PART 2 So, I am just now looking at your pictures. That's normally the last thing I pay attention to. Ooooh...let's talk tattoos.
I told my dad at 14 or 15 that I wanted a tattoo. I have been performing since I was little. I knew what I wanted to be when I was 6 years old. So, I said to him 'I'll make you a deal. If I get a record deal, I get a tattoo.' So, when I got a record deal, my dad knew exactly where I was going! What I ended up getting is symbolic to me. There are stars in there who represent my family. There's 7 of them. 7 is a big part of my life. Lucky 7. We signed the deal on 9-7-07. My birthday is January 7th. The other stuff in the tattoo... like there are flames. They represent the turmoil. The flatline and the car accident.
But, I look at it and I don't take it for granted. I can't blow it. I am doing everything I can to help as many people as I can along the way. It's a meaningful tattoo for me. I am getting another one on the other arm. Probably more of a sleeve. It's going to be the experience of what I saw when I flatlined. I want to be able to look at my arm and get back to that moment because it was the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me.
Do you think image is important?
When we go out there, we're giving it every night. It doesn't matter what the situation is or how many people are there. We just want people to give us a chance. Everyone has their own opinions when it comes to music and all those things, we just want the opportunity to be heard. We're not the Backstreet Boys, We're not a boy band. We want to look good when we go on stage, of course. We are a band and this is what we're all about. Everything is well thought out, but we're not trying to look this way or that. We're a rock band. We're not about product placement or whatever. We dress the way we want to dress. No one is gonna come out in a chicken suit or something. We just pride ourselves in looking good.
Do you believe music can literally change the world?
I love to believe that it can. Actually...yeah I do. Think of Bob Marley. There's lots of rumors about who tried to take him out. It's powerful when one person says 'this what I believe in.' Let's make it a better place. Let's love one another. Let's understand what people go through and what we really have. The unfortunate thing is a lot of the time, people concentrate on what's bad. But one person standing up and saying something important through their music? That can change people's perceptions of things. It can make them think. Yes, I firmly believe music can change the world.
You mentioned before that you would like to be huge so you can play charity events and things. Be like Bono. What causes would you champion most seriously?
I can't speak for the whole band, but for myself it is definitely battered women and single moms. And cancer, definitely. I just lost my uncle recently to cancer. He was a big inspiration in my life.
Back on the energy kick, natural born rockstars have a certain aura about them. This energy. When they walk into a room, heads turn. When you meet someone with pure music for a soul, you know it. It's obvious. You can pick the talent out of a lineup. Why then, do you think, record labels sign artists without that spark? Have they just never met someone who has it so they don't know what to look for? Because really, I've met some of these people who pass for 'major label talent' and there's just nothing there.
A&R has a hard time of it. That's a tough job. There are all these deadlines and you have to sign a certain number of bands and your success relies so heavily on their success. There is more pressure than you'd think to get artists signed and get them out. Time is money.
But like you said before...just surfing through MySpace you are able to find plenty of talent that you would be willing to invest your personal money in. Sure, A&Rs have deadlines and quotas and whatnot, but is it really that hard to find artists worthy of the opportunity?
I'm not sure. I think the talent is out there if you're really looking for it. I don't always understand what they see in some bands, but there must have been something. Maybe they had one killer song that the label thought they could build on. Who knows? I know what you mean with energy certain people put out there. That's definitely what we try to do. We try to project that kind of positivity.
That aura of pure artistic talent can be overwhelming. Do you ever get starstruck?
No, and that's an honest answer. I'll tell you why...whether it's talking to Staind about the upcoming tour or just hanging out with another band, we're just people talking. I met Lenny Kravitz years ago and his band. They were cool guys...just great people to have a conversation with. I told myself that if I ever have the opportunity to get in the public eye, I want people to feel comfortable approaching me as a human being. People are so appreciative just for stopping to take a picture with them. But it's like you're here, I'm here...we're just people taking a picture. We appreciate their time as much as they appreciate ours.
Do you want to know everything about artists you love?
Not everything. Everyone has skeletons. Nothing is worse than when you hear about an artist you love that pissed off a fan or the press or fucked up in some way. It makes you look at them differently. The media these days wants you to know everything about everyone, but I just want to know where the music came from. What kind of head space were they in?
When I listen to 'classic artists' who were famous and over long before I was even born, I feel like the historical or social context can allow me to relate to the music better. I get it in a different way if I know what else was happening at the time, but I don't really like it when artists flat out tell you what songs are about. For me, that kinda takes the fun out of putting all the pieces together and unlocking secrets. How much personal context is needed for you to appreciate the music you listen to, and have the people appreciate your music?
Everything is up to your own interpretation. I have no problem if someone asks me what a song is about. Some artists may not want to reveal that and I think you should respect their privacy, but I have no problem answering those questions.
You talked before about how you want longevity in the music business. Does that force you to take a long view? Are you writing your own history as you live it out, trying to make what you do today relevant to 10 years down the line?
We are getting a huge opportunity by playing with these bands. We reach a huge audience every night by playing with these bands. What we're doing now will be relevant to what we do next. We don't take anything for granted. People take you seriously when you're playing on a bigger stage. Fans think if you're on a big stage then there must be something about you worth noting. I think it's very relevant. We don't want to sell the audience short When I said I want longevity before, it's about how happy you are with yourself and what you're doing. I want to be a big band and play with other big bands who care about giving back. You have to be at that huge level to make a difference. This is something I believe in...who is with me? If you're a joke, no one will listen to you. You have to work twice as hard to get to that level. One hit song doesn't guarantee you any kind of influence or power. We go out there, we enjoy it. Tonight we're playing. Tomorrow we're playing. You wanna come see us? We want to see you.
Have you been overseas yet?
No, but that's next. Personally, I want to go to Egypt. As a band, I'd love to go to London or Australia or Germany...all over Europe, really. I think that would be amazing.
Why do you want to go to Egypt?
Why wouldn't you want to go?
Good point. But are you particularly fascinated with Ancient Egypt or something?
Oh yes. I think it's all really interesting. There is so much mystery and so much we don't know or don't fully understand. The pyramids...I mean all the wonders of the world. It's just incredible.
On pyramids, I think it's pretty trippy that there are pyramids around the world, on every continent...and they were all built around the same time. I mean, there's a pyramid in St. Louis for fucks sake.
I know! How did that happen? What does it all mean? I wish I knew.
At this point the conversation took such a turn that I completely stopped writing things down for about the last hour of our visit. As most of what he said to me, he asked to remain 'off the record' I won't tell you about it now. But one thing is clear from my discussion with Jet Black Stare- the way Rod Black defines success, he won't be able to help achieving it. This guy has the determination and perseverance to make sure that he will be playing music for as long as he wants to play music. He said about a hundred times that they aren't taking anything for granted, and I believe them. They are shutting out negativity completely and are absolutely focused on making the most of the opportunities they've worked so hard for. Musically, it's a genre we're all more than familiar with as it has dominated rock radio for about 10 years now, but Rod Black and Jet Black Stare seem confident that the genre won't die if the songs keep getting better. And their songs ARE better. Good luck to them!
In This Life in stores NOW MySpace.com - Jet Black Stare (CD in stores now) - Vancouver/NY/CHI, CA - Rock - www.myspace.com/jetblackstareband