Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: John "J.D." DeServio of Black Label Society

Black Label Society’s J.D.
breaks the cycle

March 2, 2009

It was Zakk Wylde, an old friend from New Jersey, who gave bassist John “J.D.” DeServio his biggest break, bringing him into the fold to play bass for Black Label Society. Now J.D. is doing the same for childhood friends Joe Taylor and Greg Locascio. The three of them, along with drummer Rich Monica, comprise Cycle of Pain and their self-titled debut album hits stores April 21. On the same day, Cycle of Pain joins the Black Label Bash, the spring tour featuring Black Label Society, Sevendust, Dope and others. J.D. recently checked in with Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki to discuss his new band, the tour, BLS and more.

Live-Metal.net: Just recently, your new band, Cycle of Pain, played its first few shows. How did they go?

John “J.D.” DeServio: They went great, man. They were good rehearsals ‘cause Cycle of Pain’s getting to open up for Black Label starting April 21. So we wanted to get some good rehearsal in and the best rehearsals are shows. And the band never really played together in this configuration I put together now, so it was good practice, like I said. It’s not like we’ve been a touring band or anything like that, so we need as much practice as we can get ‘cause now we don’t to play until April—April 21. That’s a long time to sit around.

A couple of these guys you used to play with back when you were a teenager, right?

Yeah, Joe Taylor, the guitar player, and Greg [Locascio], my singer, we were in a band when we were 14, 15, together for years. So it’s pretty insane. And then I got this record deal and I wanted to have my brothers with me.

Are you playing the same type of stuff you played way back then?

We were younger then. We were playing a lot of covers, old Scorpions stuff, Metallica. But then we started writing our own music, too. We only had like two originals then.

After such a long time—20 years or whatever it’s been—why was now the right time to get back together and do this?

We’ve been together on and off. We’ve been friends all the time and we even jammed together. We did some shows in 2003 as a trio, me, Joe and Greg. Greg played drums and sang; Joe played guitar; and I played bass and sang. Like I said, we’ve always written together and jammed, but now through Black Label a lot of doors were opened for me. So that was it. It was just a matter of having a key to the door, and once I got that, I went for it. I was like, “Fuck it. I want to have my brothers with me.”

I’ve only gotten to hear the short, minute-long clips that are up right now. How would you describe the Cycle of Pain sound?

It’s hard rock. We’re a throwback. We’re definitely a throwback ‘cause we all jam. I guess a throwback with a modern twist, with maybe some modern production. But that’s basically it. We’re a rock band. But, like I said, we have some cool sounds we’re using that are kind of modern. But we definitely are a throwback in the sense where we’re a jam band.

You’ve got a lot of guests on the album. Zakk Wylde, an obvious one there. I’m sure you’ve been asked this in most of the interviews you’ve done, but how did you meet Zakk originally?

We met in Jersey ‘cause he grew up about 40 minutes south of me. He was in a band, jamming at this club right by my house. I heard about this great guitar player and I went to see him and he was fuckin’ awesome. I was at soundcheck and I heard him riffing, and I was like, “Dude, you are just fuckin’ amazing.” He was the nicest kid in the world, and then we went downstairs to the dressing room and fuckin’ me and him jammed for like four hours. Ever since then we became like best friends. So we met in Jersey before Ozzy, all that shit.

So then when you brought him in to play on the album, how did that work out?

He was in town. He was in New York doing some meetings and stuff, so we just snuck a car in to go get him and brought him up to the studio, and that’s it. We just ripped it up.

A couple of the other guys you have on there, a couple of really great drummers, Ray Luzier [Korn, Army of Anyone] and Brian Tichy [Billy Idol].

Yeah, yeah. They’re great, great friends of mine. Brian, I went to Berklee [College of Music] with Brian. So we’ve been friends almost as long as me and Zakk and me and Joe have been friends. Brian’s another brother of mine. He’s an amazing guitar player, as well as a drummer. He actually played guitar and drums on the song “Rain Down” on my record. And Ray, I became friends with Ray through the years. Another amazing, amazing drummer and a really beautiful dude. Black Label was on tour with Korn and Ozzy last year, and I got to hang with Ray quite a bit and it was really fuckin’ fun. We hit it off bigtime, and then I was out in L.A. and Ray played on one of my tracks with me.

One that I’m sure might be raising a few eyebrows is Sen Dog from Cypress Hill.

Yes, yes. We have this one tune that Greg wrote, actually, a few years back called “Do My Work High.” It’s like a funky tune, kind of a hip-hop feel but rock. When Greg raps—well, he raps and sings—when he’s kind of doing that he sounds like B-Real, totally. The second I heard it, I was like, “Oh shit, I’ve got to get the guys from Cypress on this one.” I was stoked when I heard it and here it is, I made it really fuckin’ happen. So it’s pretty cool. And Sen’s an awesome dude. I was doing the Shot to Hell record with Zakk in California and Sen Dog’s rock band was across the hall. I think Slash was supposed to do a solo on one of their things and he didn’t show up. And I said, “Why don’t you guys get Zakk?” And then Zakk played on their shit and then we all became friends and brothers and shit, so Sen agreed to play on my shit for me.

Why is Cycle of Pain not doing more dates on the Black Label Bash tour?

Well, because by the time they got around to getting us on it, they already had bands that had bought on already. So logistically, I had to take what I could get, which is totally fine with me. I’m really, really excited to have anything. And we are doing the last three weeks, so that’s pretty fuckin’ cool, man.

Do you have anything lined up for after that yet? Do you know what the plan is?

Right now, I don’t. I’m trying. Once the record hits, hopefully things will become easier for me. I’d like to get on with another band, obviously, open up for another band’s audience. If I have to, I will put together my own run, but at this point I’d like to go out with another band one more time before our own run.

Are you looking forward to pulling double duty on this first tour?

Oh yeah, dude. I cannot wait, man. Like I said, I’m so excited and so thankful and blessed to have everything I have. I say this all the time: Zakk’s given me more than anybody on the planet besides my parents and God, and that’s really the truth.

What are some of your favorite BLS songs to play live?

To play live? Well, let me see … I love “Suffering Overdue.” That’s just a fun, heavy, heavy tune I just love jamming at and wailing at. It’s really Sabbathy. I like the mellow shit, to be honest with you, because I get to play fretless and it’s more dynamic, so you can really hear the bass better. So I dig that shit, too. I love “New Religion.” I pretty much like ‘em all, dude. Whenever I’m up there, it’s just always fun, dude.

Are there any songs that you haven’t gotten to play live that you really want a chance to?

Well, yeah, this tour now we’re doing six or seven songs that I had never played before with the guys. One I’m looking forward to is “Stoned and Drunk.” I love that song. I’m really psyched to jam that one. We’re playing a couple of ones off Shot to Hell that we hadn’t done, like “Faith Is Blind.” That’s a fun tune ‘cause it’s pretty up and ripping, so I’m psyched to do that one, as well.

Are you looking forward to not just the shows but getting to see all the fans, the different chapters?

Ah, hell yeah, dude. We have the greatest fans in the world. We really do. They’re very loyal and we appreciate it so much, dude. I do all I can for them because they’ve given me so much. It definitely goes around.

You also do a lot of bass clinics.

Yeah and I have a clinic run on this tour, as well, which is awesome.

What is it that you like about that and what is it that you hope to accomplish at those?

With the clinics, I’m trying to show our fans that there’s other musics out there, like funk and jazz and gospel and reggae, and other styles of music that are really fun to play and really educational, especially as far as becoming a better musician. So I get to jam. Like I said, I play jazz and funk and all these different styles of music, and I’ll jam with my drum machine and just riff, and then explain what I’m doing. I’ll even play along to maybe a Black Label tune or one of my tunes from Cycle of Pain and then explain how I did it, what I’m doing and what I was thinking. So it’s pretty cool, man. It’s totally educational and, like I said, just trying to inspire the kids about blues and all that kind of stuff, too, because soul music is definitely missing today.

Do you think that bass players get the respect that they should from music fans?

Um … I think a lot them don’t get the respect they deserve. Some do. But a lot of them don’t. John Paul Jones never really got the respect he deserved. Steve Harris, he’s respected, but he really had a huge impact on the world. He deserves more credit. Geezer Butler deserves more. A lot of guys … James Jamerson, every bass player should know his name and they don’t. So that’s kind of sad to me.

So these guys you’re going through here, are these the people who influenced you?

Oh, without a doubt, man, without a doubt. My early influences, I started playing bass ‘cause I saw a picture of KISS and I loved the way Gene Simmons looked. So that’s why I started playing, but then my ears started developing. I got a little older and I heard Iron Maiden and the bass just kicked my ass ‘cause I actually kind of heard it as a kid. That’s when I just started really practicing. It was about eighth grade and then that was it.

Back then, did you ever think that that would end up taking you around the world?

No, I never ever thought about it. Never. I just loved music and wanted to play, wanted to get better and I never really thought about the whole being around the world thing and endorsements and all that shit. It just kinda happened, which is really cool.

You’ve been in this business for a while now and played all over the place. Is there something you would consider a highlight of your career?

I’ve had many, man, so many. Playing Madison Square Garden, that was a fuckin’ dream come true. I took batting practice with the Mets pitchers at Shea Stadium and got a hit, so that was a dream come true. Man, I’ve had so many. Opening up for Ozzy, hanging with Ozzy. Opening up for Rush, hanging with them guys. I’ve had so many amazing moments, bro.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Well, the record comes out, my record Cycle of Pain comes out April 21. It should be in stores near you and I hope everybody checks it out. Hopefully, about a month before that it’ll be on some radio, getting some spins. So I just really hope all the fans dig it and I just want to thank them all so much for their support.

I’m really looking forward to hearing it.

Oh man, thanks a lot, brother.