TELL ME HOW DOES IT FEEL
A CONVERSATION WITH JAY GORDON OF ORGY
I recently had an opportunity to chat with Jay Gordon, lead singer and founding member of Orgy about the vinyl releases of Candyass & Vapor Transmission, their co-headlining 2024 North American Tour with Cold, Horizon Theory and I Ya Toyah and some of Gordon’s thoughts on the current state of the industry.
In discussing the re-release of Orgy’s first two influential albums, Candyass & Vapor Transmission on vinyl, Gordon admitted that besides the approval he had no part in the mastering of the albums but added that “…at some point I’m definitely going to remaster my first two records”, which should excite the fanbase. When asked if the sales of these albums could determine future vinyl releases like Punk Statik Paranoia, Gordon doubted its release but didn’t rule out the possibility.
Moving on, I inquired about hitting the road for a 38 stop co-headlining tour, preparations, and challenges of touring. “Touring is always a good thing, whether it’s the 25th anniversary of Candyass or not. We’re just gonna play a lot of the first record which I’m excited about, but also not that excited about. You know? I want to move forward and play a lot of this newer stuff that we’re doing right now. But it’s cool. It’ll all come.” It is understandable, especially if it’s been in the past for a while. It may be one of those things that shouldn’t necessarily be dug up. Gordon added “It’s fun. Touring is always fun no matter what version of Orgy we’re doing.”
Gordon went on to say “Seeing the fans, knocking the dust off. Just seeing old faces, new faces and getting to play all that stuff for people. We’re gonna play a lot of the new material, too. We’re just gonna have to do it. And (in) a weird way, like where it feels more Candyass-ish than anything.”
Elaborating on the tour line up Gordon said, “It’s a co-headlining thing where it’s Cold one night, Orgy one night, that kind of thing. So, it’s cool. Scooter’s a cool guy. I love those guys. You know, they’re cool people.”
Gordon went on to state that Horizon Theory was brought on by Scooter that they are “some homies of his and he really likes them. They sound pretty good from what I’ve heard.”
CANDYASS ALBUM REVIEW
When asked about their preparations for the tour Gordon replied, “We’re excited to get out there. I do my usual wind up for tour, you know, like hiking a lot, stuff like that. We’re gonna be ready. I think we’re pretty well rehearsed with a slight difference with a drummer change, but I think that it’s going to be conducive to a great Orgy. I’m more concerned with my kids while I’m gone and things like that. I’m a trooper. I’ll hang in there and handle it.”
When asked if any members of the original lineup were contacted for reunion on this tour, and if not, would he ever be up for it, Gordon was forthcoming in saying “…anything’s possible. I don’t ever say no to stuff. I just say right now. It is what it is. I respect everybody that was in the old band. People grow apart and just do their own things. I’m not closing the door on the opportunity.”
Touching on the state of the music industry, streaming, and the prevalence of singles over full length albums. Gordon explained, “I don’t think anybody really does much of that anymore. I mean, it’s cool when they do. I love seeing people that do full records. But you know what? There are so many directions that I change into or turn into or take. I think you’re going to see just blocks of songs. Just singles is the way go. I do love a band that puts out a good record. It’s just, we don’t really rehearse like that. I stay in the studio, and I make music and then I get people to come in and play on it. It’s always been that way since day one. A lot of contributions happen along the way.”
Despite the proliferation of streaming which seemed more conducive to his creative process and working style, Gordon went on to say, “I don’t know, bands have always had a hard time, and it just doesn’t seem to get any easier for us along the way. But, you know, the fans enjoy it. That’s all that really matters. And you just gotta suck it up and, you know, deal with it. Because honest to God, you know it’s never been about money. I mean, look at Spotify. They pay artists nothing. But Joe Rogan gets a $250 million contract, you know? Yeah, nothing against Joe Rogan, but like, man, it sure would have been nice if they would take some of that money and paid bands with it.”
VAPOR TRANSMISSION ALBUM REVIEW
I made mention to the fact that I am reading a book about the music industry and it’s fascinating to me. Gordon interrupted, “Fascinating until you’re in it and you’re just like, Holy fuck, right?” I continued, “That’s what I mean, it’s fascinating that the fact that it’s, it’s there’s so many…” “Caveats?!?” he exclaimed. “Yeah, caveats and idiosyncrasies and just weirdness that is so unnatural from even from an outsider’s perspective.” I finished. Gordon went on. “It’s quite barbaric in a lot of ways. Right? I mean, I’m not one of those, crybaby artists at all. I’m just saying, you know, artists get fucked over.” I replied, “Do you feel like there’s like the scales of power are shifting more in the artists favor in terms of the negotiations with labels and the industry.”
“I don’t see how, unless I live under a rock, which I don’t think I do. No, I don’t, I don’t see it tipping in the artists favor at all. We just make less and less money and somebody makes a lot of money. I’m optimistic that could happen again at some point, but I don’t see it happening any time soon.” Gordon explained.
Many fans are always in the artists corner regarding getting fair compensation. The vinyl and nu-metal resurgence and more people getting out to live shows ends up putting more money in artists pockets overall. But with the ticket scalping, bots, and more it’s difficult to see that as a fan. From the artist’s perspective, what’s the best way for fans to support a band or an artist these days? “That’s a tough question for me.” Gordon replied. “Merch definitely helps. That perpetuates a lot of, you know, what keeps us floating. We’re going to be coming out with a hell of a lot more of it, I can tell you that much, because that seems to be the only way you can, like, make it happen. That and going to the live shows.”
We’re seeing a wider variety of merchandising, licensing, and partnerships hitting the marketplace. All the best to you and Orgy.
Inquiring about if content from Entropy will be featured on any releases in the future, Gordon responded, “Entropy never really happened. There are songs that have ended up on Toxic and things like that, and then songs that are ending up in, you know, this era. So, in that respect, there’s some of the material around.”
“Thank you very much for having me and I really appreciate you. I just hope everybody comes out to the shows and we have a good, good time. I want this tour to be successful.”
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