EXCLUSIVE – Tee Roy Talks To Five Finger Death Punch Guitarist Jason Hook [AUDIO]

While taking a much needed, although short, break recuperating from their  "Share The Welt" tour, the members of Five Finger Death Punch have spent no time keeping idle. After replacing bassist Matt Snell with Chris Kael last year, 5FDP has been on the road in support of their 3rd studio Album "American Capitalist", released in October of 2011. They hit the road again in March with Soulfly, with 18 dates currently set, and more future dates possible. In honor of their show in Casper on April 12th, I had a chance to talk with guitarist Jason Hook about overnight success, his solo albums, rock star myths, and more. Dates are below, but first, let's talk to Jason: (click here for the Jeremy Spencer interview)

Travis: First of all, how are you doing Jason?

Jason: Doing great.

Travis: I know you’re on a much needed break at the moment, just got done with the Share the Welt tour. And now you’re getting geared up to do it all over again. How do you do it?

Jason: You know were all very happy. Everything is going great. We are grateful that everything is clicking, the album is selling great. This last tour was the first time we pierced through the transition from theaters to arenas. It was a really cool to be able to go out on stage and go, “Wow we sold out this arena, as the headliner.”

Travis: For a band that just got together in 2005 and really got it together in 2006. Some would usually point and say you guys are an over night success. But you guys continue to back it up with solid hit after hit. When you joined the band, did you feel that vibe, that you were surrounded by a bunch of die hard metal rockers?

Jason: I’ve been friends with Zultan and Jeremy for years. I’ve watched Death Punch say day one. Jeremy and I we’re roommates in Hollywood. I remember when Jeremy found Zultan, and those two were working on songs together. I watched them grow since day one; I listened to all the demos, and watched them audition singers. And I just thought, I really hope at some point I could be a part of this. Because I saw a work ethic with both Zultan and Jeremy that I thought I would fit in really well. And luckily, they had a problem with their other guitar player and scooped me up. It was like the Coast Guard coming to rescue me, send in the diver to help me out.

Travis: Now you joined in 2009, did you have to audition?

Jason: There was no audition. You know, a lot of guitar players always ask me, “How do you get these gigs?” Because I had other gigs before Death punch. What I’ve noticed is that every gig I have ever gotten has been through a referral. When someone says, “I got the guy”, that speaks heavier than any audition ever could.

Travis: If there calling you, obviously your history speaks for itself. Now let’s go back in your history. 2007 you put out your first solo disc; I love the title “Safety Dunce”. This is a throw back to the Men with out Hats. Now as we’re speaking you are working with Jeremy on your second solo venture. Was Jeremy there with you for your first solo project?

Jason: Yeah Jeremy and I have been musical partners for a very long time. I have found that he is a very musical guy. His father was a Grammy Country Songwriter. He’s got so much more to offer than being just a drummer. He’s grown up around hit music and radio. So I glued myself to him very early on. So in the middle of the frustration of trying to get record deals, we decided to just lay down some tracks. So at the end of the day at least we had something to throw in the car and just jam out. So that was an opportunity for me to practice my chops recording and engineering. Death Punch is so busy now though, that I don’t even have time to do much else other than work on Death Punch. This is for me, the most important focus for me anyways.

Travis: American Capitalist came out in 2010 and the singles keep rolling out. Before that, War is The Answer is the first album you toured with Death Punch. We’re you on the actual album?

Jason: I got lucky, because when I was talking to Zultan and Jeremy I told them, I wanted to be IN the group. I didn’t just want a job. But Jeremy and Zultan made it very clear that they wanted me in the group. They knew I already had a lust for writing and recording. So when I joined the band, first thing on the agenda was to write this new album. I moved into Zul’s house and slept on his floor for 3 months. Everyday, we got up, had breakfast and then went into the studio and started writing and recording. It just went on and on around the clock. War is The Answer was really a band effort. This is cool because Way of The Fist was mostly constructed from Zul’s initial song writing and Jeremy’s, and then Ivan was brought in at the end.

Travis: Ivan Moody is in a movie coming out. And he doesn’t strike me, he’s from Denver Colorado, and I’m from Denver Colorado. You don’t meet a lot of actors in Denver. Does he come off as the acting type?
Jason: You know Ivan is just a born performer. If I was a director and I needed a guy like that, I would be. He’s very good at it. I haven’t seen what he’s done recently, but I know what he’s like on tour. So I have to assume. He’s real man, he has insecurities. But he really doesn’t come off like he does; he exudes an air of confidence.

Travis: I’m gonna ask you this, and I want your personal opinion. We’ve all grown up hearing the stories about the rock n roll life style. What’s the biggest myth you’ve seen so far that has been busted?
Jason: The biggest myth is probably the touring lifestyle. People assume it’s a lot more glamorous, orgies and a bunch of excess. Certainly that stuff is available, but I have found that it’s not realistic to think you will survive the long haul if you’re behaving like Motley Crue circa 1984. The truth is, once the whole world is watching, you have a responsibility to maintain certain quality level, and show up to work. And all the extra stuff when you’re popular, talking to radio and magazines and the overseas stuff. There’s too much to do, you start to blow it. You can’t expect to stay in the game. And the game is too important to all of us to let it slip.

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Five Finger Death Punch and Soulfly Tour Dates:

3/22 San Diego, Calif. – 4th & B (no Five Finger Death Punch)
3/23 Las Vegas, Nev. – The Joint
3/24 Pomona, Calif. – The Fox Theater
3/26 Fresno, Calif. – Rainbow Ballroom
3/27 Modesto, Calif. – Modesto Centre Plaza
3/28 Redding, Calif. – Redding Convention Center
3/29 Portland, Ore. – Hawthorne Theater (no Five Finger Death Punch)
3/30 Yakima, Wash. – Yakima Valley Sun Dome
3/31 Seattle, Wash. – Paramount Theater
4/1 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rickshaw Theatre (no Five Finger Death Punch)
4/2 Dawson Creek, British Columbia – EnCana Events Centre
4/4 Calgary, Alberta – MacEwan Hall
4/5 Edmonton, Alberta – Shaw Conference Center
4/7 Regina, Saskatchewan – Agribition
4/9 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Burton Cummings Theatre
4/11 Rapid City, S.D.– Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
4/12 Casper, Wyo. – Casper Events Center