Known as the frontman for alternative rock band Grinspoon, Phil Jamieson has taken a surprising theatrical twist. He tells Matt Myers about his offbeat role in Green Day’s American Idiot.
Playing St Jimmy in American Idiot came as a bit of a surprise. What made you take it on?
Well, I got an email last year from my management saying they had something a bit left of center that may be of interest. I said yes immediately because it sounded different and fun, but didn’t realise just how challenging it would be! I had said yes without really thinking of the consequences and in rehearsals I thought ‘I can’t do this’ and ‘I can’t do that’, as it all seemed very hard. I was flabbergasted! I was sharing the role with Chris Cheney from The Living End, and we were comparing notes going ‘Whoa!’ I was also surrounded by all these incredibly talented young people, who could sing, dance, act, and do cartwheels, so it was all fairly intimidating. But ultimately I got my groove on a bit, relaxed and got to enjoy it. So it was really flattering to be asked back for the touring season. I’ve been in the game for a while, but I’ve gotten so much out of this, including a wonderful sense of camaraderie, teamwork and great friendships.
For those who haven’t seen it, can you explain your character St Jimmy?
I encourage one of the main characters to indulge. The story centers around three young men living in Jingletown USA, and they’re disillusioned with life. One of them, Johnny, moves to the city and meets me, where I live in the alleys! I’m that person who sits on your shoulder. The classic enabler! I’m all about destruction and I lead Johnny down a hedonistic path. In some ways I’m a villain and he’s pretty nasty. Its definitely not pantomime!
The role has been uniquely shared with Chris Cheney (The Living End) Sarah McLeod (Superjesus) and Adalita (Magic Dirt). You’re somewhat a part of a Nineties music alumni. Who were your influences back then?
This is tricky for me. The Nineties were a bit revivalist and I get the fact that people were into it. Grinspoon started in 95 and we broke in about 97, so we were late Nineties and then had our successes in the Noughties. But regardless, when we started playing I fell in love with Aussie bands like Magic Dirt, Tumbleweed and You Am I. I had to get their CDs through mail order as I lived in regional NSW, but those bands gave me some direct hope that I could be in an Australian band and be as cool as they were. Outside of that I enjoyed overseas stuff too. I was heavily into Nirvana, Slant Six and those kinds of bands, but as a young teen I was inspired by the holy trinity of Lou Reed, David Bowie and Iggy Pop. They were my three main people not just for songwriting, but I loved their stage game as well.
If there’s one musician you could bring back from the dead to perform with, who would it be?
I can’t really go past Freddie Mercury. I don’t really want to perform with him, I just want to see him because he had the best rock voice of all time. David Bowie and Lou Reed were also incredible artists and I love Prince as well. There’s four!
Who’s Phil Jamieson’s diva?
I go straight to Whitney. Whitney’s How Will I Know, when she opened the 86 Grammys was brilliant. I think she was all of nineteen and they didn’t even bother giving her a band, she played to a backing track. There’s just something about Whitney, and of course the original – Diana Ross. They are my two go-to divas.
Speaking of influences, you made a huge impact at the Countdown NYE Concert with Stevie Wright’s Evie. Are you aware of how well it was received?
I’ll be honest, it was actually a bizarre experience for me, because I don’t know Marcia Hines or John Paul Young, and I’ve never met Colin Hay or Kate Ceberano. Jimmy Barnes was lovely and very accommodating, but I’d never mixed in those types of circles and everyone there had an entourage of about seven people. I literally had zero! So it was a bit bizarre, but I’m glad my performance was well received, because it’s actually a hard song to sing.
It was beautiful.
Thank you very much. I was really emotionally invested and wanted to make Stevie’s son proud. Nick is one of my best friends and was actually the best man at my wedding. I have a lot of love for Stevie and his family, as I know them personally and I attended his funeral. I guess that’s why it came across the way it did. I was honoured to be asked to sing it and I couldn’t fuck it up! I took that song very seriously because it’s engrained into my psyche and is very personal for me.
At your last Grinspoon tour you thumbed your nose at Margaret Court by selling T-shirts with the message Twenty Years of Better Living at Marriage Equality Arena! Thank you for that!
My pleasure!
How happy are you that marriage equality has become a reality in Australia?
I’m just fucking relieved. I was so incensed that it was even a thing that it got me quite rallied up. So I’m overjoyed that we’re now all on an equal plane, somewhat. I didn’t like the way the debate was framed in this country, and I’m glad it’s over, let’s put it that way. I’m glad we’ve now got equality, but to have this silly debate about human rights in 2017, to me, was mindboggling!
It was fantastic to have that support from the music industry.
For us, it was really tricky, as we didn’t want to politically grandstand, we just wanted to give money to the cause and sell some shirts that showed where we stood. We’ve very happy about the result and I’m just relieved that it’s behind us. I think some of the opposition speech was not very positive and actually quite harmful, to everyone, and there’s still that lingering sentiment of conservatism in this country which I can’t believe is still happening. I just wish we had a progressive leader like Canada’s Justin Trudeau or New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern.
So if you were gay, who would be your man?
Actually, I’ll go with Justin. He’s sensational, gorgeous and smart.
Rodger Corser went from a rock band into musical theater and is now a leading TV star. Any plans to movie into that industry?
I pretty much have no aversions to do television or film. Even during Grinspoon we did a lot of videos and such in that medium, and while I love watching it, I find that creative part really quite tedious. No offence to all the TV people out there. I’m so flattered to be asked to be in American Idiot, but I’ll see what lands on my lap. The more I learn and the more I’m challenged is definitely a plus for me. The producers took a risk in casting me and I’m really grateful, so if these opportunities keep arising then hell yeah to that!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Bernard Fanning from Powderfinger told me to roll my clothes in a suitcase and not fold them. I should have really taken some songwriting advice, but I was too busy getting drunk!
Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction on stage?
Yes I was playing a solo show in Brisbane for a food and wine festival, and I had gone sans underwear with delicious Jack London tight-fitting pants. I got a little excited running around, crouched down and they split right up the back. I mean there were kids there, and this is in Queensland, the most conservative state in Australia! Luckily it was the last song, so I kind of held my legs together and shuffled off stage as well as I could. So the twigs and berries were exposed to everyone! It was quite embarrassing.
Are you a jocks, boxers or freeballing man?
Well on that day I was certainly freeballing! Otherwise I go for the comfort of boxer briefs.
American Idiot is playing at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre. For more visit: americanidiotlive.com.au
