by Alex Barbieri
– Sr. Columnist —
Any connoisseur of late ’80s Los Angeles “Hair Metal” (for lack of a better term) is familiar with Silent Rage, who gained some notoriety with their Gene Simmons-produced album, Don’t Touch Me There, released in 1989 on Simmons Records/RCA Records. (This writer currently has the CD in his car, as a matter of fact.)
Since then, Silent Rage singer, songwriter, frontman and guitarist, Jesse Damon, has released a steady stream of excellent Melodic Hard Rock albums. In April, he dropped his sixth venture, called Southern Highway, which he described as, “A melodic driven southern rockin’ hell of a good time!”
Known for his rich voice and melodic sensibilities, Southern Highway has more of a southern-tinged Nashville sound, as the title implies.
Pop open a brew, put your feet up, and read on as Hardrock Haven interviews Jesse Damon.
HRH: Jesse, thanks for taking time for the Hardrock Haven readers, many of whom are probably already your fans.
It definitely rocks, but has a Nashville vibe to it , as well. Are you into Modern Country? What inspired you to give it more of a southern sound?
JD: Yes I am into Modern Country, I like Jason Alden and Keith Urban and both of their band’s approach is Rock with southern sensibilities, and their lyrics are fun and story telling. I’m also into blues music and rock music. The majority of my history and background came from melodic rock music and that will always blend in and come across in my songwriting and my performance. Many of my early influence are blues rock legends such as E. Clapton, J. Page, J. Winter, J. Hendrix and most of them were influenced by the blues, country and the American south.
But the reason I chose now to add that southern flair came from a new project I started 5 years ago that went in the southern Blues Rock direction right from the beginning. All the guys that came into this project were from rock n roll, but we wanted to perform some blues and southern rock because it was fun and we all were drawn to it. So once we got started and played a few covers to get going, I then started writing new songs for the project. Eventually, I wrote enough for a new solo album.
HRH: What are some of your favorite tracks on the new album and why?
JD: “Who’s Your Daddy and Foolish To Me” are upbeat and I like that, You Got Me Rockin’ is like a Southern Melodic Rock song with rockin’ impact. “Southern Highway” has the riff of the album I just love, while “Devil Down the Road” delivers a moodiness that is damn cool. Although I mentioned these specific songs, I have to say I really do love them all!
HRH: Producer, singer, and musician Paul Sabu produced Southern Highway. He’s an AOR legend in his own right. What have you learned from him over the years?
JD: I have a style and so does Paul, and when we combine the two we get a certain sound and I think that’s been apparent for a long time. He’s shown me early on about how to achieve certain moods and breathiness within my singing style and melodies I compose. He also listens to what works and what fits and has a great pulse on that, and I trust him. He also is a master engineer that can dial up a great guitar tone and so on…
All the time I’ve spent with him in the studio I observe and ask questions and learn.
Now that it’s been a long partnership, I integrate my ideas and collaborate more. Still, he is the producer/director so to speak and I am the artist so I trust him and with that respect in mind we create the magic!
HRH: If you don’t mind, let’s go back in time to Los Angeles and the early days of Silent Rage in the late-1980s. This period has such a mythology to many hard rock fans. What are some of your favorite memories of being a young stud on the Sunset Strip?
JD: Speaking about the 1980’s, one of my favorite memories was Silent Rage performing at the Whiskey A-Go-Go one particular summer night and performed a killer show. When I finally made it outside I very quickly observed a crowd of hundreds of people and a long flatbed semi-truck approaching me from east to west. There was a band performing as the truck drove up Sunset Blvd. it was Dokken performing “It’s Not Love.” I couldn’t help but get caught up in everyone running down the street to watch and catch up with the band. They finally stopped in front of the Roxy Theater. Did I mention they were filming a video so that alone caused more mayhem! Eventually, I walked away from it and walked right into the next hang out and classic watering hole “the Rainbow Bar & Grill” next store. I went straight into the bar and ordered a shot and thought, whew, what a night in Hollywood!
HRH: What was it like working with Gene Simmons? Did you learn anything that stayed with you as you got older, both positive and negative?
JD: I’ve had to answer this question quite a few times over the years and the answer is always the same. It was enlightening, motivating, and at times high strung to work with Gene, but there always was an element of fun. He always shoots for the stars when taking on any task or project, song or performance. I see a quality in him that not all artists and entertainers have, and that is pure dedication mixed with a whole lot of self-confidence. He’s the teacher and I was the student trying to soak in and sop up as much as I could. Most times it was invigorating but sometimes a little intimidating. Here’s a guy who’s achieved his dreams and has done so much for rock music as well as becoming one of the most astute businessmen in the world, so am I impressed? Yes, I’m very impressed and I hold all of what I did and achieved working with Gene in high regard!
I just wish at times I could go back in time and relive those memories, but we all move on. Looking ahead is always positive, looking back is history!
HRH: What about writing songs with them? Any stories you can share on their inner sanctum?
JD: When I was songwriting with Gene, each of us had a guitar so we could show each other new ideas or riffs to play off one another. We both had ideas coming into each songwriting session and most every time we ended up with a new song or the makings and parts for a new song.
HRH: Looking back at all the live shows you’ve done, what have been some highlights—where, when and why?
JD: One of my biggest and favorite moments was being on tour with Black Sabbath back in 1989, and getting the chance to open for them and then being able to watch their performance every night. I love Tony Iommi’s guitar style and performances, that was a big treat for me! I got to tell Tony recently on facebook thanks for those memories and opportunity! More recently, Silent Rage traveled to Europe several times in the last few years and got to play some festivals most recently Firefest (UK). The whole experience is amazing and a world wind experience at the same time. You meet so many friendly and devoted fans and crew and staff at these events, its simply wonderful!
HRH: For the “more” technical musicians out there, please describe your guitar rig and studio set up for them.
JD: My 3 main guitars I play are Fender Stratocaster – American Standard, Gibson Gold Top re-issue, and a Tom Anderson Guitar Works Stratocaster!
I use the Joe Perry ceramic slide and a thick glass slide. I also use Fender Heavy & Medium Picks.
My main amplification is a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 watt 2×12 Combo with extension cabinet, and 2 Line-6 40 watt 1×12 combo’s run stereo. 1 Line-6 POD X3 Live Foot Pedal System, 1Boss Noise Suppresser pedal, 1Boss Super Chorus pedal,1Boss Digital Delay pedal, 1 Boss Chromatic Tuner pedal, 1Vox Satchurator pedal and 1 standard Cry Baby pedal. I sing through Nuemann Cardioid Mics.
HRH: What’s on your iPod and who are you listening to lately? Any bands or artists we should check out?
JD: I have been listening to Modern Country artists as well as some of the Classic Rock artists that have done Country albums recently such as Steven Tyler, Don Henley, and the new Eric Clapton album. I do love the Dead Daisies; anything with Doug Aldrich is going to be phenomenal. I also watch Daryl Hall show called Daryl’s House, and I still keep up on what Sammy Hagar is up to. I’m a big David Coverdale fan so I’m listening to Whitesnake constantly, so I mix it up quite a bit. Then there is also some blues artists like Kenny Wayne Sheppard I really like, just too many to mention.
HRH: What music business advice do you have for your fellow musicians? Certainly, the industry has changed dramatically since you started writing, recording and playing live.
JD: I can tell you the business side of the music business is tough and hard work. You constantly have to stay at it, be current and know that it’s important as hell to put the time in to get something out of all the fruits of your labor and protect yourselves and your product, material, name, etc…Find people who you can trust and learn as you go!
HRH: Are there any other projects or charities you’re involved in you’d like to talk about?
JD: Besides Silent Rage, I have another band project called Electric Caravan and we perform original blues and rock material. I also lend my singing to Frederic Slama’s AOR projects along with other artists who come knocking. I have recently been asked to write a theme song for a new TV Show pilot that’s being developed. So I’m very busy!
HRH: Is there anything else you want to say to your fans, and Hardrock Haven readers around the world?
JD: I love music, and I can only hope that when I write what I do, you’re open to its originality and take it for what it is, a new creation!
HRH: Jesse, thank you again for talking with Hardrock Haven, and all the best on Southern Highway!
JD: I thank you very much for the great questions, and hope to again have another chat sometime down the road…
Visit Jesse Damon online: http://www.jessedamon.com/
