Hollywood Undead’s J-Dog Talks Touring, Music Business, ‘Weirdo’ Bandmates + More

Hollywood Undead recently wrapped up the 20th Anniversary of the House of Blues tour with Escape the Fate, 3 Pill Morning and All Hail the Yeti. The tour was a monthlong trek across the States in promotion of their latest album, ‘Notes From the Underground.’

Before their show, we got to catch up with J-Dog backstage while he was eating some of his favorite New York pizza around the corner from the venue, Irving Plaza. He spoke all about being on the road, his dream of touring with Rage Against the Machine, his weird bandmates and much more.

How has the tour been going so far?

It’s been good, it’s like that half way point. At the beginning of the tour, you know where you are and you know what you’re doing and at the end you know where you are and what you’re doing but towards the middle it’s just fuzzy – especially when you’re in New York.

I can’t imagine, was parking okay?

I don’t even know, we got kicked off the bus and cops were honking like, “Get the f--- out of the street” and we just jumped out of the bus. Even when I’m home – I haven’t driven a car in over a year [Laughs] so parking’s not an issue.

What do you realize now about Hollywood Undead that that you didn’t realize when the group first began?

I never thought that we could go this far and do it this long. Maybe I would’ve have treated things different, maybe I would’ve acted different, probably not though. I’ve enjoyed myself the whole time. I’ve definitely realized that it’s gone on longer than I expected. I’m starting to treat it more like a business as opposed to a huge party.

It’s different though when you’re a kid and you dream of this and you grow up to finally live your dream within music and then you find out that there's a lot more to it than you thought.

Oh yeah, I mean I’m not going to get to into it but every band and every artist has problems with money and labels and whatever it may be they’re probably getting frustrated. For me, I’m frustrated constantly but you got to take a step back and look at it from the outside. If I walk passed the line there’s little girls shaking when they see us, how can you not appreciate that? I’ll be in a bad mood but every time we play a show there’s always that one chick that’s smiling because she’s just that happy to be there.

For you, right now, what would you say is the weirdest thing on your tour bus?

The weirdest thing on our tour bus are the people that are on it. Everyone in the band is pretty far out there. Our tour bus is pretty normal, there’s alcohol and food but the people on there surprise me everyday with the s--- that comes out of their mouth. I’m rollin’ with a bunch of weirdos that’s for sure.

Do you feel that the comradery between a band is more or just as important as the talent of the members?

Everybody brings something to the table, we’re one of those bands where we’re all treated equal. There’s a lot of bands where one dude is the guy and he’s the one that make’s all the decisions and if he is being an a—hole then everybody’s got to deal with it. Everyone in this band has a voice and we all do our thing – if one person’s not happy then the rest of the band’s not happy. It’s not like there’s one guy driving the forces, it’s a democracy.

Hollywood Undead has toured with so many music acts. What is one band you would love to tour with that you haven’t gotten a chance to go on the road with yet?

I’m actually trying to do a solo project but Charlie Scene’s in the band, he’s such a d--k though. [Laughs] I was talking to a bartender and he was totally c---blocking me. To answer your question, I would love to do a tour with Rage Against the Machine. I’d love to tour with those guys, that’s a band that all of us grew up loving. The very first song I learned on bass was by Rage Against the Machine.

Check Out Hollywood Undead's Latest Single 'Another Way Out'