3-Wind with Jeff Pilson, 5/26/03

3-WIND WITH…

Jeff Pilson

We first did20 Questionswith Jeff Pilson on February 8, 2000.

We did hisRewindon August 20, 2001.

Now it’s time for his 3-Wind!

Jeff is a huge Sludgeaholic who has frequently mentioned us in interviews, played one of our Metal Sludge Extravaganza shows, and even thanked us in his new CD with George Lynch! We thought it was time for us to bug the shit out of him again and ask him a variety of silly questions. Here they are.

1. What are you currently up to, blah blah blah.

The Lynch/Pilson CD came out on April 22nd, and we’re very excited. Lots of good e-mails, etc. I’ve also been producing a lot of acts with my partner Tommy Henriksen, then I plan on releasing a War and Peace CD after the L/P campaign. I’ll sleep when I’m dead!

2. In the new Lynch/Pilson CD, which is in stores now, you thanked Metal Sludge for all the laughs. Being totally self-indulgent, what thing have we done that made you laugh the most and brighten your day?

That’s a tough one. I just love taking the piss out of anyone in this business that actually takes themselves serious. I love music, and it means a lot to me, but the whole rockstar ego thing is absolutely a joke, and deserves to be seriously fucked with.

3. There were some photos of you circulating last year wearing a Samurai outfit or some whacky shit like that. What the fuck was that all about?

That would be my wedding outfit, which is called a chirwani. We had an Indian wedding [more specifically a Sikh wedding], and that is traditional. Same with the beard and turbin. Pretty sexy, huh?

4. Don recently did an interview online and spent the majority of it viciously attacking Metal Sludge and saying bad things about us. We can’t believe that someone would stoop so low, and be so negative. Maybe you can shed some light on why Don is such a bitter, old, bald, son of a bitch?

Don likes to be paid attention to, even at the expense of being disliked or negative. I’m not trying to put him down, but I believe it to be true. In some deep place he loves the attention you guys give him- it makes him feel important. That is actually a part of, strange as it may be, his charisma. The fact that people will talk about him, regardless of what they say, does make him stand out. He likes to play devils advocate because he knows it can’t be ignored.

5. The last of Jeff Pilson:

Last rock star you shook hands with = Brooks Buford- wait’ll you hear him!

Last CD you purchased = Coldplay’s new one

Last Dokken song you jammed = Into the Fire

Last time you left your current wife alone with another musician = probably at the Metal Sludge party!

Last time you boiled your bass strings = A couple months ago, I occasionally go for that sound

Last time you saw Metal Shop = A couple months ago

Last concert you saw = Scorpions, Whitesnake, Dokken

Last time you saw a Metal Sludge shirt in public = at that show!

Last time you talked to Don Dokken = June of 2001

Last time you did cocaine with Wild Mick = February 9, 1989

6. In our original 20 Questions we asked you “Have you heard George Lynch?s new album yet and what do you think about him?” And you said, “Only bits and pieces, and what I heard sounded VERY mediocre…George has lost the consuming passion he once had for music. He even has mercenary traits I never thought he’d ever have…” Wouldn?t you consider the LP project to have a few mercenary traits as well?

Not really, this was much more about music than money- believe me!

7. At our 4th Metal Sludge Extravaganza, your band Underground Moon played. Whatever happened with that?

I lost some of the critical players in the live band, and simply haven’t had the time or energy to replace them. I have to prioritize my time, and that isn’t as high on the list, unfortunately as other things. I have to be realistic, I knew an American deal as a “new” band would be next to impossible with me as frontman. I’m not a young kid so the majors would not be interested. I’d like to do another CD someday, as the music means a lot to me, but trying to sell it as a new act wasn’t going to work.

8. Over the last few years there have been many reunion tours, including Ratt, Dokken, Kiss and LA Guns. What is your take on them falling back into a “he quit” or “I fired him” category that leaves many of these bands with 1 or 2 original members? Is it fair to the fans and how come these groups keeps getting more watered down?

It’s only natural that these bands start to whittle away, especially as the economic incentive gets whittled away as well. Is it fair to fans? That’s a tough one. If they get to hear the songs they want, with the singer of their choice- most fans are probably happy. But you have to see these as what they are, which is as nostalgia shows. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but when the bands get embroiled in a shitload of drama, it becomes ludicrous and even silly!

9. Dokken was known to have some of the cheesiest videos of all time. This might be hard, but which Dokken video do you wish would never be seen again? I’d say Breakin the Chains, but it’s actually so bad it’s hilarious. It ‘s like a Roger Corman version of a rock video!

Dokken 1984

10. What do you remember about the following years:

1975 = Playing lots of clubs

1979 = Playing lots more clubs

1983 = Starting to play arenas- much more fun!

1987 = Living the life- sex, drugs, rock and roll- the peak of that for me.

1991 = Struggling to get a deal with War and Peace as the alternative revolution was gripping the record labels

1995 = The Dokken reunion took all my time. Lots of fun moments, but the reappearance of old problems- in a big way!

1999 = Making Erase the Slate with Reb- great time. Don and I at a peak of getting along and being productive.

2002 = Studio, studio, and in my spare time- the studio!

11. How much was your biggest musical related paycheck for and what did you buy with it?

I remember getting one for over a hundred grand, and don’t have the foggiest idea of where it went! I was still a wild young man in those days! I’m sure I had some fun.

12. Realistically, how many copies of the Lynch/Pilson CD would you be happy with selling. And don?t say 5 million either because we all know that ain?t gonna happen.

Honestly if we sold 40,000 I’d be extremely happy.

13. You once said this about Russ Parrish, “He’s amazingly talented and it’s only a matter of time before Russ hits it big.” Would you consider the part of Rachet in Metal Shop every Monday at the Viper Room big time, or we’re you referring to his doing 20 Questions with us and playing at our Metal Sludge Extravaganzas?

No, Russ has something big in his future, not that the Sludge extravaganza isn’t- of course! Don’t know exactly what it is, but I can feel it being there for him.

14. Why is it Lynch/Pilson? Why not Pilson/Lynch, huh? Did George intimate you to make his name first?

Cuz L/P is cooler than P/L.

15. If your phone rang and you saw that the caller ID said, ?Don Dokken? what would you do:

D: Throw your phone out the window and then change your phone number.

Knowing me, A. Once we get past our little lawsuit- which is a business technicality- I’ve got nothing against him anymore. I’ll hear what he has to say, then decide if I change my number!

16. If Lynch/Pilson could tour with any bands of today, who would you pick?

In an ideal world, Audioslave. In a real world- maybe Whitesnake or Queensryche.

17. When you hear the stories about Don going up during Warrant?s set and bitching at them, or his various insane comments on the net, what goes through your mind?

Just that he needs to mellow out and try and enjoy what he does have. He still gets to go out and sing and he should be thankful for that. Everyone wants as much success as they can get, but you have to live in the moment and appreciate everything around you. He’s had a very long career, time to enjoy it.

18. You?ve recently said you are working on another War & Peace CD. Is that really necessary?

Yea, I need the creative outlet of making music pretty much by myself. I’m not expecting the world to stop turning, but I know this is going to be good, so I’d like to be heard.

19. You’ve always been fairly up front and honest about some very personal issues regarding your former wife. We applaud that, but without causing to much of rift, doesn’t your current wife have a little bit of a history with the rockers as well? She’s been known to mingle with the best of ‘em, and even works as a part-time Dj for KNAC. Are you afraid that her mingling might lead to some hanky panky?

No I’m really not. Her history isn’t quite the same as some others, and I completely trust her. I wasn’t really sure, after my first marriage, if I could trust again- but with her it’s so natural. Deep down I knew something was wrong in the last relationship, but I was in denial. This feels entirely different, and I’ve learned some pretty valuable lessons. You can just feel it when there’s that unspoken and impenetrable bond.

20. Time for Metal Sludge?s Word Association. You know the routine.

Scott Ian = ghoatie (sp?)

Gene Simmons = women and money

Barry Sparks = serious bass playing

Vince Neil = TV Star?

Jani Lane = mohawk- sorry Jani, that’s the first word that came to mind!

Ozzy Osbourne = TV Star?

Axl Rose = In search of a new album title!

Ronnie James Dio = SINGER

Ricky Parent = Sal- don’t worry-it’s an in-joke!

Josie Pearl = Big hat- I seem to remember her wearing one!

Sebastian Bach = Broadway star!!! I love the future!

Thanx guys- always a pleasure!

Jeff