Jerry Joseph is a musician who lives in Portland Oregon, but he’s often gone. He’s been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame but is still rather obscure to a lot of people.
He plays well over 150 shows a year in the usual places. Across America. Sometimes in Europe, Mexico, and Central America. Then there’s these other places he plays—Lebanon, Israel, Kurdish Iraq, India, and Afghanistan. All over the Middle East, often in war zones and refugee camps.

In addition to his touring, Jerry has set up a non-profit called Nomad Music Foundation that acts as a sort of School of Rock for displaced teenagers in areas of conflict. So far, he has taken guitars and taught lessons in camps in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk, both in Kurdish Iraq. These life-changing missions have been written up in Rolling Stone, Relix, and PBS News Hour.

-  From an Essay by Patterson Hood

BRIAN RIPPLE: Hey Jerry, how’s it going?

JERRY JOSEPH: It’s going okay. I am down in Marin, CA. I have been in the studio the past couple of days with Dave Schools from widespread Panic. Writing songs actually, and just starting building from scratch. I’ve never done it. I actually kind of love it. So doing that we have  a drum machine and a big wall of fucking keyboards and synths I don’t even know how to turn on, much less play, but it is cool.

BR: That sounds fun, can’t wait to hear what happens. So you recently got back from a solo tour in Europe, how was that?

JJ: I’ve been over there a lot especially since Covid I am releasing a record September 29th, which is raising questions of what point do we start talking about it as far as gigs? The Jackmormons are not the band. I recorded it in New York. So it’s all these New York cats and you know, like the keyboard player from the E Street Band and weird shit like that. So it’s very, like a guitar with a harmonica type record, you know?

BR: I can’t wait to give it a listen soon. You sometimes come to Montana and play solo, but then sometimes you’re playing with your band. Do you feel like one of those things makes a bigger impact or impression on your audience?

JJ: I mean, as far as the band I think people are physically holding their ears in pain, and bleeding out their nose, so that’s certainly an impact. I think they’re different things. It’s a weird world for me. In Europe no one knows anything about my about that side of me. I mean I was Driving down the road, the other day with someone just playing something of mine and this guys like who the fuck is this fucking guitar player? And I’m like, it’s me. And he is like what? It’s like they’ve never even heard me, play the electric guitar.

So, you know, it’s a little different, and you kind of tend to wish the people knew more about that. I think the Jackmormons would be really cool over there too you know. So sometimes it’s frustrating that people have no idea of that part of my history,

BR: It’s like a as a musician you have, a split personality or Alter Ego?

JJ: Well, it is pretty different things. I mean, they are still the same songs. It is like if you were familiar with Neil Young  and you had no idea there was a Crazy Horse, kind of.

BR: That’s a good analogy actually. So, with the Jackmormons, It seems like full-on touring has kind of transitioned into these three-day weekends that you do in Salt Lake City, Mexico, and of course here in Virginia City, Montana. To me it seems like all of those places have a pretty deep personal connection for you. What do you think it is about Montana that drew you here to begin with? 

JJ: Rosa’s Cantina was there in 83, and Little Women have been playing Bozeman’s since 1983 and I will tell you that when I show up in Montana, I probably feel as at home in Montana as I do in Portland. I’ve lived in Portland for a long time, you know. The places that I think of as home are La Jolla, CA, New York City, and Portland and Montana’s kind of right there for me. I’ve spent a lot of my life in that state.

BR: So you started coming here from playing with Little Woman and have always enjoyed whatever it is about it?

JJ: Well, It was my job. We made money there. I spent a lot of time there Brian, even in the 80’s. Girlfriends and band members. I mean, Stevie  James came out of Montana, our old guitar player Greg Millar was from Montana. Rob Hill night crew guy. I met Dex in Montana. The Jackmormons really got started, and Bozeman Junior and those guys would come to Bozeman and we would rehearse before I moved to Salt Lake City. That band’s actually more from Montana it is from Utah.

BR: Are there any places left in Montana You haven’t played that you’d like to, or any other places You haven’t been to for a long time that you’d like to get back to?

JJ: Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think there’s much that I haven’t played. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen much of Northeastern Montana. Well no, I think I have played every inch of that damn state. I mean do I have the key to the city and Butte and Virginia City.

BR: Well you should run for Governor.

JJ: Well, that’s one of the biggest mistakes of my life, was they wanted me to run for mayor of Butte in the 90s or like 2000 and I didn’t. So I’ve always thought it was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made.

BR: I’m sure you still could.

JJ: I don’t know if I’ve got the fight in me that I would have had, but I think I would have been good. Who knows. There was a whole plan. I mean it was the DNC, it wasn’t some random person trying to get me to do it. So, you know, yeah, I love Montana. It is a big part of my life and I try very hard to have my kids be connected to it. That’s why we do Virginia City, and why we fight so hard not to give it up, you know.

BR: It is a lot of fun to hear you and to be there and camp for a three day weekend. It’s close to us, but we don’t spend a ton of time in Virginia City and it’s an amazing weekend. So, are there any plans for a new Jackmormons album?

JJ: Yeah, I mean you know we started cutting all that stuff. The Panther Tracks, there is a bunch of stuff we didn’t even put up. A bunch of tracks lying around. So I don’t know, I have a lot of records that I am supposed to be making. Following up with Patterson (Hood), I have started this new record with (Dave) Schools,  There are these Swedish guys I have been making music with (Dimpkers) and that is probably the next real record I will make. As for the Jackmormons, we got shit tons of material and we could do Panther Tracks for the rest of our lives. You know, because Panther Tracks are big Jerry Joseph songs that never had studio versions. So under that and releasing Mouthful of Copper this year on vinyl, it will be like five platter box thing. I’d be surprised if there was something out of Butte, Montana that resonated with so many people. That record shows up on ‘Best of Live Records’ lists of people, that you know, generally hate me.

BR: I think Mouthful is often the album that long time Jackmormons fans use to try and show somebody what your band sounds like live, even though it’s a different lineup.

JJ: I don’t know if I have ever heard it. I certainly have never sat down and listened to the whole thing. Apparently the treatment they are giving it is massive though. Like there are songs that take up one side of vinyl.

BR: So it’s getting remixed and remastered?

JJ: I don’t think it is getting remixed. I think that was the point of the record. I think Betty Cantor-Jackson did the mix, right? I think that will stay the same. That’s one of the reasons that it is so cool. I don’t think I even met her, she was in the basement with her mobile unit I think.

BR: Yeah, I think so. and, wasn’t it Chris (Rabold) from Widespread Panic doing the mixing upstairs?

JJ: No, I want to say that was Jim Bone but I don’t know.

BR: I can’t remember. I was there.

JJ: I’m pretty sure I was there. That was a long time ago.

BR: Well, what is this? The 20th anniversary of that set of shows?

JJ: At least.

BR: Have you ever thought about doing an album, entirely of other people’s material but in your own style? 

JJ: Yeah, sure. I mean look at (webcast) Happy Book. That was the coolest thing about Happy Book because we did a couple covers every episode, you know. That’s what was cool about it. We can be like that was cool last night and we just go back and pull all those and put them on something, you know.

BR: Was it the Bee Gees song that you guys did on the Stockholm Syndrome? That’s cool too. Seems no matter how big you get people still like those songs that they know and can sing along to in the shower or whatever.

JJ: No, we’ve always talked about doing a cover album. I remember there was one point where I was going to make a record just covering women artists that I love and not change the gender, you know, not change the pronouns to male, by just singing in the way it was written.

BR: From the female point of view?

JJ: Or whatever. Yeah, a lot of ideas. I mean fuck. I’m 62. I don’t have endless time.

BR: It’s always a good thing when you are in the studio.

JJ: That is becoming the new thing for me, running out of time.

BR: How long are you guys going to be in California?

JJ: Well, I’m with my son, we’re headed to a fancy Japanese Hotel tonight. We are going to get some sushi, and then tomorrow visit some family in Sacramento and then head home. My son’s 13 you know, you’ve met him. He’s coming to Virginia City and he is psyched. He is a big fisherman, so I think that outside of visiting Stockholm or London this is probably the most exciting thing about having me for a dad. So hopefully I show up there with a bunch of boys. I’m bringing my grandson, yeah, a carload of hooligans and 13 & 14-year-olds. Of course when I was like 13 & 14 we would have ended up with a bunch of police and some kind of Incarceration, so I count my blessings.

BR: It’s, it’s nice to know that they’re doing good. Anything else you want people to know about this year?

JJ: See him while you can. That’s the thing around here, everybody around me is dying. He’s fucking dying. So that should be the Jackmormon’s new motto, “See em while you can!”

BR: You should make some T-shirts.

JJ: Hopefully I can come back. This is the longest stretch that I haven’t done an acoustic tour in Montana. Hopefully this year I could bring the Dimkers. These are young men have been working with out of Swedenand their music is remarkable. They’re remarkable.

BR: Are they planning on coming over this winter?

JJ: We’re talking about it. That’s what the conversation was, either I’m spending a considerable amount of time in London in the fall, or pushing it back to earlier. That’s kind of all I’ve been doing. I’m trying really hard over there. Nobody gives a fuck about my past you know, and I’m not constantly the almost Made-It guy, who came close which is like the Story of My Life in America. “You could have been a contender.” But it seems every single person who ever opened for Jerry Joseph went on to massive fame. And it’s true. That’s why your guys have got to get their shit together if you know what I mean?

BR: Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown? I think he actually has. He’s fixed the problems from last year, and they are currently firing on all cylinders.

JJ: I fucking love him.

BR: They just played in Virginia City a week or so ago, at Scott, Kelly’s Vigilante Music Festival and they knocked it out of the park.

It’s night and day compared to last year when you saw him. He is going to blow you away in August I think.

JJ: That is great because I really like him.

BR: All right, now that is official. I can say that we all cant wait for the shows in Virginia City. I’ll see  you August 18th. Say hi to Schools for me and we’ll be in touch.

JJ: I will.

BR: All right, thanks!

Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons will make their annual pilgrimage to Virginia City Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown are opening all three shows, August 18-20. There is always a place to stay near by as long as you follow the outlaw code of the west. We hope to see you there. Scan the QR code on page 26 to purchase yours and your groups’ tickets to the festivities.