melodylane

MELODY LANE: Which bands and drummers are/have been your main musical inspirations?

JIMMY MESS: Razzle, Bam Tastic, Johns Bonham, Animal from the Muppets, Phil Rudd, Ricky Ricardo, Vikki Foxx, Bam Bam from the Flinstones, Steven Adler,  Marky Ramone, Tommy Chong and George of the Jungle. I like bands and drummers with a personality...larger than life!!

 

MELODY LANE: Tell us something about the new TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES line up. The members in tour will be the same that played in the studio?

JIMMY MESS: The new lineup is Johnny Jetson (Space Age Playboys) on Vocals/Lead Guitar , Skip Malone on Bass, Irving on guitar, and me on drums! We're currently in the studio working on songs for The upcoming album, be sure to check out our new single, "I Believe In Rock And Roll" on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon...all that jazz! And yeah this will be the touring lineup as well!

 

MELODY LANE: Can you tell us something about your ex band POA...after two very good albums you left, why?  And how did you get the job as new TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES drummer?

JIMMY MESS: It was time for something new, my heart just wasn't in it anymore. I'm a relatively young guy (33) so I think I still have quite a few years of kicking ass on the drums left in me. Apparently the Tattooed Millionaires guys agreed, I joined up with them after I left. TM and POA had played together before, so when I heard they were looking I hit em up and the rest is history!

 

MELODY LANE: What has been your biggest achievement to date and what do you want to achieve in the near future?

JIMMY MESS: Well so far my biggest achievement has been STAYING ALIVE! Between my past battles with hard drugs and alcohol (5 years clean, nothing but reefer for me now!) my military service and everything else, I'm just grateful to be able to play drums in front of people! I'm grateful to the fans and bands that I have rocked with over the years, and I'm an incredibly lucky guy. Playing in front of 20,000 people at Rocklahoma, touring the world with POA, touring with Steve Summers (Pretty Boy Floyd), being part of the Triumph the Insult Comedy Dogs Election Special 2016, ...there's too many to list....and I'm gonna be adding a lot more to that list soon :)

 

MELODY LANE: List 3 songs,  from the TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES discography new album included, that can define the sound of the band … 3 songs that can help our readers to know TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES at the best…

JIMMY MESS: So for me its:

"I Believe In Rock and Roll" - my first official TM song I played on!

"C'mon and Get It" - if your fist isn't pumping you might be dead!

"Live It Up" - as n anthem for the rock n roll lifestyle

 

MELODY LANE: Tell us 3 TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES songs, your favorite ones, that you like the most to play live

JIMMY MESS: We'll find out March 18th when we play live together for the first time! Penny Road Pub, Barrington, IL w/ Enuff Z'nuff!

But if I had to guess it would be Are You Ready For The Heat, Star Spangled Hammer, and Teenage Love!

 

MELODY LANE: Tell us something about the creative process of  TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES music. Is there a main composer or we can talk about a team work? The songs come from ideas of a single member and then the band works on these ideas in the studio jamming togheter, or your songs are written in the studio and all the members compose togheter?

JIMMY MESS: So far it starts with an idea and just kind of grow it from there... The songs kind of write themselves! Somebody will jam something cool (Usually Johnny) then me and Skip will lay down a rhythm for it and just let it do its thing!! I'm excited for the future and the cool music we're gonna write!

 

MELODY LANE:  When can we expect to see TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES on an headlining tour?

JIMMY MESS: Sometime this year! A regional tour or two is in the works right now, and as I said we're gonna be playing dates starting March 18th, as well as dates in Minneapolis and Iowa later that month...be sure to go to http://www.johnnyjetson.com/tattooed-millionaires.html for tour dates!

 

MELODY LANE: Could you tell us two bands you’d like TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES to tour with in the next future…

JIMMY MESS: I would love to hit the road with The Erotics, we toured together when I was in POA and I love being on the road with those guys. I even filled in on a couple shows...they rock!

Of course I wanna hit the road with Enuff Znuff, Chip is my bro so that would rule! The Tip kick ass, Faster Pussycat, Sister from Sweden is  killer, Kickin Valentina from Atlanta... There's a lot of good shows out there!

There's a ton of other good bands out there, I'd like to play with em all!

 

MELODY LANE: Have you got also a “regular” job and different hobbies other than music, or music his 100% of your life? Is the same for the other members of TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES?

JIMMY MESS: I don't make music; I make noise!!! Haha but yeah my life revolves around playing drums. I do alot of recording work at Chip Z'nuff Studios in Chicago. I also play out with a lot of bands, shows, tours, fill ins. I've been playing occasionally with Chronic Edge in Chicago and SLUTRAG in New Orleans...go to http://www.jimmymess.com for my full schedule and if you need a drummer for any reason then I'm your man!!!

 

MELODY LANE: In the end…A message from you to all MELODY LANE readers.
JIMMY MESS: I just want to thank anybody who still goes to shows and buys albums!! You're the reason we do this! Keep it up!