Producer JACK ENDINO Working With JOEY JORDISON, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD

Mark Carras of Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with legendary producer Jack Endino (SOUNDGARDEN, MENTORS, NIRVANA, THE ACCUSED, BRUCE DICKINSON). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Rock My Monkey: In preparing for this, a couple of the boards I regularly go to, I have been kind of hyping up the Jack Endino week and this interview, and the contest we have going. I go to a lot of metal boards. And there was actually a metal friend of mine who replied, "Who's Jack Endino?"

Jack Endino: "That's a fair question. Modern metal — I mean, I haven't been involved in it too much. Metal has changed a lot since I grew up."

Rock My Monkey: But you have done a couple of bands that I think metal guys would be very aware of. So what would you say are the top three bands that people would be shocked to hear that you work with?

Jack Endino: "Probably Bruce Dickinson. The solo record I did for him, 'Skunkworks', I think it was '95, '96, something like that. Had a great time making a record for him, because he specifically wanted to make a record that didn't sound like IRON MAIDEN. But he still wanted to make a heavy rock record. He was fully aware of SOUNDGARDEN, and bands like that, ALICE IN CHAINS, and the Seattle scene. And he called me up, and he said, 'Hey, I want to try something that isn't the same old thing.' And I said 'Heck, yeah!' I'm thinking, this guy sings as good as Chris Cornell. I could totally do this. I had a great time. I did a record for THERAPY?, who aren't so well known here in the U.S., but that was an immense pleasure. And then there was THE ACCUSED. I made like three records, I think, for THE ACCUSED. Seattle thrash band, and I'll put them up against anybody. They're just a killer band. And WINNEBAGO DEAL from the U.K., who are actually coming out here to make a second record with me in a couple of weeks."

Rock My Monkey: Cool. Speaking of modern metal, can you talk about the band you're working with-

Jack Endino: "Oh, wait. Do you know who I'm in the studio with right now this very second? 3 INCHES OF BLOOD."

Rock My Monkey: Total modern metal.

Jack Endino: "Total modern metal. Yeah. I mean, we're in the studio, and Joey from SLIPKNOT is producing, actually. Like, he's been working with the band, and they wanted to do a demo, and they wanted to do it real fast, and real cheap. The manager's a good friend of mine, and as like a favor, I said, 'hell, yeah, I want to meet this guy.' And I know this band, and sure, why the hell not? So we're having a great time."

Rock My Monkey: Cool! Interesting.

Jack Endino: "So metal, it's all just guitar, bass, and drums to me. It's no problem. I can record this."

Rock My Monkey: Cool. Now, on your [new solo] album, was it planned to kick your new album off with one of the heaviest songs?

Jack Endino: "Yes! Of course. Absolutely. That was my thought right from the beginning. I was sitting, looking at all the tracks, and I said, 'What do I start off with?' I've got to get people's attention. I've got to blow their hair back a little bit. Let's put 'Count Me Out' as the first song. No, that was my thought — I was thinking, 'Do I start with something artsy, or the political song? What do I do? No, no, no, let's just get right to it.' One, two, three, four, right off the bat. So yeah, that was the idea. I mean, in a way, I hope I didn't mislead anybody so that they think that all fifteen songs are going to sound like that, because it's a diverse record."

Read the entire interview at www.RockMyMonkey.com (interview is also available in audio/MP3 format).