A conversation with Jeff Kazee about touring with BonJovi, writing with Southside Johnny, a brush with death, romance and riding the Blue-Bread-Truck… All of this talking took place between January and March 2006 in Queens, NY, USA – Luedinghausen, Germany and – virtually – many harbors in between..:
KB: Jeff, how are things going in Queens? The blizzard must have been a hit…
JK: Yeah, we got hit with 27 inches of snow-but guess what? I was in Miami Beach Florida the whole time! My wife was cursing me out left and right because she had to deal with it. My kids truly loved life-sledding and best of all… no school. I’m right in the middle of the Have A Nice Day Tour with BonJovi right now so I kind of get a free pass from domestic reality for a while… until I come home – then it’s Mr. Fixit with the old lady standing over me.
KB: Oh well, I’m glad for your kids and I also feel with your wife! We had some blizzard the weekend before the Jukes were scheduled in Osnabrück, never had that much snow since a century. It seems to me that you made some fair good choices regarding that. But I also see a point that the Bon Jovi tour crew had enough of flying under heavy weather! So how is the tour going?
JK: Ha, I assume you are referring to our brush with death when Bon Jovi’s charter jet overran the runway in Hamilton, Ontario. That was a bit scary – poor Bobby Bandiera, we had to carry him off the plane in tears. Seriously, it was a bit more unsettling when I saw the picture of the mishap in the news.
The Tour is running quite smooth. Sold out in 99% of the places and Jon and the band seem to be really pleased with the shows and the audience’s reaction.
KB: And did you made Bon Jovi fans out of your beautiful daughters, or were they already? Who do they prefer? Uncle John or JonBon?
JK: Oh, they love Bon Jovi and the new CD! Both of my girls are in awe of Jennifer Nettles – the country star that Bon Jovi recorded a version of Who Says You Can’t Go Home Again with. Bon Jovi has a big crossover hit with that tune. The girls seem to know most of the words of the entire setlist.
Regarding their love for all things Jon/John… they certainly have a admiration for Jon – they get serious street cred from their classmates – but to be fair, Southside is longtime family. John has been around them basically since birth and is considered Vassileia and Sophia’s eccentric uncle. I mean, he lives in our basement for days at a time. Why, just the other day my 7 year old Sophia ordered “Jack Daniels – splash of water – and on the double!”… “…for a friend,” she said.
KB: Oh sweet Sophia! And your wife?
JK: She only thinks of me and waits at the window. I have to cling to that belief.
KB: Hmm… family affairs don’t belong into interviews, do they? (Laugh)
JK: Who told you about the affair? – Oh…family affairs! – Right. No, they don’t belong here.
KB: I’m glad I didn’t ask! – Now, together with fellow Juke Bobby Bandiera you joined one of THE stadium acts on the globe, before you joined that multi million dollar tour-trek, I could meet you casual playing a pinball machine right before a gig with the Jukes. Now, tell me, do you miss it? Or does Jon bring his own pinball saloon to the shows?
JK: Backstage, we have a dartboard for everybody and a golf putting practice pad for Tico Torres and myself. Pinball machine – I’ll put in an invoice to Jon for that.
KB: I’m sure, to watch a backstage pinball championship would be a helluvafun! But hej, golf practice? That’s new to me! Do you really play golf courses? Or do you play on these driving ranges I’ve seen in NYC where you hit the ball and try to put it on the New Jersey side? – There must be a million balls on the ground of the Hudson River!
JK: Absolutely real courses. Tico and I are always trying to find a nearby course on our day off to play. It’s a great game and it kills time in a fairly civil manner. As far as golf balls in the Hudson, those driving ranges do have nets to prevent the balls from hitting the water – though, there is a rumor that Joey “Golfballs” Jukanelli’s body was dumped in the Hudson after refusing to pay some grease back to… mmmm, I digress.
KB: But you do for sure miss the Blue Bread Truck!?
JK: No. I hate that truck with all of my heart. I am the one who labeled the Jukes’ touring “bus” The Bread Truck. Many good times have occurred in that truck, but it doesn’t come close to the amount of crowded abject boredom that has been pressed onto us by that miserable vehicle. It has brought me one creative brainstorm. “The Lorry from Hell – The Musical!”
KB: Well, for me the “Blue(s) Bread Truck” symbolizes one core impression of hard working musicians in Rock and Roll. You know… it need’s a certain ethos to board such a vehicle and live in it for weeks. The charter – airplane, that’s big show business! It’s the Entertainment industry. But don’t get me wrong – I mean, if I’d be asked and I had to choose, I’d always take the plane! Sure! But tell me about the “band” chemistry on the truck, and the differences on the road with BJ. I’m sure you won’t necessarily have to love each individual on board, but it certainly needs a lot of respect and companionship.
JK: Klaus… the bus sucks. While it may sound romantic to the fans and road rookies, forced sharing of space on a too small vehicle, for long periods of time, gets old to me real fast. Hey, it’s part of the job and you do the best that you can. Some guys talk, some guys read, some guys argue, and some guys sleep. It has been said that we don’t get paid to play the gigs-we get paid to get to the gigs. That is true, whether you are in a bus or a plane. You learn to get along with others, laughing at the the rare joke that you haven’t previously heard, and just try to keep it together so you can fire up your fingers, voice, and resolve for that night’s gig.
All of the Jukes and the guys from Bon Jovi wear travel well and – just like in life – some better than others. I guess the romantic part of the travel is that it does force guys with completely different lives to band together and get stuff done on a high level – not unlike being on a sport’s team.
KB: Does romance still exist at all in Rock and Roll? Has it ever been existing?
JK: Absolutely. Rock and Roll is built on romance. You have to love something and, to an extent, buy into the romance of that something to let your life be guided to and by that something. My something was music. You know, most of the guys in the bands I’m in grew up in the Jersey and New York area. They had a scene that allowed them to cultivate their craft and perform for a very willing audience, all the while creating a legendary musical and social happening – Stone Pony, seaside bars, every college on the Eastern seaboard, etc. – that influences and romances many adults and kids today.
I had the radio, albums, Rolling Stone, the public library’s copies of Downbeats and Village Voices, and MTV as my viaduct to the mythical Meccas of Rock. Southside had New York City within arm’s reach, I had Toledo, Ohio(!), so you find it wherever you can! Regardless of our origins, the chasing of the Rock and Roll high is based on that shared romance of performing loud music at fast rates of speed and the possibility of hot babes with sweet perfume wafting thru…
KB: Hmmm, how much I would like to smell that perfume! (taking a deep breath…) – Toledo, Ohio? Home of the famous 4077 Corporal Klinger! That sounds like my youth in Essen, West-Germany. But well, we didn’t have that much corn around but we had ROCKPALAST twice a year… Without that we wouldn’t be talking here! Credit again to Peter Rüchel!!!
Now, what brought you to joining the BonJovi enterprise? Has Jon been approaching you personally? Did he send you an Email? Or did Southside send you there to take care of Bandiera?
JK: Well, you know that Jon is huge fan of all things Southside. Over the years I have been able to do a few things here and there with Jon-so when he wanted to expand the sound of the live show he called Bobby and myself and asked us to sign up for a bit. No one can take care of Bandiera. He is a… special person.
KB: Oh yeah he certainly is! (Laugh!) Now, tell me about the artistically difference and the challenges of and between surfing the B3 with the Asbury Jukes and playing in the back of BonJovi’s powerhorses.
JK: Jukes – wide open musically. No hits. No rules. No airplay. No promises to uphold besides delivering the Jersey ethos of leaving it all on the stage. Of course, all of the artistic freedoms that John, myself, and the rest of the Jukes are privy to comes at a price. Our schedule and roster sometimes looks like it was decided from a Lottery ball tumbler. I’m immensely proud of my ongoing role with The Jukes. On another note, I am obviously involved in a creative relationship with John that has great promise to it.
BonJovi – you are talking Rockstar here… and everything that goes with it. Great travel, gear, talented roadcrew, perks, and the obvious recognition from the common punter. Jon and Richie have really written some great songs that hold up night after night. It is amazing to see 20,000 people in an arena with all hands up singing every word. Very few acts get to that level.
Don’t forget that Jon’s benchmark for musical and performing success started with John and Springsteen – but, he has redefined the definition of staying power for a group that was simply dismissed by critics for years. My role in Bon Jovi is simply to support the band’s sound with my voice and keyboards. A lot of piano, Hammond, and various weird bits with the accordian and other devices. I give Jon and the guys credit for adding Bobby and I to the mix-it’s a small circle in BJ world, and fans don’t necessarily love change.
The similarities of BJ and John are that both situations feature dynamic frontmen who have “It.” Really cool to watch both guys work their magic in a room.
KB: It’s a different music you play as well… how much of Jeff Kazee’s musical background and taste is reflected in the BJ catalogue? What would be the BJ songs you would have liked written yourself (not considering the royalties!!!).
JK: My ability to wear the music’s clothes via my keyboard parts. I am a huge fan of Benmont Tench (Tom Petty), Billy Preston, Roy Bittan (Springsteen), and any of those guys who, while having some virtuosic talent, really try to serve the song at hand with well constructed parts and empathy for the musical moment at hand. Jon and the guys seem to like my take on that whole concept.
Born To Be My Baby, Livin’ On a Prayer, Keep The Faith, and Blaze of Glory from the “Hits” section. Misunderstood, Miss 4th of July, and I Want To Be Loved from the “Rara Avis” catalogue. Almost all of their songs have the ability to be covered in a variety of ways and I am attracted to that. It’s strong writing.
KB: I really found it a pity that on the peak of your songwriting together with Johnny Lyon on the latest Jukes album “Into the harbor”, you were not able to actually play your songs with the Jukes when they’ve been in Europe.
JK: Thanks. There will be many more chances.
KB: Oh, how much I do hope so! You are really missed over here! But you were talking about your promising creative relationship with Johnny before: “Into the Harbor” seems to me the most perfect song written for/by Southside Johnny since more than a decade. It suits his personality and his voice to a degree; I really am still amazed about. How did that one come together?
JK: Wow. Thanks. We wrote that in my basement in the Winter of 2005. Basic arrangement done in an hour. However, we recorded a ton of takes, listened back, and refined it from those performances. Even the basic demo was pretty strong. I initially thought Harbor was for the reputed “acoustic” album, but John saw fit to make it the title cut. I really think it’s Southside’s most poetic offering to date. No bird references in that one, though.
KB: There can’t ever be enough birds! “In some vague hope of heaven, Fired by desire, We’ll burn our existence, In the last rays of the sun…” That’s another line where I’m shaken by the sheer passion of the lyrics and the music – then comes the birds… it’s just beautiful!
Gotta think about any more references! Might have to refer to Mike Saunders for that…
Now, how comes such a song together when you write on your own or with a co-author like Johnny? Do you get some lyrics and just put some music under it? Is it the other way around? How does such a process work for you?
JK: With John and myself, there is no real method. “Into the Harbour” started out from a few scraps of verse that John had no music for. I simply tried to fit the music to the feeling of the words. With “Don’t Call Me Baby,” we knew we wanted a Philly Soul type thing for the record and I already had the complete hook and chorus music mocked up on a previous demo from my own personal stache of tunes. John loved the intitial idea and we just ran with it – words and music, back and forth – until we had what you hear now. I guess our method is to throw ideas out at each other, make fun of the bad ideas, and then proceed to try and make something out of the good ones.
KB: For my 2 cents worth: You are already entitled to eternal Jukes fame for your song “Lost” from the “Jukesville” album!
JK: Thank you. The story on that song is that I had written another song that was to be on the album. The night before the sessions, I completely wrote another song in essentially one take. Two o’clock in the morning, and me whispering the words and barely touching the piano in my living room – can’t wake the kids and old lady, you know. The words just fell onto the music. Straight from the sky stuff. That song is about two things: letting yourself be seen in the most vulnerable light to the one you love and praying/thanking that she will just be patient and not run.
The next morning we record a few other tunes and Southside asks to run over the previously agreed on song – another ballad – and I inform him that, well, plans are changed – how about this one?
SSJ: “what’s wrong with the other one.”
JK: “your’e gonna like it, check it out.”
SSJ: “we don’t have the time, it better be good.”
JK: “would I lie to you? It’s a well-read Otis Redding kind of thing” (now I got him).
SSJ: “hmmmmm.” (I really got him).Teach John the song. Teach the song to the band. Hit the record button. Two takes, next.
KB: You seem to me like the most soulful addition to the Jukes since Steve van Zandt, and while he represented the American tradition, in my ears, you have a certain Irish-ness… talking about Van Morrison now… did you manage to catch his latest one “Pay the Devil”?
JK: Strong words, coupling me with van Zandt’s name – I’m sure many Jukes fans would argue vehemently with you on that one! Well, my Appalachian roots – from the Scotch/Irish clans that migrated here many years ago – have fostered a strong musical tradition in all of us hillbillies. Van is the best white Soul singer alive and I have enjoyed his take on American Country music.
KB: Well, I take it with any Jukes fan at any time! Because all of us just love what the Jukes are! That’ll make it easy!
To me it seems significant that Johnny lives on musical relationships and genius collaborative processes when creating his portfolio, there’s been many strong influences and collaborators over the years, but among them, there’s a core which has been members of the Jukes: van Zandt, Rush, Bandiera, Kazee… Now, what I liked so much about Jukesville and the Harbor is the fact that we’ve got such a variety of songs, and that John seems to reach new frontiers with the new material.
JK: Yeah, well John has a wide canvas to paint on. In recent years, I think that a lot of fans have been taken aback by the diversity of South’s interests – musically and otherwise. Wait ’til you hear the double album tone poem inspired by the film Brokeback Mountain. He does all the voices and is really proud of it.
KB: I can’t wait for that! Now, could you imagine John Lyon doing a country album?
JK: Absolutely, though there would have to be the usual Southside twist to it. The Big Band project he is doing with LaBamba – featuring Tom Waits songs – is in that area.
KB: Well, I agree, he should do the Tom Waits Big Band Project… I’m sure that Tom will be made very proud of it!!! But then… I’d just love if John would be diggin’ out some of Van’s tunes for another Jukes record… a live one is due since years!
JK: So much music, so little time. It really does bother me – thinking that I won’t be able to fit it all in.
KB: Ah, don’t you worry! (I pray &) I’m sure, that your and John’s creative process will continue for a while! He seems to enjoy what he does so much. But let’s talk about your solo creations – I learned you have been musically involved in a Broadway production? What was that about? And then there’d be the long awaited Kazee record – you left us wondering how far your production already has been, before you left town with BJ.
JK: Long story short is that I did some arranging of Brian Wilson / Beach Boys music for a Broadway show called Good Vibrations. While it was tons of fun on the musical side – the show was eventually rushed onto B – way due to some contractual stuff and wasn’t able to be tweaked (away from NY audiences) in the necessary manners – it was a criticical flop and went to the Broadway graveyard after a few months. A Broadway show is a tremendously huge and expensive undertaking with about a thousand things that can go wrong quickly. Though, the only things that weren’t skewered by the critics were the musical contributions of the arrangements, orchestrations, and band. Fantastic musicians and creative talents. I slipped out unscathed. I learned a tremedous amount in the areas of collaboration and dealing with huge production teams. Overall, I’m proud of my work there. – Man, arranging Brian Wilson’s music, a big deal for me. I’d do it all over again.
Regarding my record, I was halfway done, took off some time to work with others, and 3 or 4 years went by. I have plenty of songs written – I just need to be back home for a while to record them. Recording / finishing my next record is a big priority for me – and while I won’t promise dates (or even the year) – I can assure you that I’ll be heading for the home stretch soon.
KB: Jeff, I’m the first to order one! Your first solo album ” No River” is pretty worn out already! I still love it! Some great songs and a fascinating voice to listen to, when you’re all on your own, driving at night… on a Dutch highway… forgetting any speed limit. You wrote all these songs years ago… listening to them now, how do you feel about them? Did your perspectives on life change?
JK: Not in relationship to those songs. Certainly your life’s perspectives change as you go through life – if they are not changing, you’re probably not living life. “No River” has quite a bit of darkness dressed up in pop/rock clothes. A lot of listeners have commented on the fact that they are happily singing along and — bam! — “hey, wait a minute, this isn’t the happy – go-lucky thing I thought it was.” I love that. But Klaus, looking back at that record – and at it’s tone, I certainly agree that my perspective has changed in the fact that I am now a bit more positive about life. Don’t worry, I’ll flip-flop back a few more times in the next couple of years.
KB: What are your plans once you finished the “Have a Nice Day” Tour? Will it be playing live, writing material, producing? Your own band? Other collaborations in the work? You seem to have so many talents, where would you like to put your focus on? I personally would love to see more of you as a solo artist!
JK: All of the above. Realistically, writing is really the future for me. I love the daily struggle to create something from nothing. It’s what gives me the most satisfaction. Living in NYC, I am lucky to be a circle of artists and producers that always seem to call me with interesting things.
Performance-wise, I’m looking forward to getting my piano chops back – got to hit the wood shed and resume my practice routine. More shows with my Soul band, Professor Crewcut, and of course, my usual oddball gigs with whatever flavor I’m tasting that day.
KB: Now, you are about to come to Europe with BonJovi in spring, playing the largest venues all around (not sure if the Brits get the Wembley Stadium ready until then!), will it just be another leg of the tour, or do you have any special relations to touring in Europe? Japan? Australia?
JK: Going back to Japan will be a lot of fun – I was there in 2002 with Steve Cropper and the guys in the Blues Brothers Band. Looking forward to the daily question after meals: “did we really eat that, and what was it?” Those huge Japanese markets have the weirdest selection of stuff to eat and it’s a lot of fun to run one’s self through the culinary gauntlet over there…
Europe is always fun-so many sights and wonderful food to experience. The food thing is always the first item of business, as you can tell. And as usual, I’m always on the lookout for some wonderfully funky threads that only the Germans wear.
KB: Still addicted to LION candy bars?
JK: No. But nonetheless, a marvelous mass-produced candy bar that is a jewel in the crown English cuisine. It’s a small crown.
KB: I’ll get you some!
JK: Hold off on those, I gots to get in those leather pants, you knows.
KB: Well, I guess, that’s the main difference between the Jukes and Bon Jovi! No dresscode! Everything else is a matter of that! – Jeff… Thanks a lot for your time answering these questions of a common punter. I had a hell of fun and some serious insights! I’ll be seeing you in a few weeks for the German BJ tour opener in Düsseldorf! Safe and happy traveling for everyone on board!
A conversation with Jeff Kazee, compiled by Klaus Boettger, March 2006
Copyright by KazeeMusic.Com and Asburyjukes.Net
READ ALSO:
