New Deuce Interview!

September 12, 2012

DEUCE TALKS ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK UPROAR FESTIVAL

“This is one of the best tours we’ve been on,” exclaims Deuce of the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR
Festival.

Deuce also puts on one of the best sets you’ll see all day. Playing the Jägermeister Music stage and the
Ernie Ball stage, he turns the afternoon into a party buoyed by big hip hop beats, massive rock choruses,
and ass-shaking verses. Coming from founding Hollywood Undead, Nine Lives is an appropriate title for
Deuce’s debut as he’s as alive as ever.

In this exclusive interview with UPROAR, Deuce talks why the festival rules, dancing with Russian girls in
his “I Came to Party” video, and making rock fun again.

Has the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival been fun so far?

It’s been fun as fuck! I’m having a good time. It’s a pretty bomb tour. There are lots of kids. The crowds
are big. I’m stoked. It’s more fun than anything I’ve done in the past.

How have the Jägermeister Music stage and Ernie Ball stage been?

To me, it’s just as good as the main stage is. People are standing up, and they can mosh. There are still a
shitload of people out there during the day.

How did you create your set for this tour?

I basically picked the best songs I have. I’ve got “America,” “I Came to Party,” “The One,” and “Story of
a Snitch.” We move the show with those songs. Different songs have different feels to them and stage
performances. That’s how I did it. I changed it up. We go buck wild and kill it up there. It sounds good,
and we give the audience a great show. We make sure they’re crowd surfing and throwing their panties
and bras at us. You know how it goes.

If you were a fan coming to the show, how would you spend the day?

I’d go to the area where the Jägermeister Music and Ernie Ball stages are and kick it there for a while.
I’d watch P.O.D. and say, “What’s up” to Big Deuce, of course [Laughs]. I’d want to check out Candlelight
Red, Redlight King, and all of that stuff. I’d go over and watch Adelitas Way, Staind, Godsmack, and
Shinedown. That’s probably how I’d spend my day. I’d grab some ice cold beer, find some ladies, get
drunk, and have a good time.

Had you ever attended UPROAR before this year?

I’d never been to UPROAR before I played it—ever. Isn’t that funny? I like it though. It’s dope! I always
heard of it, but this is my first time being there and playing.

Did you come up with the music video concept for “I Came To Party”?

That was half the director and half me. He had the idea for the headphones. As Aron, I put the
headphones on and turn into Deuce. Then, I become the party animal dancing with the blonde German
girls and trying to get laid. I’m partying with the fans. When I take the headphones off, I go out of Deuce
mode again. It’s like the song turns me into that party person. Once it’s over, I go back to reality. That’s
how I see the song. The director came up with most it, and I threw in a couple of ideas like incorporating
the fans a lot. It’s a mix between both of us.

Does that song represent the album as a whole for you?

I’d say that one does. It has a big message, and it’s really direct. Everyone loves “I Came to Party.” Let’s
get fucking wasted and have a fucking good time. “I Came to Party,” “America,” and “Nobody Likes Me”
are the key songs on the album.

What’s “America” mean to you?

That song is like me pointing out what’s bad and evil in the world today. I point out what I think is fucked
up and what I hate and dislike. I don’t like to be specific, but it’s in the song. If you listen to it and read
the lyrics, you’ll get the message. It’s a little political. I want people to get their own meaning from it
though. What they pull from it might differ from what I put into it.

Do you feel like you’re bringing the party back to rock ‘n’ roll?

“I Came to Party” is rock, but it’s party. I don’t think rock bands have that in their music now. We might
be the only one. It’s dope to bring that lively element to UPROAR, which is a very “rock” tour. We bring
that fun shit. People get to go to “fuck the world” mode and “party” mode.

Do you have a lot of girl fans?

I think I’ve got more guy fans, but there are girls for sure [Laughs].

How do you keep cool wearing a mask in the summer sun?

Well, I don’t wear it the whole show! I don’t think I’d survive if I did. We wear them for certain songs.
We’re not trying to hide our identities. It’s more for the fans to bring us together. That’s how I see it.
It lets the fans be a part of Deuce. You become a part of Deuce’s army when you wear a bandana or a
mask.

Have you started your next album yet?

I’m working on some dope shit right now. You know how I do it. I’m not going to be stopping. I’m going
to doing this shit for a while.

 

– Rick Florino

• UPROAR 9/11 Tribute Video
• New Avenged Sevenfold track!