Interview — Eagles of Death Metal

Words by Denise Blaz

Motorcycle-boots-wearing, danceaholic, self-proclaimed sweetheart, and frontman for Eagles of Death Metal Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes wants "rock 'n' roll music to be enjoyed by everyone." DEATH BY SEXY, their newest album (set to be released this April), is definitely the kind of shit that you can dance. To top it all off, it's chock full of guest stars, including Mark Lanegan, Jack Black, Joey Castillo, and Baby Duck (otherwise known as Josh Homme). So while you're counting the days until this album comes out, go out and see Jesse's moustache in person and hear their new tunes live, as they'll be hitting the road with The Strokes starting March 1st in New York.

SKRATCH: Hey, Jesse, what's up?
JESSE "BOOTS ELECTRIC" HUGHES: Hey, baby, what's up?

SKRATCH: How are you doing?
HUGHES: I'm driving and having a good time.

SKRATCH: You're going to begin a tour with The Strokes. How did that come about?
HUGHES: They called us up and asked us.

SKRATCH: Are you a fan of band?
HUGHES: Yeah. There's a bit of honor when a band like that asks you. But even apart from that, yeah, I'm a huge fan of the band. I love their new record.

SKRATCH: Do you have a favorite track off their new album?
HUGHES: I can't remember the name of it, but it's the third song. What's the name of it?

SKRATCH: I can't remember, either.
HUGHES: That's okay. Where are you at?

SKRATCH: San Antonio.
HUGHES: TEXAS! God damn, that's awesome. I, myself, am from the South. I'm not from Texas, but I have a lot of family that's from Texas.

SKRATCH: You're coming to Texas in March.
HUGHES: Will you be my personal guest?

SKRATCH: Absolutely. That's actually the day before SXSW begins. Are you going to be doing any special shows?
HUGHES: Yeah, I think we are. I'm not sure which ones, but I'll definitely tell you.

SKRATCH: I can't really hear you.
HUGHES: Yeah, I wonder if we call each other directly...

[After a while, I call him on his cell.]

SKRATCH: Hello?
HUGHES: Hello?

SKRATCH: That's so much better.
HUGHES: Yeah, it was killing me because I couldn't hear your voice. You have a beautiful voice.

SKRATCH: What's a band that you love to dance to?
HUGHES: LCD Soundsystem. Fucking amazing. [And] The Rolling Stones.

SKRATCH: So you still think The Rolling Stones have it?
HUGHES: Fuck yeah! Their performance at the Super Bowl was so fucking rad.

SKRATCH: What's the first band that totally grabbed you?
HUGHES: You're disappearing on me again.

[The connection was lost. I call him up again.]

SKRATCH: Hey.
HUGHES: Tag-you're it.

SKRATCH: Okay. How would you describe your personality?
HUGHES: I'm a sweetheart. I like people, I like dancing, and I like having a good time.

SKRATCH: We have a new set of guidelines out, and we have to ask this question: What's a band that you could beat in a fight?
HUGHES: [Laughs] What kind of fight?

SKRATCH: Let's go with a fistfight.
HUGHES: A UFC Championship fight? Ummm...oh, wow. Somebody dead-because that would be easier, right?

SKRATCH: Very true.
HUGHES: I could beat Jimi Hendrix in a fight right now. [Laughs]

SKRATCH: Who is your favorite person with a moustache?
HUGHES: Sam Elliot. Val Kilmer rocks an amazing moustache, too.

SKRATCH: I read that you're a member of the National Rifle Association?
HUGHES: Yeah. [Laughs]

SKRATCH: So, do you go hunting?
HUGHES: No. I don't like hunting because they can't shoot back. That isn't fair.

SKRATCH: How long have you been a member?
HUGHES: I'm a gold member now, baby. [Laughs] I've been a member now for...20 years? I'll take you shooting. Do you want to go shooting?

SKRATCH: Sure. That would be fun.
HUGHES: I love guns, but I would love to take you shooting. It'll be like an Eagles of Death Metal exclusive! I've been a member for a long time, and I like guns.

SKRATCH: Can you tell me a random fact about yourself?
HUGHES: I was a journalist before rock 'n' roll.

SKRATCH: I read about that. You went to The University of South Carolina. Why journalism?
HUGHES: Because I love to write. I love stories. I love to tell stories. I was into political journalism.

SKRATCH: Do you have a favorite political journalist?
HUGHES: Thomas Paine. He was the first, technically.

SKRATCH: COMMON SENSE, right?
HUGHES: Yeah, he wrote COMMON SENSE. That's a journalist, because he told the story.

SKRATCH: How about the journalists of now, like Maureen Dowd? Do you read THE NEW YORK TIMES?
HUGHES: Oh yeah, I love the TIMES. I like Laura Ingraham.

SKRATCH: You have contact info on your Website. What's the weirdest piece of e-mail that you have received?
HUGHES: I got a video clip for my birthday of a girl blowing out candles with her pussy. [Laughs] I am so sorry. I apologize-but it's true. Oh, and I got a video clip of a dude. It's just him in long underwear and cowboy boots and a hat on doing a weird pelvic dance for like five minutes to one of our songs.

SKRATCH: What's the most random thing that you've autographed?
HUGHES: I autographed this girl right above the sweet spot for her boyfriend. Boys and girls come on their honeymoons to Eagles shows. I'm not shitting you. It's a bizarre concept, no matter how you look at it. This dude came up and said, "My girlfriend likes your band so much. Will you sign her?" So she got naked, basically, and I signed her, and it was very artistic. It was a wonderful thing. I want to make sure you know that-[i.e.,] the artistic part. So, what's your favorite rock 'n' roll band of all time?

SKRATCH: The first band that I've ever got into was Foo Fighters, and I still really love them.
HUGHES: They're amazing. Let me tell you, as a band and as people, they are second to none. Dave Grohl opened my eyes to rock 'n' roll.

SKRATCH: He did the same for me.
HUGHES: Joshua is my mentor, but Dave Grohl is a true friend. Those guys are fucking rock stars on the ninth level of the universe. It's wild to see how those guys command.

SKRATCH: I'm in awe every time I see them.
HUGHES: Absolutely. I saw them from the side of the stage every night, and it was amazing every fucking time. He's got taste, and he's honest. Honesty in the rock business is the greatest commodity of all time-and there are very few people who practice it. But Jack Black, Dave Grohl, Baby Duck...Baby Duck is king. He sets the standard, in my opinion.

SKRATCH: What's your favorite tattoo?
HUGHES: I have a tattoo of a dagger on my forearm that I got in Copenhagen, Denmark, by this sweetheart named Sarah. It says "Sarah" on it, but it's for my grandmother. It's like this classic sailor one.

SKRATCH: Okay, I think this is going to be my last question: Do you have a song that's been stuck in your head like all day?
HUGHES: Yeah: "Shasta Beast" by Eagles of Death Metal. I listen to my album every day. [Laughs] I'm such a fag.

SKRATCH: It was great talking to you.
HUGHES: It was wonderful talking to you. This was a lot of fun.

More information on Eagles of Death Metal, including a link to their new video for "I Want You So Hard (Boys Bad News)", can be found on their Website, www.eaglesofdeathmetal.net. To comment on this or any other interview you see in SKRATCH, feel free to e-mail us at speakup@skratchmagazine.com.

» BACK TO TOP

Interview Archives