QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WHAT IS THE ONE QUESTION YOU THINK INTERVIEWERS HAVE NOT ASKED AND OF WHOM? YOU ARE ALLOWED TO INCLUDE MUSICIANS WHO HAVE PASSED ON

Just off the top of my pinhead (lol), I would have loved to have known why John Sykes titled Jelly Roll, Jelly Roll? What is the significance? Jelly Roll Morton? A nickname for someone? His favorite treat?

If I think of anything else, I will update my comment.

25 Responses

  3. To Paul Stanley: After years of both you and Gene Simmons condemning artists who lip sync and/or use backing tracks, why did YOU decide to do the exact thing you condemned when it was obvious your real voice was no longer good enough?

    1. Great question, RPS! I’d love to see Paul Stanley’s response to your question.

  4. To Lars Ulrich: When you kicked Mustaine out of Metallica, and he told you not to use his music, why did you ignore him and use his music, anyway, on Metallica’s albums? Exodus had the decency and professionalism to not use Kirk Hammett’s music on Exodus albums. Why couldn’t you have been similarly decent and professional?

    1. …and to Mustaine, why did you have anything to do with those guys after they did that to you? they did him in again with that movie…but Mustaine is the comeback king…it’s not even close

    2. …Tony…, Mustaine sure is the “comeback king”. He rebounded from being kicked out of Metallica, overcame addition and health crises, and overcame nerve damage that almost ended his career. He founded the most technical of all the Big 4 bands, was the pioneer of the thrash metal genre, and now will celebrate his career with a global farewell tour.

      IMO, without Dave Mustaine, Metallica doesn’t gain success with those first three Metallica albums and their live shows.

    3. Metallica would probably agree with you…they just wanted fame and fortune, and nothing was going to stop James and Lars – they are like two abusive older brothers to Dave (which is how I see Gene and Paul to Ace and Peter, constantly belittled and underestimated); I actually think Metallica is a better rock band than a metal band…so we differ on that; I think they peaked creativity in the ’90s, and now they rehash their early material…

  5. Do you think Jelly Roll would have been a bigger hit with a different title? Its an excellent song, taylor made for late 80’s radio…but was never played. Always thought it was the track name that killed it…

    My question to Testament…why dont you play (and for that matter even acknowledge) “The Ballad” live? Its a GREAT song (one of mu favs from senior year in HS)…would love to hear them acknowledge it, it is like a forgotten song in their catalogue!

    1. Hi Michael,

      I have no idea, I am not completely convinced that had anything to do with it, but it is a confusing title.

      Additionally, the question why it is named Jelly Roll is not really answered in the lyrics, either. Perhaps, that was Sykes‘ angle? I always wondered if it was some type of sexual euphemism?

      In my humble opinion, I think the biggest issue, and failure, was the record company. Geffen should have done a far better job promoting the album. MTV should have been incentivized to have Blue Murder on hosting shows, such as Headbanger’s Ball or Dial MTV. The band should have had far more exposure and put on a late night show, like Letterman. If he was too big, then one of the smaller shows following Letterman or Leno.

      The Geffen publicity department should have been working overtime getting Sykes into the pages of Metal Edge, Circus, Hit Parader and even pushed for more main stream magazines such as Rolling Stone and Spin. He had the perfect image for a cover. It would not have taken much to make him look like a rock God.

      Also, there should have been a strong campaign to get the single played on rock radio stations. Geffen could have also tried to get the band interviewed by both popular DJs and shock jocks.

      Geffen took an almost flawless diamond and set it with fake gold, meaning they had no clue of the value of what they had and treated it with minimal effort. The publicity department were complete fools and idiots, no wonder why Sykes did not have any faith, nor trust many in the industry, I can’t blame him.

      Sykes should have been huge, he had the looks, and far more talent than Bon Jovi. He just seemed to be lacking all the right business people.

    2. I saw them play “The Ballad” in March here in Portland at the Roseland. It’s on regular rotation this tour cycle. It was excellent. \m/

    3. Taskerofpuppets – are they really playing it live now?? DAMN…i didnt get tix for the new tour, now i wish i had!! They normally never play that song, I am correct in that statement, right?? I also think they need to be mentioned more as one of the top Thrash artists of all time. Their newer stuff is just as good (if not BETTER) than their older stuff. Just an amazing band…me personally i like them better than Megadeth, I would put Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and TESTAMENT as the Big 4

    4. And Dana – to this day JellyRoll is one of my favorite songs, it is on almost all of my playlists. Really should have been huge…

    5. Mike,

      You are preaching to the chorus, Sykes‘ opening acoustic chords are what I find most catchy, and timeless, about the song.

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