Jesse Hughes (musician)

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Jesse Hughes
Hughes playing the Commodore Ballroom in July 2009
Background information
Birth name	Jesse Everett Hughes
Also known as	The Devil, Boots Electric, J Devil
Born	(1972-09-24) September 24, 1972 (age 40) Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, garage rock revival, blues rock, hard rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, flute
Years active	1998-
Labels	AntAcidAudio, Downtown Records
Associated acts	Eagles of Death Metal, Desert Sessions, Queens of the Stone Age

Jesse "The Devil" Hughes (born September 24, 1972) is an American musician from Greenville, South Carolina. He is known as the frontman of the California-based rock band, Eagles of Death Metal. He cites Little Richard as his biggest musical influence and inspiration.^[1]

Early life

At age 7, Hughes' mother, Jo Ellen, moved him to Palm Desert, California. In high school, he became friends with Josh Homme (later of Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age). They became good friends after Homme stopped a bully from picking on Hughes. Hughes graduated from the Greenville Technical College with a degree in journalism and worked as the manager of a video depot in Palm Desert for several years.

In a 2007 interview, bandmate Josh Homme stated "Jesse Hughes... and I have a theory. We’re socially liberal but government conservative guys".^[2] Hughes has also said "I wanted to be a Republican politician for God sakes I’m a conservative, dude".^[3]

Recording career

Eagles of Death Metal

Hughes and Homme formed Eagles of Death Metal in 1998. Hughes credits Homme with saving his life, claiming that during the recording of the second Eagles of Death Metal album Death By Sexy, he fell into serious drug addiction and that Homme not only drove him to rehabilitation, but paid for it as well.^[4]

Other projects

Hughes is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.^[5]

In September 2011, Hughes released his first solo album under the nickname Boots Electric. The album, Honkey Kong, was released on Dangerbird Records.^[6][7] He played his first^{[citation needed]} show in Columbus, Ohio, on August 12, 2011, at the CD 101 Summerfest Eve.^[8]

On December 6th, 2012 Jesse Hughes became an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church World Headquarters of Carrabelle, FL. ^{[9] [10]}

Pseudonyms

Hughes uses many different nicknames, including "J. Devil" (or simply "The Devil")^[11] as well as "Boots Electric" ("Boots" for short) and "Fabulous Weapon" (both of which were band names used by Hughes' father). In an interview^[12] Hughes revealed that his band mate Josh Homme gave him "The Devil" nickname when he was thirteen. "I used to get picked on a lot by Karl Doyle" says Hughes, "And when I would get picked on severely, or if it really made a point to me, I would get vengeance, but I would get vengeance in the way that I could, which was mostly clever and all consuming. Joshua once witnessed me in the moment I was about to enact vengeance upon someone, and he just said, 'You're the fucking devil dude,' and it stuck."

Musical equipment

Hughes is currently endorsed by Maton guitars^[13] and Orange amplifiers.^[14]

Guitars

• Maton MS500 Electric
• Maton BB1200 Electric
• Maton EAJ85 Jumbo Acoustic
• Yamaha AES1500
• Custom Gretsch Duo Jet with orange finish and black rooster knob in place of master volume knob ^[15]

Effects

• Ernie Ball Wah Pedal
• Boss DD-6 Delay
• TC Electronics Nova Drive Overdrive/Distortion
• Boss TU-2 Tuner
• EHX Mini Q Tron
• EHX Deluxe Memory Man Classic Chassis
• MOOG MF-102 Moogerfooger Ring Modulator
• MXR Phase 100
• Boss BF-3 Flanger
• Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
• Vox V8474 Wah
• Custom L.A. Sound Design Pedalboard ^[16]

Amplifiers

• Orange Rockerverb 50w combo
• Orange 4x12 Cabinet
• Laney Amplifer

Selected discography

References

External links

• Official Eagles of Death Metal site
• Jesse Hughes on Twitter
• Jesse Hughes at MySpace
• Jesse talks to Mattias and Dave-Os of Band of the Day
• Buddyhead interviews Eagles Of Death Metal about GNR tour
• Jesse Hughes Talks About Heart On
• Jesse Hughes In SPIN's November Issue
• Boots Electric tribute Movember team