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What Jesse Camp Says
[Every once in a while, we have an outside writer do one of these "So & So Says" interviews....
[Every once in a while, we have an outside writer do one of these "So & So Says" interviews. This was once such example. We received a media kit way back when Jesse's album came out, and didn't think much of the idea beyond, "Yeah, that might be interesting." Later we received a couple emails asking us if we were going to do this. Then freelance writer Jamie Lee Rake called, asking us, "Have you already interviewed Jesse Camp for one of your 'So & So Sez' stories? I'd like to do it." So, we told Jamie, "Go for it!" Since this interview was conducted, Jesse has been dropped from Hollywood Records. I guess his 15 minutes were up.]
Jesse Camp is a real sweetheart. If you have ever caught him VJing on MTV, your first impression may have been "space cadet!" but in conversation, he's the friendly kind of guy that immediately warms up to you and wants to be your bud. And you can't help but want to be his. He brings that out in you.
Camp recently got back to his first love — making catchy hard rock in a glam / punk / metal mode — with the release of his first album, Jesse & the 8th Street Kidz. Before embarking on his first international tour, Camp did the "day of interviews" routine at his label's New York City Office and deigned to go through the battery of questions for HM, which found him in the same kind of open, amiable, sometimes surprising, thoughtful mood that has endeared him to plenty of MTV viewers.
You've been doing this rock & roll thing for how long, Jesse?
My whole life, man!
For how long have you been in bands?
Since I's a little kid, you know. My first bands, you know, were in elementary school, then in middle school. Then in high school the band we had going then was a band called Easy Action. You know, I've always been a hyper kid, and music's always been my outlet in one way or another.
You had that band's name from the Alice Cooper record of the same name?
Yeah, that Alice Cooper record!
What's the story behind your MTV VJhood?
It was an unexpected thing in my life. I'd been in high school (bleep)ing around with my band, kinda moved to California and doing . . . and kind of hanging around all over the place. I had been squatting in New York and stuff, and they had this, uh . . .You know, I was staying, me and my friend Carson were staying at the NYU dorms with these girls, and they were actress girls, and one day they were like, 'We're going down to MTV for this audition.' And we're, like, 'What?!' and they're, like, 'Yeah!' And so, we're, like, 'Can we come along?,' and they're , like, 'Sure!' And so, (bleep) man, gosh, one thing led to another, and I was auditioning for it, and it was just a very lucky break in my life. And it opened up a lot of doors for my music.
How did the hookup with Hollywood Records come about?
Well, I had been jamming with this band called The Dogs D'Amor, and they're in various members, and a lot of dudes kind of used to be just around LA and stuff. My manager knew a lot of these kind of like old rocker dudes, and so he'd hang out with Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols), and just like a bunch of old rockers. We wrote a lot of songs, and our manager shipped them around to a bunch of different labels. And we decided to go with Hollywood Records because they were into the music aspect of it much more than the personalities. Being on MTV is great, but in a lot of ways, it's not what I want to do with my life, and how exactly I wasn't always allowed to be myself on it, whereas when I'm doing the show (concert). This is me, and this is the vibe we're doing. This is 1,000% Jesse Camp.
How would you describe Jesse & The 8th Street Kidz?
If anyone asks what kind of music we play, I'd just say it's our music. There's no better title or classification. Sure, a lot of my favorite bands are Hanoi Rocks, Kiss, Aerosmith, The Dead Boys, The New York Dolls, or Motorhead. Those bands definitely influenced us, but I never want to be the kind of guy who says, 'If you like Aerosmith, If you like Guns'n'Roses, you'll like us.' We're definitely on our own trip, and lyrically I write the things that come out of my head, and out of my mind, and out of my soul. So it's definitely a unique trip. I don't think there has ever been music made like the music we make, you know. I think every band's on their own individual trip, as long as they're making the music that is in their souls,' and they're not, like, doublethinking, 'Well, if I make this kind of music, we'll get this kind of kid at a show.' You just got to do what makes you happy, and all I can describe [our music] as is our music. But it's definitely, (bleep), yeah . . . we wear the hard rock banner on our sleeves with pride.
Are you going to be touring behind the album?
Are you kidding?! We're going to be touring for the rest of our lives! We're playing everywhere in America. Then we'll go over to Europe and Japan.
What's the reaction been to you overseas?
The record's gotten a good buzz in Japan and stuff. That's great, too, because a lot of people over there, they just know us solely for our music. At the end of the day, it's like, yeah, I like to fool around and have fun on TV, but when you come to our show, that's what we're about. We're just a good rock & roll band playing for people who love rock & roll. I think that relates everywhere, you know what I mean?
What more do you want to do after this?
We just got so many more songs we want to get our. We keep writing songs and songs and songs, and I guess my ultimate goal in life is to write a musical masterpiece one day. I want to play as many concerts as we can to as many people as we can. Also, in my lyrics, I write lyrics that describe a lot of the problems and (bleep) that I've been through, in a way to kind of help other people through similar problems and stuff. So, as long as I can help other people with my lyrics... And all it is that I want is to have a (bleep)ing good time, (bleep) as many girls as I can, do as many . . . well . . . I just want to enjoy life to the fullest.
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