Interviews: LOCKJAW


We have had the opportunity to interview the Metal band LOCKJAW from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

Well, we formed back in ’98, and after about a year of jamming together, we decided it was finally time to name the band. We probably scribbled a hundred names in a beat-up notebook, complete with ridiculous sketches of skulls, severed heads, and all kinds of morbid stuff. We were obsessed with horror movies, so we kept brainstorming names inspired by them, but nothing really stuck.

One night, a bandmate and I were driving to Dallas to catch some shows at the Curtain Club in Deep Ellum. Our local rock station had The Local Show every Sunday, and there were always killer bands playing. On the drive through downtown, we started joking about picking up some of the “nightlife” while we were out and hoping we didn’t catch any diseases in the process. Back then, the more over-the-top the joke, the bigger the laugh, so we kept coming up with ridiculous names for horrible STDs—Clubfoot, Green Slime, Lockjaw… and the second we said Lockjaw, I was like, “Holy shit! That’s it!

Mind you, we were 20- or 21-year-old metalhead halfwits at the time, and no, the lovely ladies of Dallas were not exactly flocking to us. But hey—the band was good!

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

I was introduced to metal in the late ‘80s. I vividly remember a kid bringing… And Justice For All to art class in 3rd grade. At the time, I was probably listening to Michael Jackson or something—LOL. But when I heard that album, it completely blew my mind. Back then, a lot of my friends were into BMX and skateboarding, and metal was so tied to that extreme sports culture. Pop culture was exploding, and metal was everywhere. I used to love riding my bike, hitting crazy jumps, or playing my NES (Super Mario Bros) with the local rock station, 97.1 The Eagle, blasting Van Halen, Aerosmith, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses. It all just resonated with me. The ‘80s were such a cool time.

Fast forward to 7th grade when Metallica dropped The Black Album—that was it for me. I picked up the guitar with my best friend Jason Morris, and we both became obsessed with figuring out how to get that crunch with our right hand. The rest is history. It’s been a lifelong obsession. Playing guitar is part of who I am, and any time I’ve set it down for a while because of life or work, I’ve felt like something was missing. So, a few years ago, I decided to fully lean into it and see just how far I could take it.

3. Did you know each other before forming the band?

Yes, several of us went to school together, and we later brought in a few friends of friends to complete the lineup. During the first year or so, we had a bit of a revolving door with drummers and bassists, but after about two years, we locked in the lineup. We still have 3 out of 5 original members, and this group has been solid since 2019. We’re incredibly close—like brothers. We love rehearsing, we love just hanging out, and now that we’re landing more tours and festival opportunities, we’re having an absolute blast together.

4. What is each band member's favorite band?

Jeff: Metallica, Gojira, Sevendust, Machine Head

Joe: Himsa, Bullet for My Valentine, Machine Head

Justin: The Black Dahlia Murder, Bleed from Within, Killswitch Engage

Gabe: Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth

Scott: Metallica, Bleed from Within

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Well, as a guitar player, it all starts with riffing for me. I draw inspiration from a wide range of players—James Hetfield (Metallica), Jim Root (Slipknot), Clint Lowry (Sevendust), and even artists like Cody Jinks and Waylon Jennings. To me, music is music—a great song is a great song, regardless of genre.

Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to other genres than ever before. I handle a lot of the engineering for our pre-production and writing, and while working with our singer, Joe, we’ve had some interesting conversations about what makes music impactful. We’ve talked about how rappers have incredible cadence and wordplay, or how outlaw country artists craft stories—how they piece them together and let them unfold.

There are so many things that inspire me, and honestly, I never really know where it’s going to come from next.

6. Where was your last gig?

2024 was our biggest year yet. We headlined our first tour in support of our debut full-length record, Relentless. Hitting the road was an absolute blast, and we learned so much along the way. Figuring out how to tour might seem obvious, but there’s a lot to navigate, and I think we came out of it stronger—making great new fans and friends along the way.

We also played three huge festivals this year. Rockfest in Wisconsin was absolutely insane. We hit the main stage, opening for bands like Killswitch Engage, 30 Seconds to Mars, Sevendust, Upon A Burning Body, and so many more. It was totally surreal.

We also played So What?! Music Fest in our hometown, landing a killer slot on a great stage. The crowd really showed up for us. It was insanely hot, and then a storm rolled in right after our set—but it was unforgettable.

Another highlight was Big Texas Metalfest in Austin, where we opened the main stage and shared it with bands like Atreyu, Paleface Swiss, All Shall Perish, Gideon, and many more. When it was all said and done, 2024 was an extremely successful year—definitely a lot of feathers in our cap. We’re super grateful for all the incredible opportunities we had and can’t wait to see what’s next.

7. Where would you like to perform in the future?

Honestly—everywhere. I want to see the world and play music for everyone who connects with our songs. We’re so passionate about what we do, and we just want to share it with as many people as possible.

Personally, it’s a big goal of mine to play at Danny Wimmer festivals like Louder Than Life, Inkcarceration, Aftershock, and Sonic Temple. I’d also love to hit some of the massive European festivals like Hellfest and Wacken. That would be incredible.

8. Which artist or band would you like to collaborate with?

We recently did a collab with our friend Danny Leal from Upon A Burning Body, and it was our first time collaborating like that. Honestly, we learned so much from the experience. Danny’s insanely talented—his command of words and the way he phrases his lyrics felt like taking a masterclass.

We’ve got so many ideas for future crossovers, too. I think it would be awesome to work with artists like Cody Jinks or Tennessee Jet. I’ve always had a deep love for outlaw country, and blending that influence with our sound could be something really special.

9. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

I just want it to feel right. Honestly, I’m not going to waste my time on anything that isn’t super cool or bringing good energy. No one stands out at the moment—but I’m sure someone will piss me off eventually. We’ll see in the next interview! LOL

10. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on overcoming it?

No, I don’t get nervous playing on stage—I absolutely love it, I thrive on it. But the closest thing I can relate to is pre-show 'ticket fright.' You know, that moment of wondering, Is anyone going to show up? Am I wasting my time? I’d honestly rather play in front of 10,000 people than 10 if that makes sense. The fear comes from the thought of looking like a fool, acting like there’s a massive crowd when there are just a few people.

Now, I want to be clear: if those 10 people are there and excited, we still go up and slay it. We play like there are 10,000 people, no matter what. But the fear of an unsuccessful show definitely haunts me. And honestly, it’s something that happens to every musician who’s ever played. You have to pay your dues and start somewhere.

My best advice to young artists is simple: rehearse all the time. Rehearse alone, rehearse with your band, rehearse in different places. Play your songs so much that they start to feel boring. Success comes when preparedness meets opportunity.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

This question comes in two parts for me: All-time and recently. All the time, the most influential bands to me are Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth, Sevendust, and Korn.

Recently, my inspiration has come from Gojira, Upon A Burning Body, Spiritbox, and Slaughter to Prevail.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Eh, I don’t think anyone has asked for anything too weird, per se. But I’ve realized that it’s the small things you wouldn’t expect—like a torn-up setlist, guitar picks, or a poster. We’re always happy to give as much as we can to help create a lasting memory, and honestly, a superfan. We had an interesting experience at our hometown show at So What?! Music Fest. My wife, Lauren, runs our merch operation. She loves the rush after the show when we’re selling merch—it’s kind of a thrill, and she’s really good at it. Anyway, after the show, she went over to the merch booth and handed out probably a thousand tour posters and guitar picks to people as they walked by the merch village. She let them know that the band would be back at 4 p.m. (or whatever time) to sign them, and a lot of people got really excited.

Keep in mind, there were over a hundred bands playing, and we’re still on the rise, so a lot of people hadn’t heard of us yet. But when we showed up at the merch booth, there was a huge line of people waiting to meet us. That was a trip for all of us. We took pictures and signed everything for every person. I absolutely love meeting the fans, and I think it really goes a long way in building long-term superfans. It was an amazing experience.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Love ’em. Our fans are the people who connect with us over a guitar riff, a lyric, or something we created from our minds and turned into reality. They love it so much that they show up wearing the T-shirt we designed, ready to buy more, and ready to get their faces melted when we hit the stage. We’re a very loud band, and we’ve got some superfans who come to every hometown show and always show up. We can count on them, and that’s something really special. In this economy, things aren’t cheap—getting to a show, paying for parking, buying tickets—we see and appreciate all the sacrifices they make to be there. It’s incredibly humbling for us. We recognize these people; they’re part of our community. I call them the Lockjaw Legion. They are truly special to us.

14. What do you think of our site?

I think what you guys are doing is great. Bringing music to the people. You guys have been super supportive of our journey and covered us in the past and we are grateful for it. Thank you guys, again!

15. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

New music is in the works! We hit the studio with our producer, Chris Collier (Korn, Vended, FlatBlack), last October and recorded a solid handful of new tracks. Now we’re heading back in to get another 10-15 songs finished. We plan on releasing singles throughout the next year, building up to our second full-length album. We’re excited to share it all with you!

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