Josh Freese the next Dave Grohl?

Josh Freese has been impressing the crap out of me for years now. He's been playing drums with the Vandals, A Perfect Circle, Devo, Nine Inch Nails and literally 1000 other bands. He's a very successful studio drummer too. He even played on the Formats second record. A friend of mine was managing them at the time and the story was that he was actually recording tracks and lighting a cigarette at the same time. Probably even made a pb and j sammy for all I know.

Josh Freese is now releasing his first record (as far as I know it's his first). He wrote the songs, sings them and plays most instruments as well. If there's anyone out there who's as talented as Dave Grohl, it's definitely Josh Freese. I hope the CD kicks major butt. Look for it in March.

It seems that Josh as been talking to his pal Trent Reznor a lot because in true Nine Inch Nails fashion, Josh's unusual marketing of his upcoming release has been making huge waves around the net.

Here's one example of an actual package Josh is offering. Go to joshfreese.com for the whole list...

$75,000 (limited edition of 1)

-Signed CD/DVD and digital download -T-shirt -Go on tour with Josh for a few days. -Have Josh write, record and release a 5 song EP about you and your life story. -Take home any of his drumsets (only one but you can choose which one.) -Take shrooms and cruise Hollywood in Danny from TOOL's Lamborgini OR play quarters and then hop on the Ouija board for a while. -Josh will join your band for a month...play shows, record, party with groupies, etc.... -If you don't have a band he'll be your personal assistant for a month (4 day work weeks, 10 am to 4 pm) -Take a limo down to Tijuana and he'll show you how it's done (what that means exactly we can't legally get into here) -If you don't live in Southern California (but are a US resident) he'll come to you and be your personal assistant/cabana boy for 2 weeks. -Take a flying trapeze lesson with Josh and Robin from NIN, go back to Robin's place afterwards and his wife will make you raw lasagna.


Bob Lefsetz, a music critic that I read daily, made mention of Josh's efforts recently. Here's what Josh replied with. From a music marketing perspective, I hope you find it as insightful as I did...not to mention what a heeelarious dude Josh seems to be...

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Hi Bob! How are ya? Just wanted to drop in and say THANKS for giving my wacky little album promotion thing a thumbs up in your blog the other day. I'm glad that you appreciated the creative, fun, DIY aspect to it. I'm proud of it and got a kick out of putting it all together. I'm happy that some folks (such as yourself) dug it and are talking about it. That's all I could've hoped for. I mean...I'm no dummy and I don't expect anyone to purchase some of the ridiculously expensive "packages" that I am offering. BUT so far what I wanted to happen HAS happened...people have taken notice and are now talking about it. As for my upcoming record, I paid for it myself and I am putting it out myself (isn't everybody these days?) and really just wanted to do something wacky and different that wouldn't cost much. I hired a publicist to spread the word and to get me a few interviews but that's all the "marketing" that is being done really. My record's just a pop rock record of songs I've w
ritten and I sing and play everything on it (for the most part.)

I am 100% serious though in delivering on any of the packages that are purchased. That's half the fun...if not ALL THE FUN! If someone buys "lunch at PF Changs" or a "private tour of Disneyland" or (the one you liked) "miniature golfing with me, Mark Mothersbaugh and Maynard James Keenan" then you better believe that I will get it together, do it AND film it for youtube posting! Everyone I pulled in on this one have signed off and are prepared IN CASE it goes down. The one I really hope someone gets is when I write a song about them to put up on iTunes or better yet (the more expensive version) when I write a 5 or 6 song EP about the purchaser and market it on iTunes and all over the web...just like a real record. It would be a REAL RECORD after all! Anyhow, we'll see what happens. In the end, if it just grabs someone's attention and they go to my site and shell out 7 bucks for the digital download...well, I'd be happy with that. I do hope to get up to takers on the weird stu
ff though and then document and post it. I'll let ya know how it goes. Hell, how about you and me hit the ol' "Sensory deprivation tank" and then have dinner at Sizzler!

Thanks again,

Josh


P.S. Here's my latest "commercial" that I put together in iMovie on my lap-top and posted today. I even got my old pal who does most of the AM radio commercial spots here in LA to narrate it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWeLyp13jv0