(HED) P.e. may not be a household name in your neck of the woods, but we know some diehard fans that use their lyrics interchangeably in conversation. From music to family, there isn’t a topic that is off limits with (HED) P.e., and in talking with them, we learned a little about both.
Thank you so much for sitting down with me and taking the time. Now, first off, I noticed you’ve had an interesting blend of artist featured on the new album. Why did you choose those people, and what did it add to the album?
The (HED) P.e. album has the usual P.e. members. The Family album is just a bunch of collaborations that I’ve done with different people around the planet. And I included different rappers that sent me songs on Facebook. Twisted sent over some tracks because they’re friends, and it just has that family vibe, you know.
Oh, for sure. Now, you have had a long career. From your perspective, the fans who’ve been following you from Broke or Blackout eras in time, what do you think that can expect the same or different this time out?
Huh, well, I think it’s kinda broke in the way that the vocals kinda make a broke thing on some of the tracks. You know I am always trying to move forward, but again, though, I caught some of the vibe. It’s hard to be objective because, you know, when Broke was written, I was just a freakin’ freak and a nihilist.  Now, I’m a family man with a son going into the third grade. But in that way, though, there’s freedom of expression on this album in a way that Broke was, but yet, so much different. It’s hard to articulate if you know what I mean. I felt free to express where I am at at life right now. And in that way, Broke is very sincere, and all the albums are sincere but Broke was kinda an introspective thing, and this one is kinda that way, too.
 With all those influences, would any fans would be surprised by what you have on your playlist?
You know, at this point I don’t think anyone would be surprised by what I listen to. Especially like for me. I’m influenced by what you’d call “World Music”. I’m checking out what’s going on in Jamaica or Cuba and Brazil, or whatever and trying to use those rhythms in my metal or hard core. That has always been a part of the (HED)P.e. thing – to borrow from different genres. I’ve been listening to a lot of Jamaican dance pop. I love those guys, how they mix the melody and the rhythm on the vocals. Of course, I love the calypso beats and the reggae beats, all that stuff. Even the Brazilian Zumba beat; I’d definitely try to incorporate that stuff into metal.
We are doing this interview on the week of the RNC National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Bands like Prophets of Rage are playing there, and you guys have a lot of political things you say. Just wondering what your thoughts on the current state of things, and how music can affect that.
[long pause] Wow. Wowwee. Okay, the current state of things, Donald Trump, right? It’s pretty amazing to watch, with his lies and the people who support him. And for me, it’s almost who I’m not gonna vote for, haha. And I’m not gonna vote for that fucker. You know, ’cause he’s just praying on people’s fears, so I don’t go in for that. For me, bro, I used to spend a lot of (HED) P.e. air time discussing the global conspiracy and the shadow government. On and on and on, right, and how that intersects with the public government and how it may not intercept, but anyway, I find that it can be a trap because if you don’t focus on yourself and what you’re doing– you know being the change you want to see type of thing. Â So having said that, though, I’m still gonna vote. But it’s not who I’m voting for — it’s who I’m NOT voting for. You know what I mean?
And for me, it’s when you’re dealing with this cult-like personalities between Clinton and Trump, you have to go beyond that and go for parties; you know, research party platform, and cast your vote on that. Not on these two cult-like personalities, right? It’s just a mess. But who’s more of a mess?
Trump’s more of a mess; he scares me, you know what I mean, haha. He’s scary to me.
I thought it was a joke, honestly, at first
I think a lot of us thought it would go away, and it was a joke, but here we are.
Now I know you guys started out in the industry, probably been through a lot in that time. Let’s talk about people who are coming up, new artists and things like that. I know you guys had a little issue the first time out with the first label and stuff. How has the industry changed? How would somebody that’s starting out, would you recommend they kinda approach things?
Well, I guess if anybody would say since 1996 and 2016, it’s like night and day, and apparently the industry been inundated with a lot fewer people who make less money. At least, that’s what they’re claming. There are many tiers and many ways to spin the cat and make money playing music, right? So, before when I was selling a lot of records — when a lot of people were selling records – you know, haha, before streaming and all that – there were a lot of publishing checks coming in. But, you know I have different advice for different people and where they are. For the unsigned artists, the best advice I could give is having the best demo that you can play for your friends with no excuses. That’s my advice for the unsigned artist because you won’t get anywhere if you don’t have that. And if you’re a signed artist, you gotta watch every penny, and then, nowadays, it’s a whole new frontier out there with streaming and all that and so many ways to make your money out there. I don’t know, haha, you know what I mean. I’m still hustling in the club circuit.
I think that’s where everything is at, though, is touring right? Touring is where bands survive today, if you don’t tour there’s nothing there, hardly…
Hahahaha yeah for me! Totally true. Those publishing checks dried up, so yeah touring is everything to me. And on my tier dudes. The relationship between myself and the people that come to the shows time after fucking time is pretty sweet, you know; it’s all really a family and relationship you know?
I saw you when you guys were on tour with Powerman 500. It was an amazing show, and you both have very loyal fans.
Yeah we have fun with that. I like Spider, and we have fun every time we go out with them.
Definitely. Back to your album, as far as the touring, any bands you have on the tour with you as supporting the new album?
Wow you know, not only do I have a wishlist with fans, but (HED) P.e….we just have to go with whatever we are invited to, you know what I mean? We’ll have to see what 2017 holds because I’m a huge Teseract fan, and then I saw those guys in the UK. The dude said that he was a huge (HED) P.e. fan, which I thought was outlandish, and then I would like to tour with them. Sometimes when you don’t have the same agent as another band, it takes a bit more to get the tour with those guys if you’re not within the same genre as the other band. It might be even harder to hook that up, but you know, anything can happen.
Well 2017 will be interesting; is that when the tour starts?
We are touring like all the time, hahaha. I’m on tour right now. I’ve got a two week run, and then I go home for like two months. Then, I go on tour here, and then go to the UK, then come home, and do one final tour from November to December.
Wow, that’s a nice full schedule, that’s good.
It is good because it pays the bills, like I said. You know I am a provider now, right. I have a son and a wife, and you know, bro, it’s so interesting ’cause after twenty years, the reasons are different, you know. The motivation is different, but the motivation is still there in a big way.
Let’s say you could look back at things. How is it to get on stage now as opposed to when you got started?
Oh, well now it’s better because when I started, I was really toxic, you know, drinking a lot of Jack Daniels and snorting a lot of crystal meth, and taking whatever drug that was around. So, all those days from the 90s to the early 2003, I was pretty much of a mess. Now, when I go on stage, I’m clear. We played the Polish Woodstock last year, right, and there were like half million people, dude, and because I’m older now and fully grown, I was like present in the moment and soaked it all in. It was quite amazing because back in the day, in 2000, we played like in the UK in front of fifty thousand fans with Black Sabbath, and I was so wasted. I remember it vaguely. You know, so in that way, it’s better now.
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By Patrick Desmond, RockRevolt Photojournalist
