Jay Weinberg: “I really enjoy the challenges of playing different genres, and playing with different people from different backgrounds.”

Jay Weinberg – foto: Nidhal Marzouk

Jay Weinberg, you probably know his name, current member of the bands Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves, former drummer of the band Slipknot, answered a few questions from our editor.

We had the great honor of talking to a man who, at the age of 34, already has 20 years of playing experience, and has played with legendary names such as Bruce Springsteen and E Street Bendom, Against Me!, Slipknot, Madball (no, he didn't play with them at the two concerts in Sarajevo), The Used and Kvelertka, among others.

We talked with him a bit about everything, from the beginning to current projects, and we learned that he is preparing an EP with songs that he has been writing and arranging for the last 20 years.

Muzickazona: Let’s start with your beginnings: when did you realize that music was your calling, and that you didn’t want to follow the path of a hockey player instead?

 Jay: I casually experimented with guitar and bass between the ages of 9 and 13, around the same time that playing ice hockey was my main commitment. It was only when I first picked up drumsticks at about 14 years old that I felt a calling to start playing music with more focus and purpose. I had developed a profound love for punk rock, heavy metal, and hardcore music by that age, and I felt inspired to pursue it and find my own place within it. I do still love hockey, but I felt it was important to commit to one over the other when I was 15 — music just had my entire heart at the time. Still does.

Muzickazona: Being the child of the legendary Max Weinberg, did you ever imagine you’d not only become a drummer, but that you'd be playing with Bruce Springsteen one day?

 Jay: No, neither ever crossed my mind at all. As a child, I naturally found inspiration in what my dad was doing with his drumming, and with Bruce and the E Street Band. To this day, they’re still my favorite band to watch live. Fortunately, my dad never urged me to play the drums in my younger years. He found it important to let me discover my own reasons for picking up the instrument; to not just follow in his footsteps without an independent drive and passion. Looking back, I think that approach encouraged me to pursue the craft for the right reasons.

 Of course, it was very special for for our father-son bond when I filled in for him throughout 2009. Neither of us ever expected that such an opportunity would present itself, but we went all-in when it did. That entire organization is like family to me, and I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me jump into the deep end of playing live music at 18 years old.

Foto: Rob DeMartin

Muzickazona: You've had such a diverse career—playing with bands like The Used, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Against Me!, Madball (fun fact: Madball played in my city twice, but unfortunately, you weren’t with the band at those times!), Slipknot, and now Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. With so many different styles and genres, I imagine it can get pretty intense. How do you mentally and physically prepare for a new band, especially given the diversity in sound? And when it comes to figuring out your drum setup for each project, how do you approach that?

Jay: I try to approach any new project with fresh ears and a blank-slate perspective. Depending on how much time I have to prepare, I’ll typically start with a “fan first” approach to understanding the existing catalog. There have been instances where, as a fan, I’ve been intimately familiar with the music of a band I later joined — just as there have been times where I’ve needed to learn an entire show for a band I’d never met on a flight to their tour that began the next day. Each scenario is unique and requires a slightly different approach, but I generally try to find a connection to the history of each project, and figure out what I can bring to the table that might serve the music well.

Mentally, I try to break down a thorough learning process into small, manageable components. I’ll “passively” listen to songs all day while I’m doing menial things like driving, exercising, etc. That helps familiarize me with the band’s writing styles, and the songs’ arrangements without getting lost in the details. Then I’ll “actively” listen: purposely sitting down with the songs, writing notes, air-drumming a lot, dialing I the details, visualizing what it’ll be like to sit at my drums and play these songs. Then I’ll translate those active-listening homework sessions to playing on the drum kit.

Physically, I pretty much keep that consistent from project to project. Some are more physically-demanding than others, but I always try to maintain a level of fitness and energy that’ll allow me to play as best I can no matter what. As for my drum setup, I like to be flexible depending what the music I’m playing needs. Sometimes it requires a larger drum kit, sometimes a more compact kit. I try to keep my tools specific to what’s necessary for each project, and it’s always a fun experiment to see what feels most natural in different playing situations. I’ve found it’s best to be flexible in that regard.

Muzickazona: Is there one setup that allows you to comfortably transition between all these different styles, or do you find yourself making adjustments for each project?

Jay: I definitely find myself making adjustments for each project. Especially in the studio, I could have completely different setups depending on what the song requires. I usually just try to find what setup feels the most natural to capture an authentic feel for what the song needs. On tour, I like to keep a consistent feel for what I’m playing once I’ve developed a level of muscle memory for the mechanics of the songs. For example, I only recently discovered that, with Suicidal Tendencies, I prefer my left crash cymbal raised higher and tilted towards me a little more than I’ve ever had it in the past. It’s allowed me to stack it with a small China cymbal too, which is a cool new element to experiment with. I’m always learning, always trying new things to best serve a new project.

Foto: Janson Bulpin

Muzickazona: Throughout your journey, you’ve had the chance to collaborate with incredible musicians. Is there one in particular who’s taught you the most, or someone you’ve learned the most from?

 Jay: It’s sort of an understatement to say I’ve learned many things from the many people I’ve collaborated with in the past, but that’s definitely true. Bruce is without a doubt the most extraordinary artist with whom I’ve ever played. As a leader, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, entertainer…I’ve never met anyone like him. Throughout that tour when I was 18 years old, he (along with my dad, Steve van Zandt, and the rest of the E Street Band) taught me so many of my early lessons of being a live drummer: the importance of being professional, responsible, and prepared, always in a state of improving and pushing myself forward. Those are the hallmarks of how they’ve approached their own music, and it certainly inspired me as I’ve pursued music independently from there.

My friend Andrew Seward was a huge influence in my life; I joined his band Against Me! when I was 20. I felt a deep connection to how he plays bass, and approaches music and every moment onstage with infectious positivity. I definitely carried that with me after we played together, and I feel very lucky to have played with him.

We’ve never really made music together, but Branden Steineckert of Rancid and The Used has been one of my best friends since I was a pre-teen, and I couldn’t imagine my life in music without his friendship and insight. Branden’s been a key figure in my life at every important moment, and I’ve learned an incalculable amount from him.

Muzickazona: Also, how has your playing style evolved over the years, especially while adapting to such a variety of genres?

Jay: I feel like my playing style has evolved quite a lot over the years, but it’s kind of hard for me to define exactly how. I’d like to think that I’ve progressed on my instrument after 20 years of dedicating my life to it (laughs). I really enjoy the challenges of playing different genres, and playing with different people from different backgrounds. It all helps me push myself on the drums, which I feel has led me down some very creatively fulfilling paths. That’s essentially all that’s important to me; feeling like I’m doing something worthwhile, that’s coming from an authentic place of inspiration. If my pursuits allow my playing style to evolve in ways that lead to more of those artistically-fulfilling experiences, I’m a happy camper.

Muzickazona: You’re still very young, but you’ve already had an extensive and impressive career with legendary bands. Looking back, is there a moment or milestone you would consider to be the highlight of your music career so far?

Jay: Absolutely, there are many. Booking my first show for my first band in high school was a huge moment. Playing my first full three-plus hour show with Bruce and the E Street Band when I was 18 was a highlight. Learning the full set for the Norwegian band Kvelertak on a flight to meet them for the first time at soundcheck right before our first show together was an incredible experience. Recording three studio albums and performing around the world with Slipknot for ten years was an enormous effort and challenge, in a multitude of ways. Joining Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves simultaneously, especially considering some of my personal heroes have played in both bands, was a wonderful highlight. It’s been a fun 15 years with many memorable moments along the way, I must admit.

Muzickazona: Touring often leads to some pretty crazy stories. Is there a moment or experience from the road that still blows your mind to this day—something that would be hard for anyone to truly comprehend unless they’ve been out there on tour themselves?

Jay: Yes, many — but they’re almost all impossible to describe to anyone who hasn’t lived it. As far as one that’s relatable, I played one of the biggest shows of my life with a bad case of food poisoning. That was pretty dreadful. It was Wacken Open Air 2022 I front of nearly 100,000 people; I was throwing up the entire time before and after we played. Solid gig though.

Foto: Anthony Scanga

Muzickazona: I know you've had surgeries on your hip and femur in the past. Did going through that experience slow you down at all, or did it end up making you even stronger—both as a drummer and as a person?

Jay: Going through a surgery like that was naturally a significant challenge. I had never had an operation with a six-month recovery before, but I’m glad to have finally repaired an injury that had been nagging me for about six years. It definitely sucked to be unable to walk for several months, not to mention unable to play drums — specifically during a difficult transitional phase in my life and career. But, yeah, the people who say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” seem to be onto something.

Muzickazona: Looking ahead, what are some of your personal goals or projects you're excited to dive into in the future? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do that’s still on your bucket list, whether musically or creatively?

Jay: Oh, sure. I have a to-do list of creative things that I try to chip away at every day, and I have ambitions for some new things I’ve been up to lately. Right now, I’ve been putting considerable time into a project that’s based on material I’ve been writing and arranging for a long time; some songs I’ve been kicking around since my early 20’s. I have 30-something songs in different states of completion, but I’ve come up with an EP of five or so that I think will be really cool. I’m collaborating with friends I’ve always wanted to write or play with. At the moment, it feels like it draws from the inspiration I get from bands like Interpol, Neurosis, My Bloody Valentine — stuff like that. We’ll see where it goes, I’m very excited about it.

 Jay: I’m working on some other recording projects I can’t quite share yet, but I’m really excited to be diving into those more. Trying to spend more time recording music than I have in the last few years, just because I’ve been on tour near-constantly besides my hip surgery. That said, I’m really excited for some tours I’m doing this year with Suicidal Tendencies supporting Metallica — that’ll be amazing for sure. And then just always being open to playing with lots of people, like I mentioned before. I find all these projects help amplify and inspire each other, and I feel so fortunate to have a growing list of musical and artistic goals that I tend to every day.

Muzickazona: Just before the last question, what would be your advice for aspiring drummers or musicians who are just starting out, trying to make a name for themselves in the industry?

Jay: Do what you love, be yourself, and pursue anything that feels authentic to what your soul is searching for. When you find a passion that makes you feel alive as you dedicate long hours to it, you know you’re on the right path. Trust your intuition. Invest yourself in your artistic community. Be kind and work hard. They’re all clichés, but they’re true and universal.

Muzickazona: And finally—this might be a fun one—do you happen to know the total number of drumheads you’ve destroyed during live shows over the years?

Jay: I have no idea, honestly. It’s got to be in the high hundreds or thousands at this point. That’s kind of crazy to think about. I hate creating waste when it comes to single-use pieces of gear, or gear that has a relatively short life; drumsticks and drumheads in particular. I’ve made a point to hold onto sticks and heads that I use throughout the course of a tour, and offer them as signed, used gear on my website around the holidays. I’d much prefer it to be a gift under the Christmas tree than trash in a landfill somewhere!