Rolling Stone - India (December 2019)

HEAT SINK, Ahmedabad





















































































PRASHIN JAGGER







December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 51

BRYAN
ERNEST,
Mumbai












































STRINGYCHEESE &
CRACKERJACK, Mumbai











































52 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

THE SUHAAS
AHUJA BAND, Mumbai







































































PRASHIN JAGGER




















December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 53

THE BACKYARD

SHROOMS, Haryana




























































































54 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

PRASHIN JAGGER



































PSYCHIC

MAGICIANS, Mumbai

December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 55

A.R. RAHMAN




PELENUO
YHOME, Nagaland
























































































56 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

SOMUJJAL &

SHUJAN, Pune




RAGHAV ROHIT

MEATTLE, Mumbai VASUDEVAN, Mumbai






































PRASHIN JAGGER







December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 57

NISA AARIFAH
SHETTY, Mumbai REBELLO, Mumbai



58 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

MOJO

BOMBAY, Mumbai



















































































PRASHIN JAGGER







December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 59

A.R. RAHMAN




JONATHAN SHAAN
YHOME, Nagaland KAMBLI, Mumbai
























































































60 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

PRASHIN JAGGER













RON
CHESTER, Mumbai















December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 61

A


SIMETRI, Mumbai




























































































62 | Rolling Stone India December 2019

PRASHIN JAGGER


ANKUR

ORLANDO, Chennai SARSIYA, Chennai

December 2019 | Rolling Stone India | 63

ANDY SHEPPARD/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES















64 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy talks new album


‘Walk The Sky’











THE AMERICAN METAL BAND’S

FRONTMAN ON THE THEMES THAT
INFORMED THE NEW RECORD, FUN

MEMORIES OF ACE GUITARIST A s much as Alter
Bridge love to
rip through the
SLASH AND MORE riffs and bring incendiary
energy on their just-released
B Y A N U R AG T AG A T album Walk the Sky, there’s
also trademark moments
of sprawling, arena-rock
vibrancy. Across both heavy
and lighter tracks on their
sixth record, vocalist and
guitarist Myles Kennedy tells
us that mindfulness played a
big role in shaping the lyrics
and sound of Walk the Sky,
which released via Napalm
Records.
He says over the phone
from his home in Spokane,
Washington, “It was really the
liberation I felt once I started
to incorporate mindfulness
into my life. A lot of these
songs explore that. I would
say songs like ‘In The Deep’
and ‘Wouldn’t You Rather’…
a number of tracks touch on
that philosophy.”
The release of Walk
the Sky continues a
nonstop couple of years
for Kennedy. In 2017 and
2018, he was readying and
promoting two albums –
his debut solo effort Year
of the Tiger and Guns N’
Roses guitar legend Slash’s
own record Living the Dream.
“I would say in the last… 10
years, the album and tour
cycles have run up to… there
have literally been no breaks,”
Kennedy says.
I n an inter vie w
with Rolling Stone India,
Kennedy talks to us about the
making of Walk the Sky, the
changing band dynamics in
Alter Bridge and his favorite DAN STURGESS
memory of Slash. Excerpts:




Rolling Stone | December 2019 | 65

Alter Bridge axeman
Mark Tremonti at Rock
on the Range 2017.




You’ve been going pretty nonstop since the The Last Hero (2016) had this loose theme Campbell. Songs like “Godspeed” was written by
release of Year of the Tiger, right? around heroes. What about this one? Mark [Tremonti, guitarist] for a friend of his, it’s
It’s been busy. It’s been good as a musician and With this one, there’s not a concept. There’s a about loss. “Indoctrination” is about a really bad
a recording artist, to be in that position where you narrative that runs throughout the songs that’s cult leader [laughs] with a really dark track. So
have the opportunity to express yourself in these really a manifestation of where I am personally, yeah, not all the tracks are uplifting and positive,
various things – you can’t take that for granted. in my life and my spiritual growth as a human. I certain tracks explore different emotions as well.
With that said, it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of things think that I’ve really discovered trying to integrate It’s got such an apocalyptic tone on songs like
being on and being prepared. I think you just get a certain amount of mindfulness into my life and “Indoctrination.” Why are you drawn to it?
into a certain workflow and you get accustomed to really trying to be present. Using that to harness Mark and I have always been drawn to the
it. It’s been a good run. stress and anxiety. It’s really about how as I get darker side as writers. We like exploring that
They’re all slightly different beasts, these older, how I’m retraining my perspectives in heavier side of music. If you’re writing music that
projects. How have you learned to switch gears? viewing life. It’s a much healthier place to be. That’s has elements of that, if you lyrically are trying to
I like the fact that everything is different. If where these songs come from. keep it super positive and hopeful, often times it
each project were very similar, it might become But then there are tracks that have nothing doesn’t really fit. The way I look at it, if there’s a
very redundant. The fact that all three projects are to do with that. “Native Son” [is about] feeling body of music and I’m trying to put lyrics to it, I
such different offshoots that you want to step back out of your element, which is actually inspired have to write a script that’s appropriate for that JASON SQUIRES
and count every experience as fresh. That’s very by something that I got from reading [American music. And so if you listen to “Indoctrination,” it’s
important. academic and mythology professor] Joseph really spooky and moody and dark and so the lyrics



66 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

Slash (right) and
Kennedy.



record just because of how much time we generally obviously had an established bond and relationship
have between albums. with each other. Once that initial phase did blossom
For example, if we end up making it a seven or into an actual band, a musical democracy… time
10 song album, with the hope of releasing the rest was needed for that, building our trust and not just
of the tracks in a year or something, it could end up as people but in the creative songwriting process
conflicting with a different project one of us would and band decisions. Since Blackbird [2007], I
be about to release. You kind of have to think about would say we found a sound that works for us and
that, when you have these different projects. it really hasn’t changed much. It’s really important
From the time Alter Bridge was formed to maintain a certain amount of communication
with these three guys from such an already and respect each other.
internationally acclaimed band like Creed to Changing gears a bit here, but what’s your
now, how would you say the band dynamics have favorite Slash memory? When was the first time
changed over albums? you saw him without glasses?
If you compare when we first started playing [laughs] I think the first time I saw him without
together and One Day Remains – they [Tremonti, his glasses would’ve probably been on the bus
bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips] one day when we were traveling somewhere. He
always sits in the same spot and I came on and
walked by and thought, ‘Oh shoot, he didn’t have
“It’s been good as his sunglasses on!’
There’s a lot of funny memories. He’s got a great
had to accommodate that. Where it came from was a musician and a sense of humor. Often, he’ll just come up in the
actually a Netflix documentary I saw about a cult middle of a show, we’ll be playing and he might just
leader. It’s amazing how much film and books will recording artist, to come up to my ear and make some funny comment
inform how you write lyrics and where you get your about something. If you see him… any time you
ideas from, which is helpful. be in that position see me burst out laughing, that’s probably what
All your albums have always clocked in near happened. He’s got a very dry sense of humor and
the one-hour mark, some of them going a bit where you have very funny.
longer. Do you ever think about that considering You’ve got the Walk the Sky tour with
it’s 2019 and people’s consumption habits have the opportunity to Shinedown in Europe coming up now. What’s
next? Any India offers?
changed? Or am I sounding like a record label
FABIO DIENA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM about that when we were trying to figure out the these various things – be absolutely great. I know we have fans over there,
Not to my knowledge but I would love that, it’d
marketing guy right now?
express yourself in
[laughs] It’s a good point. We talked a bit
so I would love to get back to India for sure.
What’s coming up next?
sequencing to this record, about how we’d recorded
14 tracks. People’s consumption is much different
We go all the way up to the European tour
you can’t take that
to Christmas and then we have a month off in
now compared to when I grew up. But I think
we chose to continue with a more of a traditional
January which is good. We’ll probably power down
for granted.”
approach to sequencing and the length of the
for a little bit.

Rolling Stone | December 2019 | 67

The Mix

Eric Nam and The Art




Of Redefining Success





The Korean-American singer-songwriter details his new album ‘Before We Begin,’
opens up about his bout with burnout and reveals how he and India go way back

By Riddhi Chakraborty


t’s 4:30 am in India wearing many hats; Nam so many different projects I wrote it last year. It was I’ve done a really good job
when I get on a call to started his career in South took a toll on his mental in English and I didn’t of introducing my fans
IL.A. to speak to Eric Korea back in 2011 after health earlier this year, want to take it back into to me singing in English.
Nam for the very first time. participating in a reality pushing him to the point Korean. I felt like it was a I’ve done at least one or
I’m at a point where I’ve TV competition, Star of burnout. “It was just very special record, because two collabs with Western
gone over a week without Audition:Birth of a Great like kind of a tipping point people just responded in artists a year, in my last
decent sleep and a burnout Star 2. While he didn’t where I was actually just so a very special way to it. EP (2018’s Honestly) we
is looming over my head, end up winning, it led to tired, so exhausted.” It did It made me kind of hold had two English songs on
but what keeps me going him signing with Korean however end up giving him on to it, looking for the there, plus I do a lot of
is that Nam is 100 percent label B2M Entertainment the wake up call he needed right opportunity to put covers. I’ve always been
worth it all. In fact over in 2012 and then finally to focus on his mental and it out. There was no point vocal about the fact that I
the next hour, I learn that debuting as a solo act in physical health. “So it was trying to redo it in Korean personally like English pop
there’s probably no one 2013. In the seven years important to be able to because it was great the music so [most fans] are
who could have understood since, Nam has established verbally say and admit that way it was, so that’s how glad that I’m finally able
my plight better, and facing himself as a household I am tired, that I need a we decided on doing an to do what I really wanted
the upcoming week seems a name in the country– break that I need to change all-English album. The and what I really feel
little less daunting. in addition to being a things around.” His new reason we titled it Before strongly about.
Eloquent, multi-talented successful musician, he record Before We Begin is We Begin is because I guess How much do the songs
and enterprising, the impressed audiences with part of that change, acting I’m in this transitionary draw from your own life?
31-year-old singer and his charming personality as a channel of catharsis phase where I really want There are songs that are
entertainer is very much after taking on the role and pushing forward his to pursue music more in directly connected to my
a reflection of what many of a TV personality and transition from K-pop the States and in the West, story, there are songs that
of us strive to be. He’s a presenter, hosting various star to global pop singer- do a lot of stuff in English. are fired from other people
lot of fun to talk to and variety shows and often songwriter. I’m American, born and and other stories… Just
refreshingly frank when interviewing international It’s an exciting time raised, so I’ve always felt really kind of a case by case
it comes to discussing his celebrities like Robert in Nam’s life—especially more comfortable writing thing. But we picked them
opinions around mental Downey Jr., Noel with the rise of Asian and singing in English. So and went with them because
health and South Korea’s Gallagher, Matt Damon, representation in mainstream more than just a K-pop I relate to them in some
celebrity culture—a little Emma Stone, Andrew media propelling him further star, I think I would like to way, I feel them in some
unusual for a K-pop idol, Garfield and more. He’s into the global spotlight—so transition into becoming way. I think being able to
but then again he never one of the first solo artists it’s pretty great to be able like an American pop tell that story and emote
has been one to fit in. in the K-pop industry to to hear his perspective singer-songwriter and that into a song was my goal
Born and brought up in regularly collaborate with on it all firsthand. In this being perceived that way. and hopefully when people
Atlanta, Georgia, Nam had Western artists (including conversation with Rolling It’s not ‘Eric Nam’s U.S. hear it, they love it as much
to adapt to South Korea’s Timbaland, Gallant and Stone India, Nam talks about debut’—this is kind of like as I did putting it there.
expectations of celebrities Arty) and earlier this year the stories that built Before an appetizer to what, you You’ve always been very
when he moved there and he launched K-Pop Daebak We Begin, opens up about his know, can potentially come adventurous in terms of
walks the line between two With Eric Nam, Spotify’s bout with burnout, details the in the next few years. the sounds and themes
worlds. “I’ve always been most popular K-Pop process of creating a space for Did you have any you choose to go with
like weirdly stuck in the podcast where he reviews international fans with K-Pop reservations about doing on each new release and
middle of everything,” Nam new releases, addresses Daebak, and reveals the an album in English? Before We Begin is no
confesses at one point of several pressing topics in intricacies of his relationship Were there any points different—I loved the
our conversation. “I’m not the industry and interviews with India. Excerpts: where you were nervous sense of nostalgia that
an idol, but a lot of people various artists. When did you start about how it would be runs all through it. Did
see me as an idol. It’s a very “It’s… a lot of things to working on Before We received, especially by you start working on this
weird place that I have my juggle,” he says with a small Begin and why did you your fans in Korea? album knowing what
own niche in.” laugh when we talk about choose that title? I feel like there were you want to explore? Or
Maybe it’s not so his various achievements, The oldest, probably the points where I was a little was it a slower, gradual
much weird as it is about admitting that taking on oldest song on the album… bit nervous, but I feel like process?


68 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

ERIC NAM

The Mix


I think it’s probably the was really hard’—so this I think that people can very interesting way for
latter, it’s probably much song in itself has been in relate to it, understand me to connect with fans
more of a slower gradual some ways, a cathartic where I’m coming from. on a literally a brand new
process. Thank you for experience for me to kind You’ve always been platform, brand new way.
listening to it, I’m so glad of get through it. But I very honest and open It was a lot of work to
that you like it. I think think overall I’m at a much about your opinions figure out and I’m glad it’s
for this album… it wasn’t better place right now than and perspective on life doing well, but we’re just
so much of like a ‘this is a few months ago. and I feel that has a lot trying to figure out a way
the sound we’re going That’s wonderful to to do with the immense to make sustainable. One
to go for’—it was more hear. Because seeing all success of your podcast thing that I’m still trying to
like let’s pick and choose the work you’re doing K-pop Daebak. Why did create is a better feedback
what’s right. That’s why including making music, you want to start this loop with fans. Like, where
we also speak back to why touring, your podcast– podcast and what do you can we congregate and
Before We Begin is such a we’re on the outside and feel is the most important where can we write more
fitting title because it’s me don’t see your everyday thing it contributes to messages and where can we
trying to figure out what world. So often as fans I the global conversation communicate better?
that ‘Eric Nam sound’ is. guess we wonder about around K-pop? Jimin Park has
It’s just a matter of really our favorite artists and The podcast is actually launched her own
experimenting and writing celebrities, if you’re doing the idea of my younger podcast, so has Epik
all sorts of different things okay beyond just what we brother [Eddie Nam.] I High’s Tablo—how
but I think at the same glimpse on social media. always thought about it, important is it for artists
time, we live in a day where Honestly, it’s a lot. I but I didn’t get around to to take these initiatives
musically people aren’t think part of it is as a solo doing it so he set it up for themselves to get involved
confined to a single genre. artist in Korea… it’s really me. I just feel like there’s in the global conversation
Pop has become a mix of so hard because there’s so such a global community their fans are having?
many different things and much competition. Not of K-pop bloggers around You know, as creators
I think I wanted to embody only like musically, but the world but [the and artists, our goal and
that through this piece of just when it comes to like international community] our job is to reach as
work, the breadth of genres [idol culture] and stuff. is still largely underserved. many people as possible
that I like and am able to I’ve always been weirdly It takes a lot of effort for through music or through
do. stuck in the middle of fans to go in and subtitle our content. For a lot of
You’ve mentioned that everything. I’m not an and caption Korean TV people in the world audio
in addition to the theme idol, but a lot of people shows and everything is still the best way of
of love and relationships, see me as an idol. It’s a to whatever language. consuming content and
“Love Die Young” is also very weird place that I ASC (English K-pop talk so, in many ways, it was
about one’s relationship have my own niche in. I show After School Club) this missing piece that
with their life and think part of where the did so well in its early needed to be filled and
passion, and you wrote stress came from is… for years because we were nobody was doing it. So
it at a time you were years, I’ve been doing speaking to K-pop stars for us finally be able to
facing burnout. Have you everything. It’s a lot of in English and in a way fill that void… I think it’s
managed to find more of a things to juggle. But it that people could relate a great opportunity and I
balance now? was just kind of a tipping to on their own. So I felt think the fans appreciate
It’s kind of the cycles point where I was actually like that was a void that it. I have another one
of life and everybody just so tired, so exhausted. I could potentially help that’s launching very
goes through dark points. So it was important to be fill and create more of an soon called I Think You’re to work here in India. I
Luckily for me, it kind of able to verbally say and international community Dope which features don’t think a lot of people
came out through the form admit that I am tired, around K-pop in that sense. conversations with (New know this about you, so I
of a song. I’m learning to that I need a break that I think the other thing is Jersey producer) Jeremy definitely need the whole
be more intentional with I need to change things just providing some sort of Zucker, (Irish singer) Gavin story!
my time, trying to take care around. Also, I feel that context and maybe some James, (American singer- And I will give it to you
of my health and really redefining success is explanation for certain songwriters) Gallant and all! I was in Hyderabad for
spending time where it important because for things that people might Alec Benjamin. It’s not a two or three months in 2011
matters more for me. I some people, by some find interesting about the K-pop podcast, but is kind as part of a social fellowship.
think just the nature of my metrics, I may not be industry itself. It’s also of about whatever I want We were supposed to
job and like the daily things successful but for me, in important to recognize that and has cool interviews and be helping low income
that I have to do… I’ll never my mind, my perspective… things are always changing discussions. I enjoy doing schools for education and
be at a place where I’m I’m incredibly successful. and moving, especially in this stuff. I enjoy talking development. I ended up
completely comfortable. I’ve done everything that terms of media. From Vine to people and being able to leaving to be on the TV
But it is important to be I wanted to and I will to Facebook, to Instagram share it with other people show (Star Audition:Birth
able to have that discussion continue to do that. I and Twitter… there’s trends around the world. of a Great Star 2) but I think
and to be open about it think it’s important [to of things dying out. I felt On that note, I recently India is a very beautiful
and say, ‘I hate this,’ or ‘It talk about this] because like podcasts could be a learned that you used place. There’s just so many


70 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

“The infrastructure for

K-pop just hasn’t been set up

inIndia yet. The moment it

happens, trust me, I will be

on a flight there.”




people, so many senses and I had to go back on my so it’s hard for promoters India’ and I really honestly Finally, is there a
so many things that you terms, on terms that I feel or my team to say, ‘Okay, want to do shows there. message you have for your
don’t feel or get anywhere will do India more justice. let’s make an investment But there isn’t a promoter Indian fans?
else in the world. It was I’ve been itching and dying to go India.’ It’s not and the infrastructure for Thank you so much for
unfortunate because the to go back, I just haven’t about money—it’s about K-pop just hasn’t been thinking of me, for
program I was with was had the right opportunity. connecting people and set up yet. The moment it supporting me all the way
really a mess. For the first Since you’re familiar doing things differently and happens, trust me, I will be from India. We haven’t
time in my life, I had gone with India, I kind of I think my career has been on a flight there. I would figured out how to get
somewhere to really try to wanted to get your insight a testament to that. India also love to collaborate with there yet but I believe and
do great things and it didn’t on this—over the past two has always been on the some Bollywood people and I hope that we’ll be able to
work out. But at the end of years the Hallyu Wave has radar [but] we don’t have some Indian artists! What do it sometime soon. If
the day, that was what got really taken off all over our the contacts and we don’t people don’t realize—or you guys have any
me to leave to go to Korea to country. However, what is have the context to be able rather I think still have a suggestions, please do
become a singer. the perspective that you to make those decisions. I misunderstanding about—is send them our way on the
That’s… really meta for and other artists in Korea often say, ‘I’m going to go how amazing production socials. I’m reading
me, I have to say. have of India as a market? back and I’m going to do it is in India, how intricate it everything all the time, so COURTESY OF CJ ENM
[laughs] Yeah, right? It’s hard to gauge what very well. I’m going to have all is in terms of music and hopefully I’ll see you guys
But as I left India, I knew the response is in India, the most amazing time in choreography. soon!


December 2019 | Rolling Stone | 71

The Mix




SET LIST
10. Lo/Hi 2019
The Black Keys’ This new encore — with a
T. Rex-style groove and
backup vocals — is brought
Live Return to life with visuals of an
electric chair on the band’s
huge screen. It’s a reference
to the Keys’ new album,
“Let’s Rock” — named after
a convicted killer’s reported
How the band chose what songs to last words before he was
executed. “It’s all about the
play on its first tour in five years groove and being able to
lock in to all those guitars,”
By PATRICK DOYLE Auerbach says. “It’s just fun.”

9. Lonely Boy 2011
1. I Got Mine 2008 At a recent Las Vegas
The Black Keys started a 1 fest, the band brought out
recent show in Denver with Wayne Newton to dance to
this stomper from Attack this single. “We anticipated
and Release, which they 2 Lil Wayne [who also played
like for its combination of the fest] was going to be
slow tempo and heavy riffs. late, because of previous
“It’s kind of like when Kool- experiences,” says Carney.
Aid Man breaks through “So I said, ‘We need to have
the wall,” Dan Auerbach an extra Wayne.’” Says
says. Discussing how they 3 Auerbach, “He’s built like
made the set list for their a fucking tank. He could
first tour in five years, he have whipped all of us. His
jokes, “We just went to the handshake was crushing.”
top 25 songs on Spotify.”

8. Little Black
2. Eagle Birds 2019 Submarines 2011
Auerbach likes this hypnotic On this El Camino epic,
Delta-blues-style rocker Auerbach plays an acoustic
because he gets to play guitar before strapping on
a Peavey Razer — the an electric for a psych-rock
guitar of choice for the 4 explosion. “I can take my
late Mississippi guitarist earplugs out while Dan’s
T-Model Ford. “I probably 5 doing the acoustic part,”
saw T-Model [live] more Carney says. “We have this
than anybody,” he says. nine-year-old superfan who
“He’s probably our biggest 6 attends a lot of Black Keys
influence. Junior Kimbrough stuff. The other night, he
was like jazz, but T-Model was there with his parents,
was like a garage band. We just losing his mind.”
could do that.”

7. Thickfreakness 2003
3. Gold on the Ceiling 7 “It’s currently the oldest song
2011 in the set list,” Carney says. “I
“I wanted to make sure we remember opening our first-
pepper the set list with new 8 ever show in London, in front
stuff, and not play a block of about 20 people at the
of, like, six new songs in Camden Barfly in April 2003.
the middle,” says drummer And I was so nervous in front
Patrick Carney. After two new 9 of 20 people. That feeling
songs, he says, “we hit ‘em of being basically a kid and
with the hit.” Here, a curtain getting flown overseas to
drops, revealing a 55-foot 10 play rock & roll and feeling
lighting rig. “I just try not to like you gotta put on a show.
play too fast, because Dan That song still reminds me of
and I get excited.” that every time we play it.”


4. Everlasting Light 2010 5. Howlin’ for You 2010 6. 10 A.M. Automatic 2004
The bandmates have retooled this soulful rocker with Auerbach used to simplify this Brothers song before “That’s straight-up garage rock,” says Auerbach of
a tremolo-steeped psychedelic arrangement they they hired the backing musicians in their current this thrasher, recorded in a tire factory. The crowd
can get lost in. “It gives me time to look out,” says setup — guitarists Steve Marion and Andy Gabbard, gets rowdy: Carney always looks for a character he FROM TOP: KOURY ANGELO; ALYSSE GAFKJEN
Carney. “It’s like our slow-dance moment, because plus bassist Zach Gabbard. “We can open some of calls “Mr. Party Animal.” “It’s always some guy with
there’s always people embracing each other during these songs up,” Auerbach says. He rakes the guitar an eccentric piece of clothing, a hat, and is dressed
that song. It’s touching.” Says Auerbach, “The groove strings with his fingernails like he did on the record, like an asshole just dancing his ass off,” Carney says.
feels so good. I can still hit those high notes, which is while the other guitarists play lead. “Those little “It’s the equivalent of going to a football game and
so weird. Someday I won’t be able to.” details on the record make it for me,” he says. sitting next to a guy who has fully painted his face.”


72 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

Michael Douglas







The legendary actor on learning his
craft and escaping his father’s shadow



What’s the best advice it’s rushing ahead. My son is “OK, you’re there now.” I think
you’ve ever been given? a sophomore in college now. when you come from the sec-
Know that when you walk He wants to be an actor. [He] ond generation, and you don’t
away from something, you asked, “Do I [need to] have an have that rags-to-riches story,
gave it your best. And then: agent?” Just calm down. Enjoy your arc is a little smaller. It
Fuck it. Just keep moving on school, man. School’s the best takes you longer to figure out
and say, “Fuck it.” time you’re ever going to have. who you are. The assump-
What’s the most import- This career is...Just enjoy tion is that everything is laid
ant rule you live by? that girl in front of you. out for you. And the reality is
No dickheads. You see them When you were in school, that, in an industry all about
a lot in our business, actually. you weren’t planning to establishing your own identi-
You know, when you’re num- become an actor, right? ty, you’re being judged against
Yeah. I had to get a major in your father’s persona.
college when I was a junior, so You’re being judged
Douglas co-stars I thought, “Well, what about against Spartacus.
in Season 2 of ‘The theater? Mom’s an actress, [Laughs] You’re being
Kominsky Method,’ Dad’s an actor.” I thought it judged against the
out now on Netflix.
would be easy. You know, I guy from Champion.
didn’t know what else to do. I Which, you know,
had terrible stage fright when he’d begun his ca-
ber one on a call sheet, you set I first started reer playing sen-
a tone on the set. If you’re late performing. sitive young men
to the set, other people will You’ve said that your dad before he got that
be late. If you’re an asshole, told you that you were an role. He played a
other people will be assholes. awful actor at first. prick for the first
You work with talented peo- He did, and he was right! It time and gets nom-
ple who are nice to work with. was in those early college pro- inated for an Oscar.
And then there are talented ductions. I started getting a You won an Oscar
people who are dickheads. So little better, but I had a long for playing a prick [in
as I’ve gotten older, my rule way to go. Wall Street]!
now is: No dickheads. Don’t So at what point did you Yeah. Those are the roles
need ’em. start to feel like, “Hey, I may that always pay off.
Don’t have time for ’em. actually be a legitimate The Kominsky Meth-
What’s the most indul- actor”? od is a comedy, but it con-
gent purchase you’ve ever Where I actually felt like I fronts aging and illness in
made? had something to offer? That a very candid way. Hav-
Probably, it was a few years would have to be the year of ing been through your own
ago, [a] time-share in a jet. It Fatal Attraction and Wall health scare, was that part
allowed the luxury to fly pri- Street...around 1986, 1987. of what drew you to the
vate. I stopped that. Just very Up until then, I still dealt with show?
expensive. But that was a nerves in front of a camera. I didn’t think it was. The writ-
great luxury, I must say. I felt I was competent; I did ing was just so good. And I
I enjoyed it. 104 hours of a TV show [The said, “Well, this is fabulous.
What do you do to relax? Streets of San Francisco]! But I mean, a comedy about get-
I’m a big sports junkie. Mov- I couldn’t tell you that I was ting older? Where do I sign
ies, you always guess the end- really enjoying the process or up?” Everything else is so de-
ing. Sports — you never know that people were benefiting pressing about getting older.
how it’s going to end. That’s from what I was doing. I wasn’t consciously aware
exciting. But it was the commer- [that] my cancer [played a
What advice would you cial success of Fatal At- part in drawing me to the
give your younger self? traction that gave role], but it became part of the
Cherish the moment. We’re me the confir- package, because it was part of
always rushing ambition, as mation that my life. DAVID FEAR

ILLUSTRATION BY Mark Summers 73 | Rolling Stone | December 2019

MUSIC l GADGET l ST YLE










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