Bloodhound Gang

Thu 29th Jan, 2009 in Features

It may have been a year since Bloodhound Gang hopped onto a tour bus, but the group seems to deserve a little R&R. After their last album Hefty Fine hit record stores in 2005, the boys were on the road for two and a half years (enough time cooped up in what frontman Jimmy Pop calls “a travelling hallway” to prompt an outbreak of cabin fever).

Still, there was no axe-wielding on the bus or creepy kids writing – œREDRUM’ on the bathroom mirror. Instead what prompted the year-long break was less about the urge to tear each other apart than each band member’s need to scratch a few projects off their to-do list. On Jimmy’s list were recording stints with a couple of deejays and an acting role in a movie with pro-skater Bam Margera (also creator of prank show Viva La Bam and co-creator/co-star of MTV’s Jackass ).

“The movie’s called Where the Fuck is Santa? ” Pop explains. “Basically it’s a one page idea where Bam wants to get his wife Santa Claus for Christmas. I stay with his wife in Pennsylvania, while Bam goes to Finland looking for him. So yeah…it’s better than some of the stuff we’ve done in the past. But it’s not going to be up for any Oscars,” he laughs.

Okay, with all its Jackass-like antics it’s not exactly a movie flourishing with maturity. But juvenile piss-taking isn’t exactly new to Pop or his band. In fact despite Bloodhound Gang boasting a collection of catchy eclectic grooves (from dance to rock to hip-hop) lyrical and stage entertainment has always been the priority.

“None of us are the best players and I’m a pretty bad singer,” Pop admits. “So we just always tried to entertain people. Our records were just made so that our friends would laugh. That was the point. So we just tried to continue with that. I think the music’s important, but when you’re putting in lyrics about poop or sex or something over it, the music automatically, no matter what it is – it could have Miles Davis under it – is written off because what we’re talking about is just stupid.”

Still, fans that revel in that stupidity might be a little surprised at how easily the group might not have come into being. In another life, the man who wrote Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny was at university majoring in communications and minoring in history. The day before finishing his degree he was offered an unpaid internship with The Howard Stern Show and on the same week he and his band Bloodhound Gang were offered a record deal.

“I was kind of at a crossroads,” Jimmy recalls. “It was either a free internship or [the record deal], and I went with the one that paid a little something.”

In February, Bloodhound Gang touches down in Australia to play Soundwave. And while Pop looks forward to the experience, festivals are often uncertain territory for performers – the crowd isn’t always appreciative of who’s on stage.

“Usually the best thing about festivals is the lounges or bars or catering areas backstage. Just because you see the most amazing people hanging out with each other,” Jimmy says. “Like, I became friends with the singer from Placebo just from doing festivals with him five years ago or something. I remember walking in and he said, – œHey come down to this lounge’ and you go in and there’s like In Flames hanging out with Placebo. Which is funny, because in a way I think they should be beating up Placebo. You just go back stage and it’s such an interesting mix of people.”

“Like in Germany,” he continues, “it’s not unheard of to have Slayer and Depeche Mode on at the same festival. That would be just great seeing Kerry King from Slayer hanging out with Martin Gore, who’s wearing wings and a dress or something.”

Bloodhound Gang will roll up to the Soundwave Festival and a couple of sideshows next month.

Sat 21 Feb – RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane
Sun 22 Feb – Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney
Mon 23 Feb – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
Wed 25 Feb – Billboard The Venue, Melbourne
Fri 27 Feb – Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne
Sat 28 Feb – Bonython Park, Adelaide
Mon 2 March – Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean, Perth