Interview w/ Jeremy & Matt from 5FDP!!!

After a long day in Tampa, FL during  the first year tour Rockstar Mayhem, I got to sit with two of the member from the band Five Finger Death Punch.  Here is how our funny yet serious conversation went down.

Can you guys start out by introducing yourselves and telling us what you do in the band?

Jeremy Spencer: Cool, I’m Jeremy Spencer, and I play drums.

Matt Snell: I’m Matt, the bass player for Five Finger Death Punch.

Cool. First question starting off; you started off not too long ago, how does it feel to rise so quick in the ratings and get to be on the Metal Mayhem Tour right off the bat?

MS: I think that it proves our plan works. It proves that our music works.  We did a huge tour last year on Family Values. On the side of Korn, with Hell Yeah, you know. That turned into a headlining tour, which turn turned into a Disturbed tour, which turned into this tour. So it's like were doing the effort, it’s not like it came free. It came fast cause I think the records really good. What do you think?

JS: Well you know, it’s funny to see it build so fast. It just goes to show that, once you break through on radio, it’s really effective, because it’s so broad spread.  It’s just like that. People that, once our record came out last July, they didn’t hear about us.  But like three months later, we’re playing in arenas with Korn, and they’re singing the lyrics back to us loud, and we’re playing.  It’s like “Wow” this is happening.  And it’s building, building, building and it just keeps seeming to grow man. =20And we just found out today that our second single just went Top 10. So, that’s two in a row.  So we’re just blessed, and we’re grateful, and it’s building and it’s awesome, you know.

Yeah it’s got to be humbling man.

MS: It is, it's every night.

JS: It is.  It’s totally humbling and we’re laughing, going really?  We’re doing it man. 

MS: We laugh.  Everybody says we’re always laughing onstage, cause were like, “Remember This;  it’s right now; turn around and look at it, are you seeing this?" Jeremy’s like hell yeah, you turn around. 

Has it affected you your lives in a personal matter? Do you live a different lifestyle or is it the same?

MS: Of course. Your never home.  But it’s totally worth it.

JS: It’s like we won the lottery and we get to cash our ticket right now so we‘re doing it.  The home life’s awesome. sorry Hun, I’ll be home, but God, it's bitchin‘.

From the album “The Way of the Fist”, of all the songs you play live, what are your favorites to play?

MS: I like playing “Salvation”.  It’s groovy, crowd moves and I get to sing a lot on that one.  It’s a little bit more work.  But then you got “The Way of the Fist” and it's so brutal, that it's like, now you like this song, and then alright cool, I like the “Bleeding” today.  You know.  I guess maybe it changes from day to day.

JS: I like playing “Ashes”.  It’s got a lot of double bass.  It’s constant, it’s a good workout.  It’s challenging, but it's like alright, it kind of lets people know, alright this guy is the double bass guy.  So I kind of get to do that for a minute and it's cool.  it's fun for me.

You mentioned “The Bleeding”.  What was the inspiration behind that song?

MS: That’s everybody’s inspiration.  We get that question a lot. I mean, “The Bleeding” relates to everybody, cause everyone’s been through the bleeding.  Maybe you didn’t figure it out till after it was all done.  But you realize you’re both better off now.  it's like how people say “Oh yeah, we broke up, but we’re still friends“.  it's kind of like, you’ve all been through that situation, that’s what it's about. 

JS: Relationship based lyrics always seem to resonate with people cause they can relate to it.  Everyone has gone through something that went sour, a little.

MS: Every song we have on that record is a piece of human.  “The Way of the Fist” is about, I’ve had enough, I’m not taking shit today.  Where “The Bleeding” is about a retrospective, lets think about the situation. Everyone of those songs, some
body can relate to, and that’s not an accident.  That’s was in the plan.  That’s Ivan Moody.  That’s what that is.  That’s Ivan Moody

I like that because you guys have meaning to your songs don’t just crap out a song and go, here it is. 

MS: it's not like we go “lets write a song about heartbreak” and here it is.  He writes from inside, you know.  And people relate to it, because he’s person too.  He has a life just like you do.  Well not so much but whatever, ah just fucking with ya.  Hang on, hit pause.

Should we expect a new album or a break coming up?  What’s going on after the tour?

JS: No Break. Maybe we take two weeks to gather ourselves.  And then we go on a headlining tour throughout the rest of the year.  Then we go to Europe.  The first part of next year, we’re going to work the record there, cause the it hasn’t been released there yet.  So we’re going to introduce “The Way of the Fist” to a whole new spectrum of people.  And then work it as long as we can.  Then probably fall of next year, maybe we do Mayhem again, who knows.  And then we’ll take a look at where we are and start working on a new record.

MS: It’s just the matter of the time it takes to go into the studio and do it.  The 20 Songs are done, and we’ll change them or write as inspiration hit's over the next year.  We have bucket loads of material that didn’t make the record.  Not that they weren’t good, just cause they are what they are.  We don’t have any time.  Everybody wants to hear it.  We’re on a second cycle with this record.  This is our second summer tour. It's great!

Do you guys write on the tour bus?

MS: Not so much. When we go home; we’re an email band.  We all get in our labs and do our thing.  Everybody has a own little studio at home.  it's great.  I used to be an engineer so now all I have to do is do my part.  I get some tracks from somebody and I put my parts in and we rearrange and we send a couple copies over.  Email it over and they work on it for a while.  And we just do that constantly and we can do that from anywhere.  You can be on vacation and do that.  It works.

Is there anything that you guys want to do but haven’t done yet?

JS: I would like to tour with Metallica.  They’re coming out with a new record and they’re like the biggest band of all time. That would be like a childhood dream of mine.  I haven’t done that.  We got a deal.  We came out, it's doing good. That’s cool.  That’s part of the dream, but a touring with Metallica, that would be, well pretty amazing. 
 
MS: If I had to pick anything, let’s do a Metallica tour, fuck yeah.

Yeah, me too.

MS: I don’t even care if I ever even see them.  I just want to know that I did it. 

JS: We’re on tour and cant take a shower and we eat catering, but we’re touring with Metallica.

MS: I’d have to look at the floor everyday.  Perfect.  I’m in

JS: Here comes Mr. Hetfield.  Look down.

MS: He earned it man, fuck. 

Is there anything you would like to do other than Five Finger Death Punch?

JS: I would love to be a college football coach.  Which you probably wouldn’t get from sitting, talking to the drunk, long haired drummer guy.  I would like to actually do that. 

MS: I’ll back it up man.  He’s good.  I’d race cars.  I’m a gear head.  

Last question, something off key; if you rubbed a bottle and a genie popped out.  What are your three wishes?

MS: Steak Egg and Cheese Burrito from Del Taco, prepared perfectly; one copy of the “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie; and uh, the hottest chick EVER, who doesn’t speak, 3 feet tall, flat head, no teeth. 

JS: There you go. 

Can you top that?

JS: No.  I’m drinking, no. 

MS: I won. Haha

To see this interview on video click here

To visit Five Finger Death Punch's MySpace page click here

By. Steve Fritch

SteveF@getinmagazine.com