It's abundantly clear how Jesse "The Devil" Hughes, lead singer for Eagles of Death Metal got his nickname.Given the moniker by his best friend (and bandmate), Joshua Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Hughes definitely has more than a bit of Beelzebub in him. First, there’s the tattoos and his predilection for vintage motorbikes, pretty young girls, lecherous lyrics, and simple, unadulterated blues-rock.
Then there’s the fact that he’s responsible for raising hell at EoDM live shows and that he has a wicked, dirty laugh and a wink that seems to say “trust me”. Spend only a few minutes with the man and you know you shouldn’t. The Devil has definitely experienced his fair share of sin.
But the lead singer isn’t all prince of darkness. In fact, The Devil is actually a big ol’ fluffy angel at times. Get him talking (and boy can he talk) about his family, his friends and how fortune favours the brave and one understands that Hughes isn’t just trying to roll out the raunch with his latest album title, Heart On. The “heart on” he’s talking about is the one on his sleeve.
Exclusive Interview with Jesse Hughes, EoDM
Suite101 caught up with Hughes in Vancouver before the band’s third gig on their North American tour to discuss the new album, famous friends and being grateful. But first, enquiring minds want to know: what were the two hellions Homme and Hughes like in high school?
“Without going into too many details, I can tell you in all honesty that we ran a crime ring that was very successful,” Hughes says, laughing. “I mean, this ain’t no bible study and there’s a reason I’ve had the nickname The Devil since I was 11 years old. When you’ve got a best friend who’s 6’5” and doesn’t have to take crap from anybody, you pretty much have the run of the playground. Let’s just say that people stopped taking my lunch money after a while. In high school,” he says, “I never had a friend. At all. Except for Josh.”
So what did his partner in crime bring to the rock table during the recording of Heart On?
Joshua Homme, Queens of the Stone Age and Keeping it in the Family
“He brings the magic. I guess the way to look at it is that it took me two albums to be able to deliver the sort of weapons that Joshua could use effectively. The first albums he made it so that I was able to develop, and there’s not a lot of people in this world who would do that. He is the best friend I ever had in my life and...uh...I miss him.” Hughes isn’t the only one – Homme may be the other half of EoDM, but he rarely gets to tour with them. But the fans have made peace with this and having QOTSA skin-basher Joey Castillo in as backup is a fair deal.
“[Joshua and I] made this thing together and it’s not fair that we can’t share in some of the benefits. When I walk out on that stage, I can’t believe it. I mean, if someone crossed the street to p*ss on me if I was on fire, I’d say thank you. So to see all these people, well, I’m really stoked, man.”
But If there’s one thing that Hughes wants to get across is that EoDM isn’t just his band.
Leader of the Pack
“The Queens is what it is, and it has to be that way, but everybody enjoys the ability to step into something else – and this isn’t a side project [for Homme]. It’s a testament to what we’ve done and I want to make certain that people understand that Joshua is the other half of this. It’s this model that I follow. I was raised by these really great parents and grand-parents and we had a saying: you let the right thing rise to the top. Everyone has a role. I was not handcrafted by God to be a 6’5” Viking monster. The man was made to lead our gang and he was given the brain to do it. And I have no problem being his lieutenant.”
Playing Live and Feeling Lucky
Later, in front of a crowded Commodore Ballroom, Hughes is anything but and basks in the glory the crowd bestows on him. But The Devil knows he’s blessed.
“This is the luckiest job in the world,” he says. “If you start taking yourself too seriously and taking this for granted, you’re lost. I love the touring aspect of it, but there’s hard aspects too. I’m a father and it’s hard to parent remotely. And I miss Josh – I miss my friend. It’s hard when you have two bands and you can’t be on the road together. I never got into rock and roll to be in a band. I was 30 when this started for me and half the juice is being able to play with my friends. My vanity is complete – I can be alone and still know I’m the greatest thing ever, but I am very fortunate to be able to do this.”
Read more about The Eagles of Death Metal live at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom.
Heart On (Downtown/Fontana North) is out now. Eagles of Death Metal tour the US until November 25. For more information, check out eaglesofdeathmetal.com
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