad place when it was over. And I wanted to really make sure that, that we went down into that space. So people knew that,
that wasn't an imposter. And in the sense of, you know, communicating about something, definitely not preaching because I asked more questions than I give answers, usually in the music. But in any answer that I give, it's only an epiphany that I had for myself, it's not even something that I would necessarily suggest to anybody
else. But yeah, it's just, I think that it's a record that you listen to, if you if you really want to go on a ride, if you like movies, that that take you on a ride, and they're done, not just about all the explosions, but there are, you know, there are high action moments and all that in the
record. But I think that it's it's about subtlety, and about really feeling something which, you know, it seems to be something that's like, really slipping away from a lot of music, because of just attention spans. And the way that people are listening to things seems to be way more about everybody wanting to kind of make sure they have a fantastic life. And this lifestyle that they're living. There's so much of that music that again, for us. I wanted to I wanted to have fun
music in there. But I also really wanted to still provide something with depth that for those people that look for that experience of listening to something say, Wow, that that really made me think or that really hit me. So that's
how I felt when I was listening to I was like, Oh, wow, this is like, this is deep. This is deep stuff. And and then like you said, so what are the three parts? Because that's what I was, I noticed that it was dark, and then it kind of comes that's uplifting. But what there's actually three parts you say?
Yes, because in the middle, there's like, See, to me it starts out kind of kind of joyous in certain way, but still, like the unknown. It's still a little mysterious. And so that's in the ominous sense of like the dark of what you may be feeling from it, it's sonically designed to still create a sense of not not this course or anything, but just there's in the mystery of not knowing when you're younger and things are confusing to you.
Everything seems like well, I don't understand anything that's going on and this is overwhelming. The beginning is that to me, where you listen, it's still very pure in certain ways, but there's there's a lot of question about and unknown.
And then the middle section for me actually becomes almost like a battle like the real struggle that takes you into the end that I feel is more the the resolve and say like eternally towards the end and get that feeling and echo by the end complete joy, that by the end of the record, the final song echoed, most people would say, Okay, well, that's your most commercial songs, take it's a pop song, why would you put that last on 17 Song record, you're shooting
yourself in the foot. You know, so many people have said that to me. And if I was on a label, there's no way that they would ever let me put that any further
down than my fourth. But that, to me is the joy of not being on a label, because I can, I can paint that kind of picture to say, well, this is my if I put, if I put echo forth on that record, the third or fourth, the joy that it has, wouldn't really allow me to go back into the, into the depths of hell, I would have already resolved people and then I would have had to kind of put more up, up tempo, like, you know, up feeling songs, and then how many could have really put
on the record at that point, 10 910 I didn't feel like I can go, I can get dark after after echo. Because it did. It does really resolve my emotions about anything that had gone through. So it just felt, okay, this is a really bold move. And what I care about is not necessarily a hit single. Don't get me wrong, we of course, we want people to hear the music, we want a lot of people to hear it, we want to be
able to continue making it. But not at the risk of compromising what feels like this is the statement. So the song itself is already a pop song. Putting it at the end, I find myself in the echo. It's like, okay, I got, I get what happens here. This was not this was not just about me, this whole thing, this is about all of us. And I'm, I'm complete when, you know, when this interaction between us human beings, that's what completes me like this thing back and forth.
Like sure I can do it all on my own and I can get through life on my own. But what a beautiful feeling when when you do have the sense of communication and love between you and everyone else or anyone else when you when you don't just go it alone and say, Okay, fuck the world. But when you really are able to get through that, and that's that what you know, to me, it's like Echo, it's, it seems like it is a pop song structure. But it's it's a really pretty beautiful sentiment about like,
I find myself in the echo. Like when it all comes back. And and I receive what you have to offer and what you what you're doing is that whole exchange. Yeah, so that's kind of where it ends on this really joyous.
Right? So when you write those songs, do you? Are you like feeling in a happy mood? Yeah. And that's what brings out echo? Or do you think about it? And then you have to, like kind of force yourself to feel those emotions to write the song? Or how does it How does it work?
Everything that's pretty much happened as far as a song is something that I'm that I'm feeling at that moment in time. And so whether it's something that I'm going through or something that somebody else is going through it and I have absorbed that experience to where it's now I'm feeling it, it's all very, very, very organic. And that's why in the past, sometimes songs would take me years to finish because it was a happy song, I would say, Well, you know, I have to get
happy again. To finish it. I don't know how to finish it in an honest way. Unless I'm experiencing that. So.
So then when you write it, do you feel is it cathartic? Like, do you feel like you got those emotions out? Or is it like draining, to have to go through those motions?
It's usually it's usually pretty cathartic. Yeah, the whole Yeah, it's, it's really helpful. It's, it's the best I think, between running, you know, like I said, I run a lot running, getting to scream my head off, you know, singing wise, and then writing about these things. It's the best, best form of therapy on the planet, I think, right? Yeah, I've never, you know, it's and who knows, I'm wide open to it, I've never, never sat down and had therapy. And it's incredibly
helpful for so many people. But this has always been my, how I, how I get it out, you know, for
sure. And then the music that you're making is like, as opposed to, you know, running, you're just doing it for yourself. But like, when you're making this music, it can affect other people do you must have a lot of those experiences with people say this song really meant something related to this and those kinds of stories.
Yeah, yeah. About a lot. And which is, you know, it's such a, it's such a amazing thing, it's an amazing, beautiful blessing to have that happen. And you can, if, you know, validates the validates the work and the time, the money and everything that we put into, to doing it. And you know, in the energy sometimes, like, it's
a lot. So when you get that back, it's it's really amazing, but you have to be careful not to, in my opinion, to be careful not to assume that anything that I say or do you know, is important, because you don't want to you don't want to disappear up your own ass and like get become self important about it or self righteous that like, Oh, I'm I matter. And what I'm doing matters. He you just have to stay humble. And I just
tried to stay humble. So as much as it I have those experiences where the music does that for people I'm so grateful for but I never. It's never given to me where I take it for granted. And I and I think for me titled about I think, Okay, I have a purpose. Yeah, I don't
think it's Yeah, I don't think it's being entitled, if you feel like you have, I mean, this is your purpose. Like, I think that everyone has a purpose. It's I mean, might not be making music for people, but it could be making houses for people. I mean, there's all sorts of things that everyone's got a purpose, it's got to be what your talent is. I mean, you're amazing, like, and then they say, like, I was reading about this, you're known for your multi octave, vocal range.
And I listened to a lot of music and I can tell like, cuz you can go like really high really low.
Yeah, I guess. I have a deep speaking voice. But the you know, they're just, and honestly, they're just sounds, you know, like, they're just sounds that you figure out how to do. And for, you know, for me, the idea that there were a lot of songs sung by, by women that I wanted to be able to sing. So I just started to try to figure out how to do that.
But not everybody can do that. Like you. I mean, you should come to hear me do karaoke. I can't I can't do it like you unless you can somehow teach that to me. I don't know. It seems like it's not something you could teach, though.
I can. I can teach a lot of people to do it. And I have I have I've had I've had well over well over 100 students over the last year we made a record for for Columbia, American Columbia back a few years ago with Rick Rubin. You know, it was
amazing, right? Oh, yeah, he's Did you see the movie about him?
Yeah, I've seen I've seen just about everything.
Yeah, he did. The documentary was so interesting. How hands off he was.
Yeah, yeah, that's thing. We met a record and he met he didn't come to the studio one day. Yeah. But, you know, with with Ricky, he was like, I love you. I trust you. Go make your record. Okay, it's just the idea that he is empowering me and believes in me to do it.
Yeah, you know, it gives. Just giving, giving me permission to be myself and that's what I try to do with with everyone in my life that I know I tried to give them permission to be themselves rather than judging or turning them into anything that I would want them to be. I pushed them to to really be themselves and
that's what he did for me. And you know, we worked on we worked on the songs separately, I'd go to his house and I'd say with an acoustic guitar and I would play on the song he would say okay, repeat that part. Okay, this this, this needs another section go read another section. He never said do this. He would just say it's missing something. Just see what you come up with. And he you know, he inspired progress. He didn't even say could do this. Do this. Um, so he was, yeah, he's, uh, he is
amazing. I love them so much. But after that experience on Sony Records, that just started to feel like, Oh, this is useless, I can't, I can't do this anymore. We just were not cut out for the big machine is really what it comes down to. And that mindset, I'm way too as way too committed to, like I said, doing things as an artist as more than about commerce, you know. So that wasn't working. So in that time I took off to try
to figure things out. And, you know, I taught, taught, taught singing, and I've had, I couldn't, you know, for a second try to figure out how many students have a well over 100. And I taught people for sure, like when they came in, you're not going to teach everyone that way, because some people just aren't built that way. But you'd be surprised how many people I've got to coming in saying I can't hit like a high C. And I said, let me hear you speak and speak. And I would say you hear
my voice. So I'm going to hit a high C for you right now. And, and I taught them by one by doing it by giving them the confidence that they could do it. And then sure technically showing them where the where you place those things because it just like you, in a sense, like if you learn the tricks and where where something is you could kind of make a sound you know,
can you hit a high see right now?
Probably not. There was a late night. Oh, crap. Okay. There's a late night long set.
But in North Carolina. Yeah, yeah. Are you guys going tomorrow or tonight? Atlanta, Atlanta. Okay. So did you use to have a residency at the Viper Room? I did. Did you hear recently that they're there, they're gonna tear down the Viper Room. Are you sad about that? Like, why are these artists coming out? And like starting a petition or GoFundMe to keep it? Like, I don't even say like, like, not do the high rise apartments or whatever it
is. But couldn't they just put the apartments above the Viper Room? And just leave it down there? I think that'd be so cool.
Yeah. I don't know what this day they open up some like, cafe or something on the under the horizon. But I don't know. I mean, I think that all in all, and I don't want to say anything. Insulting because I still have friends that, that work there and run it and, and we're about to play there. And these are probably going to be our last shows the Viper Room ever. But the Viper Room, lost a bit of its just about all of its luster. Back when they my buddy Sal owned it with Johnny and
Johnny Depp, of course, for the listeners.
And, you know, the kind of stuff went down and they they kind of pushed them out. And so I stopped playing there for years after them. And I think that they don't think they ever got back that the magic that it had, because it's so magical place sound wise, and like it's still a magical great place. But there's, you know, if you like taking Steve Jobs out of Apple, you know, it's like,
that's a good analogy. Yeah, that's, that's, that's not the same. It's
not the same. And, you know, people want it to be the same because they're still there. And they're working on the thing. It's a buy from them. But there's a subtlety to What Sal did. Very good at it. He's very, very good at running that club. As far as keeping it a special place, you know, and all intents and purposes, the buildings still standing the sounds still great. It's still the Viper Room. But
the history is so interesting. So many bands have played there.
So many, so many. And it's still the same one we roll in and play. We're still in the Viper Room, the same sound and all that. But what goes on in between all that is also you know, what, what made the place special certain events in the way that they were run in the way that they manage the staff everything it was like so, but I did do you know, I started to play there. I guess shortly before a record, a first record
came out. And I guess what happened was, you know, Sal, who became my dear friend just really took a liking to, to my music and it was overwhelming for me because he really, really loved it. And I was I couldn't figure out why. Because I just that's just the way that I am I'm like really All right. Why is it Why are you so moved by? Not that I asked him that, but I wondered it. And you know, then I was in his wedding or Johnny Depp and I would the groomsmen
in his wedding. And we've remained really great friends. So I did go back, you know, after chunk of years, when basically they said, Look, everybody, everybody that pushed Sal and Johnny out are no longer here. It's a whole new slate. Would you consider coming back and so I did. And I played a few residencies for a few years in a row. And then I also did like some anniversary shows for them some big anniversary events, which were great. And, and I still on all love playing this.
It's It's said that it's going to go away.
Yeah. Did you ever play with Johnny Depp? Because he's a musician, too, right.
He is. We never we haven't jam together or anything like that yet? I think we will. I think that's, you know, as long as we keep both remain on this planet, I think time will come where we we get to finally jam because we've jammed with all different people at sales house during that time. And then like I said, we were in a wedding together. Yeah, I love him. He's, he's great to join. And
it's just so weird. It's like, you know, those people like Johnny Depp is just such a massive celebrity, but like you don't get starstruck with people in LA don't get starstruck and stuff like that though, huh?
Well, you know, it's one of those things I got. I just, I have been that way. When I met Bondo Oh, you did get to meet Bona? Yeah. And it's like everything just went it was really strange. It was like a religious experience. Wow. But you know, Johnny, I totally adore his work. And, and he was so nice. When we did get to hang out for sales wedding. It was really great. Um, that's the only time I've ever hung out with him. But, you know, I was,
I was excited. I was definitely excited to be in the room with them. You know, it was we were in a hotel room with with Sal Gianni a priest from Italy. And Bob figure perhaps Bob's last name from Celebrity Rehab. He was on a with Dr. Drew. Oh, yeah.
I know that guy. Bob. I know. He's the guy with the beard. He was like the celebrity. Are you always see see a counselor? Yeah, yeah, he's the one who was like the counseling Aerosmith and stuff.
Yeah, he was in a band Butthole Surfers maybe. Oh, was he? I thought I didn't know who he was. I thought it was in some band. I could be wrong. But But he he was he was in the room with us as well. So just kind of sitting there and you know, Sal got me special wine. He got me wine it's his wedding but he got me special wine because he knew that I love red wine and and some red wine makes me lose my voice so he looked for a special
one. And so yeah, just sitting there kind of in a hotel room drinking wine and John is figuring out asking us which you know alpha we prefer for him
he must look like dressed to the guys always got the coolest style like he's probably not just wearing like the standard rental tux.
Yeah, and it was it was it was dialed
that's cool. Yeah, you've done so many cool tours with with some interesting people to like the colt, the wallflowers What was your favorite?
I'd have to say, I love I love touring with the Colt. The wallflowers as well, great. Early on, one of our first tours that we did was with the bank of powder finger from Australia. Love that tour. But the best one maybe selfishly, for me was with the band. Aha. Oh, yes. In. Yeah, that was great. That was
the last tour right?
For them. Yeah, it was. It was built that way that this was the final thing and they were breaking up and it's called ending on a high note tour. But, you know, they got back together like three years later.
It always goes away. That's That's,
yeah, I think they they realized they were better together. I think
that's interesting that you're a big fan. Have like I just that's an interesting, because that seems like such an 80s like happy pop band and it's like, doesn't seem like your music and so I heard that I was like, well, that's that's an interesting, kind of like that you like The Walking on Sunshine song or eventually?
Yeah, yeah. You know, the rest of our house stuff is not like pick on me.
That's that's interesting. I need to listen to it then. Yeah,
it's really great music and it's dark. Some of its really dark but it's uplifting as well. That was the best tour. I was, you know, like I said, we did arenas through Europe and the final show was as like a sold out night at Wembley. That was that was, that was really great. And then after that, I did a tour with Lana Del Rey.
Yeah, that's cool. She's a big fan of yours. And she wrote a song about you then you you wrote a song about her and it's kind of cool.
Yeah. Yeah, that that was, that was a cool tour, but I did that alone, you know. So I like having the band with me, with all the sound around me. So the solo one was just me with a guitar, going acoustic guitar going up front of arenas and on my own. Okay, here we go.
There's that nerve racking to be scary.
You know, it was like, it was like jumping out of a plane for me, like, because I did have jumped out of a plane as well. And it's like, okay, I'm doing this. I'm doing this. Oh, shit. I'm doing this is the same way I did. I did the short film. There's like a short, a really artsy short film with David Carradine, which became the last thing that he had done.
He left us and then he died. And that was it's all very similar feeling like, immediately being thrust into someplace that I had no experience with, in that sense, to be like, okay, oh, here we go. I'm doing this on a pretty big high level. But once it's standing there face to face have carried in and he's as great as he was. You learned pretty quickly, to just kind of react to what's happening, be
present and react. And that's basically what happened with mana to just, you know, remember maybe the second show or something was in an arena. Oh, God, here we go. Then you know that that tour ended with a sold out red rocks.
Yeah, that's Isn't that why you like cuz you reached out you. So that's cool. You're playing Red Rock. She's like, you should come on tour with me. And you can play there too.
Yeah, exactly. That's
a good friend to have.
Yeah, she was she was really great about it. I'm so, so thankful and grateful. For her doing that for me. She didn't have to do it. And she brought me out and paid me well. And yeah,
that's really cool. And then I want to ask you about this one, too. Because he recently passed away. You toured with Mark Lanigan from Screaming Trees. I was trying to get him on my show. And, you know, I think he said like, oh, not right now. Maybe later. And so I was like, oh, so sad. You know, it's when that stuff happens. But do you have like a good memory of that like of touring with him or a good story?
Well, one, one story I have from that tour. Early on, when I was in DreamWorks, my a&r guy was trying to hook me up with Lanigan to write. And I was into it because I loved his writing his voice, everything. But it just didn't happen. So eventually, I did get to go on the road. And I was happy about that. And so after, after the second show, before the third, we were in the dressing room. And he was, you know, he's much, much bigger than me, and I'm
pretty tiny. Kind of looking up to him and say, Hey, man, how's it going? How's it been going through each night? And he said, it'd be going a lot fucking better for opener wasn't blowing us off the stage. Straight up, like he said, That's a call. And he wasn't smiling. But I bet he also wasn't angry. He meant it. And I was like well I think you guys sound great. Your sound. I think he just sounded great. I just think that maybe what I do is a little more dramatic. So it might seem
that way. I think that's what I said to him. I said, I think I'm just a bit more dramatic than you guys are at this stage. What's going on, but I don't think I'm blowing you off the stage. And then we got to Talking about just that we were trying to hook up and right. But that's, that's really it, I stayed. I try to stay out of everyone's hair. We're out. As guests, I try to be as respectful as possible and just be invisible. Until, you know
until they ask. We did eventually you went bowling with a Ha, we toured a blue October, we went bowling with them. We, you know, we started to spend time together, but it's not out of being antisocial. It's just always trying to be as respectful as possible to just, you know, I don't know, people want to be bothered.
That's a good point. Yeah, I'm sure that they probably have enough people asking him for things and and isn't that the way it's set up when you're on tour? Like there's really separate dressing rooms or buses or whatever like it, you'd have to go like knock on their door. And so it's not like comedy, like I interview comedians, and they'll say they'll have the same green room. So it's like they kind of have to socialize, but bands, it's different.
Yeah. You know, for the most part these days when we get sports that's totally separate. But, you know, I was great, like Ian Astbury when the coat was, was really awesome. I was told by our manager at that time, she said, Look, just so you know, he can be a little tough. So just, you know, watch, like, just don't bother him, basically. And I said, I got you loud and clear.
And so day one with their and just again, I'm trying to stay out of, you know, out of their way, and I think comes up behind me hugs me. I don't know him. He hugs me. And he and I turn around and he goes, you know why you're here, mate. I was like, and he goes. Basically, he was, you know, he heard it. And he was a fan. And he wanted us there. And that was pretty cool.
That's really that's a huge compliment.
Yeah. And then Jacob Dylan was really awesome. You know, he was always hugging me to St. Camilla. Skinny. Not not in a creepy way. Just in a really endearing? Yeah. And then we toured with filter and Richard Patrick. Oh, yeah. So that was a great tour as well. Richard was just amazing. Amazing to us really like him.
And then so you too, are now it's just you guys, right? Or do you have an opener?
We do have. Basically what we're doing is we have one opener with us all the way up to Los Angeles. It's, it's a friend of ours whose record I've been working on for the last couple years. He's got a project called Blackbird white sky. His name is Ronnie Ronnie shingle. And so he's opening. And in each market, I have so many musician friends around the country, to the years of all of our traveling that I've tried to, in each market, put them on
as a local in each market. And then some of them are full blown, you know, national acts and recording hours. But you know, I'm trying to do the tour that way. So it's a really special kind of family thing. And then on the second half of the tour, we'll do the same thing. But we'll have another buddy of ours and Damien Musto, he'll be doing early slots. And then we'll have we'll have locals as well but and handpick locals from us. Okay, picking for each market. Yeah, it
was interesting on your social media. I know you're a big social media. So I don't know if it's even you running the account, but there was like on your Instagram, you follow? Like some of the guy I noticed that you because I'm a hair metal fan. And I have interviewed the guys from trixter like Steve Brown and PJ Farley. And you follow those guys? And I was like, oh, that's kind of an interesting pairing.
Yeah, they're my family. They're basically my family. I have I have a daughter with Pete the singers sister. Oh, yeah. We grew up together. They're, they're older than me. Yeah. Not not much. But like, you know, I was probably a freshman when they were seniors.
But they're from Paramus and I was close by and Richville park and I just I've watched their success and I was always rooting for them and you know their success and what they did kind of push me even further to do something different because I felt like well they have that covered I'm not gonna I'm not gonna copy them and jump on what they're doing that I'm really thought that they were great at
it. I really loved their their first record and some things on the second record, but I was always so happy for them. rooting for them. And there was a time when I'd gotten so tired of my own perspective and point of view that I wanted to take some time off. It happens, you know, occasionally with me because you put so much into it and then you're like, I'm just sick of hearing myself, you know. And I went on the road, just to be the roadie just be
there, the guitar tech. So I went on the road for four or five months. So that's the interesting thing. You'll hear some other stories that are totally false about me being other people's guitar tech. And then that's why that's why I sing this way because as a guitar tech, but the truth is that I trickster. And so if I sound like anybody, you know, if that's the case that you you talk to somebody, then you start to sound like them, then I should sound like a trickster.
What year was that when you toured with them? It was 9495. It was during there on the covers. Okay. See, yeah, they cover record?
Are there is that kind of when you took Yeah, you kind of got disillusioned or and you said something like it felt narcissistic to be in a band, like, Why should I be in a band? And it's like, but they had that you were kind of saying that at the beginning. You're like, well, I don't I don't feel like this is my like, it's my purpose. But I think it's not narcissistic to say this is your purpose. You're good at this.
You should do this. That's now if you said like I'm the best in the world, and everybody else sucks, then that might be narcissistic.
Yeah, well, I think that I think that I have found that this is like, you know what, it just keeps pulling me back to doing it, you know, and that I I'm happy doing it. I'm just not convinced that I'm good at it yet. What would that is? Really? Or that is my? Yeah. Yeah. What
is it? I mean, I'm trying to think the list of people that I mean, Rick Rubin says pushed for you as a big fat Lana Del Rey, I feel like there was a third one that was like, really where I was like, Holy crap. They're like, Oh, the, the, the owner of the Viper and one. I mean, there's all these people that are like, you know, these aren't just like, No names. These are like big names. And they're saying you're good at it. That's got to be enough validation, I would think
it's like I said, it's really nice to hear, but then you can get in your head and yeah, I don't know, the way I'm designed. If it's a flaw, or what, but it just keeps, it keeps me trying, keeps me pushing hard. It was where I was raised, maybe, you know, my dad was, my dad's great. He was pretty strict. And I race BMX bikes, and it was like, I was wanting to be the best and legit wants to be number one. And then I was like, that, you know, I was number one, I had number one
on my bike. I played for years. And it was just this idea that if you lose you don't make excuses about it at all. My father said to me, over and over, he said losers make excuses. And winners try harder. And and I didn't no pain at all in the sense of like training and all that I didn't feel pain. I just, you know, if if something stopped me and held me
up, I pushed through it. And I think a treat music the same way, that I have to be careful that sometimes because it's not just a Bloodsport music, you know, it's a you have to, you have to bury your heart, you have to be vulnerable. And so I tried to balance that out with my, with my drive, but I think it's my drive that keeps pushing me to not to not rest on any of those things. It's nice to hear, it's really wonderful to know that and to know how much he believed in me and love me in
it. It helped me it gave me confidence. But not not overconfidence. So what it did is make me if it made me not want to let them down. At the end of the day. That's that's certainly what happened but it's been ingrained in me that the moment anybody says that they they really believe in me or it then it just makes me feel like okay, well, I don't I don't want to let you down kind of thing
you know. So I think that's how I process it to be more clear about like, maybe it is my purpose to do it because I can't stop doing it. But I think that's what's ingrained in me. It's like people tell me that this really moves me and I need your music. I I try not to get caught up in the idea that better than anybody else, or I'm equal to amigo to everyone, and I just keep trying No, no. I think sometimes that's what separates some some people are
naturally gifted and talented. I never saw myself as that way with music. I just knew that I had a passion for it. And as long as I keep that passion for it, I'll keep trying. But otherwise like, yeah, you know, I just I've just done a few more things like sign on some things for some friends. I did something with my friend from Morrissey. You right so the Morrissey songs with Morrissey for all these years. His name's Bob Osborne. He's, he's more she's a guitar player. He's a
dear friend. And I just did a song A Morrissey song with him. And he's doing a whole record of songs that he wrote with Morrissey with other singers. I just sang on that with him. And I just did a song with my friend Robert DeLeo. From Stone Temple Pilots. I just sang on something for him. And then I just did some stuff with some Jersey Boys. John Kelly from typo negative down the Renzo from Hades. My buddy as he played bass on it, and they're like a
really heavy, heavy group. Yeah. And we just we just did a cover of cashmere. And the same thing I've just, yeah, me too. And that's, that's kind of the route so as well. Okay. Well, I love the song and I'll try not to suck. You know, and that. And that's basically how I approach everything.
No, I don't think I don't think you suck. But it's interesting. You mentioned Stone Temple Pilots, because I will for some reason. Oh, you know, that's, I just remember who the other person that's that said they loved your voice. who it was, it was Chester Bennington, who was the singer of Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots. And he said he loved your voice. So but it made me think I was like when he passed away? Like did they reach out to you as an audition to to be the new
singer? Like, because I thought that might be a good fit like for you to sing in that Stone Temple Pilots? I think you could do it. You might be too good for that. Because I don't know your range is so you know, it goes. So it might be like too easy to sing those songs? I don't know. But you definitely could have done that. Where did they reach out to you when they needed a new singer?
Yeah, you're touching upon some interesting things here. Because Chester called me and asked me to replace him. Without talking without talking to them. He said, Look, I gotta leave. And it's gonna break their heart. So I think I feel that if I, if I leave, and I say here, but you got to hear my buddy, Jimmy, he can, he can do it. I feel that if if I do that. Then sorry, if the cameras moving here, obviously, I'm on the road.
You know, if I, if I lessen the blow with introducing them to you, and if you say that you'll do it that would really be helpful to me. And, and he said, and I love them. And I love you. And I want the best for all of you. And I think you'd be perfect for it. So I said, Yeah, I'm definitely talking to them about it. So he said, Okay, some time went by. And I figured, okay, it's just not. It's not going to happen. I was excited about it. But then I didn't hear
anything. And then all of a sudden, I phone rings, and it's deemed Leo. And he said, Yeah, you know, we couldn't reach out at first because it just we were heartbroken. And we didn't want to accept that. That was what was going down. But it is a reality now and we're wondering if you'd come out and do it. And I said, Yeah, what was a good time? And it was like, Okay,
this weekend? Oh, yeah. Okay, I'll be out and gotten room down and looking at all my notes with the, with the lyrics and everything and singing and trying to find my bearings through it. I love that band. And I was always rooting for them. And so while I'm still alive as well at this point. And I also spent time with Velvet Revolver. We were all looking at that wondering if if that would work for us. I started to write songs with them and work on things they would send me things, you way
you wrote songs with Velvet Revolver.
I started to I started to write on things that they were sending to me.
So what like why haven't left the band and then they were working with you?
Yeah, it was kind of a before while and after a while. I think for me honestly, they had asked me years ago, you know, just whoever was handling stuff their manager if I would come down and audition, and I was just kind of getting into starting to record with Rick Rubin. And I said no, I wouldn't really be into that. And they said okay. And then time went on. I got to, to know duff and talk to Duff a bit. And I really
liked Duff. And so then Scott left the band, and they had dates and they reached out to me again. And they said, Would you be into filling in? And I said, Look, I can sing those songs for sure. But I don't want to replace Scott Weiland, I don't think it can happen just like you can't replace Axl Rose that that audience is not going to, they're not going to go for it. And I don't want to be, you know, I don't want to be somebody that they're just
throwing shit at. Because they they feel like they pay for Scott Weiland. And now they got this other guy who, in all honesty, in in those circles in those hardrock circles, when I get up on stage, even though I can I can crush it. For some reason. They just they the choice word for me as faggot they like they all like to call me faggot and throw things at me. So I've sung with Velvet Revolver before on stage we've done. It's so easy and Slither.
And so that happened. And I kept the keep looking at it because I felt like well, my I know that my purpose getting back is definitely not to replace Scott Weiland in Velvet Revolver. That's not why I'm here on this planet. But I would love to do a new band with them. And so what I proposed was, why don't we take a year to change the name of the band? Maybe, but at least write a whole new record. And if the record stands on its own, and it feels exciting, we'll put it out, we'll give it a shot.
But it's going to take time it's gonna take, it's gonna take us writing the best songs that you guys have ever written. Because I don't think you have yet. And Duff agreed. He said, I agree, man, I don't think that I've written the best songs of my life. And I said, that's what we need to do. If you guys want to get anywhere near, I still don't think and and this was maybe me being a brat. But I just I really wasn't into Velvet Revolver. I felt like we're still looking at Appetite for
Destruction. In my opinion. We got to be better than Appetite for Destruction equally as good as it in our own way. And if we're not, then I don't want to do it. And by the way, where's his straddling?
Oh, no, but I love that guy. I'm sorry. Like, I want him to come back.
So that's what I said to them. That was my final thing, by the way. Where's his Chatlin? And so yeah, they're their manager. At that time. It was like Jimmy are great. Ours, I have so much respect for you. But you got to come in here. You can't come in here and think that you're not going to sing the songs. They have hits with this and this and that. I said, Listen, all due respect, that's fine. I respect that. They're not hits to me. I don't, I don't
enjoy them. So we have to write better songs.
Yeah, so that didn't work with overs and that was bad. Yeah, so then Stone Temple Pilots, you're in, you're in the room with them
in their rooms, singing and just kind of thinking about it. Like, sure I can sing. Boom, Jonathan, good. And me, you know, but the funny thing was that again, the perception of this audience, this hardrock audience you know, it's like range wise, like you said, circles, technical range wise around Scott Weiland. But Scott was a bad motherfucker. He was great.
He had like, moves. He was just like, he was so interesting.
Yeah. But people don't know really what they're talking about out there who make their comments and say a bunch of shit because they're like, this fucking guy doesn't have anywhere near the range of Scott watt, and why would they have him in the bat? And it's like, well, you're an idiot. Actually, you don't know what you're talking about. My range is maybe three or four times, but his range is technically and that doesn't mean that I'm the guy or that I'm anywhere near as cool
as Scott Weiland. But you'd like to turn to the fact you're talking about. So I started to become like, a little like, I don't know, if I really want to go out there and play in bands like this for audience. People like that. I made a decision years ago that I wanted to play more for an audience of like that new to attracts. I don't want to be in the middle of you know, an arena when people throwing rocks at Axl Rose. I don't want to be on that stage from audience like that. I don't
want any part of that. I want to be in a place where people come to to love one another and and be connected and go to a higher place not chopped down the person that they paid to come see. Fuck that. Like, I don't want to play for those animals. I'm not afraid of them. I just I don't see seek their approval. And so, you know, that's where, you know, you've seen a bit of my, like true confidence come out now as we're talking about it. But I'm very humbled. But like, that's truly how I feel
about it. Like I don't, I don't seek the approval of, you know, but people like that, that want to just chop you down. So I'm starting to think about it and going like, this can't be done. It can't be done. I can't come in here and replace Scott Weiland. It's just, why don't we go make a new band. Like, my idea was this. Let's start a new band. If people love you guys and love your sound, they're rooting for you. Scott was still alive and Chester still alive.
Let's start a new band, the new name, let's go write an amazing record. And let's go kick people's asses. Give them give them a bit of that, that music that they're they want to hear from you. But don't try to sell it as some type of pilots to them because they're going to take offense to it. That was my opinion. And I felt like it could not be done. And I told him that. And they weren't. They weren't happy with me at first. He was like, you know, I can I can say what he said, right?
Because we're not being censored for anything. No McKinsey so or whatever. Take your finger out of your pussy. Get the fuck out here and sing for the Stone Temple Pilots. And I and I was dying laughing about it. Just like you see Laughing Man, you fucking belong in the span. Get out here. Let's do this. And I really love that you said that. But the the thing that really made my mind up for certain was, he said, We know you can do this. You know you can do it. You just have to want to do it.
And you have to sing. You have to sing these songs. Like he sang them. Yeah. And I said, Good talk. I can't do it. Your heart was? Yeah, I'm sorry. I can't do that. There's no way. Like I said I could I could sing. Take time with a wounded hell. But I can't go with a wounded parent. Like I can't. I can't put on the fake voice like I can't do it. Then no disrespect.
You know an impersonator. You don't want to your heart. Yeah,
yeah. And, and still, so check it out. This is what happened. And this is why I just can't take most people in that, like, go to those shows like, but they're fucking big mouths, because then I do jump up. Sorry, my phone's gonna die. I do jump up with them and sing. And one night after they are back together. And they are Jeff and Jeff great. And he fits for them in that for what they wanted to do. He's the perfect guy for that. But I jump up and
sing. And again, people are like, what's with the fucking karaoke night? And it's like, and I sang What did I sing? Driving faster in Makkah, I love that song. And to me, I felt like Fuck, man, I'm in zone with these guys. Because my voice has the low and it was like swirling around. And I really felt connected. And sure enough, like the audience again, it's like people writing and I don't look at comments ever, when it comes to our stuff, because it's going to it's not going to change it
is what it is. But I look at comments with that because I want to know, it's now it's a job for me. And I'm doing research and I want to know what that audience thinks of what I'm doing. Because I'm not going to throw away my you know, I'm gonna throw it hours to go and do do that. If I feel like it's, it's not gonna work. And it just, you know, for the most part that audience didn't want me and I didn't, I didn't want I didn't want that job either. So but then, Scott dies. Chester
dies. We get together and we play a chest as Memorial. The delayer brothers myself and Matt storm. We play Amazing Grace. And I think we all got to feel like what it could be like if we just did something new, because we walked off and we were, you know, really upset and the brothers. Like we were kind of hugging each other and crying and they were like, man, shit, I think that's the best we've ever played together and played amazing grace, you know? But to me, I felt like well, that's
that's what we can do. We could that's that's what we do. As we move people like that, every night, we get inside and we move people emotionally. We don't just rock for the sake of rocking. We move people emotionally. And that's what I would want to do with you guys. And so finally something came up for Robert and his solo record that he felt like, okay, yeah, we could do that. And he kept saying, I need your voice, I need your voice. And he sent it
to me. And I said, you're singing a great one, and you sing it. And he said, Jimmy, come on, I need your voice on this. And so I just finished that. And, and it's great. It feels really natural. And that's what I was talking about. Like, that's what we should do something that feels natural, that doesn't feel like we're trying to do something, you know, that had been done before.
Yeah. And in the in, you know, in the interim, we could go out as that new band and say, well, let's play three songs of a pilot songs, maybe two, one or two hour songs, and we'll play this whole new record as this new band, I would be into doing that wear them with them or or Duffin slash and that crew. But what I don't want to do is I don't want to you know, all all blessings and, and best of luck to anybody who takes on those
jobs. That jumps into a banner that that's so established over there, the new singer, there are a couple people I think have done a really amazing they like the new singer for foreigner. Think he's amazing. Oh, yeah. Kelly Hanson, Kelly Hansen's so good. Lou Graham's amazing, some two of them to be that good. Is it or no, and journey? I think he does a good job. But there's one Steve Perry, at that point. To me. It's like, for me and say, I wish the guy nothing
but the best. And when I hear him saying all the things, I think he's amazing. But you know, there's just like, sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I don't think Brian Johnson sounds anything like Bon Scott. But he's just equally as awesome in his own way. And I think that's why it worked. I think you have to allow a new singer is going to come in, I think that you have to allow them to be themselves with with the spirit of maybe the music that you were writing, and then
it could happen. I don't think you can push them to say you have to sing the songs in that way. Right. I don't think that'll ever work. So I leave it open. I'm wide open. You know, I was even at one point as being cents a song with some of the guys in excess. And I would have really been into that but also felt there's no way to replace Michael Hutchins. No way in hell yeah. But I would love to sing those songs with them and do
some fun things. I could, I could sing all those songs, I have the range and the depth to get to all the notes, the high ones and the low ones. And I love that music. So that'd be a fun thing to do. So I'm, I'm open to it, but like really my, my my thing here is to just to, to sing from my heart. And I lend my voice to things here and there but I think is I have to sing from my heart and whatever I'm going to do. And that's that's what I'm supposed to do. So I just tried to follow that. Mm hmm.
No, that makes sense. But like, Yeah, it sounds like you want to do is you want to just do your own like supergroup like you on vocals and it doesn't even necessarily have to be two people from a band like slash and Darfur, the delay or brothers it could be just totally like a really good guitar player really like you know already established on bass and drummer
Steve Stevens. That's
That's why I had him on my show. He's amazing. Yeah,
that's who I want. I want to put together balance to Stevens. Every Duff
sounds to me I'd see that
and then and then there's this drummer is actually guitar player Josh. I think his name you play with the chili peppers.
Oh, yeah. Josh freeze.
No, Josh. He's a guitar player. Oh, guitar player that he was playing with the chili peppers until you know for the last decade and then for shanties come back, but but I like how he plays drums. I heard him play drums of PJ Harvey and I was like, I love that guy. But I also have a couple friends that have some real vibe on the drums that I would like to pick from loveseat and Perkins as well. So even a bandwidth like Steve Stevens seemed Perkins and Duff, something like that would be amazing.
That would be amazing. I would totally see that. That'd be really fun. Well, cool. Yeah, I've taken way too much of your time. I think we said 30 minutes and it was like went way over, but I apologize. But a lot of fun. So hopefully, hopefully I didn't interrupt anything that you're doing. But I do like to end each episode with a promoting a charity. Is there a charity that you like to give a shout out to or promote here at
the end? Yeah, that well, there's there's so many but the one i i Always keep coming back to is is St. Jude.
Okay, yeah, I've promoted them several times.
Yeah. I mean, I have. I have different friends who have different charities that they that they work with, and even some that run from them in So that's their charity. But the the one that I have to keep coming back to St. Jude because, you know, we can fight over money and all this stuff and disbelief of that belief, but cancer is, is still you know, it's still the real pandemics, the real epidemics the real plague. And it's, it's coming for everyone. Not to be cryptic.
No, it's yeah, it's I think they said, I remember when I was in college, they were saying something by like, the year 2030. It was like, one in four people will have had or have cancer. And then like, by the year 2050, it was like, 50% of people. And then another thing was, like, at some point is gonna be like, 75% of people will have had or have cancer, that's insane to me.
And that's, you know, that's the thing. So well, you know, we're in the last four years, or, you know, we're fighting over just some stupid crap, or we're just like, somebody has narcissistic behavior. It's like, you know, you got like, eight year old kids suffering that not even getting a chance to live. Like, come on, let's, let's rely on a focus here and get a shit together. So,
I agree. 100%. I'll put that in the notes and along with your website, and people can obviously hear the album. That's just ours. It's self titled. It's on Spotify and all that stuff. But can they purchase it too? Do you have it for sale on CD and vinyl? Some people want to
do? Yeah, we haven't on CD. We were about to press up the vinyl. It's just the vinyl is, you know, super backed up.
That's what I've heard. Yeah, like a year or something like that.
Yeah. So we'll get it printed up soon. Cool. So after
people purchase it, they can throw a few bucks at St. Jude. That's, and then definitely come see your show. Now you guys are coming to Phoenix already. Cuz I didn't see it on the tour.
Not this time. We always do. Okay. But But not this time. We we? Because my buddy owns a bar venue there that we always play. And that's which one wasted grant.
Oh, yeah. Looks like right. It's like a mile from my house. Nice. Yeah, I would totally come see you guys there. Yeah, get the black moods you ever play with them? They're like our local band here.
That that's who? That's who he wants and pebble of subway? Yeah,
they'll they'll bring in a good crowd for sure. Yeah. And I would love to see you and Josh do like a sing off or do some duet or something together. That'd be fun.
Yeah, Robert, you know, the owners. There's my buddy. And he's been talking to me for a while about that. But I don't know that during this time that they just couldn't accommodate for like a weeknight, or whatever it was. So we'll skip it this time, but we'll be back.
Okay, cool. Well, I look forward to thanks so much. This is a lot of fun. You're very welcome. Thank
you. It's good stories.
Okay, see you later. Okay. Bye bye. Well, my mind was blown was yours. I mean, he almost joined Velvet Revolver in Stone Temple Pilots. So I find that fascinating. It was, the part that's so interesting is basically was him not wanting to do it instead of you know, somebody else beating him out or them turning him down. He basically turned both of those bands down from what it
sounds like. So I'd be curious to have the guys from Velvet Revolver and some Temple Pilots on the show, to hear their thoughts on the whole thing and what they thought of Jimmy in his audition or whatever, definitely respect Jimmy's voice and his music. Check out the new self titled album from ours, and hit up their website for current tour dates. And of course, make sure to follow them on social
media. And while you're on there, hey, you could give my show a follow or myself on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok all that crap. You'll stay up to date with future episodes. And you can also subscribe to the show on YouTube or Spotify or Apple podcasts wherever you listen. And if you are on Youtube, if you happen to be on there besides subscribing, if you hit the like button, and maybe throw me a comment, check out some of the other interviews
I've done. That helped me out a lot and I think you'll enjoy some of the other interviews that I've done. And thank you so much for listening. Have a great rest of your day and remember to shoot for the moon