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Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix on teen pop, toxic masculinity and 25 years of ‘Infest’

BBG News

Approximately four hours prior to his performance at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Jacoby Shaddix takes a sip from a hot water bottle while relaxing in a comfortable, leather armchair behind the scenes.

On performance days, I opt for hot water to maintain my vocal cords’ health, speaking as a dedicated film enthusiast who appreciates the importance of self-care. My lifestyle leans towards the disciplined side, bordering on monastic practices these days. To me, adherence and commitment are the new forms of rebellion.

A week ago, the subdued atmosphere was a stark contrast to the wild extravagance that Papa Roach encountered in 2000. Their song “Last Resort,” an intense rap-rock tune about suicidal thoughts, became extremely popular on the radio and MTV, catapulting the band from a small town in Northern California to a Grammy nomination for best new artist and triple-platinum album sales of their album “Infest.” (“Broken Home” is another notable track where Shaddix sings about his feelings, asking, “I know my mother loves me, but does my father even care?”)

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Over the past two and a half decades, Papa Roach’s fanbase has persisted both on stage and online, with a significant boost coming from Generation Z rediscovering their hit song “Last Resort.” This track frequently resurfaces in TikTok videos. On Spotify alone, where it has been played over 1.3 billion times, Papa Roach boasts 13 million monthly listeners – a number that surpasses that of Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins, three rock bands who were highly acclaimed by critics and influencers back in the day.

In January, the band comprising Jerry Horton (guitarist), Tobin Esperance (bassist), and Tony Palermo (drummer) put out “Even If It Kills Me,” their first single ahead of an upcoming album due later this year. Shaddix, who’s a married father of three, reflected on the creation of their earlier work, “Infest.

When the year 2000 rolled around and you were 23 years old, what did you envision yourself accomplishing at the age of 48?

Back in 1997, we released our debut full-length album titled “Old Friends from Young Years.” Our ambition for this project was to make it a lifelong pursuit. So, I’d like to say that I had dreamt of this very moment. However, I wasn’t certain if I would actually reach this point.

In all honesty, I couldn’t help but wonder about the challenges we might face as a band in such a competitive industry. The struggle to stay relevant and keep our momentum going was a constant concern, especially during those periods when our success seemed to be dwindling.

Are you okay with terms like “resurgence” or “comeback,” since you’re currently experiencing a strong return to success?

Is it still hard to believe that you’re performing in arenas in 2025? Despite always having it as our goal, the experience is more shocking than expected. After all, we’ve never done a headlining arena tour before, so the fact that we’re here now feels quite surreal.

It strikes me as odd, considering that during the peak of our success, we continued to support acts like Eminem, Korn, or Limp Bizkit instead of leveraging that opportunity for ourselves. They were compensating us handsomely, but in hindsight, it was an error. We should have said, “No, we’re not going to support you; we’re going to headline the arena ourselves.

Despite the current circumstances, everything seems to unfold as it should. Perhaps I wasn’t prepared for this moment earlier in my life journey. I’m simply overjoyed that we chose not to give up and walk away, instead sticking together.

Have you ever felt like you’ve almost reached your goal? Each time I complete an album and return home, I feel it’s all done. However, once I get back into the studio, we come up with new tunes, and I’m excited, thinking “This is amazing — let’s keep going!” Yet, being a dedicated family man makes it tough to leave again every time.

Music

The Bush frontman says he’s not a professional chef. Yet he just started cooking on TV.

Balancing between work and family life is draining yet invigorating at the same time for me. After a long day of performing, I come home to recharge. You see, my loved ones are my source of power. I made a commitment to break free from the cycle of my past – growing up in a broken home. I knew then that this wasn’t my destiny; I wouldn’t repeat the same pattern. Just as music consumes me with passion, so does being a dad.

In your role as a father, does your past experience as a son still resonate within you?

I find that immersing myself in the bond with my sons has been a powerful healing force for me. At 48 years old, I’ve reached a place of inner peace about my life journey because I’ve made amends and taken steps to rectify past situations. It’s an incredible feeling. Even my biological father, who I had strained relations with, and I have found a sense of tranquility. When he asked me if I could forgive him, I replied that I don’t have the luxury of harboring grudges given life’s brevity.

As a fan who values authenticity, I’ve always admired how “Infest” resonated with a generation of young men, offering a healthier outlet for their feelings. Nowadays, the vibe among angry young men seems rather grim. In my perspective, it all boils down to fostering an environment that nurtures growth at home. I strive to maintain open conversations with the boys, encouraging them to share their thoughts and struggles. I may not always agree with their ways, but I assure them, “I’m here for you.” The way I approach music has always been about open dialogue and honesty. If we look at suicide statistics, it’s alarming how predominantly male they are – a clear indication of men struggling. A big part of this issue is the decline of third spaces during COVID-19, as we, humans, are fundamentally social beings, built for community.

Why do you suppose young men are attracted to someone like Andrew Tate?

I believe it’s because the pendulum of masculinity has swung one way, and now it’s swinging back to an extreme. The concept of toxic masculinity exists, but not all masculinity is harmful. Let’s keep things honest. Social media has turned into a platform where certain voices become very loud, making people think that this is what masculinity looks like – but it isn’t. It’s important to stand up against this idea. Perhaps we’ve been too soft for a while, and we need to toughen up a bit. Grit, determination, and resilience are qualities we should value again.

There’s concern among many about children’s resilience post-pandemic, but my kids are resilient and I’m thankful for that. However, society has perhaps become overprotective. It’s important to care for one another, but there’s a fine line. We’re working on striking the right balance again because it’s felt off-kilter lately.

“My name’s Coby Dick / Mr. Dick if you’re nasty.”
Oh yeah.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I can’t help but chuckle at the choice to kick off “Infest” with those lyrics. You see, my wife and I shared the responsibility for our first touring vehicle – a massive, white 15-seater we fondly named Moby Dick. One day, as I drove around in this leviathan, people started joking about me being Coby Dick. Over time, it stuck, and that became my nickname. So, when I hear the lyrics of “Infest,” I can’t help but think of my own little sea adventure with Moby Dick!

Initially, we released an album and I jokingly said something similar to what Janet Jackson sang, like “Mr. Dick if you’re nasty.” Later, I came up with various nicknames such as “Dr. Sick,” “Old Saint Dick” on Christmas, and “Count Dick-ula” on Halloween. I was a fan of Wu-Tang Clan who had nine members each with three names, so I adopted aliases. However, when people started writing about us, they referred to me as “Dick.” Realizing this wasn’t the best choice, when we released our next album, I opted to use my real name, Jacoby Shaddix, which sounds much cooler.

As a music enthusiast, I can tell you firsthand that before our album “Infest” was released, we didn’t feel understood by the record industry. We were trying to get signed, but everyone turned us down: “You don’t fit our image,” “You’re not punk enough,” “You’re not metal enough.” Maybe we thought we deserved a chance before it was truly time for us. But then, we secured a demo deal with Warner Bros., and recorded hits like “Last Resort” and “Broken Home”. Unfortunately, our A&R at the time was fired, and no one else at Warner Bros. seemed to care. They said, “We’re going to pass.

As a supporter, I’d say it goes something like this: One day, Ron Handler from DreamWorks got wind of the happenings at Warner Bros. and decided to drop by the studio to check things out. He was drawn to what we were creating – it felt genuine and unpolished. He encouraged us to complete our project, saying, “Let’s not overdo it with all the harmonies. Just capture the raw essence of the band.” So that’s exactly what we did. We played our record for Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin, the heads of the label, who sat on the couch, listened intently, and finally said, “We’re in. We believe in this.

How astounding was that experience for you? I had no inkling of its magnitude, but I knew it was immense. After releasing our album, we were propelled by a massive machine. We thought we’d be hopping into the van to sell a few hundred thousand records like all our contemporaries did. Bands like Incubus and Deftones, they built that path. Suddenly, we found ourselves selling 80,000 or even 100,000 records per week. It was a surreal, almost unbelievable moment for us.

In a previous situation, it seemed your personal mental health issues were emphasized significantly for marketing purposes. I found myself questioning if you ever felt used in such a manner. However, reflecting on my own experiences, I shared a story that resonated deeply with people who said my music saved their lives. So, I prioritized the purpose behind my music over business concerns. When we were labeled “broken homeboys” by Spin magazine, it initially troubled me. Yet, I preserved the issue as a keepsake. Looking back now, I realize I was too sensitive and should have been more self-assured.

Initially, I never sensed any exploitation. Instead, we, as budding creators, harbored an unspoiled essence – untouched by the world’s cynicism, which allowed us to trust our instincts wholeheartedly. However, once we experienced phenomenal success, that innate sense of knowing began to fade: “Wow, now I’m here and everyone is instructing me, ‘You need to do this, you need to do that.'” It was quite a rollercoaster. I worked tirelessly on the road. I lived life at full throttle off-stage as well.

Too hard?
I drank enough vodka to kill a small village.

Are you currently drinking alcohol? Nope, I quit back in 2004 and had several relapses until 2012. Since then, it’s been a clean break for me.

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2000 saw a significant divide in music preferences: On one side were rock bands such as Papa Roach, Creed, and Limp Bizkit; on the other, pop sensations like Britney Spears, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys. While the rockers seemed to have a bit of animosity towards their pop counterparts, the pop stars appeared to be fans of their hard-rocking peers. I recall meeting Justin Timberlake during a trip to Germany; he had one of his security guards deliver the message: “Justin wants to meet you.” Upon meeting, he expressed that the music world was like wrestling – backstage camaraderie but competitive in front of audiences. I agreed with him and admitted, “I’ve been an ass.

It’s amusing: I ran into AJ from the Backstreet Boys – we were both attending the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2024 – and I knew he was a sober individual. I said, “What’s up, man? I’m Coby from P Roach – I simply want to meet you and get to know you.” We quickly connected, even exchanging contact information. He mentioned, “Dude, listen, I have a studio at my place – one of these days let’s get together and try our hands at songwriting.” There’s no barrier between us now.

Which track from “Infest” stands out as a favorite?

Well, fans seem to adore “Last Resort”, but I also have a soft spot for “Blood Brothers”. Not to mention, “Dead Cell” is quite impressive. However, we felt that “Last Resort” was unique even before it became our first single, since there were no other songs on the radio with such an original vocal start.

What’s the worst song on “Infest”?
Probably “Never Enough.” Lyrically, it’s a little meh.

It’s interesting to note one unexpected artist who appreciates Papa Roach’s music: Timbaland. We learned about his fondness for our band when he mentioned us in Rolling Stone. Another surprise fan is Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas; we met him at clubs and even collaborated on their album “Elephunk.” Swizz Beatz was also a fan, and since hip-hop played a significant role in our early influences, receiving respect from the black community felt incredibly cool.

Are you not someone who identifies as a rapper? Well, I can certainly lay down a verse or two. In fact, I’ve rapped on some recent tracks. So yes, I’m versatile when it comes to the microphone. But, I wouldn’t call myself MC Dick, even though it fits.

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2025-04-03 20:02

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