ROX-TV’s “Artist Five Series” is back and gets an exclusive interview with a literary giant from the Psychopathic Records Universe. The one and only Jason Webber. We talk about his book “Purple Bananas”, the Beat Generation, things that shaped him as a writer, and much more.
Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. I’d like to thank all the returning readers and first timers who have stopped by to see what’s cooking. I’m very excited about tonight’s “Artist Five Series” because we have a special guest in the house. That’s right, we have an amazing author in the house, who also pulls double duty as a journalist and a raconteur of the highest order. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome our esteemed guest…Jason Webber. Before we get lost in the weeds, can you tell the ROX-TV readers where you call home at the moment?
I’ve lived in five states–California, Washington, Idaho, Michigan, and Ohio. Toledo is my current base of operations.
I have a lot of things I’d like to ask you about, but before I do, I like to lay a little foundation down first for the benefit of people getting turned onto your work for the first time. I always enjoy asking artists, authors, painters, etc. about their relationships with the craft, they use to get the message across. When was the first time you really took a liking to the written word? I’m curious as to how old you were and what book set you on fire?
There were a couple of books that really impacted me when I was young. When I was 11, I had an Apple Paperback called “Who Is Bugs Potter” written by this Canadian guy named Gordon Korman. The book is about a teenage drum prodigy who ends up performing with all of his favorite bands while he’s away on a class orchestra trip. It’s a celebration of breaking rules and rock-n-roll. It changed my life and after I read it, I knew I wanted to be a rock-n-roller. Not as a musician (although I’ve always wanted to front a band) but as a writer.
https://anonhq.com/insane-clown-posse-annihilating-the-stereotypes/
How long did it take for you to go from being a serious reader to wanting to create your own work? What did those early writings look like?
I started writing my first book in the fifth grade. It was a science fiction/fantasy book called “Frontiers,” which I named after my favorite Journey album. I also started writing a Dungeons and Dragons inspired fantasy book called “The Bard’s Tale,” which was based on a computer game I was really into at the time. In 10th grade, I wrote about 40 handwritten pages of a book called “Dracula Reborn” about vampires in the 20th Century. I also wrote some James Bond and Twin Peaks fan fiction. Those early works were terrible but we all have to start somewhere.
What was the experience of getting your work published (in any fashion) for the first time? What type of emotions did you feel seeing your words in print?
I got my first professional newspaper byline in 1993 when I was a senior in high school. My local paper in Longview, Washington had a teen section written by and for teenagers. The first time I saw my name on newsprint, I got addicted to that sensation and I haven’t looked back since. I knew I was born to be a writer.
https://www.spin.com/2020/09/insane-clown-posse-interview/
I’ve read that you are a fan of the Beat Generation. I think anyone who drifts into the counter culture of writing will eventually find themselves face to face with William Burroughs (Junky being my favorite), Jack Kerouac (I carry a copy of On the Road and Dharma Bums whenever I’m on the road myself), and of course, an absolute scorcher, Hubert Selby Jr. (Last Exit to Brooklyn). I find these authors were able to capture raw images of American life and perspectives that at the time were very controversial and groundbreaking. The fact that they have lived on in literary culture and are now celebrated as “classics” speaks volumes to their legacy and vision. As an author how would you say these writers may have influenced your own work or style? Why do you feel the Beat writers have continued to stay on the radar, even as some of their works are nearing seventy years old?
Certainly, the Beats haven’t exactly aged well. Burroughs and Ginsberg and all those guys were pretty misogynistic and I’ve always believed that Burroughs intentionally shot Joan. But the Beat Generation were a BIG influence in my life. Still are. “Naked Lunch” remains my favorite all-time book. I had a great humanities teacher in high school named Jim Hanlen who used to loan me his Beat books all the time. Growing up in an extremely fundamentalist Christian household, I had to be careful about materials that I brought into the house because my parents would flip if they caught me reading stuff like “Naked Lunch.” I think the Beats still resonate with readers because we’re all still trying to figure out what the fuck the world is about. Kerouac and those guys went searching for the meaning of life and they’ve inspired me in my own life to always be asking questions and never stop being curious.
https://rockandrollglobe.com/rap/why-insane-clown-posse-matters/
I believe that music is the universal language of the planet and beyond. It is perhaps the one thing that can transcend culture, language, and even one’s location on earth. No matter where you go in life, if you have a good working relationship with the sounds, you can relate to anyone. Music brings people together like nothing else I’ve ever witnessed in my 41 years on earth. I would liken it to a religion that I must practice daily. I’ve read somewhere that music saved and changed your life. Could you talk a little bit about that?
Prince’s song “Anna Stesia” convinced me not to kill myself as a teenager, so when I say music saved my life, I’m speaking quite literally. Music has just been the one constant force that has gotten me through life.
For the first time readers who are just getting acquainted with you and your work. Can you tell them a little about “Purple Bananas” and why they should check it out? What was your life like during the time you were working on the book? Did you know at the time, it would resonate with so many people?
“Purple Bananas” is a memoir about growing up in a fucked up family and how Prince was a guiding light through life’s darkness. The book did indeed resonate with people and that’s a wonderful feeling. At the time I starting writing it, I was still working for Psychopathic Records and was in a serious funk since Prince and David Bowie died within months of each other. I never had a double-dose of celebrity deaths affect me so much.
You talk about Prince (RIP) coming into your life at a time when things were a little tough or perhaps a lot rough. Being an adopted child, brought into a dysfunctional religious family must have been extremely difficult to navigate. What was it about Prince and his music, that saw you through the hard times again and again?
Just read the book. All will be explained.
You’ve had an amazing career with some big-time moments and victories. Your work has been featured in Spin, Vice, Past, and Metro Times to name a few. Those are really great accomplishments. I grew up reading Spin magazine and still have them all in my library at home. But as a Juggalo from the early 1990’s, for me, your work as Insane Clown Posse’s publicist is the most impressive by far. I’m sure you get asked a lot about working with the Clowns, but since I have you here, I must as well so please forgive me. What was it like working for Psychopathic Records? Could talk about a surreal time you had with the outfit?
I have a few chapters in the book about my time with ICP and Psychopathic Records. It was a wonderful, yet incredibly stressful experience. I’m glad I did it, however. Surreal time with the Clowns? The Juggalo March was my baby and I set that up and made it happen. It was surreal AF making literal history.
https://rockandrollglobe.com/hip-hop/the-juggalo-variant/
From my readings, you’ve written some speeches in the political realm. How did you end up working in politics in that capacity? What was that life like?
Ugh. Politics. I worked for two mayors. One was a rageaholic, abusive, narcissistic asshole and the other one was the nicest boss I ever had. So I had the best of times, and the worst of times during my brief time in politics. I wrote a few State of the City speeches and that was kinda cool.
From what I’ve read about your work and some of your favorite writers, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suppose that you are a Velvet Underground fan, would that be an accurate statement? If so, what is it about fans of the Beat generation authors, who somehow find themselves as diehard fans of the Velvets? Does the Purple Bananas cover have any inspiration from the Andy Warhol peelable banana cover for the Velvet Underground and Nico album?
Very good eye. Yes, I ripped off the Velvet Underground cover for my book. I think it was Groucho Marx who said, “Good artists create and great artists steal.”
https://www.metrotimes.com/arts/purple-pain-2283639
I know it’s kind of a run of the mill question but I feel its an important one and maybe one you get asked a lot. For the dreamers and visionaries out there, thinking about getting into writing and authoring books, what is the best piece of advice you could give them? What to avoid? What to chase after?
Writing is a tough gig to make a viable living at. I work as a journalist during the day, and by night I work on my own writing projects. Here’s a list of advice I would give ANYBODY who’s trying to make a creative dream come true. 1) Learn how to manage frustration. There’s no such thing as a shortcut and there’s no such thing as an overnight success. You’re going to have to bust your ass to make it, even if you catch a lucky break. 2)If no one will give you a leg up to get your artwork out there, make it anyway. Self-publishing is completely viable in this day and age. 3) Hire a good editor. I can’t emphasize this enough. I wish I had done that with Purple Bananas. 4) Don’t quit. This is a big one. It took me four years from the time I started Purple Bananas to the time it actually got published. You’re going to get frustrated; you’re going to think what you wrote is pure shit. But don’t quit. Finishing a big ass project like a book will make you feel so fucking good. I’m telling you.
Where can the ROX-TV readers find your material for sale and consumption?
Purple Bananas is available at BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/purple-bananas
I also maintain a blog at patreon.com/purplebananas/. Subscribe today and put a few dollars in my tip jar.
Before we part ways, I enjoy giving participants the chance to drop a few shout outs. Who is Jason Webber shouting out tonight?
Oh man. There are so many shout outs to give. So many people have helped me and supported me over the years and I can’t thank them enough. But for the sake of brevity, I want to give a shout-out to the entire Juggalo family, Violent J and Shaggy for believing in me, and to my domestic/parenting partner Shannon for being there through thick and thin. I also want to give a shout-out to my best friend/muse/business partner Melissa Moshell for her love and support over the years. Shout out to my homeboy Champtown for his support. Shout out to Rude Boy and Carlito for their friendship.
Well, that about does it for tonight. I’d like to thank Jason Webber for stopping by to chop it up with us on the ROX-TV website. The man is a good dude and if you enjoy books, make sure to get your ass off the couch and go pick up a copy of Purple Bananas today. I can’t wait to see what this guy gets up to next, I know it will great. As always, be kind to other humans, treat everyone with respect, and lets make the world a better place than when we found it. Until next time…
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Head Writer
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