A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to interview Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw/Head Automatica. There were talks of many things including: old side projects to new ones, Roadrunner Records to Debracadabra, from upcoming tours to the nude photo that leaked online last month and even Paris Hilton!

THIS IS PART #2 of the interview… if you haven’t read Part #1, please do so HERE

Anyways…Here is Part #2 of Danceinmyblood’s interview with Daryl Palumbo…

Enjoy.

James: So no work with the Rondo Brothers lately?
Daryl: I haven’t worked with them in a while. I am in constant touch with Jim and Brandon and I think they’re putting out a new record. I co-wrote and sang on one of the songs that we did as a side project 2 years ago.

James: You mean Debracadabra?
Daryl: Yeah that originally was a Debracadabra song. Debracadabra was… uh, about 2 years ago Head Automatica were recording a bunch of songs where I don’t write music. I just wrapped my vocals around it and they would piece it together. I would go in blindly and throw in vocals. It was a fun experience and I wish we would’ve recorded more. Luckily I think some of the songs will come out on the Rondo Brothers record.

James: You have all of these variances in music. You can rap, you can sing hardcore, pop and pretty much whatever. On that note, do you plan on doing any more rapping?
Daryl: I don’t know ya know? I grew up in New York, I’m a huge hip-hop fan. It was great. It was a fun time. I made about 5 records worth of instrumental, electronic and beat related music. I enjoyed it and I still do. As far as rapping, it was fun years ago. I don’t know if I’ll do it again. (laughs) I doubt it. I’m caught up a lot of different musical avenues. I don’t think there’s no need for guys like me to rhyme when there are guys like El-P, Cage and others.
James: Well you do a decent job for the most part…
Daryl: Yeah, I did what I did! (laughs) I listened to a lot of hip-hop, hung out with a lot of hip-hop cats. It was what we did on Long Island. I’m not a rapper (laughs) I don’t think it’s that’s hard to find out. It’s not what I am by nature. I make angry music that makes your parents mad. I make angry music that makes your girlfriend’s mad and I do melodic music too! I’m not a rapper (laughs). But it was a fun time being 19, 20, 21 years old. Every weekend me and my boy Vinny, Duke, and Marshall we would just record all of this material. It was fun. It was a great time.
James: That’s The Directory right?
Daryl: (laughs) Yeah, around 1998. That was our crew! Marshall rhymed under Chuckstarr, Duke rhymed under Duke Eli, Vinnie rhymed under Planet. He was talented as fuck at it. It was fun to hear what he was doing. We’re not rappers but we enjoyed doing it at the time.

James: In the past you’ve stated numerous times that you aren’t big fans of Roadrunner Records but last fall you collaborated with them for their United project. Is the hatchet buried?
Daryl: You know, I don’t have any beef. What am I gonna do? Be mad at a label I was on when I was fuckin 19? Eight years later I don’t have beef. They let me off their label, that’s all I wanted. I wasn’t happy with the decision I made to go on the label. I wasn’t happy the way I was treated. They let us off the label and went through some legal issues here and there. I’m sure they don’t miss us much and I don’t miss them. They didn’t know what to do with Glassjaw. They didn’t understand it. But… I am friends with the guys from Slipknot. I’ve known those dudes for a long time. But pretty much anything that Joey wants me to do, I’ll do for him. Joey put together that song and as a favor to him I sang on it. I have no beef with Roadrunner at this moment.

James: Have you ever had a real job?
Daryl: Have I ever had a real job? Um… if you mean in the classic sense of me going to college and having a desk job. No, Daryl has never done that. I don’t think I have it in me to do that. I’ve had little small jobs here and there. Not many. I worked at the front desk at a gym at Purchase College. I was sort of the security guard slash front desk worker at the gym.
James: (Laughs)
Daryl: How hysterical is that?
James: Yeah. (Laughs)
Daryl: It’s amazing right? You know how small I am. So me being in a gym is funny enough. I weigh like fucking 75 pounds. I’m a fucking midget. So I did that and then when I was like 19 or 20 I worked for one day at a snack bar at a bowling island in Long Island where all the old hardcore kids used to hang out. Oh and I worked at the mall too. That was a very um, boring summer evidently.
James: So random… (laughs)
Daryl: But i’ve never had a real job, no. A friend of mine used this explanation: Work does not work with me or for me. (laughs)
James: Well you got your music and that’s all that really matters…

James: So… what’s the deal on the picture that got leaked on the internet about a month ago?
Daryl: (laughs) umm.. I dunno. It’s funny. I thought it was funny! I don’t know! I’ve always…you know… It’s funny to take pictures like that and send them to my friends.
James: So it wasn’t an accident that someone put it online?
Daryl: Oh I don’t know, I sent that picture to a lot of people.
James: Oh okay…(Laughs)
Daryl: And um… I dunno. Whatever. I don’t know. Whatever! I don’t even care, it’s funny. I had to explain to my mother that um… Well, there was a small article written in our local newspaper about a pornographic picture put up somewhere.
James: Yeah…
Daryl: Us and the band were just DYING over it. Like, ya know? It’s that big of a deal to this people? I got such a kick out of it. But my mother was relativly appalled.
James: (Laughs)
Daryl: You know… as any mother should be.
James: Oh of course!
Daryl: Because their naked little boy is on the internet (laughs)
James: (Laughs) Yeah.
Daryl: I thought it was funny I mean it shows off my girlish figure.
James: Well it was funny to me because someone would post about it and immediately there was this internet police trying to blockade it like “Don’t share it, this is disrespectful to the band” etc. and going off. I mean, there’s no point, if it’s out it’s out.
Daryl: (laughs) I mean yeah, it is what it is. It’s funny to me. It was funny to me, it was funny when I took it. I sent it to a lot of people. There have been photos of me in my life photos of me doing lewd things ya know? It’s just how I am. I guess my friends and I find humor in it. I’m sure anybody knows me and knows my personality probably thought that picture was hysterical. But I could also understand how somebody who is just getting familiar with my band would go on the internet and see that and “-GASP!- Oh my god I can’t believe it!” ya know? But at the same time. I think it’s a fucking… it’s an incredible photo. I’m cracking up right now as we speak about it right now…
James: (laughs) That’s cool you’re so open about it…
Daryl: Who cares?! (laughs) Who gives a shit ya know? It’s the same me that you see anywhere except im standing there making a funny face with my clothes off! It’s funny (laughs). I’m a private person but not to the point where it’s crippling ya know? I’ll fucking take my clothes off right in front of you. I don’t give a fuck ya know? (laughs) The least of my problems in my life, out of all the fucking things I stress out, the last thing I would ever take seriously would be funny photo of me being naked. I have enough shit that I don’t to even worry about that.
James: I think the main thing that everyone was trying to get at was that it could be bad publicity or that kind of thing for Popaganda before it came out…
Daryl: Oh well
James: (laughs)
Daryl: Oh well… oh well! (laughs)

James: Okay, let’s see… are there any albums you are looking forward to coming out?
Daryl: The We Are the Fury album, Cage’s record and Camu.
James: Do you have any approximations on those?
Daryl: Umm, no I do not.

James: Okay. Well, there’s been a rumor you wrote some songs for Paris Hilton…
Daryl: Ummm… I was asked to maybe write some music for her, yes.

James: Do you know of Beck’s www.base001.net ? Are you familiar with that?
Daryl: Uh, no I’m not. I’ve never been to that site.
James: Well Base001.net asked me to ask you if you’ve seen this old video from 2002 with the Suicide Girls where Beck talks about where 88 means HH and how Glassjaw is basically a white power band… (laughs).
Daryl: Oh wow. White power.
James: It was just a joke from Beck in that interview but he basically told me to tell you to check it out.
Daryl: (laughs) What’s that supposed to mean? Hail Hitler? (laughs) Yeah 88 means HH. But no I haven’t seen it but if Beck made it I’m sure I’ll be entertained (laughs).

James: I guess that’s pretty much it for now… but I’ll hit you guys up when you come to Bakersfield. I don’t even know why the hell you guys are even coming here. (laughs)
Daryl: Oh I didn’t even know we were going there…
James: Yeah, 20th of next month. Well, thanks for all the time… I really appreciate it.
Daryl: Oh no doubt. How’ve you been? Been good?
James: Yeah man… just gettin by, summer time is fucking hot as hell here.
Daryl: Dude i’m in Jersey right now and I’m sweating my ass off…
James: Well guess how hot it is here right now?
Daryl: Uh, god, what is it like 80-90?
James: 105.
Daryl: 105!? Fuck that. I wouldn’t even leave my house.
James: Well most likely, next month you’ll be in this weather. (laughs)
Daryl: I don’t even know if I’m playing Vegas but if I am I’m sure it’s going to be fucking disgusting.

James: Seriously dude. But yeah, thanks for the interview.
Daryl: Yeah man, take it easy… say hi when I go out there.
James: Alright, laters.
Daryl: Peace.