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M4M: YOU GUYS ARE FROM KENTUCKY; GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE BAND?
JON (LEAD VOCALS): YEP, WE’RE FROM A REALLY SMALL TOWN OF ABOUT 1,600 PEOPLE. ON AVERAGE THERE’S MORE PEOPLE AT
SHOWS THEN THERE (laughs). IT’S A SMALL TOWN, A DRY COMMUNITY AND WE ALL FOUR GREW UP THERE. BEN ACTUALLY GREW
UP IN A TOWN ONE CITY OVER FROM US, LIKE 10 MILES APART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN FRIENDS SINCE
WE WERE LITTLE KIDS. SO WHY ELSE WOULD WE NOT PLAY MUSIC?
M4M: YOU GUYS ARE BRINGING BACK ROCK FROM ITS ROOTS, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BANDS TO
BE BRINGING IT BACK?
JON: (laughs) I DIDN’T KNOW WE WERE! THE THING IS, IS THAT WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING BUT WHAT WE DO. WE
NEVER SET OUT TO SAY “DAMN RIGHT, WE’RE GOING TO BRING SOUTHERN ROCK BACK AND WE’RE GOING TO SOUND LIKE A
CLASSIC ROCK BAND,” WE JUST GOT INTO OUR LITTLE REHEARSAL HOUSE AND PRACTICED OUR ASSES OFF. WHAT CAME OUT IS
WHAT WE SOUND LIKE. WE JUST FINISHED OUR NEW RECORD AND ITS BEING MIXED RIGHT NOW. ITS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, WE
OBVIOUSLY GREW ON THE RECORD AND ITS A LITTLE DIFFERENCE THAN THE FIRST RECORD BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT SAME
ATTITUDE AND VIBE THROUGHOUT THE RECORD. SO IT’S DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME.
M4M: WE SAW YOU ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WHILE YOU WERE TRAVELING WITH HINDER AND FINGER ELEVEN. IT WAS
AWESOME TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS CAME OUT TO MEET EVERYONE EVEN THOUGH THE CROWD WAS SO LARGE.
JON: YEA, WE DO THE MEET N GREET EVERY NIGHT….WELL IT’S ALSO THAT A LOT OF BANDS DON’T DO THAT AND IT’S BULLSHIT IF
YOU ASK US. I MEAN THEY’RE THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THE TICKETS TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE EVERY NIGHT AND AT THE END
OF THE DAY. SO WHY NOT GOT OUT AND HANG WITH THEM?
M4M: BEING FROM A “DRY COMMUNITY (MEANING NO ALCOHOL)” HOW HAS YOUR PERCEPTIVE CHANGED SINCE BEING ON THE
ROAD AND TOURING WITH OTHER BANDS:
JON: IT REALLY HASN’T. WE CAME OUT ON THE ROAD SAYING WE’RE NOT GOING TO DRINK. WE DON’T DRINK. WE WERE OUT WITH
HINDER AND THEY PARTY THEIR ASSES OFF (both laugh). ITS KIND OF A CONSCIENCE EFFORT TO NOT TO LET IT ALL SLIP AWAY.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE’RE STILL STARTING OUT BASICALLY WITH OUR SECOND RECORD. WE’VE HAD MANY FRIENDS THAT
ARE IN BANDS, THAT EVERYTHING THEY’VE DONE, BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T PUT A BOTTLE DOWN OR WHATEVER IT WAS, WERE
ON TOP OF THE WORLD ONE DAY BUT THE NEXT….YA KNOW? WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN TO US. THE
EXTENT OF OUR PARTYING IS EATING SPECIAL K AND PLAYING JAMES BOND ON THE BUS (both laugh). THAT’S ALL WE DO REALLY.
M4M: HOW DO YOU GUYS DEAL WITH THE INDUSTRIES “NEEDS” FOR ROCK BANDS VS HOW YOU GUYS ARE?
JON: WELL THE THING IS WE ALSO MADE THE EFFORT TO NEVER LET THE EGO SHIT GET IN THE WAY, BECAUSE IT’S LIKE WHAT’S
THE POINT IN THAT? WHEN YOU GO HOME AND SEE YOUR MOM AND DAD, JUST LIKE YOU WERE WE YOU WERE KIDS PLAYING, WE
WALK ON STAGE WE THE SAME 4 KIDS THAT STARTED PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER 7 YEARS AGO. IT’S LIKE WE DON’T LET
ANYTHING ANYBODY SAYS…COMPLIMENTS ARE GREAT BUT WE TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. BECAUSE IF YOU JUST
KEEP TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING EM, YOU’LL BECOME AN ASSHOLE AND NO ONES GONNA WANNA HANG OUT WITH YOU
ANYWAYS. OUR MOMMA’S RAISED US RIGHT SO WE DON’T EVER REALLY WORRY ABOUT THAT YOU KNOW.
M4M: HOW DID YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO A SONG LIKE “BACKWOODS GOLD” VS DOING SOMETHING ELSE?
JON: THE STORY BEHIND THAT SONG IS THERE WAS THIS DUDE THAT OWNED A MEN’S DRY GOODS TYPE STORE AND HE SOLD
MOONSHINE IN THE BACK OF HIS STORES AND HE DID IT ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE POLICE STATION AND THAT’S JUST HOW HE DID
IT (both laugh). WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW THAT’S A PRETTY COOL STORY SO WE WROTE A STORY ABOUT IT. A LOT OF THE FIRST
ALBUM IS ABOUT STORIES FROM BACK HOME, IT’S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE SOMETIMES BUT REALLY THAT’S OUR LITTLE
COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH.
M4M: THERE’S SOME FOOTAGE OUT THERE THAT SHOWS YOU GUYS COMING HOME AND THE ENTIRE TOWN IS THERE,
WELCOMING YOU HOME. NOT MANY BANDS CAN SAY THEY HAVE THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.
JON: IT’S LIKE JON FRED’S DAD IS IN THE HEADHUNTERS, THEY’RE FROM THE SAME TOWN WE ARE, THEY EXPLODED IN THE
EARLY 90’S, SOLD MILLIONS OF RECORDS, WON SOME GRAMMY’S AND THE WHOLE DEAL. IT WAS KIND OF THE SAME FOR THEM.
WE SHOT OUR FIRST MUSIC VIDEO IN NEW ORLEANS BUT OUR SECOND VIDEO, “HELL AND HIGH WATER” WAS SHOT AT HOME.
THE LABEL WAS LIKE “WHERE DO YOU GUYS WANT TO SHOOT THE VIDEO” AND WE WERE LIKE, WE’RE SHOOTING IT AT HOME.
THAT WHOLE SONG IS ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND US WERE
OUR COMMUNITY. AT FIRST, THE COMMUNITY WAS KIND OF LIKE “I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELLS GOING ON WITH ROCK N ROLL”
BUT THEY LATCHED ON TO IT BECAUSE WE DON’T DRINK AND WE DON’T DO DRUGS, THEY REALLY TOOK A LIKING TO US. THEY’VE
REALLY BEEN SUPPORTIVE SINCE DAY ONE. I MEAN, ANYTIME WE WANNA GO PLAY ANYWHERE AROUND HOME, WE JUST CALL
THE PRINCIPAL THAT WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH WE’RE LIKE “EH DUDE, CAN WE COME RENT THE GYM OUT FOR THE
NIGHT?” AND HE’S LIKE, YEA DUDE, JUST DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO.
M4M: SO YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE ALL THE TIME? (both laugh)
JON: YEA I SPENT MORE TIME IN TROUBLE AND IN THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE BUT HE PLAYED GUITAR AND HAD ONE THERE. SO I
FIGURED, I MIGHT AS WELL KISS ASS AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE A LITTLE BIT. AND LITERALLY, I WOULD GET INTO
TROUBLE, GO INTO HIS OFFICE AND WE’D PLAY GUITAR. HE KNEW AT THAT POINT THAT I REALLY DIDN’T CARE, WHICH IS THE
WRONG ATTITUDE TO HAVE IN SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER AND GRADUATE, GET A JOB, WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO
DO. I’VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FAMILY AND PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT SUPPORTED ME IN EVERY DECISION I EVER
MADE. AND TO BE IN A BAND WITH 3 OTHER BROTHERS LIKE I HAVE AND OUR CREW IS WITH 4 GUYS FROM BACK HOME THAT ARE
OUT BROTHERS JUST AS EQUALLY. ITS REALLY A BIG FAMILY, EVEN BOB OVER THERE (Bob is their bus driver who is sitting in a couch
on the other side of the room). HE’S PART OF THE FAMILY; HE’S BEEN DRIVING US ON A RED BUS FOR 3 YEARS. WE GOT IT NICE NOW
THOUGH BECAUSE THEY REDID IT FOR US.
M4M: “HELL AND HIGH WATER” IS ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN SONGS OFF THE FIRST RECORD, WHAT MADE YOU GUYS DECIDE
THAT WAS A SONG THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE AS A SINGLE?
JON: YOU KNOW OUR FIRST SINGLE WAS “LONELY TRAIN” AND IT WAS ABOUT OUR FRIENDS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US AND
YOU KNOW IT WAS KIND OF LIKE YOU CAME AWAY FROM A SONG LIKE THAT AND WE THOUGHT THAT NO BODY RELEASES A HAPPY
SONG ANYMORE. IT’S ALWAYS “WOO IS ME” AND “WHAT THE HELL’S WRONG WITH EVERYBODY” AND WE WERE JUST LIKE “HELL
AND HIGH WATER” IS A UPLIFTING SONG, SO WHY NOT? LET’S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR A CHANGE.
M4M: OK (FOR THE LADIES OUT THERE), A LOT OF THE BANDS’ SONGS EITHER REFERENCE SOMETHING ABOUT A GIRL OR IT
ACTUALLY IS ABOUT A GIRL (laughs).
JON: (laughs) YEA A LOT OF SONGS ARE. YOU GOTTA THINK THAT WE WERE 17 AND 18 WHEN WE WROTE THOSE SONGS. IT CAME
OUT IN 2006, I WAS 21. SOME OF THE SONGS WE WROTE BACK THEN WERE WHILE WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WHOLE
THING YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT’S CO DEPENDENT, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DEPEND ON.
WHETHER IT BE SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX, SAME SEX, WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS…WE TEND TO LOVE WOMEN SO
(both laugh) ITS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WRITE SONGS ABOUT THINGS YOU LIKE.
M4M: EVEN WHILE READING THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS, THEY WEREN’T ABOUT “OH HOW I LOVE HER” IT WAS A STORYLINE THAT
KEPT YOU WANTING TO READ.
JON: YEA, WITH US, WE WRITE IT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE BUT FOR SOME REASON WE GET LUCKY, AND IT COMES OUT IN THE
WAY THAT YOU MAKE WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF IT. THAT’S TRUE WITH ANY GREAT BAND. YOU LOOK AT SEVENDUST LYRICS AND IT
MIGHT COME OFF LIKE YOU JUST WANT TO BEAT SOMEBODY’S ASS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT’S LIKE THAT PERSON NEEDS TO
HELP THEMSELVES. IT’S TRUE WITH ALL BANDS THAT REALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A STATEMENT. CAUSE IF YOU DON’T
BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, THEN YOU SHOULDN’T BE WRITING A SONG ABOUT IT TO BEGIN WITH.
M4M: SPEAKING ABOUT OTHER BANDS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU GUYS HAVE TOURED WITH IN THE PAST?
JON: WE PLAYED HERE (at the Myth) WITH BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, BUCKCHERRY, SALIVA, HINDER, FINGER ELEVEN, STAIND, 3 DAYS
GRACE, AEROSMITH AND SOME OTHER ONES. WE’RE GETTING READY TO TOUR WITH DEF LEPPARD AND WHITESNAKE. WE’VE
TOURED WITH A LOT OF BANDS AND I’M SORRY IF I’M FORGETTING ANY (both laugh) BUT 3 YEARS OF BEING ON THE ROAD YOU
TEND TO FORGET THINGS NOW AND THEN.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU’VEV HAD ON THE ROAD WITH THE BAND OR WITH OTHER BANDS THAT YOU’VE
TOURED WITH?
JON: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU’RE OUT WITH PEOPLE THAT…WELL YOU LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY. IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’LL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING AND THAT YOU’LL LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY. THE
THING IS THAT YOU LEARN GOOD AND BAD LIKE YOU WATCH A BAND DO SOME SCREWED UP SHIT AND YOUR LIKE “IM NOT GONNA
DO THAT” BUT IF YOU WATCH A BAND THAT’S GOT THEIR HEAD ON THEIR SHOULDERS, IT’S LIKE THERE’S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
HOW TO PROLONG YOUR CAREER AND KEEP IT GOING. WE’VE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH EVERY BAND THAT WE’VE EVER
BEEN ON THE ROAD WITH. THEN THERE ARE THE BANDS THAT WE DON’T TOUR WITH FOR A REASON. WE’RE THE TYPE OF
PEOPLE THAT SURROUND OURSELVES WITH PEOPLE THAT WE LIKE. IT’S LIKE THE SEVENDUST GUYS; WE’VE LOOKED UP TO
THOSE GUYS. WE ADDED IT UP THE OTHER DAY, AND WE WERE 12 AND 13 WHEN THEIR FIRST RECORD CAME OUT. CLINT
LOWERY HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF THE BANDS FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS AND THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING COOL FOR US. THAT
WE BANDS WE LOOK UP TO, OF COURSE WE LOOK UP TO THE OLDER BANDS FROM THE 70’S AND 80’S, BUT WHEN WE TALKED TO
BANDS LIKE STAIND, SEVENDUST, ALL THESE BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED WITH US, WE JUST LOVE TO TOUR WITH THEM. YOU GET
TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE AND SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE MAD OUT TO BE ARE TOTALLY WRONG. A LOT
OF MEDIA IS BULLSHIT IN THAT ASPECT YOU KNOW?...
M4M: IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT GETS BLOWN OUT OF PER PORTION AND IT’S SOMETIMES HARD TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN THE TWO.
JON: YEA, IT’S LIKE WHEN WE GO BACK HOME TO OUR MOMS AND IF WE ACTED LIKE WE WERE SO COOL ETC, OUR MOM’S WOULD
SMACK THE HELL OUTTA US (both laugh). WE’RE IN OUR 20’S AND OUR MOM’S WILL STILL SMACK THE HELL OUTTA US IF WE
TREATED PEOPLE BAD. WE WERE JUST BROUGHT UP RIGHT AND THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS. THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH HAVE THE
SAME BACKGROUND IDEALS. PEOPLE CAN BE JADED AS HELL SOMETIMES IN BIG CITIES, AND IT’S MORE FUN TO HANG OUT WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YOU ARE.
M4M: SPEAKING OF BEING ON THE SAME LEVEL, WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS YOU GUYS TRY TO DO WHEN YOU GET SOME
TIME OFF FROM BEING ON THE BUS?
JON: AH, WE USUALLY GO TO WAL-MART, THE MALL OR SOMETHING. WE’RE PRETTY BORING TO BE HONEST. WE DO THE SHOW,
THE MEET N GREET THEN WE’RE BACK ON THE BUS AND STAY UP TILL ALL HOURS TALKING THEN DO IT ALL OVER WITH…WE’RE
NOT AS BIG AS SOME OF THE OTHER BANDS, SO WHEN WE GO TO THE MALL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ASK US IF WE’RE IN THAT
BLACKSTONE CHERRY BAND. AND WE’RE LIKE, YEA THANKS FOR NOTICING US (laughs). EVEN IF WE WERE AS BIG AS
NICKELBACK AND SUCH, WE WOULD STILL GO TO THE MALL BY OURSELVES AND BE US.
M4M: WHAT TRIGGER’S YOU GUYS TO WRITE SONGS?
JON: THE COOL THING ABOUT US IS THAT WE WRITE SONGS TOGETHER. IT’S NOT LIKE I SIT DOWN AND WRITE A SONG, THE 4 OF
US GET TOGETHER AND WRITE. WE WRITE ABOUT OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. IT COULD BE ABOUT A COOL OLD STORY WE
HEARD OR IT COULD BE LIKE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN MAKE INTERESTING WE WRITE ABOUT.
M4M: WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT EITHER THE BAND, YOURSELVES, WHATEVER?
JON: I JUST THINK THAT MUSICIANS IN GENERAL AND MUSIC FANS IN GENERAL, I THINK BETWEEN THE TWO, WE GOTTA BUILD
THAT CO-EXISTENCE BACK UP. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FANS ARE ABOUT THE MUSIC AND THE BAND, I THINK THAT BANDS
NEED TO GET BACK TO BEING ONLY ABOUT THEIR FANS SO THEY CAN REALLY APPRECIATE EACH OTHER. THE ONE THING THAT
WE ALWAYS LOVE IS PLAYING LIVE AND SEEING FANS EVERY NIGHT. I THINK SOME BANDS GET JADED AND THEY DON’T
APPRECIATE THAT ANYMORE. OBVIOUSLY SOME BANDS CAN’T DO THAT OR THEY’D NEVER GET DONE. ESPECIALLY NEW BANDS
THAT ARE COMING OUT, EVEN BANDS WHERE WE’RE AT, SHOULD HANG OUT WITH THE FANS. BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, YOU’RE
AT HOME SITTING IN YOUR MOMMA’S COUCH (both laugh).
M4M: WHEN YOU GUYS AREN’T ON THE ROAD, DO YOU GUYS GO FIND ANOTHER JOB OR WHAT?
JON: WE GO HOME, GOLF, PLAY PLAYSTATION, WHATEVER. SPEND TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES. WHEN YOU’RE GONE, YOU MISS
YOUR FAMILY, BUT WHEN YOU’RE WITH YOU’RE FAMILY, YOU MISS THE ROAD. IT’S KINDA BITTERSWEET IN A WAY. BUT I’LL TAKE IT
ANYDAY OVER DOING ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE. CAUSE FOR EVERY PHONE CALL THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO SAY “HEY MOM AND
DAD, I MISS YA” OR GIRLFRIEND OR WHATEVER, THERE’S ALSO THAT 10 OR 20 PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO EVERY NIGHT THAT
SMILE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE SHITTIEST DAY EVER AND THEY’RE JUST SMILING CAUSE YOU’RE HANGING OUT WITH THEM.
THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORK OUT RIGHT.
M4M: WHAT ABOUT THE STYLE IN WHICH YOU GUYS PLAY?
JON: WE’RE ONE OF THOSE BANDS THAT JUST THROW OURSELVES OUT THERE AS WERE ARE AND IT’S KINDA LIKE TAKE IT OR
LEAVE IT TYPE OF THING. THERE’S THE CONTROLLED PLAYED ENVIRONMENT AND THEN THERE’S THE UNCONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT. AT THE END OF IT, IT’S JUST US 4 GUYS WITH OUR INSTRUMENTS PLAYING OUR HEARTS OUT. ANYTHING COULD
GO WRONG AT ANY MINUTE. ITS ONE OF MOST HONEST SHOWS YOU’LL EVER SEE. WE DON’T PLAY TO A TAPE, WE DON’T TRACK
ANYTHING, JOHN PLAYS THE DRUMS, WE ALL PLUG IN OUR AMPS AND GUITARS AND WE SING. THAT’S IT. IT’S ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT WE REALLY JUST ENJOY. PART OF THE RUSH OF PLAYING MUSIC IS KNOWING THAT IT COULD CRASH AND BURN IN
2 SECONDS WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING LIVE. LUCKILY WE CAN ALWAYS PULL IT TOGETHER AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER (laughs). WE’
RE BLACKSTONE CHERRY AND WE ARE WHO WE ARE. IF ANYONE OF US WHERE TO GET AN EGO, WE’D SMACK THE HELL OUTTA
THE OTHER GUY, THAT’S JUST HOW WE ARE.
JON (LEAD VOCALS): YEP, WE’RE FROM A REALLY SMALL TOWN OF ABOUT 1,600 PEOPLE. ON AVERAGE THERE’S MORE PEOPLE AT
SHOWS THEN THERE (laughs). IT’S A SMALL TOWN, A DRY COMMUNITY AND WE ALL FOUR GREW UP THERE. BEN ACTUALLY GREW
UP IN A TOWN ONE CITY OVER FROM US, LIKE 10 MILES APART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN FRIENDS SINCE
WE WERE LITTLE KIDS. SO WHY ELSE WOULD WE NOT PLAY MUSIC?
M4M: YOU GUYS ARE BRINGING BACK ROCK FROM ITS ROOTS, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BANDS TO
BE BRINGING IT BACK?
JON: (laughs) I DIDN’T KNOW WE WERE! THE THING IS, IS THAT WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING BUT WHAT WE DO. WE
NEVER SET OUT TO SAY “DAMN RIGHT, WE’RE GOING TO BRING SOUTHERN ROCK BACK AND WE’RE GOING TO SOUND LIKE A
CLASSIC ROCK BAND,” WE JUST GOT INTO OUR LITTLE REHEARSAL HOUSE AND PRACTICED OUR ASSES OFF. WHAT CAME OUT IS
WHAT WE SOUND LIKE. WE JUST FINISHED OUR NEW RECORD AND ITS BEING MIXED RIGHT NOW. ITS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, WE
OBVIOUSLY GREW ON THE RECORD AND ITS A LITTLE DIFFERENCE THAN THE FIRST RECORD BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT SAME
ATTITUDE AND VIBE THROUGHOUT THE RECORD. SO IT’S DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME.
M4M: WE SAW YOU ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WHILE YOU WERE TRAVELING WITH HINDER AND FINGER ELEVEN. IT WAS
AWESOME TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS CAME OUT TO MEET EVERYONE EVEN THOUGH THE CROWD WAS SO LARGE.
JON: YEA, WE DO THE MEET N GREET EVERY NIGHT….WELL IT’S ALSO THAT A LOT OF BANDS DON’T DO THAT AND IT’S BULLSHIT IF
YOU ASK US. I MEAN THEY’RE THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THE TICKETS TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE EVERY NIGHT AND AT THE END
OF THE DAY. SO WHY NOT GOT OUT AND HANG WITH THEM?
M4M: BEING FROM A “DRY COMMUNITY (MEANING NO ALCOHOL)” HOW HAS YOUR PERCEPTIVE CHANGED SINCE BEING ON THE
ROAD AND TOURING WITH OTHER BANDS:
JON: IT REALLY HASN’T. WE CAME OUT ON THE ROAD SAYING WE’RE NOT GOING TO DRINK. WE DON’T DRINK. WE WERE OUT WITH
HINDER AND THEY PARTY THEIR ASSES OFF (both laugh). ITS KIND OF A CONSCIENCE EFFORT TO NOT TO LET IT ALL SLIP AWAY.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE’RE STILL STARTING OUT BASICALLY WITH OUR SECOND RECORD. WE’VE HAD MANY FRIENDS THAT
ARE IN BANDS, THAT EVERYTHING THEY’VE DONE, BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T PUT A BOTTLE DOWN OR WHATEVER IT WAS, WERE
ON TOP OF THE WORLD ONE DAY BUT THE NEXT….YA KNOW? WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN TO US. THE
EXTENT OF OUR PARTYING IS EATING SPECIAL K AND PLAYING JAMES BOND ON THE BUS (both laugh). THAT’S ALL WE DO REALLY.
M4M: HOW DO YOU GUYS DEAL WITH THE INDUSTRIES “NEEDS” FOR ROCK BANDS VS HOW YOU GUYS ARE?
JON: WELL THE THING IS WE ALSO MADE THE EFFORT TO NEVER LET THE EGO SHIT GET IN THE WAY, BECAUSE IT’S LIKE WHAT’S
THE POINT IN THAT? WHEN YOU GO HOME AND SEE YOUR MOM AND DAD, JUST LIKE YOU WERE WE YOU WERE KIDS PLAYING, WE
WALK ON STAGE WE THE SAME 4 KIDS THAT STARTED PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER 7 YEARS AGO. IT’S LIKE WE DON’T LET
ANYTHING ANYBODY SAYS…COMPLIMENTS ARE GREAT BUT WE TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. BECAUSE IF YOU JUST
KEEP TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING EM, YOU’LL BECOME AN ASSHOLE AND NO ONES GONNA WANNA HANG OUT WITH YOU
ANYWAYS. OUR MOMMA’S RAISED US RIGHT SO WE DON’T EVER REALLY WORRY ABOUT THAT YOU KNOW.
M4M: HOW DID YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO A SONG LIKE “BACKWOODS GOLD” VS DOING SOMETHING ELSE?
JON: THE STORY BEHIND THAT SONG IS THERE WAS THIS DUDE THAT OWNED A MEN’S DRY GOODS TYPE STORE AND HE SOLD
MOONSHINE IN THE BACK OF HIS STORES AND HE DID IT ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE POLICE STATION AND THAT’S JUST HOW HE DID
IT (both laugh). WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW THAT’S A PRETTY COOL STORY SO WE WROTE A STORY ABOUT IT. A LOT OF THE FIRST
ALBUM IS ABOUT STORIES FROM BACK HOME, IT’S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE SOMETIMES BUT REALLY THAT’S OUR LITTLE
COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH.
M4M: THERE’S SOME FOOTAGE OUT THERE THAT SHOWS YOU GUYS COMING HOME AND THE ENTIRE TOWN IS THERE,
WELCOMING YOU HOME. NOT MANY BANDS CAN SAY THEY HAVE THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.
JON: IT’S LIKE JON FRED’S DAD IS IN THE HEADHUNTERS, THEY’RE FROM THE SAME TOWN WE ARE, THEY EXPLODED IN THE
EARLY 90’S, SOLD MILLIONS OF RECORDS, WON SOME GRAMMY’S AND THE WHOLE DEAL. IT WAS KIND OF THE SAME FOR THEM.
WE SHOT OUR FIRST MUSIC VIDEO IN NEW ORLEANS BUT OUR SECOND VIDEO, “HELL AND HIGH WATER” WAS SHOT AT HOME.
THE LABEL WAS LIKE “WHERE DO YOU GUYS WANT TO SHOOT THE VIDEO” AND WE WERE LIKE, WE’RE SHOOTING IT AT HOME.
THAT WHOLE SONG IS ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND US WERE
OUR COMMUNITY. AT FIRST, THE COMMUNITY WAS KIND OF LIKE “I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELLS GOING ON WITH ROCK N ROLL”
BUT THEY LATCHED ON TO IT BECAUSE WE DON’T DRINK AND WE DON’T DO DRUGS, THEY REALLY TOOK A LIKING TO US. THEY’VE
REALLY BEEN SUPPORTIVE SINCE DAY ONE. I MEAN, ANYTIME WE WANNA GO PLAY ANYWHERE AROUND HOME, WE JUST CALL
THE PRINCIPAL THAT WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH WE’RE LIKE “EH DUDE, CAN WE COME RENT THE GYM OUT FOR THE
NIGHT?” AND HE’S LIKE, YEA DUDE, JUST DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO.
M4M: SO YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE ALL THE TIME? (both laugh)
JON: YEA I SPENT MORE TIME IN TROUBLE AND IN THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE BUT HE PLAYED GUITAR AND HAD ONE THERE. SO I
FIGURED, I MIGHT AS WELL KISS ASS AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE A LITTLE BIT. AND LITERALLY, I WOULD GET INTO
TROUBLE, GO INTO HIS OFFICE AND WE’D PLAY GUITAR. HE KNEW AT THAT POINT THAT I REALLY DIDN’T CARE, WHICH IS THE
WRONG ATTITUDE TO HAVE IN SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER AND GRADUATE, GET A JOB, WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO
DO. I’VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FAMILY AND PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT SUPPORTED ME IN EVERY DECISION I EVER
MADE. AND TO BE IN A BAND WITH 3 OTHER BROTHERS LIKE I HAVE AND OUR CREW IS WITH 4 GUYS FROM BACK HOME THAT ARE
OUT BROTHERS JUST AS EQUALLY. ITS REALLY A BIG FAMILY, EVEN BOB OVER THERE (Bob is their bus driver who is sitting in a couch
on the other side of the room). HE’S PART OF THE FAMILY; HE’S BEEN DRIVING US ON A RED BUS FOR 3 YEARS. WE GOT IT NICE NOW
THOUGH BECAUSE THEY REDID IT FOR US.
M4M: “HELL AND HIGH WATER” IS ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN SONGS OFF THE FIRST RECORD, WHAT MADE YOU GUYS DECIDE
THAT WAS A SONG THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE AS A SINGLE?
JON: YOU KNOW OUR FIRST SINGLE WAS “LONELY TRAIN” AND IT WAS ABOUT OUR FRIENDS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US AND
YOU KNOW IT WAS KIND OF LIKE YOU CAME AWAY FROM A SONG LIKE THAT AND WE THOUGHT THAT NO BODY RELEASES A HAPPY
SONG ANYMORE. IT’S ALWAYS “WOO IS ME” AND “WHAT THE HELL’S WRONG WITH EVERYBODY” AND WE WERE JUST LIKE “HELL
AND HIGH WATER” IS A UPLIFTING SONG, SO WHY NOT? LET’S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR A CHANGE.
M4M: OK (FOR THE LADIES OUT THERE), A LOT OF THE BANDS’ SONGS EITHER REFERENCE SOMETHING ABOUT A GIRL OR IT
ACTUALLY IS ABOUT A GIRL (laughs).
JON: (laughs) YEA A LOT OF SONGS ARE. YOU GOTTA THINK THAT WE WERE 17 AND 18 WHEN WE WROTE THOSE SONGS. IT CAME
OUT IN 2006, I WAS 21. SOME OF THE SONGS WE WROTE BACK THEN WERE WHILE WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WHOLE
THING YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT’S CO DEPENDENT, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DEPEND ON.
WHETHER IT BE SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX, SAME SEX, WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS…WE TEND TO LOVE WOMEN SO
(both laugh) ITS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WRITE SONGS ABOUT THINGS YOU LIKE.
M4M: EVEN WHILE READING THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS, THEY WEREN’T ABOUT “OH HOW I LOVE HER” IT WAS A STORYLINE THAT
KEPT YOU WANTING TO READ.
JON: YEA, WITH US, WE WRITE IT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE BUT FOR SOME REASON WE GET LUCKY, AND IT COMES OUT IN THE
WAY THAT YOU MAKE WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF IT. THAT’S TRUE WITH ANY GREAT BAND. YOU LOOK AT SEVENDUST LYRICS AND IT
MIGHT COME OFF LIKE YOU JUST WANT TO BEAT SOMEBODY’S ASS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT’S LIKE THAT PERSON NEEDS TO
HELP THEMSELVES. IT’S TRUE WITH ALL BANDS THAT REALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A STATEMENT. CAUSE IF YOU DON’T
BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, THEN YOU SHOULDN’T BE WRITING A SONG ABOUT IT TO BEGIN WITH.
M4M: SPEAKING ABOUT OTHER BANDS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU GUYS HAVE TOURED WITH IN THE PAST?
JON: WE PLAYED HERE (at the Myth) WITH BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, BUCKCHERRY, SALIVA, HINDER, FINGER ELEVEN, STAIND, 3 DAYS
GRACE, AEROSMITH AND SOME OTHER ONES. WE’RE GETTING READY TO TOUR WITH DEF LEPPARD AND WHITESNAKE. WE’VE
TOURED WITH A LOT OF BANDS AND I’M SORRY IF I’M FORGETTING ANY (both laugh) BUT 3 YEARS OF BEING ON THE ROAD YOU
TEND TO FORGET THINGS NOW AND THEN.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU’VEV HAD ON THE ROAD WITH THE BAND OR WITH OTHER BANDS THAT YOU’VE
TOURED WITH?
JON: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU’RE OUT WITH PEOPLE THAT…WELL YOU LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY. IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’LL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING AND THAT YOU’LL LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY. THE
THING IS THAT YOU LEARN GOOD AND BAD LIKE YOU WATCH A BAND DO SOME SCREWED UP SHIT AND YOUR LIKE “IM NOT GONNA
DO THAT” BUT IF YOU WATCH A BAND THAT’S GOT THEIR HEAD ON THEIR SHOULDERS, IT’S LIKE THERE’S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
HOW TO PROLONG YOUR CAREER AND KEEP IT GOING. WE’VE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH EVERY BAND THAT WE’VE EVER
BEEN ON THE ROAD WITH. THEN THERE ARE THE BANDS THAT WE DON’T TOUR WITH FOR A REASON. WE’RE THE TYPE OF
PEOPLE THAT SURROUND OURSELVES WITH PEOPLE THAT WE LIKE. IT’S LIKE THE SEVENDUST GUYS; WE’VE LOOKED UP TO
THOSE GUYS. WE ADDED IT UP THE OTHER DAY, AND WE WERE 12 AND 13 WHEN THEIR FIRST RECORD CAME OUT. CLINT
LOWERY HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF THE BANDS FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS AND THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING COOL FOR US. THAT
WE BANDS WE LOOK UP TO, OF COURSE WE LOOK UP TO THE OLDER BANDS FROM THE 70’S AND 80’S, BUT WHEN WE TALKED TO
BANDS LIKE STAIND, SEVENDUST, ALL THESE BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED WITH US, WE JUST LOVE TO TOUR WITH THEM. YOU GET
TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE AND SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE MAD OUT TO BE ARE TOTALLY WRONG. A LOT
OF MEDIA IS BULLSHIT IN THAT ASPECT YOU KNOW?...
M4M: IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT GETS BLOWN OUT OF PER PORTION AND IT’S SOMETIMES HARD TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN THE TWO.
JON: YEA, IT’S LIKE WHEN WE GO BACK HOME TO OUR MOMS AND IF WE ACTED LIKE WE WERE SO COOL ETC, OUR MOM’S WOULD
SMACK THE HELL OUTTA US (both laugh). WE’RE IN OUR 20’S AND OUR MOM’S WILL STILL SMACK THE HELL OUTTA US IF WE
TREATED PEOPLE BAD. WE WERE JUST BROUGHT UP RIGHT AND THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS. THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH HAVE THE
SAME BACKGROUND IDEALS. PEOPLE CAN BE JADED AS HELL SOMETIMES IN BIG CITIES, AND IT’S MORE FUN TO HANG OUT WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YOU ARE.
M4M: SPEAKING OF BEING ON THE SAME LEVEL, WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS YOU GUYS TRY TO DO WHEN YOU GET SOME
TIME OFF FROM BEING ON THE BUS?
JON: AH, WE USUALLY GO TO WAL-MART, THE MALL OR SOMETHING. WE’RE PRETTY BORING TO BE HONEST. WE DO THE SHOW,
THE MEET N GREET THEN WE’RE BACK ON THE BUS AND STAY UP TILL ALL HOURS TALKING THEN DO IT ALL OVER WITH…WE’RE
NOT AS BIG AS SOME OF THE OTHER BANDS, SO WHEN WE GO TO THE MALL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ASK US IF WE’RE IN THAT
BLACKSTONE CHERRY BAND. AND WE’RE LIKE, YEA THANKS FOR NOTICING US (laughs). EVEN IF WE WERE AS BIG AS
NICKELBACK AND SUCH, WE WOULD STILL GO TO THE MALL BY OURSELVES AND BE US.
M4M: WHAT TRIGGER’S YOU GUYS TO WRITE SONGS?
JON: THE COOL THING ABOUT US IS THAT WE WRITE SONGS TOGETHER. IT’S NOT LIKE I SIT DOWN AND WRITE A SONG, THE 4 OF
US GET TOGETHER AND WRITE. WE WRITE ABOUT OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. IT COULD BE ABOUT A COOL OLD STORY WE
HEARD OR IT COULD BE LIKE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN MAKE INTERESTING WE WRITE ABOUT.
M4M: WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT EITHER THE BAND, YOURSELVES, WHATEVER?
JON: I JUST THINK THAT MUSICIANS IN GENERAL AND MUSIC FANS IN GENERAL, I THINK BETWEEN THE TWO, WE GOTTA BUILD
THAT CO-EXISTENCE BACK UP. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FANS ARE ABOUT THE MUSIC AND THE BAND, I THINK THAT BANDS
NEED TO GET BACK TO BEING ONLY ABOUT THEIR FANS SO THEY CAN REALLY APPRECIATE EACH OTHER. THE ONE THING THAT
WE ALWAYS LOVE IS PLAYING LIVE AND SEEING FANS EVERY NIGHT. I THINK SOME BANDS GET JADED AND THEY DON’T
APPRECIATE THAT ANYMORE. OBVIOUSLY SOME BANDS CAN’T DO THAT OR THEY’D NEVER GET DONE. ESPECIALLY NEW BANDS
THAT ARE COMING OUT, EVEN BANDS WHERE WE’RE AT, SHOULD HANG OUT WITH THE FANS. BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, YOU’RE
AT HOME SITTING IN YOUR MOMMA’S COUCH (both laugh).
M4M: WHEN YOU GUYS AREN’T ON THE ROAD, DO YOU GUYS GO FIND ANOTHER JOB OR WHAT?
JON: WE GO HOME, GOLF, PLAY PLAYSTATION, WHATEVER. SPEND TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES. WHEN YOU’RE GONE, YOU MISS
YOUR FAMILY, BUT WHEN YOU’RE WITH YOU’RE FAMILY, YOU MISS THE ROAD. IT’S KINDA BITTERSWEET IN A WAY. BUT I’LL TAKE IT
ANYDAY OVER DOING ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE. CAUSE FOR EVERY PHONE CALL THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO SAY “HEY MOM AND
DAD, I MISS YA” OR GIRLFRIEND OR WHATEVER, THERE’S ALSO THAT 10 OR 20 PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO EVERY NIGHT THAT
SMILE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE SHITTIEST DAY EVER AND THEY’RE JUST SMILING CAUSE YOU’RE HANGING OUT WITH THEM.
THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORK OUT RIGHT.
M4M: WHAT ABOUT THE STYLE IN WHICH YOU GUYS PLAY?
JON: WE’RE ONE OF THOSE BANDS THAT JUST THROW OURSELVES OUT THERE AS WERE ARE AND IT’S KINDA LIKE TAKE IT OR
LEAVE IT TYPE OF THING. THERE’S THE CONTROLLED PLAYED ENVIRONMENT AND THEN THERE’S THE UNCONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT. AT THE END OF IT, IT’S JUST US 4 GUYS WITH OUR INSTRUMENTS PLAYING OUR HEARTS OUT. ANYTHING COULD
GO WRONG AT ANY MINUTE. ITS ONE OF MOST HONEST SHOWS YOU’LL EVER SEE. WE DON’T PLAY TO A TAPE, WE DON’T TRACK
ANYTHING, JOHN PLAYS THE DRUMS, WE ALL PLUG IN OUR AMPS AND GUITARS AND WE SING. THAT’S IT. IT’S ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT WE REALLY JUST ENJOY. PART OF THE RUSH OF PLAYING MUSIC IS KNOWING THAT IT COULD CRASH AND BURN IN
2 SECONDS WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING LIVE. LUCKILY WE CAN ALWAYS PULL IT TOGETHER AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER (laughs). WE’
RE BLACKSTONE CHERRY AND WE ARE WHO WE ARE. IF ANYONE OF US WHERE TO GET AN EGO, WE’D SMACK THE HELL OUTTA
THE OTHER GUY, THAT’S JUST HOW WE ARE.
EVERY NOW AND THEN SOMETHING SPECIAL
EMERGES FROM THE ROCK GODS. THAT STATEMENT
CAN BE USED WHEN SPEAKING OF BLACK STONE
CHERRY. I FEEL ORIGINALITY SHINES AT IT'S BEST
WHEN IT COMES TO THE POWERFUL LYRICS AND
STYLE THAT THIS GROUP HAS TO OFFER. HOLDING
NOTHING BACK AND AIMING FOR THE TOP SEEMS
ALMOST EFFORTLESS FROM THESE SMALL TOWN
GUYS. WE TAKE YOU THROUGH A JOURNEY INTO THE
DEEPS OF BLACK STONE CHERRY FROM THERE DAYS
GROWING UP ALL THE WAY THROUGH ROCKING HUGE
CROWDS. WE CAN ONLY BRACE OUR SELFS FOR THE
IMPACT THAT IS SURE TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE
FROM SUCH A TALENTED AND HARD WORKING GROUP
OF GUYS WE MAY EVER SEE.
EMERGES FROM THE ROCK GODS. THAT STATEMENT
CAN BE USED WHEN SPEAKING OF BLACK STONE
CHERRY. I FEEL ORIGINALITY SHINES AT IT'S BEST
WHEN IT COMES TO THE POWERFUL LYRICS AND
STYLE THAT THIS GROUP HAS TO OFFER. HOLDING
NOTHING BACK AND AIMING FOR THE TOP SEEMS
ALMOST EFFORTLESS FROM THESE SMALL TOWN
GUYS. WE TAKE YOU THROUGH A JOURNEY INTO THE
DEEPS OF BLACK STONE CHERRY FROM THERE DAYS
GROWING UP ALL THE WAY THROUGH ROCKING HUGE
CROWDS. WE CAN ONLY BRACE OUR SELFS FOR THE
IMPACT THAT IS SURE TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE
FROM SUCH A TALENTED AND HARD WORKING GROUP
OF GUYS WE MAY EVER SEE.