Josh Freese
interview
*this interview done by Natalie Fox
Stupid
Stuff: So...Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
Josh
Freese: I’m 27 going on 48 and I’ve got pink hair. All I do is eat, sleep,
and breathe music for the most part and I’ve lived in Southern California my
whole life...for better or worse.
SS:
What made you finally decide that you wanted to release a solo album?
JF:
I had songs that I think reflected who I am and what kind of different kinds of
music and bands that I’ve been into for a while (Pixies, Devo, Butthole
Suffers, Ween) and a lot of the time in bands that I’m playing drums with,
that side of me doesn’t really get to show. I wanted to get these things out
of my system and out into the real world. If people like it...cool. If they
don’t...cool. Actually, the latter isn’t very cool now that I think about
it!
SS:
How would you describe your CD?
JF:
I think my CD is fun. It’s light-hearted, obnoxious, smart-ass, fun, poppy,
quirky rock n’ roll music. I think we need more of that kind of shit these
days too!
SS:
Did the Vandals really find you playing on a stage in Walt Disney’s
Tomorrowland Terrace? What were the Vandals doing there? And how weird was that
experience?
JF:
Well, the Vandals didn’t really see me there, come up to me, and pluck me out
of Disneyland necessarily. It went kind of like this. I played in a top 40 band
out at Disney between the ages of 12 and 15. I was so young at the time, I
didn’t know how lame it was and to tell you the truth, didn’t really care
that it was lame. It was fun! I was making $150 a day for playing the drums and
getting to make out with “older girls” on the rides after we were done
playing!! What more could you ask for when you’re in the 7th grade!
So, when I met warren Fitzgerald (through a mutual producer friend a few years
after I stopped doing the Disney thing) I told him what I had been doing over
the past few years. Now, keep in mind O was still only 16 when I originally met
Warren. Warren told me that he was playing with the Vandals and they were kinda’
looking for a drummer at the time and he’d mention it to Joe and Dave. When he
told them about me, they freaked out and realized that I was the guy in “that
band with all the fruity little kids” out at Disneyland that they use to love
going out and watching. Making fun of us (as well they should’ve) but still,
nevertheless, watching us and cracking up that all these little kids up on stage
that were actually pretty damn good. Granted, we were playing like, Huey Lewis
and the Simple Minds but still... I think they got off on it the way we get off
on Screech from “Saved by the Bell” or something!
SS:
I know this interview is supposed to be about you, but... on your bio it says
you’re one of the “top two” drummers in the world: who’s the other one?
JF:
I think the other one might be Ginger Spice. I don’t know. I ask all the time
but nobody wants to tell me. Eddie Murphy maybe?
SS:
What made you decide to be a drummer? Did you pick up the other instruments
along the way, or how did you learn to play all the instruments on the CD?
JF:
Drums seemed like a fun idea at the time (7 or 8 years old) and when I checked
‘em out they came very naturally to me. So I kept on ‘em. The other
instruments I kinda just picked up along the way. I’m not a very good
guitarist or bassist but I can play them enough to write music, record it, and
get my point across. And my point is????
SS:
What are some of your favorite Chicago bands?
JF:
Chicago bands... let me think here...Urge Overkill, and especially that Nash
Kato character. I’m a fan of Steve Albinis’ as well. Who else is from
Chicago? Oh shit...Johnny Polansky is a little genius songwriter I must say. I
know I’m probably leaving some cool people out but....
SS:
Who are some of your influences now, and whom were they growing up?
JF:
Growing up Alex Van Halen, Terry Bozzio, Devo, Frank Zappa, The Residents,
Vennie Colaiuta, Captian Beefheart, The Ramones, Paul Westerburg, The
Replacements, Stewart Copeland, The Sex Pistols, and The Butthole Suffers are
some of the people I OD’d on when I was a kid growing up. Now a days I’d
have to say Howard Hughes, still Westerburg, still the Buttholes, still Vinnie,
still Devo, The Pixies, The Dwarves, still the Residents, John Waters, Prince,
Ween, Fear, Charlie Drayton, Frank Black, Queens of the Stone Age... I’,
defiantly forgetting a few... oh well...
SS:
If you could give President Clinton one piece of advice, what would it be?
JF:
You “should of” inhaled!!!
SS:
What’s your favorite type of music to listen to? To play?
JF:
Loud rock music on both counts.
SS:
Do you have a favorite touring story you could tell us?
JF:
Touring usually sucks.
SS:
Who is that guy talking at the beginning of the album? Did he really leave that
message on your machine?
JF:
The guy leaving the messages on my machine is real. His name is Steve, he lives
in Long Beach, and he used to be my gay, Vietnamese stalker.
SS:
Who is the coolest person you have ever worked with? Who would you like to work
with in the future?
JF:
Paul Westerburg is the coolest ever and I would like to work with Ween and
Queens of the Stone Age.
SS:
Is your mother proud of you?
JF:
She says she is...but she’s also a big fat liar most of the time.
SS:
Do you have any last words?
JF:
Work hard and drop out of school. Oh yeah...stop what you’re doing and go get
my solo record!!!!