Jesse Leach is aware he’ll forever be known as “the dude who used to sing for Killswitch Engage,” but he’s not one to wallow in nostalgia. He now fronts the more metallic, anti-authoritarian The Empire Shall Fall. After recently rejoining his former band for a few shows, he took a few minutes to talk to the Dig about them, living with Sage Francis and growing up the son of a “Jesus freak.”
SO YOUR DAD IS A MINISTER?
Yeah, he’s an ex-hippie, ex-biker, ex-raging drug addict, musician-turned-minister. He was a radical Jesus freak. Now, he’s a pretty normal guy. He’s not too extreme.
SO NO DIO AROUND THE HOUSE WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
We were exposed to hippie music—Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He’d bring the vinyl out and sing the lyrics and let us read the lyrics. I grew up with the protest music mixed with gospel and Christian. But my brother and I would sneak Run-DMC and Ozzy Osbourne tapes into the house. Then I discovered Public Enemy, and that led to punk rock. And the rest is history.
YOU AND SAGE FRANCIS LIVED TOGETHER?
Yeah, we lived together for a year in a house in Cranston [R.I.] that was basically an artist’s commune. I learned a lot from him. He was present when I was writing the record Alive or Just Breathing and he was writing Personal Journals. I got a lot of inspiration from that time. On [Awaken], there’s a line where I mention “makeshift patriot.” That’s a direct reference to Sage.
THOUGHTS ON YOUR DAYS IN KILLSWITCH?
My whole career has been ex-Killswitch. I take pride in that, but it doesn’t define who I am. I have no regrets. Killswitch blew up really quick. For a lot of reasons, I couldn’t handle it. To me, everything I’ve done is a natural progress to get me to the point where I am now. I’m ready for the next stage of my life.
[The Empire Shall Fall with Razormaze, Motherboar and Goes Cube. Sat 6.26.10. Middle East Upstairs, 472 Mass. Ave., Central Sq., Cambridge. 617.864.3278. 8pm/18+/$9 adv, $10 dos. mideastclub.com]
