Melissa Johnson
10/30/06, 09:05 PM
We would like to thank Jaret for taking time out of his busy schedule to sit down and answer all of the questions that were asked. Also a thanks goes out to David Bell at Sony BMG for giving us the opportunity to do this interview. This interview is along the lines of "uncensored" and we've asked everyone to submit questions to be used for it. Hope you enjoy.
Most of the band's written lyrics are credited to you. Is there any specific way you go about writing? Is it all in one sitting, or is it write a little here, then return later and finish as ideas come and go?
For the most part, it's all in one sitting. I have a tendency to move on if I don’t finish it all at once. There have been a few ideas that I have let swarm in my head for a few weeks and then it just spills out. I just get a melody or a funny line in my head and grab a pencil and go to it.
Most songs are about specific people like ex-girlfriends, and several family members are mentioned here and there in songs. Have you gotten any backlash from exes? What does the family think when they're mentioned in the song?
My brother has gotten used to having songs about him and I didn’t do one this go round. He told me he didn’t like the new album because of it! Exes are flattered by things, but I have gotten an e-mail or two with “I never said that” or “I never did that." I don’t press the issue. I remember things pretty vividly.
Have you ever given anything to Jive for a record and they reject it but the band says "screw it" and go ahead and do it anyway? How lenient is the label with the band and its creative and recording processes?
They pretty much leave us alone. We are very self sufficient and haven’t sold near the records that many of their artists have, so we are off the radar a lot. We have been on the label since '99, so they know we know what we are doing.
The band first started out in a coffee shop that one of the member's owned/worked at. Was it ever the band's goal to achieve Grammy-nomination status or was it just a "let's just do this and see what happens" sort of thing?
That’s totally what it was. We never expected to play all over the world or even do this for a living. Things just kept going and building and next thing we knew it was like “Holy shit! Look at this thing now.” It is still all about doing it because its fun.
You've had your hand at producing for a few bands as well as Bowling for Soup. Are there any upcoming projects you will be producing in the future?
I have looked at a few things, but the new BFS is keeping us busy for a while. I am always looking for a new project. I recently closed the management company that I co-owned and am out of that side of the business. I hope that lets me have more time to write and produce other artists.
Along with producing, many band members have started up their own label. Has this thought ever crossed your mind? If so, what bands could you see yourself signing onto the label?
Yes. I actually tried it last year, but it just takes so much time and money to do it on a large scale. I would definitely try it again if I found the right band or opportunity. I just think it will work best as a subsidiary of a bigger label so I can use their money.
In the past, you've toured with bands such as American Hi-Fi, Riddlin Kids, the Feds, and Never Heard of It. Any plans to tour with any of those guys again (besides the now-defunct Riddlin Kids)? What are your future tour plans? Who would you like to take on tour?
We just like to tour with bands we are friends with and fans of. The FEDS are one of the best live bands on the planet. We will definitely do more with them, they are like family.
After receiving a Grammy nod in 2003 for "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" and the radio success of "1985" and "Ohio (Come Back to Texas)" do you ever feel the pressure to make another radio or Grammy-nominated hit?
No, I think that would drive us crazy. We are just doing what we do and trying to make people smile.
What is the one song your most proud of writing?
“Friends Of Mine.”
You have a young daughter named Emma, even though she's a very young girl, does she ever tell you that she wants to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career in music?
She doesn’t. She likes singing and she takes dance lessons, it’s the cutest thing in the world!
I will support her and my son, Jack, at whatever they decide to do. I almost don’t want them to pick music because I see so much disappointment out here, but I would never try and steer them away if it's what they want.
If you could be any type of soup, what would you be?
Campbell’s Vegetable ABC soup
With a band name like Bowling for Soup, and creative CD and song titles, where do you get the ideas from for each?
Mostly just sitting around day dreaming or TV.
Are any of you actually good at bowling?
Absolutely not.
Your songs about girls range from one end of a spectrum like "Star Song" to a total hatred like "The Bitch Song". Out of all the songs you've written about girls, what's the one song you've written that shows how you really feel about them?
That’s tough, because a lot of my songs are exaggerated, I don’t hate any of my exes. 'Star Song' is definitely how I feel about people in general though, I freakin' love everybody.
Internet message boards trash on the band for being too poppy. Is that where the inspiration from the song "I'm Gay" on the new CD came from? Is that one big "fuck you" to the nay-sayers?
Not so much of a "fuck you" as just a “grow up." I’ll never understand why some find it necessary to trash us for being to poppy or happy. That makes absolutely no sense. If those people met us, they would see that this is who we are, it really is. Music is fun for us and that’s pretty much that. I understand where angry music comes from, I love Slipknot and Slayer, love it, but I think there is room for both.
Where would be your favorite place to play at while you tour?
Manchester, England
Most of your shows here in Saint Louis are usually at the Pop's nightclub, but the past one or two have been at other clubs. Do you get any say in where you play at on the tour or is it just all laid out by a booking agent and where they book you is where you go?
Our agent puts out a call that says we are coming through town and clubs submit offers and availability. Pops is one of our favorites, really nice folks there.
And lastly, if you could leave our readers with one last message/word of wisdom/tip, what would that be?
Be yourself, never give up!
Most of the band's written lyrics are credited to you. Is there any specific way you go about writing? Is it all in one sitting, or is it write a little here, then return later and finish as ideas come and go?
For the most part, it's all in one sitting. I have a tendency to move on if I don’t finish it all at once. There have been a few ideas that I have let swarm in my head for a few weeks and then it just spills out. I just get a melody or a funny line in my head and grab a pencil and go to it.
Most songs are about specific people like ex-girlfriends, and several family members are mentioned here and there in songs. Have you gotten any backlash from exes? What does the family think when they're mentioned in the song?
My brother has gotten used to having songs about him and I didn’t do one this go round. He told me he didn’t like the new album because of it! Exes are flattered by things, but I have gotten an e-mail or two with “I never said that” or “I never did that." I don’t press the issue. I remember things pretty vividly.
Have you ever given anything to Jive for a record and they reject it but the band says "screw it" and go ahead and do it anyway? How lenient is the label with the band and its creative and recording processes?
They pretty much leave us alone. We are very self sufficient and haven’t sold near the records that many of their artists have, so we are off the radar a lot. We have been on the label since '99, so they know we know what we are doing.
The band first started out in a coffee shop that one of the member's owned/worked at. Was it ever the band's goal to achieve Grammy-nomination status or was it just a "let's just do this and see what happens" sort of thing?
That’s totally what it was. We never expected to play all over the world or even do this for a living. Things just kept going and building and next thing we knew it was like “Holy shit! Look at this thing now.” It is still all about doing it because its fun.
You've had your hand at producing for a few bands as well as Bowling for Soup. Are there any upcoming projects you will be producing in the future?
I have looked at a few things, but the new BFS is keeping us busy for a while. I am always looking for a new project. I recently closed the management company that I co-owned and am out of that side of the business. I hope that lets me have more time to write and produce other artists.
Along with producing, many band members have started up their own label. Has this thought ever crossed your mind? If so, what bands could you see yourself signing onto the label?
Yes. I actually tried it last year, but it just takes so much time and money to do it on a large scale. I would definitely try it again if I found the right band or opportunity. I just think it will work best as a subsidiary of a bigger label so I can use their money.
In the past, you've toured with bands such as American Hi-Fi, Riddlin Kids, the Feds, and Never Heard of It. Any plans to tour with any of those guys again (besides the now-defunct Riddlin Kids)? What are your future tour plans? Who would you like to take on tour?
We just like to tour with bands we are friends with and fans of. The FEDS are one of the best live bands on the planet. We will definitely do more with them, they are like family.
After receiving a Grammy nod in 2003 for "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" and the radio success of "1985" and "Ohio (Come Back to Texas)" do you ever feel the pressure to make another radio or Grammy-nominated hit?
No, I think that would drive us crazy. We are just doing what we do and trying to make people smile.
What is the one song your most proud of writing?
“Friends Of Mine.”
You have a young daughter named Emma, even though she's a very young girl, does she ever tell you that she wants to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career in music?
She doesn’t. She likes singing and she takes dance lessons, it’s the cutest thing in the world!
I will support her and my son, Jack, at whatever they decide to do. I almost don’t want them to pick music because I see so much disappointment out here, but I would never try and steer them away if it's what they want.
If you could be any type of soup, what would you be?
Campbell’s Vegetable ABC soup
With a band name like Bowling for Soup, and creative CD and song titles, where do you get the ideas from for each?
Mostly just sitting around day dreaming or TV.
Are any of you actually good at bowling?
Absolutely not.
Your songs about girls range from one end of a spectrum like "Star Song" to a total hatred like "The Bitch Song". Out of all the songs you've written about girls, what's the one song you've written that shows how you really feel about them?
That’s tough, because a lot of my songs are exaggerated, I don’t hate any of my exes. 'Star Song' is definitely how I feel about people in general though, I freakin' love everybody.
Internet message boards trash on the band for being too poppy. Is that where the inspiration from the song "I'm Gay" on the new CD came from? Is that one big "fuck you" to the nay-sayers?
Not so much of a "fuck you" as just a “grow up." I’ll never understand why some find it necessary to trash us for being to poppy or happy. That makes absolutely no sense. If those people met us, they would see that this is who we are, it really is. Music is fun for us and that’s pretty much that. I understand where angry music comes from, I love Slipknot and Slayer, love it, but I think there is room for both.
Where would be your favorite place to play at while you tour?
Manchester, England
Most of your shows here in Saint Louis are usually at the Pop's nightclub, but the past one or two have been at other clubs. Do you get any say in where you play at on the tour or is it just all laid out by a booking agent and where they book you is where you go?
Our agent puts out a call that says we are coming through town and clubs submit offers and availability. Pops is one of our favorites, really nice folks there.
And lastly, if you could leave our readers with one last message/word of wisdom/tip, what would that be?
Be yourself, never give up!