STRAIGHT MATE: PHIL JAMIESON
Grinspoon’s lead singer takes to the stage in the Green Day musical, American Idiot.
DNA: We know you as the lead singer of Grinspoon, and now here you are in American Idiot doing musical theatre. How did that come about?
Phil Jamieson: Last year my management said they had something a bit left-ofcenter that may be of interest. I said yes immediately because it sounded different and fun. I didn’t realise just how challenging it would be. In rehearsals I thought, “I can’t do this” and “I can’t do that”. I was flabbergasted. I was sharing the role with Chris Cheney from The Living End and we were comparing notes going, “Whoa!” And I was surrounded by all these incredibly talented young people who could sing, dance, act, and do cartwheels, so it was all fairly intimidating. Ultimately, I got my groove on, relaxed and enjoyed it. It was really flattering to be asked back for the touring season. I’ve gotten so much out of this, including a wonderful sense of camaraderie, teamwork and great friendships.
For those who haven’t seen American Idiot, can you explain your character, St Jimmy?
I encourage one of the main characters to indulge. The story centres around three young men living in Jingletown, USA, and they’re disillusioned with life. One of them, Johnny, moves to the city and meets me, where I live in the alleys! I’m that person who sits on your shoulder. The classic enabler. I’m all about destruction and I lead Johnny down a hedonistic path. In some ways I’m a villain and pretty nasty. It’s definitely not pantomime.
Uniquely, the role has been shared with Chris Cheney (The Living End), Sarah McLeod (Superjesus) and Adalita (Magic Dirt). You’re part of a ’90s music alumni. Who were your influences back then? Grinspoon started in ’95, we broke out in about ’97, and had our successes in the Noughties. I fell in love with Aussie bands like Magic Dirt, Tumbleweed and You Am I. I had to get their CDs through mail order because I lived in regional New South Wales, but those bands gave me hope that I could be in an Australian band and be as cool as they were. Outside of that I was heavily into Nirvana, Slant Six and those kinds of bands, but as a young teen I was inspired by the holy trinity of Lou Reed, David Bowie and Iggy Pop. They were my