INTERVIEW WITH A. JAY POPOFF FROM LIT

I usually hate phone interviewing, because sixty percent of the time, the person I'm talking to winds up getting so thrown by one (or more) of my awful questions, that we all spend more time making awkward noises thinking of shit to say than we do actually talking to one another. This time, however, was different. LIT frontman A. Jay Popoff called in and was very laid back, very cool, and very willing to talk openly (just wait until you get to the part about him making his own Paris Hilton video!). A. Jay and LIT have a new home with DRT Entertainment, and are promoting their latest disc, simply titled 'Lit'. What was intended to be a fifteen minute-long session turned into a nearly FORTY minute long interview, which our own FoundryMusicDana graciously transcribed...becuase if we waited for me to do it, we'd be waiting until next year.

And away we go!...

Steve C: Have you guys chosen to migrate away from traditional press and are now using the Internet outlets for exposure?

A. Jay Popoff: We are definitely doing that a lot more now just being that a lot more people are reading what's on the Internet. A lot more people are surfing the Web and probably getting more E-zines than anything else, you know? Seems like things are kind of going that way. We do pretty much like everything, you know?

SC: Maybe it's me, but it seems like bands who wouldn't have even granted or considered doing a website interview, maybe like three years ago, are suddenly saying, 'You know? We may as well because radio stations and cable video channels aren't paying attention to us.'

AJP: Well, no. I think it's just getting bigger and bigger. I think people are more accepting of the Internet now and the same goes for giving away MP3's. You know, like what we did on our website was like an iTunes thing, but we called it Lit Tunes. The Internet is a lot more common practice [now].

SC: Speaking of which, do you think the Internet and downloading is helping to sell CD's?

AJP: Helping to sell them? Um, no. Not necessarily. It's helping bands expand their fan base. Maybe. So, I think it probably helps in the long run as far as touring goes and ticket sales probably more than it does album sales. Which coming from a band standpoint, is more important.

SC: Okay, but let's just say some kid comes up to you and says, 'AJ, dude, I just downloaded your whole album and you guys rock.' How do you react?

AJP: I would say 'Right on. ' (laughs) And then I would probably ask them what they think of the record? Where's a couple of years ago I might have been like, ' Aw man, why don't you just go and buy it?' Or something. I'm less defensive when it comes to stuff like that now because A Place In The Sun record sold close to two million albums and I never saw a dime from royalties off album sales.

SC: That's amazing!

AJP: I made all my money off of publishing and all the other aspects. So, that to me was a real eye opener. You know I realize that it doesn't really matter how many records you sell, it's how many fans you reach and how many people become fans of the band. If your not selling a lot of records, but people are still hearing your music and love your new music, that could still keep a band afloat. You know?

SC: I'm reading that more and more. Bands just aren't making any money off album sales at all. Unless you have some type of METALLICA deal, where you make four bucks a record. (that four dollar figure might not be accurate, but former bass player Jason Newsted has mentioned in the past that it was in that range)

AJP: Right! It's a bummer! I think that's why you might see more bands [have a deal like us]. You mentioned Metallica, it's set up much more that way where we can sell a quarter of the records and make more money than we would with the deal we had before. It's more of partnership type thing which makes it much more worthwhile working your ass off as a band. Where's before you were working your ass off for the labels to make so much money and we were killing ourselves out there trying to do all the label's work along with our own. Now we can tour and focus more on having a good time and playing in front of the fans. And not [have to worry as] much about trying to sell records.

SC: The first single, "Looks Like They Were Right" almost sounds like a follow up to "My Own Worst Enemy" in terms of the whole self deprecating aspect, was that intentional?

AJP: I think you're kind of right on, but I think it's more that any guy that's in a touring Rock N' Roll band could have probably written that song just because you're are constantly kicking yourself in the ass and there's constantly some kind of moral guilt whether it's getting a chick to deep throat a bowling pin (laughs). It just kind of comes down to maybe just being a prick and then feeling bad about it the next day. But, then you go on doing it again and again. It makes for a great song [by explaining how] you get yourself into trouble more often than you should.

SC: Are there any video outlets that are going to play it?

AJP: Fuse is supposedly playing it and it was on Fuse Oven Fresh and it won the challenge. I don't really watch a whole lot of video television anymore.

SC: What kinds of video options are there for bands nowadays?

AJP: I think people are able to download videos. There's definitely ways of people getting a hold of them that way and now with DVD burners and things like that or even the whole home video kind of thing. You can get band's videos that way. MTV has [not] been that way in quite awhile. You get very few band videos. I don't think many people turn on MTV to watch their favorite videos. Even [a show like] TRL, where kids spend the entire day voting on their favorite video and then by the time their favorite video comes on, they only play like 30 seconds of it.

SC: MTV used to corner the market on videos, but is seems like Fuse is shifting the balance a little bit. So hopefully, they will pick up on it.

AJP: There's [also] M2 which is cool. If you have digital cable or satellite [it offers more choices].

SC: You guys were with RCA for a while, A Place In The Sun was your second record on that label?

AJP: We put out an EP early, early on. Then we put out our first record. So, that would be our second full length with RCA. Yes.

SC: So, you guys had already busted your asses. You guys had already hit that point where you were handing out flyers, you're doing the whole garage band thing. You're eating Cheerios, you're doing the whole starving musician thing. Then you get signed to RCA. All of sudden the ball really starts rolling and then Clive Davis steps in and Atomic goes nowhere.

AJP: You know, I think the problems definitely set in before Clive Davis arrived. There was a 'changing of the guards' earlier on with Bob Jamison (president and CEO, RCA Records) and then Bob got promoted, so he went [on] to a higher position in BMG. Then the vice-president [became] president and that's when we saw a lot of things really started changing. Like RCA got a lot more, I don't want to say conservative, but less ballsy. They were a really strong label when we signed with them. [But], I always felt that they take their artists to platinum status and then sort of ease off and like move on to the next thing. Like 'Okay, we've made some money' [so now it's time to] move to the next artist, you know what I mean?

SC: That's got to really knock the wind out of your sales. You work and work and work and you think you have the backing and then....boom.

AJP: Yeah, it's a pain in the ass. Especially when we talk to other bands and talk to people about the perception of that record. For instance, when people say,'You guys must have sold like four, five million, right?' When we kind of stop and think, the visibility we had and by the time the second hit "Miserable" came out, RCA already thought that the record was done. And so we had a song that was #2 on the Modern Rock charts and a video that was all over MTV. We were on tour with No Doubt at the time and our single was kicking ass. We'd walk into Target, Wal-Mart or any record store and we'd be lucky if we found a bin card with our name on it. So that really hurt the sales of that record.

SC: That's amazing that they really pulled back on the momentum of the record.

AJP: What I think happened was by the time the momentum was back again, we were on and off the Billboard 200 like three different times, but then they weren't ready for it, so the records weren't there.

SC: So, you guys were beaten up by the time you got to DRT?

AJP: Um, yeah. That was actually a little bit of a drag. We worked so hard on that album and didn't see the sales we wanted. But, the real drag was when we spent all that time on Atomic, we were all really stoked on the album and the fans that we were talking with were all really stoked about the album. [Unfortunately] RCA was like a ghost town as far as Lit was concerned and we got absolutely no love. Some of it had to do with that we were getting geared up to tour right around the time of 9/11 which definitely had an impact on us.

SC: It had an impact on everybody, It didn't matter who you were. What about that band DROWNING POOL? They had that song "Bodies." They really picked a bad time to release a single.

AJP: Yeah. [When] we started our tour for Atomic, we were in New York City on September 10th. So, on the morning of the 11th, we were in Jersey. We could see everything from our hotel room. We could see right across the river. So, it was like, 'this is what we have to look forward to.' The last thing on our mind was our album! Once that happened we just wanted to be home with our families and were just like 'fuck!' Nothing else really mattered at that point, we thought it was the end of the world.

SC: Please, we all did! Everybody in this city and the surrounding areas was like 'Jesus, Oh God. We're all gonna die.'

AJP: Are you in New York?

SC: I'm in New York City right now. Granted, it's certainly not as tumultuous as it was then, but we've got the GOP convention coming at the end of the month and I can tell you right now that half the people that I work with are getting out of town! Not because of terrorism. Not because I think people think the place is going to blow up....

AJP: It's just too much tension.

SC: Too much tension, the traffic. Nobody wants to deal to with the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel and GW Bridge when you are going to have armed guards at every tunnel with M-16's.

AJP: No, I wouldn't want to be there.

SC: Shifting gears, so to speak, someone told me your driving a Lincoln Navigator now?

AJP: Uh, huh.

SC: How much does it cost to gas that fucker up?

AJP: Dude, right about now, I am wishing that I didn't have it. If it wasn't such a good car for me, I would have aced it.

SC: You have a family?

AJP: Yeah. [To gas it up] it's at least 50 bucks.

SC: And your on the West Coast, right?

AJP: Yeah. Gas prices are pretty ridiculous. I'm sure they are everywhere. I always put mid grade in my Lincoln. In my Lexus, I put the high performance gas. It's like $2.50 a gallon. I'm thinking of scaling down.

SC: I called a Toyota dealership the other day and the salesguy got on the phone and said,"Uh let me guess, you're trading in an SUV and you want to get a hybrid?' I said, 'Yeah.' Did you know there is nine month waiting list?

AJP: Oh my God! I bet you a lot of people are doing that. Well, luckily, I don't commute a whole lot. When I'm home and not on tour, I don't commute much. Mostly I'm putting around, so I can kinda handle it. But, I can't imagine it if I had to commute to L.A. on a daily basis, there is just no way. [There is no major public transportation here].


Holy Shit! I spent HOW much on gas this year?

SC: On to the bonus DVD on the new disc, was that just a one time thing or are you guys planning a long form DVD?

AJP: The long form is done. It's not out yet. We are just finishing up art work and stuff on it now. I think it's just about two-and-a-half hours. It basically starts from the beginning of Lit. We've got footage on there from our very first tour. I think my hair was long and we're playing in front of six people in a club. Just crazy band tour stuff. One of the first purchases our band made collectively, was a camcorder. Ever since then, we've always had one out on the road with us just archiving everything. Backstage footage. We've even thrown in a couple of band arguments on there. We've just tried to show all the sides of Lit.

SC: So, how much of the footage is going to be naked chicks or the band fighting?

AJP: There will probably be more naked chicks than there will be fighting.

SC: Excellent! Two major selling points right there!

AJP: Not enough of either though.

SC: You would think because you're in a band that it would be like Sodom and Gomorra. Like there would be naked chicks everywhere. Was there much of that stuff going on or was it that you just couldn't use the footage?

AJP: Definitely some of the footage, we couldn't have used. We want everyone to be able to buy it. When it [does] show naked chicks, it's slightly censored to protect the innocent, some things had to be left out.

SC: If you have all this archived footage and let's say you have some chick going down on a bowling pin, don't you have to get her permission to use it? Or just the fact that she was videotaped enough?

AJP: I think all you have to do is blur their faces out.

SC: Really?

AJP: Well, that's all we did (laughs). I think in certain situations, you can get clearance for those kinds of things. Usually the girl will remember herself or a friend will recognize her. Some of toughest clearances were getting network television to clear appearances. Like NBC and those kind of shows don't let you use your appearances [on their show for your own project].

SC: What about the footage from Charlotte where you got busted for dropping trough?

AJP: I believe that's on there, yeah. There's some of that stuff on there.

SC: I remember that and it seemed like such a minimal offense to get arrested for.

AJP: Oh, totally! When it happened, it was just too much drinking and not realizing we were in the Bible belt. Anywhere else, it would have probably been no big deal. But because it was there and they had had problems with MARILYN MANSON not too long before that happened, they were ready to pounce on any rock band.

SC: Given the political climate now, imagine what they could possibly get you for?

AJP: Well, look at the whole JANET JACKSON thing. Her nipple was even covered. Well, kinda (laughs). It looked like it was.

SC: How do you guys feel about the whole indecency crackdown?

AJP: I think it's a little over the top. If you're worried about your kids seeing something... I've always been in a strong believer in parental discretion. If you don't want that kind of stuff showing up, turn it off.

SC: How many kids do you have?

AJP: I have a two-year-old daughter.

SC: Let's say at five years of age, she walks into the living room, turns on HBO and catches a soft-core porno movie. Is it HBO's fault or is just a random accident?

AJP: I think it's just one of those things that happens. As a parent, you either choose to have the cable package or not and some of them have parental blocks.

SC: I'm not trying to imply that you're a bad parent, I am just wondering if you think seeing a naked breast on TV is going to emotionally damage a child?

AJP: I don't think so. Look at all the cultures where they don't have the censorship and they seem to be doing fine, such as some of the European countries. It really comes down to supervision. If you let your kid do whatever they want, then there's more of chance they are going to stumble onto that stuff. The same goes for the Internet. The Internet a lot scarier than HBO or any channel on TV.

SC: Yes and I happily contribute to that awfulness everyday. Speaking of porn, I read that you are a Nikki Dial fan?

AJP: It might have been one of the other guys that said that, although sure. (actually, he DID say it. During an interview with Dr. Drew)

SC: If I was to ransack the Lit tour bus, what kind of porno would I find?

AJP: There's one radio station in Denver that we gave our [tour] rider to as a joke and we put a piece of pornography on there and now every time we go there, just as a joke, they bring us some wacky shit. Like sick porn. Half of it is probably illegal. Like German porn of people eating crap or like midget porn. Just the radomest stuff that's more entertaining and easier to watch with a group of guys than watching some actual good porn.

SC: You haven't really lived until you have seen two Asian girls funneling live eels into each other's asses and then firing them out into each other's mouths! (yes, we have seen video like that... it's pretty fucking unsettling)

AJP: Oh my God! I haven't seen stuff like that.

SC: Oh yeah? Well, we have that type of stuff in abundance.

AJP: We are definitely going to have check that out.

SC: Have you seen the Paris Hilton tape?

AJP: No, but the funny thing is that I had one of my own.

SC: How did your own tape stack up against the Rick Salomon one?

AJP: I haven't seen it. But I know guys that have seen both, guys that were there that said mine would have smoked it because my bass player was filming it and either she was just oblivious or she just didn't care. By the way he shot it, it would have been like pro style. He was all over the room with it. So, it wasn't like a tripod set up and boring footage. It was serious close-ups.

SC: Have you ever considered contacting one of these distributors and trying to sell it?

AJP: The biggest mistake I ever made was at leaving the trip where we filmed it and because at the time she wasn't nearly as famous [as she is now]. In fact I didn't even know who she was until someone said her last name was Hilton and that she was the heiress of the Hilton family and I was like, 'Oh, that's a trip.' So, I kind of dated her for a little while and as I was leaving I was kind of thinking, 'I don't want to screw this chick over or anything' and I told my guitar tech who had the videocamera, 'Dude, she really wants that erased' because after the fact she knew. So, he erased like 95% of it. Looking back I'm like, 'Fuck! I could have retired on that video.'

SC: You know what? You could have because she obviously cut some kind of deal with this Solomon guy.

AJP: Oh yeah.

SC: She is obviously profiting off it somehow. I feel bad for you, I really do.

AJP: So now all I have on video is [what is] leading up to it. Rubbing oil on her tits and stuff.

SC: Even that. There's technology available so that you charge for everytime it downloads. You put a $3 price tag on it and you could probably make money off it.

AJP: Yeah maybe that's a good idea (laughs). The funniest thing is that Carson Daly is sitting right next to me.

SC: And that's on tape?

AJP: Uh huh.

SC: Dude that's gold. You lock that in a safe and wait you til Carson Daly gets a little more popular. Just in case you ever really get into dire straights and you need money.

AJP: Oh wait, you know who else is standing in the background? MANDY MOORE.

SC: Dude, come on!

AJP: Yeah, it's pretty good little...

SC: So wait, you're rubbing oil on Paris Hilton's tits and Mandy Moore and Carson Daly are in the room while you are doing it?

AJP: Yeah.

SC: This is confirmed on video?

AJP: Yeah.

SC: Lock it up! Do not erase it! Hold on to it! Anyone who threatens you with litigation is lying and is frightened.

AJP: (Laughing) You know what's funny is she's on video and we're like,'Hey Paris, can we get your permission to put this on our home video?' and she's like 'Oh yeah.' We go, 'Are you over 18?' And she says something like, 'I just turned 19.'


Hey everybody! I just had sex with Paris Hilton, videotaped it, and Carson Daly saw the whole thing!!!

SC: So, she had just turned 19 when she shot that thing?

AJP: Yeah.

SC: She was claiming that she was under 18 when she shot the video with Rick Solomon.

AJP: Oh she was? Oh no, she is on film saying she was [19].

SC: That's fantastic! Dude, you're golden.

AJP: Actually I wish it was longer, I wish we had some more.

SC: Even thirty seconds would be enough. By the way, have you seen the Metallica movie?

AJP: Uh, no.

SC: There goes my next question because I was going to ask do you think you could ever pay $40 grand a month to sort out the shit between you and your bandmates?

AJP: Oh shit! I guess I have to see that movie [now].

SC: It's definitely worth checking out. They pay $40,000 a month to a therapist to iron out their problems.

AJP: Holy crap!

SC: Has any drama you have ever had with Lit be worth $40,000 in psychiatric bills?

AJP: You know, we've never really had any serious kind of drama. Yeah, I couldn't even imagine. That would cause drama alone spending that kind of money on a psychiatrist.


Remember Alfalfa from 'The Little Rascals'?

SC: Let's say hypothetically you're playing on stage one day and you carelessly step on a landmine-blowing you to bits, but you survive. However, your crippled and all fucked up. How is AJ going to pay the bills?

AJP: Well, at that point I would be wishing that I had kept my insurance. I had insurance that covered that kind of thing. It covered...if anything were to keep you from doing your job, like a guitar player breaking his hand, it's that kind of insurance. It's actually a pretty nice payoff. Yeah, I'd probably have to get something like that going again.

My GOD, I have got to convince this guy to show me that Paris Hilton video of his...only because I don't believe Carson Daly and Mandy Moore were IN the shot when he was greasing up her cans. Cool guy, indeed. We'll have to snag him when he comes to the Eastern part of the country.

CHECK OUT THE NEW DISC 'LIT'

VISIT THE BAND'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT LITLOUNGE.com