Hollywood Undead: 15 years of the Undead

In 2005, a seven-piece band from the streets of LA was formed, originating from a track posted on MySpace. After several years spent trying to find a label that wouldn’t censor their debut record, Swan Songs was finally released in 2008, signalling the birth of HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD. A decade and a half later, the UNDEAD are still going strong, capping the year off with the release of their seventh studio album New Empire, Vol. 2 (Dec 4th) and a house party style livestream on the 18th. With 15 years in the bank and seven records under their belt, Johnny 3 Tears is using the time to take one look over his shoulder at the band’s highlights thus far whilst continuing to push on forward.

“No highlights, it’s all been downhill since the beginning. No, there’s been so many. One thing that really tripped me out that I still think about is the first time we went overseas to a non-English speaking country. I had never been outside the US apart from to go to Mexico, the first time I think was right after we went to the UK we did a show in Germany. Obviously, most people in Germany speak English but it’s their second language so to see a bunch of kids singing things back to you that you wrote, that far away from home because we had been in a band since we were like 16 but we’d never played anywhere but parties and little clubs so to see that it kind of blew my mind.”

Despite, in Johnny’s words, growing up alongside their fans in this time, the key principles of HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD remain the same. Initially connecting with fans due to their straight-talking approach and ability to weave different voices and viewpoints into songs, the California natives quickly established a strong bond with their audience. Somewhat accidentally finding their place amongst the metal community, the band’s straight-up nature has remained consistent from day one, even if their ability as musicians has developed massively in that time, by Johnny’s own admission.

“That was absolutely unplanned, it’s weird because we play all these metal festivals with SLAYER and METALLICA or IRON MAIDEN and AVENGED SEVENFOLD and we are always the odd man out because we aren’t like those other bands. Those are the fans though that like the music so it was kind of surprising to me in many ways but you get in where you fit in and it was cool for us. I don’t think there are better audiences in the world than in metal and rock because they just love it and that makes you want to go crazy so I’m glad it worked out the way it did as opposed to a bunch of people stood there grinding on each other, that wouldn’t be very fun for me.”

When balancing the worlds of rap and metal, re-treading old ground is a gap all too easy to fall down, especially with such a devoted fanbase. Johnny reiterates how the band try to avoid this when entering the creative process, describing the idea of going back to previous times in the band’s history as “Unnatural”. With any band that connected with fans so early on in their careers, there are always going to be people wanting the ‘old stuff’ back, but re-writing the same record again is not in their plans for the future. “For us, it’s just about being honest with ourselves and we’ve changed a lot over the years so it would be weird if our music didn’t.”

“Sometimes I actually like to antagonise them, because I think it’s just such a stupid thing. There are really cool moments in time like that’s what I hate about remakes of movies especially when I like them, it’s like special to you so it gives you nostalgia. I’d rather look back at an old record and be like that was a crazy moment in time like what we were going through. Relieving it feels like you’re just going to come up with a watered-down version of the same thing without the honesty.”

The band’s latest releases, New Empire, Vol. 1 and 2, show the two sides to HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD with clear cut clarity. Naturally forming as a double album with one taking on the heavier side and the other the more hip-hop influenced sound, the band promise to remain active during a time when many bands aren’t. With plans to write a new record in the space left by no live shows, the UNDEAD are ending the year with a celebration by taking the band back to their LA roots. Initially turning down the prospect of a livestream, Johnny warmed to the idea once the ball started rolling. “We wanted to bring that vibe back to where our roots were, the house parties and backyards with people breaking the walls down and I’ve always loved that, I actually miss it sometimes.”

With their double-album added to the arsenal, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD are ready to tear the house down once again on December 18th. 15 years in and still marching on, armed with their uncompromising attitude for doing exactly what they want to do, this UNDEAD army shows no signs of stopping.

New Empire, Vol. 2 is out now via Dove & Grenade Media/BMG. 

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