Entertainment
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The Battalion
Page 4 • Tuesday, March 29,21
The next resort
Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix discusses plans for new album, U.S. tour
By Will Knous
THE BATTALION
Not many people have had an encounter with a
celebrity. Sure it may happen occasionally, but
where does someone get the chance to meet some
one famous?
For senior geography major David Watson, it
was a parking lot. Watson had a run-in with
Jacoby Shaddix, lead singer of Papa Roach, at
Ozzfest a few years ago.
“The singer was out in the parking lot on this
motorized scooter cruising around,” Watson said.
“I was coming around the corner in my Tahoe and
almost did not see him — I had to swerve out of
the way so I didn’t hit him.”
Though most people’s celebrity encounters
don’t involve vehicles and a possible auto colli
sion, Watson’s experience didn’t make him shy
away from becoming a Papa Roach fan.
“I went to go check them out at Ozzfest one
year,” Watson said. “I was interested in them; they
had that single out, ‘Last Resort.’ I had not bought
their CD yet, but I went and got it after the show.”
Known for its frenetically energetic live shows
and the equally frenzied onstage behavior of
Shaddix, Papa Roach exploded onto the rock
music scene in 20()0, with its major label debut,
“Infest.” Spots on MTV and consistent air play of
the band’s music video and singles propelled Papa
Roach to fame and started a career that the band is
presently maintaining. The band’s recent U.S. tour
brought it to different venues across Texas.
“We’ve mostly been supporting our record and
touring — touring all over the U.S., Europe,
Japan, Australia and South Africa actually,”
Shaddix said. “(We are also) working on new
stuff. We started the new record in September,
gathering new material. We are about to head out
on a weeklong run to warm up for our summer
tour.”
The Vacaville, Calif., quartet of Shaddix, gui
tarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and
drummer David Buckner have been a quiet
recently.
The release of its second major label album,
“Lovehatetragedy” in 2002 was met with fanfare,
but perhaps not as much as their initial release.
Shaddix said he attributes it to the relative differ
ence between their music and other current bands.
“I don’t know (where I see our music), when 1
go on tour,” Shaddix said. “That is our audience
connection. We have never fit really anywhere -
never really punk or metal, never rock and roll
enough to be rock and roll - we are the bastard
children of the rock scene.”
Papa Roach has enlisted the help of producer
Howard Burnson, known for his work on some big
drum sound albums from the 1980s, in an attempt
to press ahead with its newest record.
“We wanted to get back to that straightforward
sound - like older bands like Rocket from The
Crypt and stuff - just that straightforward rock
vibe,” Shaddix said. “We're trying to bring that
back into the fold like that big rocking drum sound
mixed with the current big guitar sound — a big
arena-sized album.”
Jake Ham, a sophomore at Tyler Junior
College, said there are some areas that need
improvement in Papa Roach’s music.
“I like some of their riffs, but think everyone
would like to see them getting back to more of
rock sound, like more guitars and less rapping—
write their own kind of music,” Ham said.
Papa Roach hopes to create something new,
even if that means remaining something that is not
so easily categorized.
“We're trying to forge our own path - not to
rehash,” Shaddix said. “For us, it’s a blessing; we
are different.”
Even though none of the band has spent any
significant amount of time in college. Papa Roach
still understands the value of education, musically
and otherwise.
“The older you get, the more educated you get
and the more you learn, and we love evolving,”
Shaddix said. “I mean we rock a style and we do
something new, but you can't please everyone —
Salary + Benefits = Compensation
Salary Evaluation & Negotiation
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Papa Roach lead singer of , Jacoby Shaddix (extreme right) said the band is currently in the studio recordingitsb
est album set for release in the summer
you win some and lose some. We are looking to
grow musically and broaden our fan base.”
Papa Roach did get some education, but per
haps not in the traditional sense.
Shaddix said world tours can teach someone
many things, but the band values that return to
home as well.
“We have traveled around the world, played so
many shows,” he said. “You always want to come
home to your spot and start writing music, and
you write what makes you happy - and that is the
golden moment.”
Shaddix said the band also understands things
that bring together the college education and the
music scene - the college ideas such as down
loading and live shows.
“Obviously it is affecting the industry and
record labels are downsizing, but we are not just
selling pieces of plastic,” Shaddix said. “They
is that in the 90s. there was more money,andii
record companies are scrambling— butitissi
a time of opportunities, to create, topushandj
sell. But you can’t download a rock show. Pant
music is that social interaction, and that is I
freedom no one can control w hat you do there"
Shaddix said Papa Roach supports polio
movements and phenomena and is often vod
about their views.
"People just need to get out there, edia
themselves and vote. You have to use the
you have.” Shaddix said. “Being an Amerii
is not just being able to sit around and w
TV when you want to — 1 mean stand up
yourself.”
J apa Roach is set to release its new record
mg the summer, followed by another U.S.
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