Interview

EDDIE JACKSON of QUEENSRYCHE

Eddie Jackson interview

AMIR- You guys are hitting the road again in support of Tribe. What can we expect different on this leg of the tour as opposed to the last couple of legs?
ED- Expect an onslaught of current, classic and occasional redefined classic qr songs for your listening and dancing pleasure.

A- Queensryche has always been a very creative and experimental band and yet the other guys have dabbled in side projects. When might we see something from Edbass?
E- My current side/full time project is taking care of my son evan. however, musically I’ve actually have been working on ideas for an edbass solo release, though I can’t exactly say when it will come to fruition but a soon as I know you’ll be the last to know amir! ;-)

A- Back during the Empire tour, QR was easily one of the biggest bands on the planet. Looking back on those days, is there anything that you miss about being that big, or being in the mass media spotlight?
E- I think we all muse over the early days especially when we were supporting the empire record. It was our first major headline tour and at the time we managed to put together a show that to some people today still remember it as a musically driven multi media extravaganza. every band has their moment and at that time perhaps that was qr’s moment. however, qr is still currently in the media spotlight maybe just not on a mass commercial level like before.

A- Things are a bit different for the band nowadays commercially but QR has always had a very dedicated and loyal core following. Nowadays you guys play smaller venues but still to a packed house whereas back in the days of MTV supported Empire you were playing 20,000 seaters. Is it harder to get excited about doing a tour nowadays? And how do you approach that differently?
E. After over 20 years of touring our passion to perform today is no different than yesterday and the approach hasn’t changed either. we still get butterflies before we go on stage but once those butterflies disappear then I think it’s time to move on. who knows how much fuel we have left in our tour bus but as long as there’s an interest for qr then we’ll continue to do what we enjoy doing.

A- Opeth has just been asked to play a show in Amman Jordan making them the first Rock band to play a concert in the middle east. What do you think of that and if the opportunity arose would QR be interested in playing in that region of the world.
E- I think it’s great for a band to perform and connect with fans even in a hostile environment like the middle east and who knows if qr had the opportunity we would just make sure to bring deodorant for I hear there’s a very short supply of it out there.

A- Ed, QR have always been very politically and socially conscious compared to your peers in the music industry. Music seems to transcend borders andfaiths so with the fucked up situation of the world now how important is it for artists to address these issues.
E- I think it’s just a matter of interest and I don’t think we need to hear or see a commercial to know what’s going on in the world right now.
I’ve noticed that the one common thread we all have in this world is the passion for music and the connection we’ve made with our music to someone in a different part of the world thousands of miles away.

A- In this climate it is hard to not discuss politics with someone who had a key role in writing Mindcrime what with all of its political overtones. Don’t youthink that with everything going on in this country it is a good time for Dr.X, Nikki to come alive again.
E- Well, maybe on tour but I don’t think as a sequel. it’s been sixteen years since the release of o.m.c. and still as of now we have no interest in doing a sequel. I think the expectations would be extremely high not only from the critics but especially from our fans. There’s definitely something special and magical about o.m.c. and the fact that it was a very interesting and frustrating time for qr we still managed to create something we’re all very proud of.

A-. What inspires you outside of the music business?
E- My family is my inspiration.

A- QR in my opinion is one of the finest bands to have ever created music and has done so for over 20 years now. You guys have been through a lot of ups and downs and endured a lot. Having been around for that long you are aware of how the music business has drastically changed. In the 70's and 80's it seemed there were less bands but you could count on all of them to put out 5 or 6 great albums. Nowadays there is a glut of new bands and most are only good for one album. Would you agree with this assessement and if so what would you do to change that.
E- Currently there’s really nothing much you could or would want to change within the music business because change is inevitable even if a bands sticks around for only one release. I don’t think you can damn any of the new bands because they’re obviously doing something right to be successful and I think you have to respect that.

A- You guys did a tour with DT recently which featured both bands doing a jam everynight at the end of the set. First off how did you get along with hose guys, were you familiar with them prior to the tour, and was it challenging to do their material?
E- The dt guys were very nice and not to mention awesome musicians. I’ve been aware of them for quite sometime. however, I didn’t really listen to them much until we toured with them. I’m glad we played they’re less complex songs during the jam because if it were any of they’re other epic songs it would’ve taken me about a year to figure out!

A- Who are some of the artists over the years that have treated you guys the best? Worst?
E- Starting out from the early eighties as a support act and eventually developing into a headliner we’ve been very fortunate to be a part of a tour that showed very little trouble between the bands. I’ve had people come up to me and say that I’m an egotistical freak with an attitude but I just tell them to fuck-off!

A- With Chris DeGarmo now being a full time pilot, do you ever foresee him coming back to the band in any capacity?
E- Well, he did record with us on tribe I just don’t know about him being a permanent member again for he’s extremely busy chasing blue skies as a pilot.

A- Mike Stone did a fantastic job on this past tour and his contribution on the Tribe cd was great also. Is it safe to assume that he is now an official full ime member of QR?
E- Who knows maybe we’ll work with him again in the future.

A- Who were your influences?
E- Most of the influences that inspired me to play music started in the 70’s like alice cooper, rush, grand funk, kiss, judas priest, van halen, just to name a few. and personally I think the music in the 70’s was the shit. A lot of those bands back then paved the road for a lot of bands like us.

A- What would Edbass be doing it now if there was no QR?
E- I have no idea!

A- Is it true that you guys all met at a fish and chips in Seattle?
E- Michael, scott, chris and I were eating at a local fish and chips restaurant and that’s when we spotted geoff. the four of us were jamming together and geoff had just split from the band he was in so we basically asked him if he wanted to get together and here we are 20 years later minus chris.

A- What is in your cd player right now?
E- I’ve been listening to seven dust and it kicks ass!

A- Favorite movie and actor?
E- I ’ve always liked paul newman’s work especially in “cool hand luke”.

3/20/2006