Jeff interview - Staf Magazine (Spain)

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  • Allie - Nice, thanks much for the summary!

    Mrs Oakley - For what it's worth, I was using http://translate.google.com
    Allie wrote:
    I speak Spanish better than I can read it and I don't know every single word,
    after the last persons' translation he talks about growing up in Big Sandy, MT,
    and "now lives in between Seattle and Missoula, " and something about his internal rhythym" and preferring the tranquility of a small city"

    and then there's a question about what is it like to live in Seattle now

    and he says Seattle is incredible it's a great American city

    and then it talks about losing Andy in Mother Love Bone, and then

    they say it goes into talking about the Seattle bands,

    and they ask about the Sonics....
  • MrsOakleyMrsOakley Posts: 181
    My turn, picking up verbatim from where NotPaved left off -- the summary is a big help, but I'm like Mikey, obsessive, yet tats are not my thing!

    Q: If I’m not mistaken, it was your father who taught you to cut your first decks when you were a kid in Big Sandy, Montana. Endure much? (last two words, bad translation, but I like it!)

    A: We made our first decks in 1976, before the laminates. We went down to the storeroom and took a big piece of oak or ash, and my father taught me how to use a band saw to cut a kicktail and paste it to the deck. I did all my favorite forms, copying the Logan Earth Ski and those of Sims. They were bullet-proof.

    Q: Incidentally, I have taken a look at your hometown on Google Earth, it is really small and damn, less than a thousand inhabitants, right? Was it that small when you were growing up?

    Big Sandy, Montana, was a great place to grow up. As soon as I learned how to ride a bike, I was running around all day with my friends to go to play ball or listen to music. It was a safe place and we had total freedom. Today things are different. Although the truth is that at fourteen I already started to wish I could move to California. My cousins lived there and I couldn't stop thinking about the lives they led, the beach, the skatepark and so many beautiful girls.

    Q: Now you live between Seattle and Missoula, the city where you went to University a few years ago. That keeps you there yet…

    A: When I spend too much time in the big city, I become a little crazy. My internal rhythm is that of a small town so I prefer the tranquility. I watchl ess TV, spend more time outdoors and usually I'm more happy.

    Q: What’s it like to live now in Seattle? Is it still the vibrant city it was during the time of grunge?

    A: Seattle is incredible. Now it is really a great American city, not the small town to which I moved in the early eighties. In a sense it's like any other big city, the same stores and the same problems. But most of my friends live here because I love being surrounded by my friends, and the mountains and the oceans.

    Q: What do you think of when you think of the time of Mother Love Bone?

    A: That Andy was incredible. That he and Stone helped me shape the little sense of humor I have, and among it all, we made a great record. (Cannot make sense of this next line to save my life…)

    Q:At the time seemed that you people Soundgarden and Alice in chains, erais all as one big group, as if any of you could have ended up playing perfectly in any of these bands. Was it really the case?

    A: When Green River separated, our little scene was divided into two, and Alice in Chains and Soundgarden were left on our side. We gave a lot of concerts together, we went out together at night, we went camping and we supported each other.

    Q: A good example of this was Temple of the dog. Have you ever thought what your life would have been like if that group had become your band and Pearl Jam had never existed

    A: At that point, I had already played a bit with Ed and I clearly knew that was our man. We both felt a great connection with the music and with each other. Temple was a great record, but largely it was Chris’ show. prefer being in a group like Pearl Jam.

    Q: And isn’t it strange that Matt is in Pearl Jam after knowing you for so many years?

    A: It was strange, but we knew that it was the right thing. Matt is one of the biggest human beings on this planet, and also one of the best drummers in the history of Seattle. I could not be more happy and more fortunate to be in his rhythm section.

    Q: What was up with Nirvana?

    I met Krist in the beginning when he worked as a roadie for the Melvins, but I never really knew Kurt before that time.

    Speaking of Seattle, what's happening with the Supersonics?

    A: (This part I have to paraphrase, I think Jeff says he saw it coming, gave up his season ticket and built the bowl that he has at home in Montana and started spending more time there,) "and is arguably one of the best decisions taken in my life. Especially now that they're moving to Oklahoma City next year.
    In fact, I played a lot of basketball and continue to do so.

    If I continue playing three days a week, more or less. I keet fit, and in contact with the group of friends with whom I have been playing over the last twenty years Shit, I am forty-five years old and still skating, surfing. I snowboard, wakeboard, do yoga and play basketball. (And I can't make head nor tails out of the translation of this last line, damn it, wish Jeff would learn to speak English!)
    more tk as the day goes by...
    "Over the dirt, we soar,
    on a search for anything pure."
    Say Goodbye
    jeff aTONEment
    ***
    "See, he's got me kinda riled already...jerk..."
    Stoney, about Eddie, with love! (And to his face!)
  • MrsOakleyMrsOakley Posts: 181
    I thought people loved Jeff more than this -- not one bilingual sweetheart out there willing to pick up some of this slack? The translation thing is a gift, but I think NotPaved will agree with me that it's like tweezing a beard, tedious as hell and it hurts!!
    "Over the dirt, we soar,
    on a search for anything pure."
    Say Goodbye
    jeff aTONEment
    ***
    "See, he's got me kinda riled already...jerk..."
    Stoney, about Eddie, with love! (And to his face!)
  • But basketball isn't a typical rocker sport, wouldn't you say? (laughter)

    I don't care. I've long since learned that being an artist means not having rules. We can ignore the stereotypes and do whatever we want.

    Is it easy to find good surf spots in the Seattle area?

    The truth is, not really. There are some good cold water spots about two hours away, but I'm partial to warm water so I don't go there much, especially since it's far. I could surf behind our boat on the lake in the summer. It's a fairly clever left half a meter more or less (?).

    Earlier we were talking about Basque Country, have you tested some of its waves?

    A few years ago I went splashing around a bit by Biarritz, and before that in San Sebastian and in a spot a little more north of Algorta, although I cannot say that I spent enough time at any of these sites to catch many waves. It seemed nice -- good people and precious spots. One day I'll return for a proper visit.

    And, if Algorta is one of your favorite skateparks, where are your favorite waves in the world?

    My best days in the water have been spent in Southern California, in Troncones, Mexico and Costa Rica. I also had a pretty good day in Tofino, on Vancouver Island.

    Switching themes, are you designing or painting much lately?

    Right now I'm working on the design of the discs we talked about earlier - the Deranged Diction disc and my solo record - and I'm always sketching ideas in my little notebook.

    Throughout the years you've always contributed to the artwork for Pearl Jam albums. How does that work exactly?

    Roughly half of Pearl Jam discs are based on my graphical ideas, and I also have a lot of photos, have designed logos, ideas for stickers, drawings for fan club singles, T-shirts and all that sort of thing that have come about along the way.

    For awhile you've had a design studio called Ames Bros. with your brother Barry. Do you have the time to help out with that, or are you simply supporting the company financially?

    At first the plan was that Barry and I were going to design and make art together. In due course we did some things, but the real engines of Ames Bros. have always been Barry and Cody. Have you seen the book of posters they've made? It's incredible.
  • WesternskyWesternsky Posts: 363
    MrsOakley wrote:
    Q: What do you think of when you think of the time of Mother Love Bone?

    A: That Andy was incredible. That he and Stone helped me shape the little sense of humor I have, and among it all, we made a great record. (Cannot make sense of this next line to save my life…)

    Le sigo echando de menos, cuando murio me quede hecho polvo.

    I still miss him, when he died I was crushed.
  • Besides art and design, are there other cultural things that you're interesting in talking about?

    Above all art, music and anything having to do with skating culture. I also have a couple of architect friends, so now I look at buildings with a new interest.

    At this point how is Pearl Jam as a band? I mean, do you have other plans in mind other than sporadically touring?

    Pearl Jam is a full-time job. Usually, between touring, composing and recording we do not take more than a few months off. And in between, the intent is usually to try to compose songs.

    Do you have an idea when you all will return to the studio?

    Probably in autumn or winter of this year. We've been composing the last two months, so we already have a list of a few songs.

    Do you practice every week or is that a thing of the past?

    Right now we are rehearsing for one week more or less, to prepare for the tour we have coming up on the east coast. But if we are not composing or about to go out on tour, we have virtually no practices.

    The other day I was reading an interview you did that said about ten years ago there were serious thoughts about quitting. Why?

    At the beginning and at the time more or less of No Code, we were communicating very poorly. I was getting interested in the process of songwriting and was wanting to get my own voice into the songs being written at that time. Besides, I was a little burned out with the pace of work, as we were non-stop as a group. I was very close to quitting, but that would not have been a good decision.

    Would you say there is a "before" and "after" musically speaking since your path crossed with that of Neil Young?

    I would say that, yes. Neil taught us much with just his way of doing things. I still can hardly believe our luck. It is one of the greatest things of all time.

    What did you learn from him?

    He taught us what it is to be in a band that has truth and power. We were taught how success and creativity flows, and that everything good comes from perseverance. He is very wise.

    Someone told me once that in Pearl Jam you are the one that always chooses the opening bands each tour. Is this true?

    I don't choose them all, but I'm always looking for interesting new bands. For example, last year I saw Ted Leo And The Pharmacists a couple times, and this year they will play with us at some of the shows on the east coast tour.

    And who is opening at the other shows?

    Kings of Leon.

    As a group, Pearl Jam has always been involved with politics. In fact, you were part of the Vote For Change Tour that toured the United States before the last presidential election. Did you personally feel defeated when Bush won?

    At that time I almost completely lost hope in this country. How were fifty-one percent of people voting for a known criminal like Bush? Only time will tell whether we learned something as a country. This next election is a few months out and Obama is our only hope.

    To be honest, from Europe all of this seems a bit strange. Here it's as if the artists and alternative culture people tend to go against whatever policy is in place... In your opinion, are there some politicians in which you can trust?

    Almost none. The power is addictive, and I think this is a truth that holds true anywhere in the world. However, I grew up in Montana with one of the new senators, Jon Tester, and I know first-hand that this is a great human being. He is not part of the old guard, and he's doing a great job in Washington. That makes me continue to believe in the future.

    By the way, before you had a side project that was called Three Fish, but it's been almost ten years since you put out your last disc. Do you continue to play together?

    I continue to play with Richard, the drummer. He lives in Philadelphia, but he comes out here two or three times a year and we play each other's songs. In fact, I have just finished ten of these songs and will release them as a record through our fan club, probably in July. It will be called aTONEment and is my first solo album. I've also worked on an album with Dug Pinnick of King's X that we hope to put out sometime next year.

    So with the solo album, is it something of the moment or could it become a full-fledged career?

    I have a handful of more songs waiting to be finished, so if all goes well, this could be the beginning of something. I would love to make my own albums.

    By the way, what goes through your head now when you see that movie, Singles?

    I was working in the art department for Singles a few months before the shooting started, and it was great. I assisted with designing the sets, designing fictitious posters and album covers and even made it into the credits of the film. That was much more gratifying than the "role" I did. In fact, it's a little embarrassing. But I am very grateful to Cameron Crowe for the opportunity given to all of us. We connect very well with a mutual love we feel for music.

    Well, unfortunately, that's the end. Thank you again Jeff, it's been a pleasure. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.

    I hope maybe sometime next year, either on tour or on vacation. Four ropes and four wheels (?). Take care.

    That's the end. Again, the big disclaimer is that this has been translated by way of Google Translate and some high school Spanish. Don't go putting Jeff quotes in your signatures based on something you read here... ;)
  • JeanwahJeanwah Posts: 6,363
    Thanks so much for translating this, NotPaved. You're the best! :)
  • Kudos to henchman for finding and sharing the link and gist to begin with, and to everyone that pushed this along with translations, teasers, summaries, or even just requests indicating that it'd be worth it to have it translated. A nice find indeed.
  • LukinFanLukinFan Florida Posts: 29,066
    NotPaved wrote:
    Besides art and design, are there other cultural things that you're interesting in talking about?

    Above all art, music and anything having to do with skating culture. I also have a couple of architect friends, so now I look at buildings with a new interest.

    At this point how is Pearl Jam as a band? I mean, do you have other plans in mind other than sporadically touring?

    Pearl Jam is a full-time job. Usually, between touring, composing and recording we do not take more than a few months off. And in between, the intent is usually to try to compose songs.

    Do you have an idea when you all will return to the studio?

    Probably in autumn or winter of this year. We've been composing the last two months, so we already have a list of a few songs.

    Do you practice every week or is that a thing of the past?

    Right now we are rehearsing for one week more or less, to prepare for the tour we have coming up on the east coast. But if we are not composing or about to go out on tour, we have virtually no practices.

    The other day I was reading an interview you did that said about ten years ago there were serious thoughts about quitting. Why?

    At the beginning and at the time more or less of No Code, we were communicating very poorly. I was getting interested in the process of songwriting and was wanting to get my own voice into the songs being written at that time. Besides, I was a little burned out with the pace of work, as we were non-stop as a group. I was very close to quitting, but that would not have been a good decision.

    Would you say there is a "before" and "after" musically speaking since your path crossed with that of Neil Young?

    I would say that, yes. Neil taught us much with just his way of doing things. I still can hardly believe our luck. It is one of the greatest things of all time.

    What did you learn from him?

    He taught us what it is to be in a band that has truth and power. We were taught how success and creativity flows, and that everything good comes from perseverance. He is very wise.

    Someone told me once that in Pearl Jam you are the one that always chooses the opening bands each tour. Is this true?

    I don't choose them all, but I'm always looking for interesting new bands. For example, last year I saw Ted Leo And The Pharmacists a couple times, and this year they will play with us at some of the shows on the east coast tour.

    And who is opening at the other shows?

    Kings of Leon.

    As a group, Pearl Jam has always been involved with politics. In fact, you were part of the Vote For Change Tour that toured the United States before the last presidential election. Did you personally feel defeated when Bush won?

    At that time I almost completely lost hope in this country. How were fifty-one percent of people voting for a known criminal like Bush? Only time will tell whether we learned something as a country. This next election is a few months out and Obama is our only hope.

    To be honest, from Europe all of this seems a bit strange. Here it's as if the artists and alternative culture people tend to go against whatever policy is in place... In your opinion, are there some politicians in which you can trust?

    Almost none. The power is addictive, and I think this is a truth that holds true anywhere in the world. However, I grew up in Montana with one of the new senators, Jon Tester, and I know first-hand that this is a great human being. He is not part of the old guard, and he's doing a great job in Washington. That makes me continue to believe in the future.

    By the way, before you had a side project that was called Three Fish, but it's been almost ten years since you put out your last disc. Do you continue to play together?

    I continue to play with Richard, the drummer. He lives in Philadelphia, but he comes out here two or three times a year and we play each other's songs. In fact, I have just finished ten of these songs and will release them as a record through our fan club, probably in July. It will be called aTONEment and is my first solo album. I've also worked on an album with Dug Pinnick of King's X that we hope to put out sometime next year.

    So with the solo album, is it something of the moment or could it become a full-fledged career?

    I have a handful of more songs waiting to be finished, so if all goes well, this could be the beginning of something. I would love to make my own albums.

    By the way, what goes through your head now when you see that movie, Singles?

    I was working in the art department for Singles a few months before the shooting started, and it was great. I assisted with designing the sets, designing fictitious posters and album covers and even made it into the credits of the film. That was much more gratifying than the "role" I did. In fact, it's a little embarrassing. But I am very grateful to Cameron Crowe for the opportunity given to all of us. We connect very well with a mutual love we feel for music.

    Well, unfortunately, that's the end. Thank you again Jeff, it's been a pleasure. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.

    I hope maybe sometime next year, either on tour or on vacation. Four ropes and four wheels (?). Take care.

    That's the end. Again, the big disclaimer is that this has been translated by way of Google Translate and some high school Spanish. Don't go putting Jeff quotes in your signatures based on something you read here... ;)
    thank you!!!!
    www.RLMcDaniel.com

    1996: Ft Lauderdale
    1998: Birmingham
    2000: Charlotte, Tampa
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    2004: Kissimmee
    2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
    2010: MSG2
    2012: Music Midtown
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    2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest
    2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
    2022: Nashville
    2023: Ft. Worth II
    2024: Baltimore

    Upcoming: 2025 Hollywood, FL Night 2
  • F5F5 Posts: 791
    It sure pays to speak spanish. Glad I do.
    Bridge - 10/25/03
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