Interview with Hollywood Undead: Common Misconceptions

Hollywood UndeadI had expected a multitude of stories to come from Johnny 3 Tears of Hollywood Undead about the band’s first time touring Europe. However, he was quick to apologize that he might bore me with how their time there was more work than play. It just seems he, along with band mates Charlie Scene, Deuce, J-Dog, Da Kurlzz and Funny Man, are a party in their own right no matter where they are.

They have been creating quite the buzz over the past few years, yet have only just released their first album, Swan Songs, late last year. Still adjusting from returning home from overseas, Johnny 3 Tears took some time to discuss who they are as artists and their view on the world.

Next up for you guys is the Saints & Sinners tour and it’s quite an eclectic mix.

It is a strange mix, isn’t it? It should be fun. I like a couple of the bands on there and hopefully they’re nice enough guys and we’ll have some fun.

The history behind the band, I read you guys started up for fun, almost like joking around.

It wasn’t a joke; we were doing music together for quite a number of years before that. We had three major bands together at one point or another. Then we quit one band for another one, we build up momentum, but we just never reached that plateau where we actually got where we wanted to go.

At that point, I think, everybody kind of given up and we started coming together with more of a relaxed approached to what we were doing. I think that was one of the parts of the recipe of success that it didn’t impinge on our future and we didn’t have to hinge the rest of our lives on it and that’s what was freeing. So we’re able to make music that we probably wouldn’t have made if we were intending on being successful and getting signed.

You’re quickly classified under the rap umbrella, but what kind of music were you making before this?

Well, before this, it was more straight-up rock music. We have the same rock music format that we always used. I think why people draw the conclusion that it is ‘hip-hop,’ I suppose, is because we just let that influence come in because we weren’t really sticking to any structure or any one thing in particular. That’s where you get this metal/rock/rap music that we’re making.

In listening, I hear similarities to Eminem, especially in Charlie Scene’s voice.

I Agree.

Are you guys fans?

Oh, yea extremely. I love Eminem. Actually the funny thing is Charlie Scene is the one guy who isn’t the big Eminem fan. He doesn’t dislike him, but we certainly all listen to music and you can’t help to let it come across to one degree or another and eventually no matter how hard you try to keep it out.