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J-Rock has been around
for quite some time now and, for some of you, maybe his name and his
music is familiar to you. For those of you who aren't familiar with
his musical work, there's only one introduction that will do you justice
and that's to experience his music for yourself. If you have an open
mind when it comes to what you'll listen to, then you'll appreciate
what J-Rock has to offer because, well, put it this way...he's different.
He's also a man with a vision. He knows what he wants to do and he
does it. When he's talking about it, it's the same way. He doesn't
pull any punches and he gets straight to the point, which is something
I learned during this conversation. Ask a question, get an answer
and that's the way it is. That's J-Rock and this is our conversation.
Paul Autry: Before Organic Brain Syndrom, was there anything else
that you were involved in?
J-Rock: Well, let's see...first, you won't actually find a category
on anything like me and how to land a recording contract. Years ago,
when someone told me I couldn't do something because it wouldn't fit
into a band format...I did it anyway. Most bands, like around here,
would surely destroy their career with the risks that I've taken in
music. But, I look at it like someone had to do it. I'm basically
out to break all the rules and take chances. I'm known from that.
My earlier stuff was, you know, a lot of heavy stuff.
Paul Autry: When you say heavy are you talking
about rock 'n' roll?
J-Rock: Yeah, a lot of heavy and rock and stuff. But, I'm really not
happy with just one musical genre. I'm too musically cultured. I grew
up listening to a diverse blend of music. I'm into all eras. When
most people mention me or Organic Brain Syndrome, they think industrial
rock cause that's the only category that stands out, occassionally,
in my stuff, especially in Organic Brain Syndrome. But, it's really
a lot more than industrial rock. I mean, no matter what it is, I'm
just building an impressive track record.
Paul Autry: Is Organic Brain Syndrome still together
or are you just pushing the CD?
J-Rock: Well, Organic Brain Syndrome has has a cult following that
will never die. People are always asking me if I'm gonna do another
album in the future and, yes, I am. I don't exactly know when it's
gonna happen. But, Organic Brain Syndrome was basically a two man
band. We would hire backing musicians to go out on the road with us
to do it. Me and the drummer, Dr. Reality, are still in touch and
anytime it could jump off. As my moods change from year to year, so
does my music. You know, all the CD's, they're just like statements,
my drastic changes in life from year to year. Last year, I did the
techno album and that kind of found its way into the commercial market,
which was freaky. That's the show I toured with this summer with Hunniejam.
Paul Autry: Okay...and that's "A Whole New Century
Of Pain?"
J-Rock: Yeah.
Paul Autry: I don't know, I don't see techno
in that.
J-Rock: It fell under the techno category somehow. I don't know how
it did, but, somehow it charted on mainstream radio and, you know,
suddenly, I gained a whole new group of fans that I never would have
had in the past.
Paul Autry: So, what led you to go from Organic
Brain Syndrome to like a solo artist?
J-Rock: I don't know. I'm just comfortable with what I do and where
I'm at in music. My fan base grew in the underground and now it seems
I'm gaining mainstream acceptance with what I did because that was
mood. My true fans don't think I'm selling out on them. If you look
at it, I mean, all my albums, even my Organic Brain Syndrome album
were sell outs. I mean, they really didn't know or understand what
I was doing then. I fell into the underground because no one really
knew where to put me. Come on, I mean, sometimes I'll slam you to
the ground with thrash guitar and then I'll turn around and pull an
acoustic number or some R&B. Sometimes all in the same jam. I don't
know, it's just how I felt that whole year and that had to come out
of me. It was a statement. It was a statement that I wanted to lay
down for everybody.
Paul Autry: For the people who might not have
a clue, who exactly is Hunniejam?
J-Rock: Well, Hunniejam is something...I was sick of a lot of jealous
guy musicians who always wanted to destroy me. So, I came up with
this scheme that would really piss off all these Motown haters even
further, man. I put together an all girl backing band, which consists
of some of the most wild, kick ass chicks in music and they intimidate
the shit out of the hater types to death. Most of these types talk
behind my back, they wouldn't dare say anything to my face. I mean,
I spent years of my life in mosh pits and my tattoos alone would pummel
most of these idiots. But, you know, the chicks have made me a bit
passive this year. Know what I mean? But, I'm proud of this band.
I've had more fun on the road with these girls than any other band
I fronted at all. I'm taking it even further with them too. We're
going back out on tour in 2002 in Florida. I have a new addition,
her name is Meesh on guitar, she kicks ass. She sent me a video and
I couldn't believe it. We're currently adding her to tracks via CD's
and the internet. The band is DJ A.K., she's keyboard beats and backing
vocals. Then there's Meesh on guitar and backing vocals, Kitty on
bass and backing vocals. Then there's Becca on backups.
Paul Autry: So Hunniejam isn't the band on the
back of your CD then?
J-Rock: No. Actually, there is one Hunniejammer in there. That picture
was actually taken at an Organic Brain Syndrome show, it's like an
older picture. Those girls were hanging around the bar at the time
and we decided to get some shots and it's kind of ironic that DJ A.K.
got in on that picture and she later became...we became close. The
next album will have a full picture of Hunniejam.
Paul Autry: Did they all come from other bands
or were they musicians that you've known who could do what you wanted
them to do? What's their history?
J-Rock: Basically, they all have a history. Kitty, she was a bass
player in some New York bands. Meesh was the guitar player for a lot
of Florida bands. DJ A.K., she did keyboards for, probably for nobody
that you would know. She's been around through and Becca, the singer,
she does Broadway. She came in and did some vocals one day and we
were like, if you're down with this shit that we're laying down, you're
in the band. She was down with it, she was up for the challenge. So,
she's in all the way.
Paul Autry: And that would bring a whole different
element into what you're doing.
J-Rock: Yeah. It's make it very diverse. I had to change up a little
bit, not much. The Hunniejam show was still some heavy, kick ass stuff.
But, we do a lot of mellower stuff that I normally wouldn't do live.
But, I'm not afraid to do a ballad or some acoustic stuff or things
like that.
Paul Autry: I pointed this out to you before
when you called. For someone who doesn't know what you're about, when
they see your album cover, they might think you're a rap artist or
something like that.
J-Rock: Yeah, that's just like a joke. The album cover and the back
cover is kind of a take off on Spinal Tap. I've learned to never be
second guessed in anything that I put out. People say, oh Christ,
not another J-Rock, what's he gonna do this time. Know what I mean?
Every time it's more like a trick. Little did I know that the album
would get into Sam Goody stores. What we're all laughing at, it's
all taken off on a totally different level. People see exactly what
it is when they come to see the show, which is a lot heavier. It's
fog machines, it's lights, it's slamming guitar. There's a lot of
techno, a lot of rock. It's completely different than the album because,
I recorded the album by myself with a few friends. There was no Hummiejam
involved. I had a few girls come in and do some singing. Me and my
sampling station, that was pretty much it.
Paul Autry: Yeah, it says on the album that you played all the instruments.
J-Rock: Yeah. When I was recording it, I was in a really depressed
mood. I was really depressed that year and it was just a statement
that was coming out. I wanted it to be a real personal thing. I wasn't
even gonna release it. But, my record label said that it was good
shit...let's release it. So, I said okay. I had my heart on my sleeve.
It was a real personal thing. Organic Brain Syndrome was real heavy,
in your face, this was a real personal thing. I never even planned
to tour on it. But, after getting some success with it, I felt I had
to put something together. So, that's when I did Hummiejam.
Paul Autry: If I'm not mistaken, didn't your
tour get cut short because of the September 11th terrorist attacks?
J-Rock: Yeah. Well, we all decided to cancel all our remaining gigs
because the show was such a good time. It was such a fun experience
and the attacks just took everything out of us. Now, if it was Organic
Brain Syndrome out on the road, I would have continued to tour because
the raging music would've allowed me to focus the anger towards terrorism.
Know what I mean? I feel now, this is the time for heavy bands to
come out and vent their anger. At least the anger can be directed
at something other than stupid, simple issues. I mean, how can you
possibly think of yourself with this crisis going down? I have family
in the military right now who are getting ready to go overseas. We've
also tried to contact some people on our mailing list who live in
New York City and they haven't gotten back to us yet, which is scary.
So I can't possibly think of me at the moment, like J-Rock, here it
is...me, me, me! It didn't stop us, it didn't stop our lives. You
know, we're recording our second album. But, it took the fun out of
us going up on stage and trying to convey fun and chicks and stuff
like that. It kind of took everything out of us for now.
Paul Autry: Yeah, I know what you mean. I had
a few things I was dealing with at the time and it was like, wait
a minute, this feels kind of selfish.
J-Rock: Yeah, especially now. You know what I mean. We started the
second CD and it will be different. It'll be very different...as usual.
Some parts will be a bit somber. I'm debating a song for the missing,
but, I didn't want to at first because it would be really painful
for me to perform live. I get emotional. I'm an extremely emotional
person. I had a rough life and I overcame a lot of problems and a
lot of shit. So, I'm gonna take all that energy and funnel it into
this next album, which will come off a bit somber. But, the four songs
we have done already are upbeat. So, I can mix it up, I can go into
the studio in a somber mood.
Paul Autry: Do you do an all original show when
you perform live?
J-Rock: Oh yeah, it's all original. We also do a few Organic Brain
Syndrome songs live as well. The mellow ones, we sneak 'em in there.
We've also written three additional songs that weren't on the album
that are in the set that we've had lingering around for about six
months. We finally got
Paul Autry: So, when you go out on tour, do you
go out yourself or do you have other bands go out with you?
J-Rock: Yeah, we always have opening bands. Whatever state we're in,
it's usually the best local bands that open up for us.
Paul Autry: Since your music is, shall we say,
different, do you ever find that the bands that open for you, well,
with them and then you, is it a mismatch?
J-Rock: Always. Nobody's really expecting what's gonna happen when
I get up on stage. A lot of people aren't used to it, but, after it's
over, everybody, even the opening bands, come over and say that's
some real wild shit, dude. It gets really, really wild, you know.
All the beats are coming from a sampling station that this chick is
pounding out. There's no drummer, I use total electronic beats. There's
no drummer to give me any shit. My sampling station doesn't give me
any shit and it blows away any drummer out there. The only other live
drummer that I'll ever work with again...ever...is Dr. Reality from
Organic Brain Syndrome. Out of all the drummers that I've had in the
past, he's the only one that can actually keep up with my pace. You
know, I might sound a bit self centered. But, I'm not really into
people wasting my time, that's it. DJ A-K runs the sampling station
live and it just totally kicks ass. It's like an unbelievable drummer.
Paul Autry: I noticed that Dr. Reality actually
plays on "A Whole New Century Of Pain."
J-Rock: Oh, yeah, I always use him. I mean, just cause I'm not really
in the band, Organic Brain Syndrome is not over. They're out doing
other projects. I have friends from other bands that I've been in.
We all get together, we're all in touch. They know how I am. There
will be another Organic Brain Syndrome album in the future. I don't
know when right now. I'm not done with heavy, thrashy stuff. There
will be more albums to come, I can guarantee that.
Paul Autry: For the people who haven't heard
of you, how would you convince them to check out "A Whole New Century
Of Pain?" I mean, what would you say to them?
J-Rock: I would just say that I'm the new age of music. I'm the new
thing coming down the block. I've been buried in the underground for
ten years and everybody in the underground knows who I am. But, since
I picked my head up into the mainstream, a lot of people will say,
well, what is this. But, once they hear it, they'll dig it.
Paul Autry: How would you describe "A Whole New
Century Of Pain?"
J-Rock: Well, it's more geared towards guys who have been dumped or
relationships that have gone bad or people who are in a somber mood,
depressed. I more or less came in as the guy who took the pain and
said, look man, everything's cool, it happens. Shit happens to me,
I'm human. I just wanted to come out and say that everything's cool.
You know, I'm not the untouchable rock star. I just wanted to come
in as a normal guy and not say anything that nobody couldn't understand.
I just came in and laid everything out on the table. Real life issues...relationships,
work, your mental stability. Nothing I said was too over the top.
If you're a human being with human feelings, you can relate to that
album. That's the way it is. http://expage.com/RockRollsOn
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