1. “What’s a common myth about Independent Artists and can you debunk it?”
Jack: A common myth about Independent bands is how much money we make playing music. When you factor in the cost of professional gear, having merch made, management fees, fuel and traveling costs when touring, replacing cymbals, guitar strings, etc. etc. It’s the most expensive profession/hobby, but it is the most therapeutic, most self satisfying when people are singing your lyrics and banging their heads to the music you wrote. You actually spend more money than you make playing music, and it’s a long way to the the top if you want to Rock & Roll like AC/DC said. It’s the passion and the feeling you get that makes an Independent artist continue to work hard to get to a higher level. Never give up on your dreams.
2. “What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?”
Jack: The advice I would give to someone who wants to enter the music industry is this: Never give up on your dreams, always write songs from your heart, keep things simple, watch out for the snakes in the industry, if you fall pick yourself up and try again, if a band member or members leave you can rebuild it sometimes into something way better, and last but not least satisfaction is the death of desire. By that I mean stay humble, and always try to be a better musician with each new song you write.
3. “Are there any resources or even advice that have really helped you on your journey?”
Jack: I’ve gotten some of my best advice from bands who have made it into the national spotlight. I’ve also gotten burned by a management company and that was a very expensive lesson. I also learned a lot from the musicians who currently play in Dead Earth who have played in touring bands, and from bands that we have played shows with over the years. The Indie Bible is a very good resource for any band as well.
4. “What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career thus far?”
Jack: Releasing several albums with the different bands I’ve been involved in, playing shows all over the country and Puerto Rico, and meeting and building relationships with other musicians from around the world has been a very self satisfying accomplishment for me. I’ve learned a lot from working with others, and built some incredible friendships because of music.
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5. “What do you wish you had known when you started out?”
Jack: I wish I would have learned sooner, that sometimes having friends in the band could lead to severed friendships if things don’t work out. Musicians are a whole different breed of human, we are the frequency makers and some of us can sometimes have a certain way of doing things. I’ve lost a few friends do to playing music, and a lot of it was caused by the lack of commitment on their part, and how far one wants to go compared to others. It seems that sometimes every musician wants to be a rockstar, until it’s time to play rockstar games. By that I mean pitching in towards costs of the band, or devoting time to the band, touring or even taking time out of their day to do band business. Some people are just content staying local, and a person like myself wants to take the band to an international level. You have to find the right musicians with the same mindset, and being upfront about the goals that the band wants to achieve is very important right off the rip. Building a band is like building a puzzle, sometimes the pieces don’t fit, and you have to try other pieces. It’s not personal, it’s just the way it is.
6. “What led you to becoming a singer-songwriter?”
Jack: I’ve always been a music lover since I was a very young kid. While kids were listening to Disney albums in my grade school, I was jamming my KISS Alive and Hotter Than Hell albums. Once I heard the sound and and felt the energy of this band, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life. When my friends and I were kids we used to turn on KISS Alive 1 and 2 and pretend like we were KISS. We used tennis rackets for guitars, a fishing light and a rosin bag to make the guitar smoke like Ace Frehley by hitting it against the racket. My Mom would put the makeup on us and we transformed into the Hottest band in the World. A few years later I discovered Black Sabbath then early Van Halen. I knew music was my calling ever since.
7. “What do you think is your unique skill(s) that has helped you become successful?”
Jack: I am very good at multitasking and figuring out how to solve some of tough problems. I have never given up on anything that I enjoy and love, and it’s these skills that have helped me balance my music life from my regular life. The problem solving comes in when the band loses a member or members and you never give up and you want to continue the band and making it better than it was. I believe these skills are very unique in a world where many people have issues solving problems, you definitely need these skills because sometimes being on the road and stuff breaks down, you have to MacGeyvor that shit.
8. “How was your journey to what you do
Now?”
Jack: It has been a very long journey for me. I’ve lived vicariously through my friends who have made it to the international level of touring around the world. I never give up and I work on being a better musician with every album. I don’t drink alcohol anymore, so that definitely helps me sustain the longevity and stamina it takes to tour and stay on top of my craft. I couldn’t imagine drinking like I did when I was a much younger musician, and trying to perform at a high level of intensity night after night with bad hangovers. Keeping that in mind, and keeping myself healthy and in shape, helps me keep that stamina and keep up with the younger talented musicians in the band.
9. “How did this project begin?”
Jack: I formed Dead Earth in 2017 after the bands I played in before (At No End & Hemi Devils) split up. Dead Earth was formed from the ground up, and the amount of musicians I auditioned was a lot. I was originally looking to recreate the old Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rainbow (Dio era) sound, which was straight up heavy rock and roll. I settled with a lineup that included some talented musicians and we released a full length entitled Truth Hammer. After the release of Truth Hammer, a few of the members caught a case of the bad egos, and the old guitar player had a girlfriend who almost destroyed the band, so I had no choice but to replace them. After we replaced them, the new lineup would play a few shows before being cut short in 2020 by COVID. In 2021 when things started opening up again, a few more members quit and I had to find players to replace them. The new new lineup released a 3 song EP entitled All Hail The Dark in June of 2021 and that was a step in the heavier direction that I was looking for. Right after the release I signed a deal with a management company out of the UK, and I was trying to get this band to that next level, especially wanting to fulfill a dream of playing big festivals like Wacken Open Air. Unfortunately, the guys in the band didn’t share those same dreams and goals, and in December of 2021 they all quit except for me. It was back to the drawing board.
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10. “What makes this project different from “past projects?”
Jack: This project is much different, personnel wise and the level of musicianship altogether. Not bagging on the previous lineup, but this lineup is a much more professional group of guys. I met guitarist Ernesto Colon many years ago when the band I was in called At No End played a hardcore show with Ringworm, Merauder (NYC), and Agents of Man. Ernesto was in the band Merauder at the time and we all hung out and got along pretty good. In 2021 Ernesto came to Cleveland to write some music with a mutual friend who at one time was a drummer in the band Propain. I was asked to join the project and lay down some vocals, and I was all in. I really missed playing the heavier hardcore style of music, so when we went to the jam spot where Dead Earth practiced, Ernesto and I wrote 2 killer songs right off the rip. There was a magical feeling to the jam session, and I really wanted to write more songs with Ernesto. The drummer dude that got us together flaked out and got jealous because of how Ernesto and I got along, and kicked Ernesto out of his home where he was staying for the week before heading back to Philly where he lives. Ernesto ended up staying at my house that week and we talked about writing more songs in the future. When the band quit in December of 2021, the first person I asked to join was Ernesto, and he accepted. It was his first band since leaving Merauder, and he was excited about being able to write new music again. In March of 2022 Ernesto flew back to Cleveland and we began laying down demo tracks. It honestly took longer for him and I to figure out how to work the Interface than it did for us to write 8 brand new songs. I was still paying the management company, which I understand now why they stuck with me, they were getting paid and didn’t have to do anything. We took the demos we recorded to former Annihilator, Nevermore guitarist Curran Murphy, who actually helped us sort out what we recorded and rearrange a few things. After the demos were recorded, the band did a photo shoot with Curran Murphy, Ernesto Colon, and Dan Gates who just so happened to join the band the day of the photo shoot. Drum auditions were held and Colton Zeitler, who is a very talented 20 year old musician, was the winner hands down. The intensity, the power, and the sound of this band is what makes us very unique. Also, the fact that we all have such huge diverse tastes in music gives us a sound that resonates with many people. Plus, the fact that the songs we write are about issues that many people in the world face, and this definitely helps give us a unique edge as far as our music is concerned.
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11. “What’s the inspiration behind this project?”
The love for music and the message that heavy aggressive music brings to the table. The fans that follow the band, and the fact that I can still play this heavy aggressive music, is a huge inspiration in itself.
12. “What word or phrase would you use to describe this project?”
Jack: BRUTAL, RELENTLESS AND REPENTLESS!!
13. “How can listeners get in touch with or support you?”
Jack: Listeners can reach out to us on our social media pages (Instagram or Facebook) and our official website at
www.deadearth216.com14. “What is coming up for you in the near future?”
Jack: We are currently going into the studio to finish the album at the end of the month. We are currently working with Distilled Entertainment as our management company, and the plan is to shop the music to labels and see what happens. If we don’t get picked up by a label, then we are looking at a fall release and a tour to follow. We do have some big shows coming up, however, we cannot announce them at this time.
15. “Many people believe that becoming a musical artist is challenging to the point it
becomes overwhelming and too much to handle. Why do you think people believe that?”
Jack: It takes a ton of patience, passion and not giving up on your dream. There are times when I’ve gotten to the point that I just want to say ” To hell with this shit” and give up altogether. But I knew deep in my heart that I’m a musician and I would be miserable without having music as my outlet, away from my everyday life. Getting ripped off and taken for a ride by the management company from the UK, was very frustrating, but we did not let it stop us. There’s always obstacles that you must overcome, and it’s the question How far are you willing to go to make it? Our answer is whatever it takes to get to the level we want to be at, which is the World Stage.
16. “What’s the most common reason for people failing or giving up?”
Jack: Musicians give up when they give up on themselves. A musician will sometimes try, then fail, and then feel they are not good enough to make it. It’s the ones that constantly shoot for the stars no matter what happens, who usually succeed. Failures are going to happen, especially in the music industry. But you have to pick yourself up and believe in the music you write and perform, and continue building your brand for others to enjoy.
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17. “What is your favorite word?”
Jack: Perseverance is my favorite word.
18. “What are you not very good at?”
Jack: Sometimes I’m not very good at dealing with negative, self centered, egotistical assholes. I’m a kid who grew up in a very rough neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio and I tend to have a bit of a temper when it comes to dealing with scumbags.
19. “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?”
Jack: If I could have one superpower it would be to fly like Superman. I would fly wherever the hell I wanted to, whenever I wanted to, and be strong enough to carry my wife on my back flying there. She’s my best friend!!
20. “If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?”
Jack: Lasagna – it’s the perfect mixture of greatness. That’s not in an egotistical way, it’s just great food. I’m known to cook some of the most killer spaghetti sauce on the planet.
21. “If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?”
Jack: I would choose two people one would be the ultimate riff lord Tony Iommi and the second would be Babe Ruth. Tony invented Heavy Metal in my opinion, and he is able to jam with whomever he wants, whenever he wants and live a very comfortable lifestyle now. I also read his book and it’s one of the greatest books I have ever read. Babe Ruth because he was a baseball player for the New York Yankees, and in my mind the greatest player there ever was and ever will be. I am a HUGE baseball fan.
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