Interview
Jasmin St. Clair
Metal's Darkside
9/12/06
Interviewer: Josh Thorne

Jasmin St. Clair

Click logo to access the official Metals Darkside website

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jasmin St. Claire was once an adult film star, the owner of a wrestling federation and the spokesmodel for B.C. Rich Guitars. She's now come full circle with her series of Metal's Darkside DVD's, which contain interviews with some of our genre's most extreme bands and of course, some modeling courtesy of Jasmin. I was given the opportunity to speak with her about the DVD's, her longtime fascination with metal, and oddly enough, I learned a few things about myself as well. 

 

Josh: How old were you when you first became interested in metal?

 

Jasmin: 10.

 

Josh: Really?

 

Jasmin: (Laughing) Yep.

 

Josh: Can you remember a defining band that made you realize that you genuinely loved this music?

 

Jasmin: There were quite a few, actually.  I'd have to say it began with Black Sabbath, when I saw them when I was a kid at Madison Square Garden.  After that, I'd have to say it was Iron Maiden.  That's one of my favorite bands of all time, to this day.  I was a huge fan of their work with Paul D'ianno and Bruce Dickinson.  I never cared much for Blaze Bayley though.

 

Josh: Jasmin, let's be honest here...did ANYONE care for Blaze Bayley?

 

Jasmin: I drove all the way to see them in Vegas one time and they cancelled the show because Blaze was sick or something, so that always rubbed me the wrong way about him.

 

Josh: Ok.

 

Jasmin: Yeah, if that makes any sense.  After that, I graduated into King Diamond and Cannibal Corpse and that's the kind of stuff I've been listening to ever sense.  I was into hair metal as well like Ratt, Dokken, and Judas Priest.  I don't know, would you consider Judas Priest hair metal?

 

Josh: Only "Turbo Lover".

 

Jasmin: That, among other things.  But even though all of my friends liked this gay crap about bling bling and all of that other garbage, I've always been into extreme metal more than anything else.

 

Metals Darkside with Jasmin St. ClairJosh: How did the idea for Metal's Darkside come about?

 

Jasmin: The guy that owned Cleopatra Records wanted to do a documentary called "Hollywood Rock", and they asked me if I'd like to host it.  So, I was fine with that.  About two weeks later, they wanted to do something relating to extreme metal, and who else were they going to get for it but me?  I actually know a lot about metal, and that's why I've never had to use cue cards with all of my questions on them.  So, we have the DVD and we have the website and I've also got a cable access show that's based in California.  We're trying to set up an online show as well, and it's going to be a lot of fun as well.

 

Josh: That's actually one thing I had planned on touching on in this interview.  The thing is, after watching this, it's very apparent that you do know what you're talking about as far as metal goes.

 

Jasmin: Thank you.  I actually know my genres too, and if you'll notice, I approach every interview differently based on that.  I mean I wouldn't interview Satyricon in the same way that I'd interview Nevermore.  It's been great, but I don't overstep my boundaries either.  I have a lot of fun, but the thing is, there are a lot of women in this industry for the wrong reasons.

 

Josh: Most definitely.

 

Jasmin: But, it doesn't stop me from having fun with what I do and I feel very fortunate to be able to do something that I love to do as a living.

 

Josh: As far as Volume 2 goes, what do you have planned for it?

 

Jasmin: We have The Black Dahlia Murder!  Oh my gosh, Trevor is so crazy!  Arch Enemy is on there and we have an interview with Sharlee D'Angelo Suffocation is on there...

 

Josh: I saw the trailer featuring Suffocation, actually.  That seemed like a hilarious interview.

 

Jasmin: They were so funny.  Exodus is on there as well, and there are actually so many bands on there that I'm forgetting who all is on there!  So, you've seen the previews for it?

 

Josh: Indeed I have.

 

Jasmin: It was pretty fun.  I liked Terrance and Frank a lot, and I think Terrance is actually a great guitarist!  A lot of people underestimate him (Hobbs? Underestimated? When? -Josh) but I think he's a great guitarist.  There was so much chemistry in the interview with them, unlike some of the people I've interviewed.

 

Josh: That actually leads into my next question.  On the interview front, what's the best and worst experience you've had?

 

Jasmin: Oh Lord!  Wow.

 

Josh: (Laughter)

 

Jasmin: You know what?  I've enjoyed all of the interviews I've done.  Lamb of God and Suffocation are probably the best.  I've mentioned Suffocation before, but Randy Blythe is such an amazing character.  I loved talking to him.  As far as the worst interviews I've done, I can think of two.  Chimaira would be the first one.  I interviewed them on my cable show and they were such boring people.  I don't even care that much for them as a band, and I know some people do, but they were just not enjoyable guests at all.  The second would have to be Venom.  The majority of that interview was great, but towards the end of the interview, Cronos said some things to me that were very out of line.

 

Josh: Really?

 

Jasmin: Some girls would actually consider it flattering, but most of them are just bimbos that are doing this for all the wrong reasons.  I'm not.  I didn't appreciate it.  I'm not one of those girls that think it's flattering.  My husband was standing right there too, and that wasn't even the problem.  There's just some shit you don't say to other people.

 

Josh: Are there any bands you hope to interview for future DVD's?

 

Jasmin: King Diamond.  I want to interview him whenever he comes around again.

 

Josh: Well, you may get your chance, since the Mercyful Fate DVD is almost finished.

 

Jasmin: Really?

 

Josh: Yes, it's a career retrospective and I believe it's coming out in '07 some time.

 

Jasmin: I would definitely love to own that, and while I'm thinking about it, I have to mention another great interview I've done!  I did an interview with Emperor's Ihsahn and Trym!  I think people have a very negative perception about them, but when were originally going to do the interview on the roof of the Hyatt in Los Angeles.  That's where they were staying!  There was this lady by the pool, who was a total MILF by the way, and she took her son to see both Emperor shows.  Those guys were so polite to them, and they were very intelligent and well-spoken, not the church burning maniacs everyone has made them out to be.  I hate it when you get all of these people blaming metal for suicides, tragedies, etc.  Why doesn't anyone just blame the parents?

 

Josh: It would make more sense, that's for sure.  I actually had a similar experience recently when I interviewed Satyr from Satyricon.  A lot of people have very negative feelings about Satyr, but honestly, he was one of the friendliest people I've had the pleasure of speaking with.

 

Jasmin: He is!  Where does this even come from?  It's those Washington Wives.  They started all of this.  It's amazing how many people never look to the root of the problem, which is most often the parents.  But back to my DVD, another great thing about the DVD will be letters from the fans, a look into my day, and other really interesting things that I think the fans will enjoy.  I'd also like to interview Witchery at some point, along with 1349 and Zyklon.

 

Josh: What would you say to the skeptics?

 

Jasmin: Open your minds, stop being so jealous because I know my metal and because I'm being successful with it.  You can't change the minds of some people, and if they don't want to check it out, that's fine with me.  I'm going to keep doing what I do.

 

Josh: Now, I took this next question from your website and I'm insanely curious about this.  It said that one of your favorite things to do was to hide medication from mental patients.

 

Jasmin: (Hysterical Laughter)

 

Josh: Is this actually a true story?

 

Jasmin: It is!  Oh my gosh, it is!

 

Josh: You hid medication from a mental patient?

 

Matt Wicklund of Himsa (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)Jasmin: My husband has the files of this online.  We knew this guy named Gobbler.  We don't judge people, because I know people judge me all the time.  I'm hoping they don't judge me for my past and ignore my DVD because of that, but were the kind of people that are friends with everyone.  We don't care who you are, as long as you're cool.  Did you ever see "The 40-Year Old Virgin"?

 

Josh: I did, yes.

 

Jasmin: Ok, well Gobbler is a toy collector like the character in that movie.  That's how we met him, because he sold us some stuff.  I had to do a comic convention in New Jersey, so we took him along and the thing is, he's more fun when he's not on his medication.  He's also 500 lbs., did I mention that?

 

Josh: Oh...my God.

 

Jasmin: He's completely boring when he's on his meds, because he's got a rare form of schizophrenia.  He's just a lot more fun when he's off his meds.  When we were in Atlantic City, he kept his bags in my room so I hid his medicine from him.  It was so funny because my friend woke me up at 9 am saying "Help!  Gobbler needs his medicine." and my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.  He came in and thought he was on an undercover mission from the president.  At one point, he also took a swan dive on one of the hotel beds because he thought he was swimming in the ocean.  So yeah, it was great fun hiding his meds from him.  There were many more incidents like that as well, but unfortunately, we're no longer friends with him.

 

Josh: Of all the interviews I've done, this is probably the most interesting story I've heard.

 

Jasmin: Do you get stories like that often?

 

Josh: The only thing that could come close would be Glen Benton discussing his penis ring, after "Scars of The Crucifix" came out.

 

Jasmin: I think I got the same story from him.

 

Josh: Yeah, and I was still in high school when I did that interview, so it was pretty hilarious.

 

Jasmin: Oh, how old are you now?

 

Josh: 20.

 

Jasmin: Oh...do you live with your parents?

 

Josh: Yeah, I live with my mother.

 

Jasmin: What, are you one of those dudes that lives in the attic?

 

Josh: Um, no.

 

Jasmin: Basement?

 

Josh: No, I have a room.

 

Jasmin: Oh, ok.  We've actually got a contest we're thinking up called "Biggest Losers In America" so maybe you should consider entering, because we're just trying to find these people that are your age and still live with their parents.  It's pretty sad.

 

Josh: (Puzzled) Ok.

 

Jasmin: Not to say it's a bad thing, but it's pretty funny, don't you think?

 

Josh: I could see it being entertaining to some extent.  As far as other things you want to for the DVD, what hopes do you have?

 

Jasmin: It's hard to tell, but I want the online show to do well.  I want to update the content continuously and continue to be in metal.

 

Josh: Any last words for the site?

 

Jasmin: Buy the DVD, visit the site, and thanks for the support.

 

 

So, there you have it.  Metal's Darkside is available to the masses, including losers like myself.  I think I shall venture back to my hiding hole with my pizza, Amon Amarth CD's, and continue finishing college. Until then, go here: www.metalsdarkside.com

 

 

 

 

 

1