Everlast

Thursday July 16 I have an interview scheduled with Everlast on the phone. I had been in Snugfit Studios mastering the “Beat LA comp.” for about four hours and it was break time. Running down the street, all sweating and hungry I got in the door in time to throw a hamburger on the fryer just before Hilary at Tommy Boy rings with a friendly “Hello, let me get Eric for you”.

Wonka Vision:b So I guess the question everyone wants to know about it what’s up with House of Pain?

Everlast: In my heart I’ll always be in House of Pain. It got to the point where I wasn’t having as much fun as I use to. All it started to be about was getting that paycheck.

Wonka Vision: Will you guys ever reunite and put out another album in the future?

Everlast: Eventually we might put out another record, but if we did it would be just for kicks.

Wonka Vision: Do you still shave your head?

Everlast: I keep it really short but I don’t rock a baldy.

Wonka Vision: Can you tell me about your new solo record Tommy Boy?

Everlast: The new album was like what can I get away with and what can’t I get away with. This album was an accident. We had done half of a hip hop album and I picked up a guitar and was like what else can I do. I was like what if Jonny Cash me Run DMC.

Wonka Vision: You’re going by just the name Everlast on your new album, did you drop the DJ part for any reason?

Everlast: I only used the DJ part if I did the cutting on a record in the past. It’s Everlast or Whitey Ford. I went with Everlast because of the recognition factore. I’ve been spreading my name for ten or twelve years so it seemed foolishnot to use it.

Wonka Vision: What’s your real name?

Everlast: Eric Schrody

Wonka Vision: What’s the deal with the title of your record, “Whitey Ford sings the blues”. Are you a baseball fan?

Everlast: I collect baseball cards. I was looking through my baseball cards and I picked up my Whitey Ford and was like that’s a dope name. All these people got AKA and MC in front of their names. I just thought that Whitey Ford was a total disregard for the fact that most of these Italian gangsters are racist.

Wonka Vision: Sadat X (Brand Nubian) and Casual (Hieroglyphics) do tracks on your new record would this have been hard to accomplish five years ago?

Everlast: The only thing that would have made it hard was because I didn’t know them. The X thing started on the last House of Pain record on “Heartfully Sorrow”. I could’ve paid them a couple G’s years ago but it’s about hanging out and catching vibes. As far as hi-hop is concerned, I’d never do a record with someone I don’t know or don’t like.

Wonka Vision: do you think it’s better when different genres of bands tour together? For example House of Pain touring with Biohazard/Anthrax/Korn?

Everlast: I’ve always been into taking bands out that no ones heard before. Like when we took Rage Against the Machine. And now they’re the biggest thing. (Laughs) I’ve always had it in me. I came from a rock n’ roll kid to a hip-hop kid. It we were headlining I had complete control. I asked my manager to look into it; we were open to anyone.

Wonka Vision: When you were writing “Whitey Ford sings the blues” did you feel womewhat responsible to make a modern rap record or did you want to do something different?

Everlast: I was trying to figure out my place in the rap world. This record is back to basics, what I’m doing is more rock n’ roll and bluesy. I wanted to use some hip-hop samples at the same time as writing totally new ones. I think people are ready to see a rapper with a guitar. I made a record that I wanted to hear one that wasn’t available to me.

Wonka Vision: House of Pain’s “Jump Around”, and Onyx “Slam” are the only songs known to start fights at the prom...what’s your reaction to that?

Everlast: (laughing hysterically) I didn’t even know they started fights at the prom. We’ve re-mixed that song so much that it sounds like an evil circus song. I’m 28, I’m recovering from heart surgery, I ain’t gonna jump around.

Wonka Vision: Heart Surgery?

Everlast: In February I had a heart attack in the middle of the night. It was because of a disorder that I was born with. They had to go in and replaced one of my heart valves.

Wonka Vision: How has your outlook on life changed since your heart attack?

Everlast: I’m glad to be here. I’m still dealing with it psychologically. The new valve they put in is metal. No one else can here it but I can always hear it click. I’m sure it’ll be a while till I fully realize how it’s affected me. When people say glad to see you, I’m like it’s glad to be seen!

Wonka Vision: Do you really think that girl power exists within all of us?

Everlast: I don’t know about all of that. That’s a little too pop culture for me to deal with.

Wonka Vision: The Spice Girls raised $100,000 for the Prince’s Trust, which helps disadvantaged children in England. What have you done for the kids?

Everlast: Not much. Occasionally out of the pocket on the street. I believe those “nice” things that people do to get noticed don’t count for shit. They sold a million dollars worth of records, so it didn’t come from their heart. I don’t wanna get into politics. If I were Bill Gates there wouldn’t be a homeless person in America.

Wonka Vision: If Tim from Rancid wanted you to rap on his record would you do it?

Everlast: If I could pull it off. Rancid’s new record is cool. I’ve always dug the Clash. I’d definitely take that call and listen to it.

Wonka Vision: what happened between you and Cypress Hill?

Everlast: Me and Muggs had a disagreement. I wanted to produce the third House of Pain record on my own. He took it like I didn’t want him. He had to blow off some shit. I saw him a couple weeks ago. He heard about my operation and gave me nothing but love. Some personal feelings got caught up in business.

Wonka Vision: Being white in a music culture dominated by blacks, did you need to earn a reputation racially?

Everlast: Before anyone knew who we were we played nothing but black clubs. I don’t know what that means, we were all about peckerwood. We approached it like, Okay, rap is a black thing but why can’t we do it. I can’t really recall anyone making my being white an issue. Of course I used to be drunk all the time and carried a gun. I wasn’t exactly stable.

Wonka Vision: what does 28 year old mean to you today?

Everlast: I’m the oldest 28 year old I know. I don’t think that I feel what the normal 28-yea-old feels. I think I could be trading stories with a 60 year-old guy. Storming the beaches of Normandy, heart bypass stories. Mentally I feel like I’m 18. When I’m 60 I’m still gonna be the same cat just with a bunch more information in my head.

Wonka Vision: What about the huge controversy a few years a go when everyone thought you were dead?

Everlast: It’s funny to me, that’s when you know you’ve truly made it. People don’t even try to work out problems they just sue you. It’s funny, young kids were running around going , “did ya hear Everlast died.” when it happened I thought it was the coolest thing. It’s funny how bad news spreads. Nobody wants to hear the good news, because their life isnt that good. When it’s bad they say “Glad it’s not me.” my shittiest day now, is better than my best day before my surgery.

Wonka Vision: what do you think about rap in 1998? Everlast: Gangstar is great! I like De La Soul and the Alkaholics. The real fucked up part is the greed and death. Years ago NWA presented it as a negative thing, now it’s all shined up and glorified. Those cats don’t have a clue to what’s going on. Especially death. They have NO idea who they are inviting to dinner when they bring up death’s name. I’m not trying to sound like Mr. Cool but I’ve been there.

Wonka Vision: Any last comments?

Everlast: I don’t want to sound like a preacher but you better watch what you do and watch what you say. Pay attention to subconscious thoughts in your mind. Did something ever happen to you and a couple days later you realize that it was meant to happen accordingly because of the events that led up to it, and your like “Oh shit.” That’s what I mean by subconscious things.