FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Guitarist: 'We're Completely Comfortable Looking Like Absolute Freaks'

Jackie Crash conducted an interview with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook on July 4 at the Rock For People festival in the Czech Republic. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the importance of having a strong image to go along with the music:

Jason: "I think it's very important, only because… You know, having played with guys like Alice Cooper and being a KISS fan, I think that it's the entertainment industry. As human beings, we get excited over things that are visual. All advertising has to do with generating excitement through the eyes. Billboards, posters, magazine ads, that all has to do with stimulating the eyes to send a message to the brain to send a message to the heart to send a message to the wallet. That's the chain. Whatever the image is, it has to be compelling, it has to be exciting in order for people to take interest and hold their interest. Alice Cooper has made an entire career for being exciting to some level. He's interesting, and you always know you're going to be entertained, not just musically, but there's gonna something happening to see. So I think it's vital. And you know what? I think a lot of bands miss that point, 'cause it's not 'cool' to be visual, it's not 'cool' to be over the top with some kind of look. But… whatever. You know, we feel special, so we wanna look special, and that's just the way we are. We're completely comfortable looking like absolute freaks. Look at me."

On whether he still buys CDs or if he listens to music mainly by downloading them legally and via streaming music services like Spotify:

Jason: "Being an audio enthusiast, I kind of want that quality. But the convenience of having music instantly by downloading it or buying it that way has sort of taken over. If I'm not that interested in somebody's record but I want it, I'll buy it off one of the services. Because the great thing about Apple, I think, is that when you buy the record on device A, it's now available for listening on device B, C, D and E. That's the cool thing. So I buy it on the phone, and I can listen to it at home, I can listen to it on the laptop, everything. So that convenience factor has sort of taken over for my desire to have the physical CD."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, "Got Your Six", was officially certified gold on August 8 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently signed a North American deal with Rise Records. The band's first album with Rise, the BMG-owned rock label, will be released following the completion of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's obligation to its current label, Prospect Park.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH announced a new co-headlining arena tour with SHINEDOWN that will kick off on October 18 in Little Rock, Arkansas and run into December. SIXX A.M. and AS LIONS will be along as support.