It's always fun to interview celebrities that I grew up adoring. I remember idolizing some of these celebs when I was a child, so, interviewing them now is a weird, sort of goofy feeling. Almost as if I am reliving my childhood. Ya dig?
I have memories of listening to "The Roof Is On Fire" in high school and absolutely falling in love with the Bloodhound Gang. Now, seven years later, I have the pleasure of interviewing the main man in charge.
Sweet.
Anyway, the BHG will be in the Windy City on Monday, rockin' the city they helped built. These boys are so hardcore, it wouldn't surprise me if the Metro's roof really did start on fire. If you are up for a good time full of playful lyrics, then check out these rockers. I'll be there, so stop on by and say hello.
What’s up man?
Hey man, sorry we took so long to hook up.
Hey man, no problem. You guys are like the most famous rockers ever, so it’s completely understandable.
(Laughs) Well, uh, I can think of two things wrong with that sentence.
OK.
Famous and rockers. Oh, and ever.
Um, that’s three things wrong with that sentence, Jimmy.
(Laughs)
Hey, I totally dig you guys. I love you guys. I have totally loved you guys all the way from the beginning, so, I think that makes you famous at least in my eyes.
(Laughs) Thanks bro. There are people who love us and get us and people who don’t. You rarely find people who have no opinion about us.
It is a love-hate relationship with you guys. There is no middle ground unfortunately, or fortunately.
It is good, cause you don’t want to be Nickelback (laughs).
(Laughs) Yeah, that’s for sure.
Maybe having someone tell me I (bleepin’) suck isn’t the most create thing in the entire world, but at least they have an opinion.
And, I would bet you they have a little more than an opinion. I bet you they just dished out $15 for your CD.
(Laughs) I’m OK with that. Feeding my pocket (laughs).
So, what are you up to tonight?
We are playing Los Angeles.
Oh, sweet.
We decided it was time to do Orange County and Ventura County, so, we are spending five days in California doing these shows and shooting our video.
That’s awesome. So, it’s a crazy busy rock star lifestyle?
Yeah, you know. You know, we are keeping it busy.
And, continuing to keep it busy, you will be in Chicago, rockin’ out like the rock stars you are.
(Laughs) I love Chicago. It’s funny though because there are two things we really hate – playing at the House of Blues. There’s the Hard Rock Café, which is very accommodating to every band. We were like, ‘Is it OK if we close the balcony and have In Sync sit up there and not be bothered?’ ‘Sure.’ (Laughs) ‘Is it Ok if we block off the bathroom?’ ‘Sure.’ (Laughs) But, at the House of Blues is like a massive army.
It’s cause they think they are the (bleep). And, I guess to some extent, they really are.
Yeah. We just played the one in Anaheim and they asked for one more chance and it wasn’t too bad. This is kind of a long story and really has nothing to do with what you asked (laughs).
It’s cool. I’m enjoying your story, dude.
The one in Chicago was kind of rough.
That sucks.
I don’t want to blame anyone, but whatever. I really do like Chicago, though.
Just some venues suck, dude.
Yeah, but some are really good. Like, what’s that famous one up there? Oh, the Metro.
Yeah, exactly. The old school venues are bad (bleep).
Yeah, that’s OK. It’s going to be the first time I play in Chi-town without the presence of Wesley Willis (Chicago rapper who died), so that’s going to be weird, because we have been playing there since ’96 and he has always been at the show, hanging out, making me listen to new songs.
Yeah, it’s sad that he passed.
Totally is. It’s going to be a little weird.
What’s your typical day like these days?
Well, we don’t make any money on tour because we have expensive lifestyles (laughs) and ride around in two huge buses. And, we try to make life as easy as possible. We have record labels that we run, so we are pretty busy. But, the rules are pretty simple: Never wake up before 11; have a good mix of Starbucks and Marlboros available; and that’s about it.
That’s like the best life ever.
It is. It is. We are very lucky, I think. You meet famous actors and other famous people and they always want to be in bands.
I want to be in a band, can I join yours?
Sure (laughs).
That works for me.
You guys have such a contagious free spirit. I mean your lyrics and personalities just present you guys as so laidback and cool.
Well thank you. Absolutely, that’s who we try to be.
So, how are the ladies on the road? With how relaxed you guys are, you should have the chickys all over you!
(Laughs) Tonight is weird, cause my girlfriend is with me.
(Laughs)
But she is really easygoing. Last night she was trying to find Sharpies so that she could have me sign girls' (bleep).
Wow. That’s an intense girl. That’s great!
She’s way into it. Because we’re old now, some of the guys are still way into the girls on the road, but I am kind of outgrowing all of that. We used to be all about hooking up with chicks on the road. But then in the mid '90s we realized that quantity is nice, but quality is better.
I guess, as a band, there comes a point where you have to grow up and mature.
Exactly.
Whoever thought that getting beautiful women could be stressful?
I never thought it could be.
The next statement I say feels like something I have said a million times, but I have a great offer for you.
What’s that?
At your show, you should attract the women and then introduce them to me. That way you can keep your girlfriend and make Nick happy at the same time.
Dude, I will totally hook you up. Just come back and meet me after the show.
(Laughs) It looks like the greatest day of my life will take place on Monday night.
(Laughs) We’ll see what we can do.
