RS: Describe exactly what you did with the George Bush mask and the mike stand during "Bu$hleaguer" in Denver? Lisa: Well, I put the mike stand between my legs and stuck Georges mouth on it. Pretty much just a statement on how I feel right now about politics and the bushwhacked administration. RS: Did you see anyone leave while you did your Bush dance? Lisa: No. No one left. In fact I made quite a bit on tips! RS: Does it make you angry, to be demonized for having money and opinions? Lisa: Well I don't consider myself "having money". I watch each penny I got. In terms of having opinions it does get me angry. People need to chill out, take some valium and just accept that there will always be opinions different from yours RS: What is a Pearl Jam show for you now-entertainment, a pulpit, release? Does the price of a ticket automatically include your personal politics? Lisa: It is part entertainment. You see a concert so you can "rock out" to your fav songs. But any Pearl Jam concert is a like a religious epiphany. When I see them live certain songs just make me want to cry...in a good way. It's that intense. They are a band that is so real. I admire the way they have conducted themselves over the past years and really running things the way they want. They consciously withdrew from the spotlight and refused to play the promo rollocoster game. They keep most of the concert tickets in the 40 buck range when they could easily charge the $65-$100 a piece deal that most established bands are doing these days. Now that's what I call taking care of your fans. RS: You didn't talk much at early Pearl jam shows, in 1991 and '92. You spent more time diving from balconies into the crowd. Lisa: Yeah, during my teenage years I leaned toward the self-destructive behavior. RS: Were you, in fact, crazy? Lisa: According to my shrink? Yes. RS: What was the first rock concert you saw? Lisa: Morrissey at the Nassau Colesium in 1991. I went with a friend Jen Jonak ( who introduced me to him and The Smiths) and Jen LynnI think. I was trying then to absorb that whole goth/emo thing going on. I didn't quite catch on. Morrisey was his usual prancing self on stage and on the floor a lot. He got a lot flowers. RS: Yet at the height of Pearl Jam's success, in the mid-1990's, you got pegged as the archetypal, whining rock star: " I don't like this, I won't do that." In a recent interview Jeff said he considered quitting the band at the time of No Code (1996), because "it was kind of Ed's band." Lisa: Yes, in the nineties I was angst-ridden. That was a term well used by my friends about me. Ha!No Code by the way is a fantastic record. It has a "world music" kind of vibe, very eclectic, and I have really grown to love this record. Ed wrote some really great lyrics, particularly for me on songs " Sometimes" "Present Tense" and "In My Tree". I guess it was pretty much an Ed record. Then the band collectively decided that for the next record each member would bring in material. That record became "Yield" which in my opinion really brought the band back to making a solid Rock N' Roll record. RS: When Time put you on the cover, in 1993, why didn't you enjoy it? Lisa: I was on the cover of Time? Hey, did I give permission for that! RS: [Kurt Cobain] took a lot of shots at Pearl Jam in the press for being a corporate rock band. How would you describe the relationship you really had with him? Lisa: The relationship was being a hard core fan. When I started to play guitar "Nevermind" was the first record I learned how to play. I felt that I could really do thisThen I tackled Led Zeppelin I. RS: He did not survive the hype and stardom. You did. Why? Lisa: WhoaLet's not jump that far ahead. I haven't reached 27 years of age yet. I guess then I'll let you know if I survived. Although, I don't plan on joining that "stupid club". RS: You refer to the fans crushed in the mosh pit during your show at the Roskilde Festival in 2000 on Riot Act (Lost nine friendstwo years ago today": "Love Boat Captain"). But you have not spoken publicly about what you saw that night . When did you realize people were dying in front of you? Lisa: I found out watching the BBC news. It was a very low-fi clip of the band freaking out on stage. I think the band was in shock as they sort of just stood there. It wasn't their fault. I felt terrible because Pearl Jam shows are not violent at all. The fans are too busy screaming their lungs out to each song and grooving. The band was really strong in keeping it together. RS: Did you consider ending the band? Lisa: David, I don't think I had the authority to end the band. I'm glad they didn't. RS: But a month later you were onstage in Virginia Beach opening a U.S. Tour. Lisa: Get your facts straight. I wasn't in Virginia Beach. Never been there. But I did drive 12 hours from NYC to Roanoke, Virginia to see a Dave Matthews Concert in 1998. That was the opening night of the their tour. RS: Given the media mauling you got for the Bush mask in Denver, how do you feel about the way Pete Townshend, a friend, was treated in the press after he was arrested for downloading child porn? Lisa: I think the press jumped to a lot of conclusions. And after all the hoopla has died down I don't even know the outcome of that situation. It's only teenage wasteland. By the way how many times did Robert Plant chant "Little girllittle girl" on live Zeppelin songs ("Shook Me" and "Since I've Been Loving You")? No one gasped over that. Ok, I know that may not be on the same level as Pete's situation but it's the idea of suggestionremember those Calvin Klein ads? I have to admit those Zep songs are hotvery sexy. Did I tell you I met Robert Plant in SOHO in 1995? Yep. RS: Have you talked to Pete about this? Do you think this will be a blot on his legacy? Lisa: No, I haven't spoken to Pete. Considering how much "drama" Michael "Jacko" Jackson went through over the years. I think Pete will be unscathed. RS: How would you describe your personal life now-off the road, away from Pearl Jam? Lisa: I'm never away from Pearl Jam. Always got one of their live shows in rotation on my stereo, reading articles, collecting memorabilia etc. My personal life is not very public. I keep to myself a lot. RS: How do you feel about Pearl Jam's level of success now? In 1993, Vs. sold more than a million copies out of the box. Riot Act sold a tenth of that in it's opening week. Lisa: Well if you shove music down people's throats and sell it along with a popular soda beverage and lots of sex then you're gonna sell a lot of records. Duh. RS: Would you like to mention some names? Lisa: Well, I gave props to the Anti-folk community in the last interview with Antifolk-online.com which you can still read on the site. (smile). Big props to Brad Willis who manages the whole website! RS: That's what you did in Denver-and you were attacked for it. If rock is no longer a venue for free speech, what good is it? Lisa: Then it would be just as useful as that "Flo-be" self-haircut gadget. |
RED JACKETinterview |
May 26th 2003: |
Antifolk Online's |
With Lisa from Red Jacket |
The following EXACT same questions appeared in R.S. issue 923 and were asked to Eddie Vedder. Antifolk Online gave them to Lisa from Red Jacket with the instructions to answer them however she would choose to. And to have fun with em. Here are her responses: |
RS: Describe exactly what you did with the George Bush mask and the mike stand during "Bu$hleaguer" in Denver? Lisa: Well, I put the mike stand between my legs and stuck Georges mouth on it. Pretty much just a statement on how I feel right now about politics and the bushwhacked administration. RS: Did you see anyone leave while you did your Bush dance? Lisa: No. No one left. In fact I made quite a bit on tips! RS: Does it make you angry, to be demonized for having money and opinions? Lisa: Well I don't consider myself "having money". I watch each penny I got. In terms of having opinions it does get me angry. People need to chill out, take some valium and just accept that there will always be opinions different from yours RS: What is a Pearl Jam show for you now-entertainment, a pulpit, release? Does the price of a ticket automatically include your personal politics? Lisa: It is part entertainment. You see a concert so you can "rock out" to your fav songs. But any Pearl Jam concert is a like a religious epiphany. When I see them live certain songs just make me want to cry...in a good way. It's that intense. They are a band that is so real. I admire the way they have conducted themselves over the past years and really running things the way they want. They consciously withdrew from the spotlight and refused to play the promo rollocoster game. They keep most of the concert tickets in the 40 buck range when they could easily charge the $65-$100 a piece deal that most established bands are doing these days. Now that's what I call taking care of your fans. RS: You didn't talk much at early Pearl jam shows, in 1991 and '92. You spent more time diving from balconies into the crowd. Lisa: Yeah, during my teenage years I leaned toward the self-destructive behavior. RS: Were you, in fact, crazy? Lisa: According to my shrink? Yes. RS: What was the first rock concert you saw? Lisa: Morrissey at the Nassau Colesium in 1991. I went with a friend Jen Jonak ( who introduced me to him and The Smiths) and Jen LynnI think. I was trying then to absorb that whole goth/emo thing going on. I didn't quite catch on. Morrisey was his usual prancing self on stage and on the floor a lot. He got a lot flowers. RS: Yet at the height of Pearl Jam's success, in the mid-1990's, you got pegged as the archetypal, whining rock star: " I don't like this, I won't do that." In a recent interview Jeff said he considered quitting the band at the time of No Code (1996), because "it was kind of Ed's band." Lisa: Yes, in the nineties I was angst-ridden. That was a term well used by my friends about me. Ha!No Code by the way is a fantastic record. It has a "world music" kind of vibe, very eclectic, and I have really grown to love this record. Ed wrote some really great lyrics, particularly for me on songs " Sometimes" "Present Tense" and "In My Tree". I guess it was pretty much an Ed record. Then the band collectively decided that for the next record each member would bring in material. That record became "Yield" which in my opinion really brought the band back to making a solid Rock N' Roll record. RS: When Time put you on the cover, in 1993, why didn't you enjoy it? Lisa: I was on the cover of Time? Hey, did I give permission for that! RS: [Kurt Cobain] took a lot of shots at Pearl Jam in the press for being a corporate rock band. How would you describe the relationship you really had with him? Lisa: The relationship was being a hard core fan. When I started to play guitar "Nevermind" was the first record I learned how to play. I felt that I could really do thisThen I tackled Led Zeppelin I. RS: He did not survive the hype and stardom. You did. Why? Lisa: WhoaLet's not jump that far ahead. I haven't reached 27 years of age yet. I guess then I'll let you know if I survived. Although, I don't plan on joining that "stupid club". RS: You refer to the fans crushed in the mosh pit during your show at the Roskilde Festival in 2000 on Riot Act (Lost nine friendstwo years ago today": "Love Boat Captain"). But you have not spoken publicly about what you saw that night . When did you realize people were dying in front of you? Lisa: I found out watching the BBC news. It was a very low-fi clip of the band freaking out on stage. I think the band was in shock as they sort of just stood there. It wasn't their fault. I felt terrible because Pearl Jam shows are not violent at all. The fans are too busy screaming their lungs out to each song and grooving. The band was really strong in keeping it together. RS: Did you consider ending the band? Lisa: David, I don't think I had the authority to end the band. I'm glad they didn't. RS: But a month later you were onstage in Virginia Beach opening a U.S. Tour. Lisa: Get your facts straight. I wasn't in Virginia Beach. Never been there. But I did drive 12 hours from NYC to Roanoke, Virginia to see a Dave Matthews Concert in 1998. That was the opening night of the their tour. RS: Given the media mauling you got for the Bush mask in Denver, how do you feel about the way Pete Townshend, a friend, was treated in the press after he was arrested for downloading child porn? Lisa: I think the press jumped to a lot of conclusions. And after all the hoopla has died down I don't even know the outcome of that situation. It's only teenage wasteland. By the way how many times did Robert Plant chant "Little girllittle girl" on live Zeppelin songs ("Shook Me" and "Since I've Been Loving You")? No one gasped over that. Ok, I know that may not be on the same level as Pete's situation but it's the idea of suggestionremember those Calvin Klein ads? I have to admit those Zep songs are hotvery sexy. Did I tell you I met Robert Plant in SOHO in 1995? Yep. RS: Have you talked to Pete about this? Do you think this will be a blot on his legacy? Lisa: No, I haven't spoken to Pete. Considering how much "drama" Michael "Jacko" Jackson went through over the years. I think Pete will be unscathed. RS: How would you describe your personal life now-off the road, away from Pearl Jam? Lisa: I'm never away from Pearl Jam. Always got one of their live shows in rotation on my stereo, reading articles, collecting memorabilia etc. My personal life is not very public. I keep to myself a lot. RS: How do you feel about Pearl Jam's level of success now? In 1993, Vs. sold more than a million copies out of the box. Riot Act sold a tenth of that in it's opening week. Lisa: Well if you shove music down people's throats and sell it along with a popular soda beverage and lots of sex then you're gonna sell a lot of records. Duh. RS: Would you like to mention some names? Lisa: Well, I gave props to the Anti-folk community in the last interview with Antifolk-online.com which you can still read on the site. (smile). Big props to Brad Willis who manages the whole website! RS: That's what you did in Denver-and you were attacked for it. If rock is no longer a venue for free speech, what good is it? Lisa: Then it would be just as useful as that "Flo-be" self-haircut gadget. |
