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The band Five Finger Death Punch is working to help prevent teen suicide.
Five Finger Death Punch continues to pierce its way through to the next level.
Guitarist Jason Hook said it took hard work to get to where the band is now, reaching its goal of headlining an arena show.
“It was hard to pierce these levels and not be stuck at theaters and bust through that layer,” Hook said. “Even if it’s a small arena, it’s still an arena.”
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Five Finger Death Punch With Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Pop Evil, Emmure, God Forbid and Battlecross WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 WHERE: Santa Ana Star Center, 3001 Civic Center in Rio Rancho HOW MUCH: $41.75-$44.75, plus applicable fees, at comcasttix.com or by calling 888-694-4849 |
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Hook said the band had realistic goals on how to get to this level.
“The fact that we are here, we don’t take it for granted,” he said. “We are a hardworking band and we are not too surprised by it. We are working hard daily, for ourselves and for the fans.”
The band is headlining the Metal Hammer Trespass America Festival that will make a stop in Rio Rancho on Saturday, Aug. 25. The festival also features heavy hitters Killswitch Engage, Trivium and others.
“We picked a package of bands that will blow up the place,” Hook said. “It’s a strong bill. We’re kind of holding an indoor party. … We went heavy on production in and around the arena. We try to make things that are fresh and new. I think so far we have.”
The band never stops working and brought a portable studio on the road.
“We stay as productive as possible,” Hook said. “We don’t really party. We are really focused on reaching the next goal. Waking up with a hangover does not work when we’re playing a show.”
Five Finger Death Punch, made up of Ivan Moody on vocals, Zoltan Bathory on guitar, Jeremy Spencer on drums, Chris Kael on bass and Hook on guitar, is one of the most heavily played bands on rock radio. Its singles “Never Enough,” “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Under and Over It” and “Remember Everything” are in frequent rotation. The band’s current album, “American Capitalist,” debuted at number three on the Billboard charts in October.
Its song “Coming Down” unexpectedly became the inspiration for the band’s involvement in promoting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that provides 24-hour support to anyone contemplating suicide or for concerned friends and family. A dollar for each festival ticket sold will be donated to the Lifeline.
Hook said when he originally read Moody’s lyrics for the song that he thought it was based on coming down off a high from a drinking binge or something similar. But he later realized Moody’s lyrics were much “darker” and were about teen suicide.
“Let’s make a mini movie of what the lyrics are about and in the end help a friend,” Hook said the band decided. “It’s not about us anymore. It’s about trying to help.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at rmartinez@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-823-3920
