I:OK let's go straight into this up close and personal interview with Jimmy Him of metal titans, The Nimrods. Let's get some personal details, what is your real name?
J:My name is James David Hetestein.
I:What's your family like?
J:Well, my dad Johannes who changed his name to John is Polish, his family moved to Helsinki,Finland during the early stages of The Holocaust because his mom was pregnant with my aunt and they knew things were about to happen. My mom who changed her name to Mary was born and raised in Helsinki.
I:So your father is Jewish?
J:Technically yes. However, when his family moved to Helsinki they wanted to stay more anonymous and didn't ever really go to temple, so he's a non-practicing Jew I guess. My mom is Catholic but I never had to go to church because she wanted me to chose on my own, she prays for my safety everyday.
I:So is religion a big part of your life then?
J:Inadvertently yes, but I'm an atheist personally. My dad doesn't care and Mom gave up caring. I like to write about it, usually negatively though. I don't care if people follow religion or don't but to me it sort of prevents true open-mindedness, but let the blind lead the blind I guess.
I:Strong words, do you have any siblings?
J:I have a brother 10 years my senior named Alexander, we call him Allu.
I:Do you have a good relationship with him?
J:Yeah totally, I mean we fight but less than most siblings. We watch soccer,snowboard, and smoke pot together so I'd say we get along pretty well.
I:You mentioned pot, how have drugs effected your life?
J:When I was younger I'd put whatever I could find inside my body. My rebellious years which were I guess 15-18; I would just use or sell whatever I could find. When The Nimrods started to build a decent following when I was 20 (I'm 25 now) I started seriously using cocaine and meth. they kept me awake and when I mixed them with weed I wasn't as jittery but I could play those late shows. After the first few major tours I needed something to come down a bit, to raise my dopamine levels after using them all up. So I started doing anti-depressants. Once I got everything back in order I was just exhausted so I started shooting heroin.That's what stuck with me the longest, I still use daily. Weed and heroin pretty much take up my day besides music. I don't really feel shame in indulging anymore, if I die I die, I don't care.
I:You sound pretty on edge, no regard for self preservation I assume?
J:You're right. I'm almost afraid of living past around 35.I'd like to maintain my youth I guess, when I get my first gray I'm OD'ing on purpose or shooting myself.To me my band represents that young fire, the passion of a kid in their first band who are just excited to jam. But by the time I'm in my mid thirties or so, that rush will be gone, like using heroin for a few months.Davey will probably live longer but not by much, he's into the sex,I'm the drugs, and Kit's the rock and roll. Kit will probably live the longest, being a producer or session drummer, holding clinics, becoming an alcoholic, that sort of stuff. Me though, I'm gonna be gone before you know it.
I:Are you un-happy with life?
J:No, this may confuse you but I'm un-happy with the fact that I'll be un-happy in life one day.
I:So you're completely ready to just give up?
J:Not yet, I've got 5-10 years in me, I still enjoying writing and playing live so there will be a little more time before I pull the plug on life.
I:What's one thing you'd want to be remembered by?
J:I want to make one completely amazing record, something everyone likes that just impacts the whole world. A giant album like Sgt.Pepper's or Nevermind or Thriller. Once that's done I'll be happy to die.
I:What do you think of your critics?
J:Honestly I've stopped caring about what people think a lot of people just state their mind and to me that's really cool like Kamikaze Kate, she's young which might be a part of it, but she just doesn't give a fuck and that's awesome. Not that I like her or want to kiss up but that's pretty cool, reminds me of the punk chicks I grew up with.
I:What was life like growing up?
J:I loved Berkeley. I liked the scenery, all the hippies and the punks, it's a very misfit town. I made decent school grades but I skipped a lot to smoke and play guitar with Davey, occasionally fucking, whatever haha.
I:You're a completely out and dare I say it rather promiscuous bisexual, when did it occur to you that you were?
J:Well to be honest, at first it was a David Bowie sort of thing, I just wanted to get attention and piss off my parents who were pretty conservative back in the day. GLBT culture is getting more accepted nowadays and I guess my rebellion led to self discovery. I've never had a relationship with a man unless you consider Davey my boyfriend which we don't, if we are it's a VERY open relationship haha.
I:Have you ever had a really long-lasting relationship?
J:Besides being married? A few, though not many , I'd rather not mention. It's a bit of a struggle to me, I'm hard to chain down I guess but when I meet the right girl I'll be sure to tell Davey who will then notify everyone.
I:How is your son?
J:Actually he passed away from complications from surgery. I'm rather distressed by it.
I:Would you have another kid if you could?
J:I don't know, maybe but I don't plan on living much longer and I wouldn't want to take a parent away from a child. Maybe if I have one spontaneously I'll stay around for the ride, but who knows.
I:That's it for part one of this interview, more later!
OOC:How was that, I found it pretty personal and I delved into my own personality a bit for it, comment or whatever.