INTERVIEW:

The following is from an interview in October of 2002
with Jan Wenner, the publisher of Rolling Stone:

I met up with Jim on his ranch in Bel Aire. I was a little alarmed by the guard dogs and electric fence. But I understand a man in his position has to think about things like stalkers. It's a sign of the times. And he's probably the hottest musician out there right now, after being rumoured to have been attached to such hot young starlets as Britany Spears and Sandra Bullock. I was a wreck the morning of the interview, but luckily Jim was magnanimous, trying to put me at ease. He struck me as a man who knew where he was going. Who had paid his dues the hard way, and was now reaping the benefits of his effort.

Jan: Sorry if I seem a little nervous, Jim. I guess I'm just a little excited about finally getting to meet you.

Jim: Relax, Jan. It's all good. You've met people like Dylan, The Beatles, The Stones, Elvis Presley. I'm just a guy with his own voice and a story to tell.

Jan: I know. I don't normally even do interviews. But the general consensus at Rolling Stone is that you're the greatest songwriter of all time.

Jim: I don't know if I'd go THAT far. How about Mozart?

Jan: Mozart had his chops. I'm not trying to take anything away from him. But, come on. 'Dirty Sanchez.'

Jim: It's a good song, Jan. I'll give you that. But I'm standing on the shoulders of giants. I wouldn't be here without people like Mozart.

Jan: That brings up a good point. Were you influenced by classical musicians?

Jim: Not especially.

Jan: Then who would you say were your biggest influences?

Jim: I would have to go with Bradley Delp and Sib Hashian of Boston.

Jan: Okay.

Jim: I mean those guys knew how to rock -
(At this point, Jim gets up and starts singing the words of a popular Boston hit.)
"We were just another band out of Boston. When a man came to the stage one night. Smoked big cigar and drove a cadillac car, he said, 'Man I think that band's outta sight.'"

It doesn't get any better, Jan. With Bradley laying down the vocals, and Sib pounding the drums like twelve dollar whore? It doesn't get any better.

Jan: I thought Tom Scholz was the mastermind behind Boston.

Jim: Look, Tom Scholtz would still be serving fries at 'Steak and Shake' if it weren't for Brad Delp.

Jan: I thought Tom was a senior developer at Kodak, before starting Boston.

Jim: Yea, well what's he doing now, asswipe? What's he doing now?

Jan: I see your point. But what are Brad Delp and Sib Hashian doing now?

Jan: You're missing the point, Jan. It's not about the money, man. It's never been about the money.

Jan: I'm sorry, I guess that was a cheap shot. We're getting off the track. Why do you do it?

Jim: For the poon, Jan.

Jan: Excuse me?

Jim: For the sweet poontang. Why else would anyone lug some piece of shit amp across the country?

Jan: How about the fans?

Jim: Fuck the fans. I mean, that's the whole point isn't it? Some 15 year old girl, thinks you're some big rock star, and tries to service you backstage. Fuck 'em all. It doesn't get any better than that, Jan.

Jan: I have to admit, I'm a little dissilusioned, Jim. I really thought your music meant something. The way it does to all those kids out there. How can you tell them it's all just a maniacal scheme to get young women in bed?

Jim: Hey, life's rough. Deal with it, man. Then grow up. Grow the fuck up, dickwad.

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