Photo by: Aga Hairesis. Graphics by: Bas Spierings
Mad Joe has been a staple in the PAHC scene for over 20 years now. Having done time in bands such as: Strength For A Reason, Krutch, and Mushmouth, Mad Joe has become one of hardcore's most recognizable vocalists as the frontman for the PAHC powerhouse Wisdom in Chains. Wisdom recently played a show with the newly formed World Be Free and NYHC legends Judge, where I was able to track down the Jiu Jitsu grappling songwriter that is Mad Joe and hit him with these 20 questions. Questions by Chris Wynne and interview conducted by Josh Derr on February 19, 2016 at the Voltage Lounge in Philadelphia, PA.
Joe & Wisdom In Chains @ East Coast Tsunami 2013. Photo by: Wass Photography
1. How did the nickname “Mad Joe” come about? Who gave it to you and when?
Joe: The first person who called me that was actually Big Carl from Strength For A Reason, back around 1997-98. I used to play drums for SFAR, I guess I had a temper and I'd be behind the drums just yelling and angry so he'd call me Mad Joe Black, that's how that happened.
2. What town/city did you grow up in and what was your neighborhood like back then?
Joe: I was born in Easton PA and lived there until I was 6 or 7, that was projects, then I moved half an hour north to Stroudsburg, PA which was like the woods, then we moved out to East Stroudsburg, that really was the woods. It was a cool spot, we had a lake where we'd play ice hockey or whatever, skateboard ramps we'd pull out and skate in the street, a basketball court in the neighborhood, it was a cool, fun place to grow up.
3. If you were a professional wrestler what would your entrance song be?
Joe: It would be something real super hard like Hatebreed “Worlds Apart” or super funky like Sly and the Family Stone.
4. Your favorite way to spend your days off from work? Hobbies?
Joe: I like writing. I'll write short stories or lyrics. I also will play riffs on the guitar and piano or watch Netflix.
5. What is the worst injury you ever got at a show you either played or attended?
Joe: Actually it was Big Carl, he totally knocked me out at a show when we were moshing back around ‘95. He's beat me up so many times inadvertently, hit me on top of the head with the Polish Hammer, he's kicked me directly in the balls as hard as he can, he's hurt me in many ways at shows, with love though, in the mosh. Also one time Seth, the drummer from One for One broke my hand at a show, he kicked me in the hand. Then Melissa Peterson from Long Island also broke that same hand, she kicked it in the mosh.
6. What is going through your head just before you go on stage to perform and do you ever get nervous?
Joe: No, I never get nervous, I'm just trying to remember the first three songs. I grew up in a religious house, and in church I had been doing public speaking since I was 4 or 5 years old so I actually really enjoy the spotlight if you want to call it that.
7. Your go to ice cream?
Joe: Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip, but my all time favorite, which I don't know if they still make it is Ben and Jerry's “Mission to Marzipan”.
8. What do you remember from the first Wisdom In Chains show?
Joe: Technically the first WIC show was when we were on tour in Holland in 2002 with our old band Krutch. WIC was a combination of a few members of Krutch and one Dutch guy; we were on tour and he (the Dutch guy), convinced me, none of the other guys were into it, he said “Yo! We gotta do one show while you guys are over here, I got this band together, they're dope – it'll sound awesome! We will open for Krutch!” It stunk! It was so terrible we only played 3 or 4 songs, and at one point the only people playing was me and the drummer. The guitar player broke strings, the bass player was out of tune so he just gave up, so it was just the drummer and me so I said “OK, we're done – good night!”
9. On a regular work day what time do you wake up and what time do you walk back in the door?
Joe: I usually wake up at 4 o’clock and I usually get home around 5 or 5:30.
10. What is it that you do for work and how long have you been doing it?
Joe: Right now I'm in the carpenters union in NYC, I've been in the union since 2007, and doing carpentry since 1995.
11. If you could have lunch with someone famous alive or dead… who would it be?
Joe: Mike Tyson
12. The singer you looked up to the most before you joined a band?
Joe: Probably Ice-T. Bodycount gave me courage to be the black kid doing a predominately white thing. When I was a kid I didn't know about Bad Brains until I was already an established hardcore kid and dug a bit deeper and thought “oh shit, here's this all black band playing this music.” But Ice-T was the guy who was doing it. I didn't exactly look up to his voice, but he was a black guy doing the all white guy thing.
13. Worst job you ever had in your life?
Joe: I used to clean time shares at Shawnee Mountain. That was terrible because I don't like to clean, I like people to clean things for me!
14. One thing in your life that you would like to get better at?
Joe: Playing piano
Joe (center) with the rest of Wisdom In Chains 2015. Photo by: Aga Hairesis
15. Lyrically what Wisdom in Chains track means the most to you and why?
Joe: There is a song called “In Case You Forgot” which was my first attempt at a love song, so it's raw and honest and a little depressing but it was just truthful, so that's one of my favorites. Then we have a song called “My Promise” that I also love that is about my kids.
16. What is the best thing about being a parent?
Joe: Seeing your kids get better at things that they weren't good at, and they keep trying, and you encourage them, and they get better and it gets a life of its own and they take off with it. That's really, really cool.
17. 3 things that scare the crap out of you?
Joe: My kids dying, my wife dying, my parents dying.
18. If they made a movie about your life who would you want them to get to play you?
Joe: Oh man, maybe Keenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live! >>>
19. What kind of car do you drive?
Joe: I have a Honda Accord and a Honda Odyssey.
20. What are some things you are really good at cooking?
Joe: I'm actually pretty good at Italian foods, I make a surprisingly good tomato sauce. At Thanksgiving and Christmas – any family holidays, my wife's family is Italian, and they have me make the mashed potatoes, I make really good mashed potatoes. Secret ingredient is plain yogurt and cream cheese.
20a. Do you make them lumpy or whip 'em up?
Joe: Whip 'em up. But I leave the skins, you gotta leave the skins.
BONUS QUESTIONS:
21. Trend in current day hardcore that you would wish would just go away already?
Joe: Liking bands that are clearly not good bands!
22. What advice would you give to younger kids looking to start a hardcore band?
Joe: Do it because you love it. If you want to start a band, I have to assume that it's because you love this music, and just don't forget that. If you do that, you'll stay connected and tapped into the roots.
Joe with WIC @ Groezrock Fest, 2014, Belgium. Photo by: Bas Spierings
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