Hollywood Undead is a new band coming out of, you guessed it, Hollywood. Donning masks and producing a rap/rock hybrid style, there is debate about whether or not this band should be taken seriously. Although topping the MySpace charts, there have been just as many critics questioning the artistic integrity of these young rockstar hopefuls. Even among their many fans, there seems to be disagreement regarding what this band is even about. Some think it's a big elaborate joke about the music industry. Others think it is serious music with comedic lyrics. And still others think it is all completely serious and hang on their every crotch-grabbing word.
Their first full length album,
Swan Song, is released September 2nd. I got on the phone with J-Dawg (he's one of the guys in the band) to clear up the confusing parts.
You already have loads of fans, but among them, there seems to be some disagreement about what you guys are all about. I only have 3 questions for you today, which I think will clarify for those who already know you and those who don't. Take as much time as you'd like in responding.
3 questions? That's it?
Yep, that's it. First question: What's so funny? I mean, what's the joke here?
The joke? Well, I guess we find all of it funny. The thing about life and everyday life, people take it too seriously. If you can't find the humor in life you may as well shoot yourself. We make a mockery of it and tell people they need to lighten up. We express ourselves how we want to. We do this and we enjoy ourselves. Even after the label drops us, we'll still be doing it. You find truth in what's around you and you have to find the humor in it.
We started the group for fun. It's funny to us. We have all been in bands before. We joke around, we make songs that are funny, but there's no ONE joke. We didn't start the band just to make fun of everyone. We enjoy ourselves and get more out of it than we were expecting and other people do too. There is no ONE joke, though.
Are you serious artists creating serious art?
Yes. Our album is coming out and there's a lot more serious subject matter. Songs about politics and religion and how the masses are controlled by it. There is a ton of stuff on the album. Aside from the music, we all do different kinds of art. Magazines, movies, writing, cartoons...we do a lot of different things.
If anyone has a problem with us, they're just being pissed off at something they don't understand. I think every artist struggles with making themselves better and trying to outdo themselves. We worked really hard to make this album. Anything is art. If someone wants to paint a chair black and put it in an exhibit, it's art. But this is our way of expressing ourselves. This is one of our artistic outlets.
Where does this go? What possible future could this project really have?
For us..we want longevity. We want to be one of those bands that people still listen to 10 years after we're done. We want to go on tour and make more albums. We want to explore our other art if we go our separate ways. We go to liquor stores almost every day, we want to keep doing that.
There's no such thing as a band that comes out stays the same forever. AFI is a good example. They used to be a hardcore punk band and now it's nothing but ballads. They progressed and they changed. We know we won't go anywhere if we don't change as artists and musicians. Elton John was considered a joke. Eminem was considered a joke. The people who are known for something different take a lot of criticism early on. They don't get it.
Maybe these people should be doing more in their own lives. They start attacking artists because they have nothing better to do.
So there it is. Hollywood Undead considers themselves a serious band that will go down in the history books and they'll be swimming in booze until their livers fall out of their asses. The music isn't very good (or clever or original or necessary), so some of that ambition rings hollow, but I'm not one to tell a person they shouldn't follow their dreams. Good luck to you, Hollywood Undead. Get the reality show. Take the money and run. 
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