BUCKCHERRY Frontman Doesn't Find New Rock Music Interesting, Says Hip-Hop Scene Is 'So Exciting'

In a new interview with "The Liquid Conversations", BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd admitted that he listens to a lot more hip-hop than he does new rock artists. "I just think that hip-hop is so exciting right now," he said. "There's a lot of risk taking. It's just nasty, and it's fucking intimidating sometimes… It's just awesome. And they're fearless.

"I listen to whatever I'm feeling at the time, but I've been listening to a lot of pop and hip-hop," he continued. "I just haven't gravitated to a lot of new rock records, because they're just… I don't know… I don't wanna poo-poo the rock genre right now, but when I try to listen to Active Rock radio, it's like the same song for 45 minutes. And there's not a whole lot of risk taking, and there's not a lot of rock stars, there's not a lot of diversity between bands. It's become this G-rated, forgettable-type stuff. And it's kind of on a formula too — it's cut to a grid, and all the songs have the same formula.

"If you go back just to the '90s, we had all these amazing rock stars," Todd added. "We had Layne Staley and Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder and Jonathan Davis and Zack De La Rocha — all these incredible frontmen. And it's just gone — nothing."

Josh went on to say that he has drawn inspiration from hip-hop artists who have focused on independence and sidestepped mainstream record companies, in turn giving them a level of freedom most major label artists would likely envy.

"They're creating their own language," Todd said. "They have all their own audience. And guys like Chance The Rapper, he won three Grammys with no record label. He sold out the Hollywood Bowl with no record label. I was, like, 'This is where it's at. This is amazing!'"

Todd said that he doesn't hold out much hope for the rock landscape improving anytime soon. "I don't know how it's going to change unless some of these radio programmers take a risk," he said. "But it's affecting rock across the board, 'cause you don't see rock at award shows anymore — nothing; you don't see it anywhere."

BUCKCHERRY's latest album, "Warpaint", was released on March 8 via Century Media/RED Music. The 12-song disc, featuring 11 new BUCKCHERRY songs along with a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Head Like A Hole", was produced by Mike Plotnikoff, whose last collaboration with the band was the platinum-certified album "15".

BUCKCHERRY has announced the dates for leg two of its "Warpaint" North American tour. The trek starts on May 18 in Waco, Texas and runs through August 15 in Kansas City. On top of touring all major markets in the U.S., the band will visit ten Eastern Canadian cities on this run. JOYOUS WOLF, which supported BUCKCHERRY on leg one, will remain on the bill on most of the leg-two dates. BUCKCHERRY will also open for AEROSMITH in Shakopee, Minnesota and be direct support for NICKELBACK for two shows in Ravinia, Illinois.