INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK
PHOTOS BY KLW PHOTO!
VIDEO BY 3L0 Tv
Have you ever wondered what The Joker does when he is not causing chaos in Gotham City or screwing with Batman? The men of JACK LEDGER have decided to explore deep into the dark psyche of the clown villain and embrace his dark nature for a unique and chaotic blend of heavy metal and hip-hop. The band was formed by lead vocalist Keith Marshall, he recruited guitarist/vocalist Danny Smile, drummer Mikey Mayhem, and bassist/keyboardist Blue Rivers to form his jolly gang of metal heads and cause a commotion in the Hampton Roads music scene. We spoke with Rivers and Marshall about why the band chose The Joker as their mascot, their unique sound, and their position in the FM99 Battle of the Bands for an opening spot at this summer’s Lunatic Luau in Virginia Beach.
What is JACK LEDGER?
Keith: We wanted to make a Joker-themed band, and it’s basically about the chaos and mayhem balled up into one thing, and it’s about having fun no matter what.
Blue: It’s a combination of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger into one name.
Why do you paint your face like The Joker from The Dark Knight?
Keith: I have always been a huge Joker fan, and I thought it would be sweet as Hell to have a Joker-themed band. He does what he wants, and I think it’s a good criticism of society. Everybody wants to follow someone, but we just do what we do whether you like it or not.
Not many bands from this area combine elements of heavy music and rap. Was that a conscious choice to set your band apart?
Keith: I have been doing music for the past 12 years, and for the first seven year I was a solo rapper under the name MALEKI. I really wanted to find a band to play with, and when I met these guys, they just happened to play heavy metal and it fit. I never wanted to be a solo artist. I would make beats and rap over them, but I couldn’t be happier with these guys.
Can you tell me what your song “Ask Yourself” is about?
Keith: Basically it’s about our ex-girlfriends who called us dreamers and did us wrong. Our guitarist Danny Smile came up with the concept. It’s like were telling them, “look at us now having fun while you are just sitting there.”
Do any of your songs combine elements of your Joker theme?
Keith: All of them.
In what ways?
Blue: I haven’t been in the band very long, but I was a big fan of them even before I joined. The songs are very chaotic, violent, and high energy. There is an angry tension that does well with the imagery of the Joker, but he is not mentioned in every song explicitly.
Congratulations on getting a spot in the Battle of the Bands for FM99’s Lunatic Luau. What can people attending the event expect from your performance?
Keith: The show is going to be very energetic, and you will have no choice but to love it. We can transition from heavy parts to a part that makes you think. Also, the face paint throws people off.
Blue: The face paint and the costumes we use give the show a theatrical aspect. We show the crowd something different than what they are normally used to seeing.
Are you friends with any of the other bands in the battle as well?
Keith: The only band that I know personally that we have performed with is S.I.N.N., but we have also performed with MEMOIR OF A MASSACRE.
Blue: I also met MINDVENT recently, and they are really cool guys.
Do you have any other shows coming up or anything else that you would like to announce?
Blue: We just got a brand new drummer, Mikey Mayhem, and he has taken the band to a whole new level. We are really excited to have him, and he is holding down the rhythm really well.
Keith: Come out the show at Big Woody’s on Wednesday.
Blue: The show starts at 9 p.m., and we play at 11 p.m. We also have another show April 26th in Norfolk, and we will be recording an EP soon. We are also talking to a producer in Hollywood that is really excited to work with us, and we will be recording a new single with him to be released nationwide.
