Bikers, blowjobs and Bluesfest – it's all in a day's work for Jesse Hughes from Eagles Of Death Metal.
“That's always what it seems to feel like; or it's like the worst blowjob is still amazing, well this has been like the best blowjob. I'm still breathing and that's a bonus.”
Jesse's exuberance comes as he and Eagles Of Death Metal ride a wave of success from their latest album 'Eagles Of Death Metal Presents: Boots Electric Performing The Best Songs We Never Wrote', a wave even bigger than the “big-ass Indian” motorcycles Jesse enjoys riding so much.
The album is a collection of covers of bands and artists for which Jesse has the ultimate esteem and admiration as the forebearers of rock & roll. “Some of the most critical acclaim that I've personally received has been with this recording,” he says.
“I feel like Australia understands me and I understand Australia.” - Jesse Hughes
After three, long years away from our shores, Eagles Of Death Metal return as headliners for Bluesfest 2020 as well as a number of headline sideshows, including Perth. “It's full-tilt boogie rock & roll and I can guarantee you we're possessed by some of the same devils as the people of yesteryear, if you will,” he says.
“I endeavour to do it to everyone, so to speak, artistically. If you think of it like this: you might get a lot of stuff at Bluesfest, but imagine George Clinton getting bent over and butt-f...ed by Chuck Berry who's got a dick made of James Brown.”
With that mental image firmly planted in our minds, Jesse goes on to express his true and deep admiration for the unmatchable experience Bluesfest offers the musicians who perform there. “It's a festival in a beautiful area [where] you're getting to be around musicians and artists that you wouldn't otherwise,” he says.
“In my opinion, this is the most important aspect of being in a festival like this because you get to exchange ideas in fellowship with people you never would have [otherwise].
"You also have a chance to earn an audience because not everyone is there just to see you, they're there to see a variety of people and you're getting the benefit of that beautiful approach. So you have to earn it, I always look at it like that.”
Unsurprisingly, Jesse offers up yet another colourful analogy to describe his philosophy towards getting the most out of his live shows. “If I shake my dick as hard as I can with the right smile on my face, then they will remember me when they leave,” he says.
“My dad used to say there's two types of rock bands: the rock band that jacks off for everyone to see, and the rock band that f...s everybody in the room – artistically, I'm just trying to be rock band number two.”
Eagles Of Death Metal were last here in 2016, which Jesse says is an unacceptable amount of time to be away from a country with which he shares an intense spiritual kinship. “I have a unique and beautiful affinity for the country,” Jesse says.
“Also the next Boots Electric album I want to record there, so I've been really eager to see my family and friends over there. I feel like Australia understands me and I understand Australia – it's got more biker gangs than most any other country in the world and we all kind of hate the British,” he laughs.
“Paul Hogan didn't tell me sh.t. This is the greatest country I've ever seen and Chopper Read is definitely my man. I read all of his books before the first time I got there.
“Honest to God, without bragging, I think I'm one of the few people who actually isn't lying when they say they were into him from jump street [the beginning]. I wanted to go to the Bojangles [nightclub] parking lot the second I f...ing got there.
“'Cheers big ears',” Jesse quips in a faux Aussie accent, “I f...ing love that, and nothing is more quotable than Australian dialogue too.” Too right, mate.
In honour of Movember, an organisation he regularly works with, Jesse – who sports a finely sculpted soup-strainer – signs off by imparting a little bit of wisdom and advice for the facial hair hopefuls among us. “You have to let the moustache grow you,” he says.
“I mean, in a way you grow the hair but in reality it the moustache changes you fundamentally. I woke up one day and I just had it like, 'whoa, this thing is f...ing insane' and it was more like a soft boomerang of love.
“It all depends on what your agenda is with the moustache, you know what I mean. Is it ironic? My whole goal was to look like every girl's dad when they were about six – I call it the 'Paging Dr Freud' and you can't really f... up with that one.”
Mon 13 Apr - Metro City (Perth)
Thu 16 Apr - The Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 18 Apr - Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne) - sold out
Sun 19 Apr - Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne)
Eagles Of Death Metal were last here in 2016, which Jesse says is an unacceptable amount of time to be away from a country with which he shares an intense spiritual kinship. “I have a unique and beautiful affinity for the country,” Jesse says.
“Also the next Boots Electric album I want to record there, so I've been really eager to see my family and friends over there. I feel like Australia understands me and I understand Australia – it's got more biker gangs than most any other country in the world and we all kind of hate the British,” he laughs.
“Paul Hogan didn't tell me sh.t. This is the greatest country I've ever seen and Chopper Read is definitely my man. I read all of his books before the first time I got there.
“Honest to God, without bragging, I think I'm one of the few people who actually isn't lying when they say they were into him from jump street [the beginning]. I wanted to go to the Bojangles [nightclub] parking lot the second I f...ing got there.
“'Cheers big ears',” Jesse quips in a faux Aussie accent, “I f...ing love that, and nothing is more quotable than Australian dialogue too.” Too right, mate.
In honour of Movember, an organisation he regularly works with, Jesse – who sports a finely sculpted soup-strainer – signs off by imparting a little bit of wisdom and advice for the facial hair hopefuls among us. “You have to let the moustache grow you,” he says.
“I mean, in a way you grow the hair but in reality it the moustache changes you fundamentally. I woke up one day and I just had it like, 'whoa, this thing is f...ing insane' and it was more like a soft boomerang of love.
“It all depends on what your agenda is with the moustache, you know what I mean. Is it ironic? My whole goal was to look like every girl's dad when they were about six – I call it the 'Paging Dr Freud' and you can't really f... up with that one.”
Eagles Of Death Metal play Bluesfest 2020, which takes place in Byron Bay 9-14 April.
Eagles Of Death Metal 2020 Tour Dates
Mon 13 Apr - Metro City (Perth)Thu 16 Apr - The Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 18 Apr - Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne) - sold out
Sun 19 Apr - Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne)
