Interview: Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind

Having already performed at Pie & Vinyl earlier in the day, Mr Teeth arranged to interview Jim Jones ahead of his show at the Milton Arms Barn, Portsmouth.

During the interview, Jim Jones explains how he came to play Keith Richard’s 1964 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar at Pie & Vinyl. We also cover the ethos behind Jim Jones and the Righteous Minds new album “CollectiV”, his love of the MC5 and much more.

Interview: Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind

Introducing the frontman of Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind… Mr Jim Jones.

I know the venue is separate from the pub, but it’s very weird being here. Yesterday we played at Oxford, for the Love Music Hate Racism and then tonight we’re at a pub with the St George Cross plastered above the door. It’s like, you do know we’re anti-fascist and hate racists?

Obviously, I appreciate it’s not necessarily about that, but it makes me think about how we no longer associate the flag with just being proud about where we’re from… but anyway, it’s sold out so we must be doing something right!

So Jim, thanks for your time, did you enjoy playing at Record Store Day earlier?

Yeah really liked it, love doing unusual things like that. I just think the music industry is on its knees in a lot of ways, changing really fast. The traditional way of doing things is becoming quite a dinosaur now. In-stores aren’t a new thing, but we get so used to mail outs about concerts, that the people that go out of their way to buy a ticket are kind of in the minority. They’re always dedicated to live music, but things like playing in an actual record shop seems to put it out to a wider audience.

What’s your take on Record Store Day as a whole?

I must admit, I’ve never been to a Record Store Day thing before, but it’s close to what I expected it to be. It’s about the vinyl at the end of the day, being able to physically hold something. So selling records at gigs or through independent record stores such as Pie & Vinyl, are becoming the few ways artists can actually make money.

I noticed at your merch stand you’re also selling artwork by your bass player?

Yeah, we’re lucky to make a living doing this, but the bankers fucked it up for everyone years ago and it’s become harder ever since. The arts in general take a real beating, you just feel you’re being crushed from all angles. So you have to figure out a way round it and still make it work. Much like Record Store Day, it’s good to put something on that’s an event, rather than just a gig and help pull in different interests.

So do you get to play many stripped back shows?

Not that often, today was the first time we’ve played those songs in that format. We played “Hold up” acoustically at a festival in a media tent, but everything else was the first time really.

Does it come naturally, or do you have to re-arrange them to work?

We didn’t really get time to re-work them, so we just decided which to do and thought we’d see how it goes. I think 3 out of 4 were alright, but “Sex Robot” really needs that heavy backbeat behind it. You could see by everyone’s faces they were enjoying themselves… but then I ruined it by saying let’s all get a fucking pie! It’s all about the pies.

Keith Richard’s 1964 Gibson Hummingbird Guitar

There was also a lot of talk about your guitar, the Keith Richards Guitar… what’s the back story?

Yeah, that’s the one, Keith Richards wrote and recorded a lot of classic early Rolling Stones tracks with it. Alan Clayton (from the Dirty Strangers) was at P&V earlier, he’s been good mates with Keith since the 80’s and still is. So a few years back the guitar was in a repair place and I get the impression the guy was deliberately taking his time with it.

When he eventually gave it back, Keith made a point of passing it over to Alan in front of the repair bloke. It was sort of a statement and said this is for you mate. Keith used to take that guitar everywhere with him, all the old photos are that very one. He’s written and recorded with it, so it’s obviously really precious to Alan.

The Stones management thought that guitar should travel the world as part of the exhibition that was at the V&A recently. But Keith was like no, it’s not mine anymore I’ve given it to Alan, it’s up to him and was just lovely about him keeping it.

Now that guitar has become a talking point for Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind.

Yeah, I knew I wanted a few bits of acoustic guitar on the new album and it seriously is the nicest guitar I’ve ever played on. I asked Alan if I could use it today and he’s just a guy with a big heart, so kindly brought it over.

Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind – “The CollectiV”

As for the new album then, what should people expect?

It’s been described as a collection of everything I’ve done before really. Including influences from my other bands Thee Hypnotics and Black Moses, as well as the Jim Jones Review.

The idea of Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind “CollectiV” album was to bring people together. I think the industrial revolution has kind of come to an end.

People know things need to change, but those in power who make the most money don’t want to let go. I’ve always been involved in the whole anti-establishment thing, but was always a little jealous of bands like the MC5 with their grasp on politics.

I guess, where I’m going with this is the future doesn’t look great and now I understand where those bands were coming from. The establishment’s motto has always been divide and conquer. If they can find make the working class blame others and fight among themselves, they somehow become easier to control.

How was it doing the album through crowdfunding?

I just wanted to get loads of people involved, both on the album and behind the scenes. Hence calling the new album from Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind “CollectiV”.

Crowd Funding is something I may have looked down at before as a bit desperate. However, I’ve realised it completely goes with the ethos of bringing people together.  It just seemed perfect, taking back the creative process and the production. All with the direct help of the fans.

You mentioned Thee Hypnotics earlier, is there a similar vibe with that band or do you work differently?

I seem to be more focussed with Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind, Thee Hypnotics is a rock n roll school reunion. We hadn’t played together for 20 years at one point, but remained on good terms, then Beggars Banquet wanted to put together the box set. So we thought it was the right time to get back together.

That’s what Thee Hypnotics are about at the moment, but we were all fans of the MC5 and the Stooges etc back in the day. Bands that stood for something. I don’t want to say communism or socialism, as those words now have been hijacked by the media and people think you mean Stalin or something.

We kind of need new words to explain it, as they’ve almost been demonised. Like the flag on the pub we mentioned earlier, nothing wrong with being proud of where you’ve come from. However, anything based on alienation, fear and hatred is wrong.

Whereas most things based on hope and love, working together are just right. It really should be that simple. Politicians are deliberately cloudy as they don’t want the workers sticking their noses in.

You’ve a real passion for old school rock n roll and garage bands, do you see that same energy in newer bands too?

Sometimes, yeah of course, but I don’t always see the same ferocity. As a teenager, I went to see the Cramps, Johnny Thunders and bands like that. Nick Cave still has it, you don’t know where it’s going to go, almost immersive theatre. There’s a sense of danger, but also that drive and urgency without it being a macho thing. It’s a stylish way to wake you up emotionally, you can go to a higher place together. It’s like any kind of ceremony, but I think a concert should be the perfect example of that.

As a frontman you’re quite preacher-like, not necessarily lyrically but in the delivery.

It’s what I like about old gospel, it’s about things may be shit but what can we do to snap you out of it. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes, that fire and anger from rock n roll can keep you going for weeks in the same way as going to church. It’s like all this Brexit shit, no-one understands what it’s all about, but we need a way of getting along regardless of what we all think.

We’re in this together man, one race. It’s all a bit being a hippie, but there’s another word that’s been demonized. Everyone thinks of Neil from the Young Ones with all his peace and love, but there’s nothing wrong with those ideas. When people do come together as one, it scares the shit out of the establishment.

So, is that changing how you write these days?

Yeah, but it’s more through the medium of the music rather than the lyrics. This time around we’ve brought more people together to finance it, more musicians to guest on it and throw ideas about. There was a conscious decision to make different types of songs, to help incorporate how we can all come together on one album.  As with any type of art, music can open the door and do exactly that, bringing people together is a beautiful thing.

Thanks for the interview Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind

New album “CollectiV” is out now!