FLASHBACK: Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach On Air with Pierre
Papa Roach leader Jacoby Shaddix celebrates a birthday today (7/28). The band has been part of a ton of MMR concert events, including the MMRBQ. The last time Jacoby was in our studios was for a live, in-depth interview with Pierre Robert before a show at the Met, which was freshly renovated at the time. We pulled the conversation out of the MMaRchives, and it brought a shot of positivity to our day.
One of the things we love about Jacoby is his positive attitude. That’s not to say that everything’s been sunshine and rainbows for him; on the contrary, he’s all too familiar with getting lost in the dark corners of the mind, and he’s been open about his sobriety journey over the years. His resilience and ability to persevere translate in the lyrics he writes for Papa Roach, and in this interview he had a message for anyone struggling with darkness in their lives:
“I encourage anybody that’s out there struggling, if you’ve got these demons that you’re dealing with, I guarantee you there is somebody around you that wants to help you. And do not be silent about your struggle because if you’re alone in this, it’s gonna take you out. If you don’t speak up, it’s just gonna take you down father and father… So speak up… Call a hotline… There’s a lot of avenues for people to go out there to get help, it’s just sometimes the phone, it weighs a thousand pounds. The isolation of depression can be real dark and ominous, but… cry out for help, ’cause I guarantee there is somebody around you that will be there for you.”
Jacoby adds: “I [also] encourage people – just listen to someone! You don’t always have to give people your opinion on what their struggle is. Sometimes people just want somebody to listen and to empathize… Music is definitely one of those things that gives me the opportunity to unpack all this stuff, and deal with this crazy knotted up ball of yarn that’s inside of my head and my heart.”
“And never give up,” Pierre concluded. “Never. Never!” Jacoby agreed.
The two also covered some newer Papa Roach tracks, touring with friends, memories of their first summertime concerts and the questionable fashion at the time, balancing work life and family, and the current state of music. Jacoby also thanked WMMR and Pierre for carrying the torch for rock bands past and present.
Note: This interview originally aired in August of 2019.
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