Slamrocks: Hi Jesse, What’s up? How are things going as for your Italian gig?
Jesse Damon: Everything's on track for us to come over on June 6 and perform at the BRC Festival in Bologna, Italy. We've been holding rehearsals and we have a great set of songs and show together for this trip. I'm also glad to report  Silent Rage has two more live dates confirmed June 7 in Milan, and June 8 in Switzerland.
 
Slamrocks: Many European tour schedule neglect Italy, whereas you did the other way around: only one gig in Europe and in Italy no less. How could this happen?
Jesse Damon: It started with the band signing to Frontiers Records (Italy) back in 2007. We landed the deal back then and recorded the new CD "Four Letter Word from August  to November of 2007.  In dealing with all the details of a new release that was slated for a July 4, 2008 release, I also wanted Silent Rage to come over to Italy and perform in support of the new CD. Circumstances didn't allow us to last year, but I did make the necessary booking agent and promoter connections... and so here we are summer 2009 a year later, better late than never hey...
Silent Rage will be performing 3 gigs so far, maybe one more.
The band hasn't traveled to and performed in Italy ever so we're very excited to!
 
Slamrocks: Do you already know someone in Italy? What would you like to do once in Bologna? I would suggest a meal with lasagne alla bolognese...
Jesse Damon: Like I said, I made the necessary booking agent and promoter connections. His name is Emiliano Nanni, from BolognaRockCity.
The first thing after settling in our hotel is for all of us to go out for a meal with Emiliano the promoter and probably meet with some of the other bands and artists performing at the BRC FEST. I'm looking forward to real authentic lasagne alla bolognese...
I'd also like to mention, we will be performing and sharing the bill with the Italian rock band "Planet Hard" on the other live dates June 7 & 8.

Slamrocks: Retrospect Records has reissued "Shattered Hearts" which features "Sole Survivor" as bonus track. Can you tell us something about it?
Jesse Damon: It's a song written by Silent Rage & Paul Sabu. I feel its an emotional song that lyrically talks about the future of this world that we leave to our youth, and all of our responsibility to make good choices and do what's right for mankind.
Instrumentally, the music is classic Silent Rage. It feels like we jumped right back in the drivers seat with Paul Sabu again. I missed that, and so we did this song and I feel we can still capture the magic we seem to have when we collaborate together writing and recording in the studio!
I met Sam McCaslin of Retrospect Records in the Fall of 2008 and he is doing great things at his label, by re-introducing a lot of great music to a new generation of melodic rock fans. We made a deal and decided to re-issue and re-master "Shattered Hearts." Part of the decision was to include a new song or bonus track to the new re-issued CD, so that it would be undeniably brand new. We also re-mastered it, which makes it sound full bodied and big!
Next, we have plans to re-issue and re-master "Don't Touch Me There" with bonus tracks also.
 
Slamrocks: Is there something you miss about 1987?
Jesse Damon: The excitement of experiencing the music scene, the business, and all the live venue's back then, and it all being brand new. You can't replace that feeling, but you can recapture moments and still have and build new memories and triumphs.

Slamrocks: What about "Don't Touch Me There"?
Jesse Damon: If you mean my experience of that era and the writing and recording of this album, I would have to say it was the best of times in my life. The experiences, still working with Paul Sabu, but then also working alongside with Gene Simmons, touring with Black Sabbath, performing with so many great bands back in the day, MTV, Radio, and of course the girls!

Slamrocks: Why did Gene Simmons push you so much to change your name?
Jesse Damon: He didn't, it was always my decision. We discussed it but I had already made my mind up to do so, because of finding out there were other guys with my same full name Tim Reilly. There were at least 5 or 6 that I knew of,
in and around Los Angeles, that may sound crazy but it's true, it must be a popular name.
Gene's suggestion was to take it away from the adolescent vibe Timmy James Reilly and give me a more distinct and strong name. I came up with my own new name, I always loved James Dean and since my real given middle name was James I came up with a modern day James Dean-like name called "Jesse Damon".
Its kind of a hybrid of the old villain and unsung hero's Jesse James and James Dean.

Slamrocks: I know you have kept on working with Gene Simmons later on and you gave your help to write "Revenge" and "Psycho Circus"...
Jesse Damon: Back in the late 80's early nineties Silent Rage was asked by Gene to demo some songs he had written, and so it began there. Then in 19991 Gene approached me and asked if I wanted to co-write some songs and of course I said yes! That's the kind of opportunity that when offered, you can't let that slip away.
I went for it, and was pleasantly surprised Gene was receptive to some of my idea's. It was exhilarating, fun and intense all at the same time. Once knowing I had found out they were going to use a song that Gene and I had co-wrote, I was excited. It's something you build on and draw strength from.
Getting a chance to go into the recording studio and sing back ups with Gene and Paul on the Revenge album was a memory I'll always cherish and never forget.
I pretty much made myself available to Gene for other writing sessions and  recording sessions from that point on, knowing the importance of what was being created and that I had the chance to be a part of KISSTORY!!!

Slamrocks: What’s your fave Kiss album? And what’s the first gig you’ve ever been to?
Jesse Damon: Probably KISS Alive, the first live KISS album. Secondly, Revenge!
If you mean what's the first KISS concert it was at the Los Angeles Forum in 1975
KISS Alive Tour! If you meant What was my first concert ever, it was Johnny Winter Band with Rick Derringer in the same band. The concert was at the Long Beach Arena, CA. 1973 for the Johnny Winter Live and Tour.

Slamrocks: Let’s talk about today. I like very much ‘Four Letter Word", how is it working with Frontiers and why did you go for Gilby Clarke instead on going on with Paul Sabu?
Jesse Damon: Frontiers Records is a very respectable and professional label. I like the results that they delivered. They came through with everything they spelled out to us from the beginning, and that's rare for this business.  Serafino Perugino is the President & C.E.O. / A & R Director at Frontiers Records, and he is a very good business minded professional.
We looked into and asked Paul Sabu about producing the new CD for Silent Rage, but unfortunately he was too busy to take on another album project of ours within our prospected time frame of recording it and releasing it. So we thought about who, and EJ Curse tossed in the name how about Gilby Clarke, we all knew him and were friends. Gilby had his own studio and was available. So things were working for us at the time. We researched and listened to what he had produced as of late and they were bands like LA Guns, and Crash Kelly to name a few. We made the decision to go for it. The rest is history. We like that it went in a new direction, but I have to say I would have liked to have Paul work on it, at least in some capacity.

Slamrocks: When shall we listen to the new Silent Rage stuff? What shall we expect?
Jesse Damon: Retrospect Records out of Las Vegas Nevada is going to re-master and re-issue "Don't Touch Me There" with bonus tracks included. Probably 2 new songs. That will be the next project we'll complete before the end of this year.
I Can't say right now, because it's undetermined as to a next brand new studio album, but I am writing all the time, so keep your fingers crossed!

Slamrocks: Let’s change topic completely. Why did you choose to change your name in Jesse Damon? Is it still Gene Simmons’ fault?
Jesse Damon: Nothing sinister. I just chose to do it to have more anonymity.
Never was Gene's fault.
 
Slamrocks: What does Jesse Damon do in life, apart from playing with Silent Rage?
Jesse Damon: I have a wonderful life with Lili my wife of 18 years. We travel a lot and love to go to concerts, sporting events and the beach. We love the outdoors.
Thanks for asking!
Slamrocks: That’s all. See you on June 6th, and if you wish to say something more, the next lines are for you!
Jesse Damon: All of you coming to see Silent Rage in Bologna, I can't wait to rock for all you! All the best to you, and thank you Moreno for this interview.