Killswitch Engage Vocalist Jesse Leach Plays ‘Would You Rather?’
Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach sat in the hot seat for a game of 'Would You Rather?' before the band took the stage in New York City in promotion of their latest album ‘Disarm the Descent.’ We had a chance to pick his brain as he answered a bunch of random questions, telling us why he would marry Lemmy Kilmister instead of Ozzy Osbourne, his insight on mosh pits and much more along the way. Check out our game of ‘Would You Rather?’ with Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage below:
Would you rather be really late for the show or mess up onstage?
Really late for a show because you can always make it up or play longer. Messing up sucks, man.
Would you rather be in the studio or on tour?
I think on tour because I’m more of a spur of the moment person. Writing in the studio is painful for me sometimes because I really enjoy spontaneity.
Personally, would you rather have unlimited music or unlimited concert tickets?
I think unlimited music because it’s the soundtrack to everything. Going to a concert is something I love doing but I find myself enjoying music a lot more [while] doing something I want to do -- riding my bike, going for a drive, going for a walk, that’s when I really listen to music. There are times when I’m on tour and I’m not listening to music where I do want quiet but unlimited music for sure.
Would you rather tour with a band you didn't respect or tour with a band that didn't respect you?
[Laughs] I've done both. Shoot I don’t know, I guess a band I didn't respect because I think I could handle that pretty well. I’m a pretty nice guy, easy going, I can also be like a ghost. If I want to avoid somebody or something, I’m good at disappearing. [Laughs] That’s probably more my strength, get up early in the morning before anyone’s up and just disappear.
Would you rather marry Ozzy or Lemmy? Pick your poison.
Easy, Lemmy. He would be so much easier to deal with because he’s so laid back. You see him in interviews and I’ve even seen him on tours; he’s got this "doesn’t care" attitude. I just feel like Ozzy would be talking and analyzing everything. It would drive me absolutely insane.
Would you rather have lunch with a music icon who has passed or a future music icon no one knows about yet?
An icon who has passed away and that would be [Clash singer-guitarist] Joe Strummer. I’ve always wanted to meet that man, he’s one of my heroes.
Would you rather be an ‘80s rock band in present day or would you rather be a present day metal band in the ‘80s? Killswitch Engage in the ‘80s perhaps?
That wouldn’t go over in the ‘80s would it? I would be an ‘80s rocker now if I was a successful ‘80s rocker. [Laughs] Let’s say Iron Maiden? They’re still amazing.
Would you rather live in a world where people break into song or people break into mosh pits?
Song, I’ve got a love-hate thing with moshing. I just think that there’s an etiquette to it, there’s a way to do it. I grew up in the punk and hardcore scene and you take care of each other, there’s a whole ethos that goes along with it. I can’t stand when I see that violence erupt into fights, it’s just the stupidest thing.
You’re all there for the same reason, you’re all a part of the same community. To me that stuff is a celebration it shouldn’t be something that turns to fighting. Moshing at punk shows is so much fun! Go to one, check it out, the energy is much more different. For me I still dance and mosh and when I do it’s about release, getting rid of that pent-up aggression, not taking it out on somebody else.
Our thanks to Jesse Leach for playing 'Would You Rather?' with us. Pick up Killswitch Engage's latest album, 'Disarm the Descent,' at iTunes.