Speaking The Language Of Pop: An Interview with Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.

Posted in Current Faves, Interviews, Music |

Roger Manning: That’s who I was, so it was very natural for me to bring that to Jellyfish and all the bands I’ve been involved with. It wasn’t until I finally hooked up with the Beck camp that I realized, “Oh, here are some like minds.” Beck takes his work very seriously and he does all kinds of styles. He has what I consider a very healthy balance, artistically. Humor was not the only part of that. Some fans wanted him to just be a joke, white hip hop guy, but that was just a part of what he offered.

I think he related to that in me. The honoring or paying homage to this style of music, but maybe taking the piss out of or parodying that type of music. But with a healthy respect for all of it.

That’s what the Beastie Boys were about, even some of my favorite bands which directly inspired Jellyfish: Cheap Trick, Sweet, and Redd Kross. That was understood.

I’ll tell you, it’s been very hard. An A & R guy from a record company told [Jellyfish] something that crushed me, but to this day I think he had a valid point. That’s why it’s very delicate and you have to be very self-aware. You have to have a real understanding of who your audience is and what you want to say to them.

This A & R man said that this is why [Jellyfish] had success, but ultimately why [we] didn’t have enough success. “Jellyfish was like taking a painting of the Mona Lisa and all the respect, and adoration, and high art that comes with that. And then walking up to it and painting a big clown nose on it.”

Now that’s a very truthful and poignant commentary. What he was essentially saying was, here you guys are presenting some incredibly elevated, thought-out, provoking music, and a lot of people can’t get past that because of your silly videos and silly outfits. And your kind of jokester attitude on stage. Because if you guys don’t take yourselves seriously, how are the fans going to take you seriously?

And that’s how we get back to what I said before. Your average fan has been conditioned, because music is reduced to a product, like going to the store and buying your vegetable oil. Here’s the band I listen to when I want to party, here’s the band I listen to when I want to get drunk and dance, here’s the band I listen to when I’m in my room and the door’s closed and I hate the world. . . you know what I mean?

Popshifter: Yeah.

Roger Manning: What slot does Jellyfish fit into? Because if they don’t, I’m not going to take my $16 and throw down for the CD. I’m going to take my $16 and go buy something where I know what I’m getting. And with Jellyfish, I’m confused.

Popshifter: Speaking of Morrissey, I think he’s another person who is really unfairly tagged with being mopey and gloomy, and he’s hilarious. His lyrics are hilarious.

Roger Manning: Absolutely.

Popshifter: He’s a big fan of Sparks and I think they’re another band who people get so confused by. They get the humor but sometimes they think it’s too goofy. So many articles I’ve read are like, “Sparks are really good, but I can’t stand that scary guy.”

Roger Manning: (laughs)

Popshifter: I think it’s telling that Morrissey and Sparks are such mutual fans of each other. They’re so similar in their senses of humor.

Roger Manning: You nailed it. When Morrissey found out to what degree I was a Sparks fan, it was like, “Okay, that’s it. Now Roger’s part of the club.”

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Click to read more from Roger Manning on. . .

Bill Bartell and MST3K
Playing well with others: new TV Eyes EP!
Jamming with Beck and Ross Angeles
The importance of humor
Where does Jellyfish fit in?
Movie soundtracks
Favorite kind of music
The music mafia model
“Just do what you’re passionate about. . . “
A reason to get out of bed in the morning
Speak my language

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