MTV host, manager of various up and coming bands, pioneer of his own label and frontman and spokesperson for Hatebreed, Jamey Jasta reeks of success. Being exceptionally driven, there are a multitude of projects with which he fills his time. But, lucky for us, he managed to spare a few minutes from his busy schedule to have a chat with Room Thirteen.
R13: So Jamey, it's about 9 1/2 years ago that Hatebreed first formed. What was the original aim and inspiration for you starting the band, and would you say, that nearly ten years on, that inspiration has remained?
JJ: Oh, without a doubt! It all started with our way of reviving the scene around us. There were few bands that sounded like us. None of our favourite bands really played in our area (Connecticut). As we started to get more popular locally, we managed to get these bands to come and play with us.
This cool community started. New bands were popping up and suddenly this whole Connecticut scene developed. When we got signed to Victory and we released our first album, the whole scene just exploded across the East-Coast.
Since then we've remained as true to what we do. I mean, every couple of years, different trends in music have come and gone. As our scene keeps on growing, we keep our lyrical style and stay true to our sound. It's cool that 9 1/2 years on, we're still putting out albums and each one is bigger than the last.
R13: You've now played alongside some of the greatest acts of our time, certainly the likes of Slayer and Ozzy. Who would be the ultimate act for Hatebreed to collaborate with?
JJ: Probably Metallica. We've played with them twice, but we'd really like to do a tour with them. It would be cool to tour with Korn too. I think that they're still one of the biggest Nu-metal bands that we've yet to tour with around the States. Aside from that, we've toured with Black Sabbath, 6 tours with Slayer. We've toured with Danzig and Motorhead. We've been very, very lucky and are appreciative that we are able to share the stage with all of our heroes.
R13: I always think that being in a band is a lot like being in a marriage. You guys have now been together longer than a lot of modern marriages last! Has this strained relations between you? Was there any sign of a seven-year-itch?
JJ: [Laughs] That's the reason it's just me and Beattie (Chris Beattie - Bass) that are the original members left! Although we have had the same line-up now for the last two albums. "Perseverance" our 2002 album, it really lifts us a five-piece, although we recorded it as a four-piece. Our other guitarist really wasn't going to last. He wasn't making any music and he just wasn't having a good time.
We did 300 shows in a one year period over 2002/2003. In the past year we've done a hundred shows already. It's important that we're having a good time! That's why we've always said that Hatebreed aren't just a band. Everyone involved is a part of Hatebreed, from our management to our road-crew. We roll together and try to keep the family vibe. We have so many fans that they keep up a demand for us to remain on the road. That's why I really feel that Hatebreed is more than a band. It's a movement.
R13: How do you juggle the frontman of a band, hosting "Headbanger's Ball", managing other artists and being a family man? What takes priority?
JJ: It's totally crazy! It's been the craziest year and a half of my life. Especially with "Headbanger's Ball". I've just signed on with MTV for another year to host it. I'm just so glad I've been able to give back to the scene. Particularly now as there so many bands that are just exploding in the US, that don't have these opportunities. I try not to think about it too much. Rather I am just enjoying it while it lasts.
R13: What do the rest of the band think about your other projects? I'm presuming that they've got their own things going on?
JJ: Everybody is really supportive. Like I said, we've always been more than a band. I've always run the label, I've always put on shows and booked tours. I do a fan-zine, I do a web-zine. We've been involved in all these different aspects of the music industry. I think that this helps us to progress and stay on top of things. I mean the people you see on the way up are the same people you see on the way down. We've always managed to maintain good relations. For example, with our current label and our management. We've been afforded so many opportunities. With these last few records, we realise how important it is to stay afloat. Looking at new press outlets and publishing deals, talking to lawyers. You really need to be involved in all these things to have a successful career.
R13: Obviously your music and lyrics come from quite a dark place. But as your career's taken off and you've a young family, isn't life sweet? Where do you find all of that anger to sing about?
JJ: That's the thing. We basically use the situations we see around the world. For me injustice has been a part of my life. There is stuff I've seen firsthand for as long as I can remember. As you get older and you provide for yourself and you fight for what you want and the things that you believe in, you start to turn your attention elsewhere. You turn it to other places in the world where you see injustice. But then again, you can only really fight that starting in your own life.
Now that I'm at a point where I'm doing better in my career. I'm able to provide for my family and for my friends in other bands. I'm able to lead artists in a direction where I think they'll be as happy as I am. I've turned my anger and the animosity I've had inside me, into hard work and perseverance.
Lyrics are derived from situations going on all over the world that I feel powerless against. In just America alone, being a father and seeing the world from a parent's standpoint, I think that it's a scary place in which to bring a child up. The world is a pretty rough place right now so there are always new sources to get my lyrics and animosity from. But I try to do it in a way that's not aimless.
R13: It's that dark sentiment to your music that has appealed to angst-ridden teenagers the world over. Would you agree that Hatebreed could be a voice for the disaffected youth? Is that a lot to live up to, or is that a label that you are proud of?
JJ: It's definately a label that I'm proud of, because I was there. I was that kid; singing along to my favourite bands and chanting the lyrics. I was the kid passing out the fliers for these bands, and then going home to an empty house with no food in it. I feel like music has introduced me to a whole world that I never knew existed.
If I can show people that there is a way to use the hatred and the negativity you have inside, to come out on top...then great! I've already seen it firsthand. All over the world, I've had kids come up to me. Grown men and women even. I've had people say to me, I've used your record to help me whilst I was getting out of an abusive relationship or to get ahead in my career. I've even had someone say, I get up every morning and lift weights to your record and used it to get rid of 50lbs. People say the most amazing things to me. I'm just glad that I've been able to communcate as that's all I really set out to do.
R13: Now that Hatebreed is firmly established, "The Rise of Brutality" cementing your fate and a tour with Slipknot on the go. Hatebreed's music and sound is very now. Very turn of the 21st Century. Very, we're the younger generation and we've got a lot to shout about. But you've already made your voice heard, so what do you do now? What's next on the band's agenda?
JJ: We're now thinking of doing an all encompassing European tour. To go to all of these places where we hear from our fans. You know, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia. At the moment, we're in Glasgow for the first time ever, but we've been getting letters from here all along. We'd like to do the complete, massive World tour over the next year. Then hopefully a new album late 2005.
R13: And what's next for Jamey Jasta?
JJ: Now I've signed on for another year with "Headbanger's Ball", I'm gonna have to try and tape as many shows as possible during our off time. I've also just started a clothing line in the States where I'm designing my own items. I've always been completely unfashionable or dressed by someone else. I figured I might as well take it into my own hands and create clothes that I'd like to wear. Hopefully other people will like them and want to wear them too!
R13: So finally, what's been the defining moment of your career so far? What's been the moment when you and Beattie and the rest of the band have looked at each other and thought "Yeah, we've made it!".
JJ: I would say, everyday on the last Ozzfest. Co-headlining the second stage alongside Slipknot. Then, going over to the mainstage to watch Slayer, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath all in a row. That was just unbelievable. I still can't believe that we were a part of that. I'm happy that we were able to experience all of it. Hopefully it can just keep on getting better. But then again, if it all ended tomorrow, I'd be very satisfied.
I don't think that Jasta has any worries about it all being over in too much of a hurry. Hard work and due diligence has paid off. In this day and age where the music industry is so cut-throat, Hatebreed are something of a rarity. The product of their own perseverance, this is one band who appears to be master of their own destiny.
But when you come across artists like this, who are thankful for every break they get, no matter how small. Who seize each moment as if it's their last. Who apply the same passion to their work as they do to the music. You can't help but be humbled by them. Every chance that comes their way, Hatebreed has earned. This is a band that really deserves their success and should serve as an inspiration to us all. Also, a reminder, that the world is an ugly place, but if you can channel all that anger into positive ends, then we can fill it with beautiful things.