of

Saliva

Interview by:

Crystal Weir

(SugarBuzz Kansas City Correspondent)

This interview was conducted backstage at Rockfest 2004

The boys are always great to their fans, and in my book that’s what it’s all about. Working hard for what you believe in and not taking for granted the rewards that follow. It’s amazing how rare that concept has become in the entertainment industry. It pisses me off when artists forget about the people who carried their asses to the top. The kids who buy the records, the kids who stand in line for a million hours for pit tickets…they are the driving force.

The support, enthusiasm and loyalty they bring are what gives artists the privilege of living the life they do. Without those kids, and all the other ticket buying rock and roll lovin’ freaks out there, they would be sweepin’ the floors at a movie theatre or something, you know? The individuals who give these artists their fame and fortune can strip them of it just the same. Bands like Saliva remember who made them. They appreciate their fans, and they make sure the fans know it, and they keep working their asses off to keep a good thing going.

I was scheduled to cover Rockfest 2004, and when I heard Saliva was playing Rockfest for the second year in a row, I thought I’d try to hook up with them for a quick interview to find out what’s up in their world these days.

Hope you enjoy the interview with Josey Scott as much as I did. It was actually one of the most down to earth conversations I’ve had in a while, which is always refreshing.

Josey: No. It comes out August 17, 2004.

Crystal: Cool..I know I don’t have a copy yet.

Josey: Yeah.

Crystal: Alright. Well first of all, you guys seem to be touring a whole bunch. And speaking of touring…you went on the road for the Kiss/Aerosmith tour. How the hell was that?

Crystal: How’d ya get hooked up with that deal?

Josey: Well, we kinda threw our name in the hat, along with a bunch of other bands, you know. And I think it was Gene Simmons’ 14 yr old son that said, you know, “Dad, I really dig Saliva”…and I think he got us the gig! (laughs)

Crystal: Kick ass!

Josey: Yeah, it was bad ass though..touring with legends and shit!

Crystal: How long was the tour?

Josey: Ummmm…three months? Right around three months…

Crystal: So how long ya been home then?

Josey: Umm, two..two or three months.

Crystal: Right on…so is this your current tour set up..or is this line-up just for this radio show or what’s the deal?

Josey: Yeah, we’re doing a couple radio shows here and there and then we’re going on tour with Shinedown and Earshot, and a band called Skillet. Skillet is bad ass..

Crystal: Skillet huh? Hmm..okay..so when does that kick off and what’s the tour looking like?

Josey: Ummm…(he confers with a guy in the room with us) When does it start..the Shinedown Earshot…oh, Crystal this is my manager Tom…

Crystal: Hi. Nice to meet you.

Tom: You too. The show with Shinedown/Earshot/Skillet is gonna be one show on Aug 28…and that’s in Memphis…and then there will be dates out and then they’ll be home for a few days and basically we’ll be playin’ shows……we go out next Thursday and then we’ll be playing shows through September.

Crystal: Awesome. So then Josey…you just got married, yeah?

Josey: Yup!

Crystal: How is it…married life?

Josey: Oh, it’s wonderful. I love it! I married the woman of my dreams. I married the woman of ANY mans dreams, but I married the woman of my dreams because she’s my other half. I mean (laughs) not to sound Jerry McGuire-ish, but she is the other half of my circle.

Let me interject a side note here-Josey was absolutely GLOWING at the mention of his new wife. He was just adorable with this…like he melted every time he thought of her. What a good boy!)

Crystal: Awe, that’s awesome! Congratulations! How much does that suck though, getting married and then headin’ out on the road….or does she get to come out with you?

Josey: Yeah! She’s here!

Crystal: Oh…awesome! So, you guys have a son right? Does he get to come out too?

Josey: Yeah, I have a 12 yr old son. Uh, yeah, he comes out sometimes. He’s going to summer school right now…he’s commin’ out, uh, his birthday is August 29th and we’re playin’ Memphis Aug 28 so he’ll get to come out for that.

Crystal: Kick ass…that’s so cool. So…..the new album? Tell me about it.

Josey: Okay, it’s called Survival of the Sickest, it comes out August 17, and….it’s a little heavier than anything we’ve ever done…uh, we kinda got back to our roots, got back to what makes us tick…back to what made us wanna do rock and roll in the first place, you know. It uh, it’s got…it’s got a little something on it for everybody I think. Not that we were trying for that or anything, but I think it’s just the most honest place we could have come from, uh, I think you can hear that in the record and, uh….it’s just a can full of whup ass. It’s a six pack of cans full of whup ass!

Crystal: So more honest…is that because of more freedom…or just because you guys are more comfortable with where you are?

Josey: Umm, yeah! I think it’s all about finally becoming comfortable with ourselves. I’ve finally made peace with Josey..and Joseph, and that took time, it took me a while you know…it took me a minute! I had to uh, get some things out of my system, and uh, I thing that anybody, any human being who submerges himself in this lifestyle, (laughs) has to get used to it you know? I mean, I had to get used to the fame, I had to get used to having money for the first time. I never had money…I never had a car! I was just ridin’ in a golf cart here at the show, you know, back and forth to the radio booth and stuff. The guy said you know, “Do you want a ride?” and I said “Of course!” You know I remember being without a car. I try to remember, you know, being poor and being without a car, and uh…being unfacilitated. It uh…keeps you….it keeps you…(laughs) it keeps your feet on the ground! Cause it could happen in a second..so….I think if you remember those times then you make way for the future.

Crystal: Hell yeah…appreciation for things….

Josey: That’s right…

Crystal: So what else is up with ya? Cool stuff in the works?

Josey: Ummm…I’m doin’ a movie! I’m doing a movie in July. I took some acting lessons…Brent West is an acting coach there in Memphis, and….I took drama classes in school, and wrote a play when I was younger. And I always wanted to act, and I think it’s an extension of song writing. You know, if I can be so personal with song writing, then I can be that personal on screen too. You know, I think one interpreters a another, and it’s just…another creative avenue for me….just sort of keep myself busy and keep myself creative.

Crystal: Keeping buys is always the best way to go…gotta do it, helps avoid trouble. And a person will go crazy without a creative outlet…I personally will anyway.

Josey: Yeah…I don’t like to have too much free time on my hands you know. Devil’s playground.

Crystal: So when do you start filming?

Josey: Um, it starts in July. It’s a John Singelton film. He did Boys in the Hood. It’s about these kids in the hood…these black kids who start out in the hood, and they’re up and coming…trying to get themselves know in the hip hop world and they all sell drugs, you know, and do the usual stuff to get there. And I’m the seedy white guy who owns the little grocery store in the neighborhood and sells them their pot. I play a character called Elroy.

Crystal: Hmmm…you don’t look like an Elroy. (laughs)

Josey: Yeah, I don’t look like an Elroy, I agree with you. But the character kind of fits me ‘cause I grew up in the hood…I grew up around black kids…I grew up around…all kinds of groups really, hippies….um..hoods….I mean, concert kids like rockers – we called them hoods. All kinds of kids went to my school so, I kinda know what it’s like to grow up in the hood with no money, so I can identify with the character.

Crystal: I think that’s good though, to be exposed to diversity. That’s why I won’t send my kid to private school…they need to learn to interact with all kinds of people because there’s all kinds of people to deal with for the rest of your life, you know?

Josey: How old is your kid?

Crystal: 7.

Josey: Boy or girl?

Crystal: Girl.

Josey: What’s her name?

Crystal: Autumn.

Josey: Autumn, that’s cool. I want some more kids.

Crystal: Really? How many…some more like 6?

Josey: Oh yeah. I’ve got…my wife has two children and then I have one so we have three together..

Crystal: What ages?

Josey: 12, 7, and 5.

Crystal: 5 is such a cool age…they like, know stuff but not all the way…so they say the most hilarious stuff. And the honesty factor is great sometimes too…they call it as they see it and they don’t care who’s listening. They’re tiny people with all these interesting things to say…strong personalities sometimes…little cute habits and stuff appear. It’s awesome.

Josey: Yeah, our 5 year old, he’ll sit and play the Play Station 2, and we brought him back some sea shells from Hawaii, and he sets them out and all around him when he plays his video games and, his mama said, you know “Why are you putting these sea shells around you” and looks up and say “They’re my lucky charmths” (laughs)

Crystal: So you still living in Memphis?

Josey: Yup, still in Memphis. You got a picture of your daughter? I gotta have a picture…

Crystal: Uh…here ya go..

Josey: Man! She’s beautiful! Man…she’s gonna be a little model!

Crystal: Awe…I think so but hey! She’s such a sweet girl…she’s got a good heart. Not selfish…very caring…she’s so awesome! (glowing…)

Josey: Dude…look at her! (he shows the photo to his manager) That’s her daughter.

Crystal: I love her! I think she’s a doll but I’m her mom!! (laughs) She’s cute, that’s for sure. I take her to shows sometimes…but really anywhere I take her…people just love her. She ends up cashing in man…people give her stuff left and right…she doesn’t even have to ask. It’s awesome.

Well, we got a little off track I guess….uh…hmmm…what were we talking about before? ………. Oh yeah….I asked you about Memphis…you’re still living in Memphis. Is that where you wanna stay…I mean…have you thought about moving or you just wanna stay in your hometown?

Josey: Uh…yeah, for now…you know, for now. I wouldn’t mind living in some other places. Hawaii is great, we went to Hawaii on our Honeymoon…Hawaii is great, I’ve GOT to live in Hawaii..I’ve GOT to have a house in Hawaii! It’s beautiful.

Crystal: They have a really low crime rate there too.

Josey: And the people there are so sweet!

Crystal: Really? Never heard one way or another.

Josey: Oh yeah, the people there are just great. But, I wouldn’t mind having a place in Canada, wouldn’t mind having a place in London. Somewhere in Europe…maybe Italy.

Crystal: So we were also talking before about kids…seriously 6 or just one or two more ….

Josey: Yeah, I want at least one more…maybe two. Make it an even 5…even though 5’s not even. (laughs) Like 7…you know, me the mother, and 5 kids. You know, kids are another thing that keep you grounded…keep you stable. You know, like the brady bunch thing…my friend Nikki…he and his wife…Nikki Sixx, he and his wife each brought kids into the marriage..two a piece, and then they just had…uh….you know…

Crystal: Um…sorry to interrupt, but Nikki…..How fucking cute are his kids?

Josey: Oh they are gorgeous!

Crystal: Are they not too damn cute! I swear…beautiful kids.

Josey: Yeah, they’re gorgeous. He’s one of my best friends.

Crystal: Yeah? Cool…well…yeah..he wrote…

Josey: Rest in Pieces..yup!

Crystal: Right on. So anything else…anything at all…what else you gonna be up to?

Josey: Umm, touring, just beating up the United States. Europe, hopefully Canada.

Brian: Also, theme song to the NASCAR….

Crystal: You know…that’s becoming more common…promoting music via video games…it’s happening more and more. Oh yeah..you know what? Didn’t I just hear you guys in…um….like a ….maybe a Toyota commercial? Was it Toyota???

Josey: OH YEAH! Toyota…Click Click Boom.

Crystal: We were talking about it at work, how there is no indication on any of these commercials as to who the featured artist is. It’s just silly. IPOD, Best Buy…it kills me that with all the small print here and there throughout commercials they can’t add a one liner in the corner providing song title and artist. Shit…it kills me because the IPOD commercials don’t do it either…I mean..makes me crazy!

Tom: Well, they want people to go to there website..

Crystal: Yeah but even on the site…well, with IPOD anyway…they didn’t even tell you on the website!

Tom: You know, you are right…with Jet they did, but the latest one they do not. You are right…they don’t give the info on the site either.

Crystal: Crazy…that’s a great promotion opportunity..awesome tool for promoting. And the video game thing too…awesome tool…I’m hearing tons of this lately.

Josey: Yeah, in the second one that we’re in…the Tiger Woods game, you can actually punch in the code for Superstar and use me as the character…you gotta punch in the cheat code…

Tom: What year is that?

Josey: 2003

Tom: I’m gonna go buy it.

Josey: You got to! You go to codes, or cheat codes, or passwords or some shit…and type in superstar and you can use me as your player. I’m pretty damn good too…if you max out my skills I can beat Tiger.

Crystal: The only golf I get into is Golden Tee…I don’t know if I could get into it holding a controller drinking beer sitting in the chair..pushing buttons. Golden Tee is more real, you know. You get into it, you put…it’s more physically involved I guess…I don’t know…it’s cool. Who knows, maybe I could dig it with chillin’..pushing buttons on a hand control…I’ve never tried it.

Tom: The nascar…they say that it is so real, that it’s so realistic..the track and just everything, that the actual nascar drivers use that as a training tool. They say that it really works for the training, that it actually improves their skills..

Crystal: No shit…that’s crazy!

Josey:.. See, that’s what made me start playing the game. I suck at golf…

Crystal: Takes a lot more coordination than you think…it’s harder than it appears. It took way too much mental energy to be a relaxing hobby for me.

Josey: It takes a lot of patience..

Crystal: Yeah…too many things, too much shit to remember. I got frustrated.. I got pissed…

Josey: Exactly, you got pissed.

Crystal: It took the fun out of it..

Josey: Right, exactly. See I love it…and my love affaire with golf started when I played the video game…cause I just though it was something old, boring white people did.

Crystal: So your son, his friends are gonna see you in mags, on tv, cribs, now in video games….is he cool with that or does it freak him out…or you out…or are you gonna do private school like a lot of “famous” parents do to shelter the kids from the whole fame thing?

Josey: Umm…I would if he wanted. I told him I would send him to private school, but he aint havin’ it. He aint’ havin it. He’s in summer school right now..I talked to him and I’m like…Can’t they come up with an easier way to do this? I mean….

Crystal: I KNOW! I can’t begin to comprehend math…my brain just doesn’t function that way. I had to take statistics in college and every class…5 minutes into it I would just freak out in my head…I just became so overwhelmed that I couldn’t decide if I wanted to cry or run out the door…85 fucking steps to find an answer to an equation that NOBODY but a statistics professor would ever be able to even come up with…they can walk on the fucking moon but can’t find a shortcut for this shit? Come ON!

Josey: And…why does anyone need to know that anyway…I mean..

Crystal: I know..

(someone hollars in)….Josey…time to change..get ready to go.

Josey: For what?

Unknown: Time to hit the stage bro..

Josey: Oh…. Well I guess it’s time. Thank you so much for the interview.

Crystal: Umm..sure…thank you though for taking time to talk to me…had a great time chatting! Have a great show…see ya later!

Josey: Thanks…enjoy the show. Thanks again for the interview.

I had a great time talking to Josey. I felt like I was just chit-chatting with some guy I was sharing a cab with or something. Maybe ‘cause we were talking a lot about our beautiful kids! I had to keep reminding myself that time was limited and probably could live with out “Family Life 101”.

Really though, if you think about it it’s pretty awesome to know that along with all the professional stuff he shared…Josey revealed a lot of himself personally to all of you reading this. l. And let me tell you how great it was that in talking of family, he became complet elated without even realizing it. If I could paint you a picture, you’d see a portrait of someone who, at least for now, has found true happiness. Best of luck to Josey and the rest of the boys! ‘Til next time.

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