Jerome Dillon: nearLY Perfect
by Brad Filicky
LINKS:
Jerome Dillon is best known for his stint as drummer for Nine Inch Nails during the days of The Fragile. Although no longer a member of Trent Reznor’s traveling circus, he has hardly given up on music. His nearLY project is scary, comforting, ethereal, and rocking, sometimes even within the same song. [nearLY: reminder] is epic and personal--the perfect headphone record for Industrial music geeks and those seeking a soundtrack to self-discovery. I recently talked with Jerome about the past, present and future.
BRAD FILICKY: How did you hook up with Nine Inch Nails?
JEROME DILLON:
I auditioned in New Orleans in ’98 and joined the band in ’99.
JD: I had some health issues that were plaguing me through
the third leg of the tour. It ended up being a catalyst to us canceling
some shows. I made my way back to LA to get diagnosed. My immediate plans
were to come back and make sure nothing was seriously wrong with my health.
We would find a replacement drummer until I could rejoin the tour. I came
to LA for two days of testing with a cardiologist who is one of the best
in his field. He assured me that nothing was seriously wrong with me and
what I had was an easily treatable condition being caused by thyroid medication,
and an over abundance of adrenaline. He said not to worry, that there
were guys on Celtics and on Olympic teams who have this. So I was releived
and just needed to adjust to taking another medication. I went back to
the band’s management and said that I was ready to rejoin the tour.
And I was met with not what I was initially ready for. I was always under
the impression and we talked at length about it, that I would rejoin the
tour, and I would be a part of the band like I was before. But (my absence)
stopped a lot of momentum and the guys in the band were not sympathetic.
That was too much for me to deal with. If the situation had been reversed
I think I would have had a lot more class about it. That said, Aaron the
guitar player was very supportive and continues to be a good friend. He
refused to leave my side. He went in the ambulance and stayed at the hospital.
He’s the most squeamish guy I know. He faints at the sight of a
needle, so I know that wasn’t easy for him.
BF: How many instruments can you play?
JD: I started
on piano when I was four and drums since I was 12. Around 19-20 I started
playing guitar and when I got off the road with Nails the first time
(in 2000) I taught myself orchestration and string arrangements. I also
read a lot of books on composers. I am a fan of Vilvadi, Beethoven,
etc. I devoured everything I could get my hands on because I knew I
wanted to write my own music.
JD: With the exception of the live strings, I pretty much played everything. There are guest musicians all over the place. The record is basically Brett Pierce and me in the studio, putting the tracks together and orchestrating everything. Claudia (from 12 Rounds) came in and added vocals.
BF: How did you hook up with Greg Dulli?
JD: We’ve known each other since '94-'95.
BF: Since the Howling Maggie days?
JD: Exactly. We did several tours with the Whigs. We’d get in our piece of shit van and go across country just so we could play before them and expand our audiences. It was due paying time and believe me I did.
BF: I remember seeing you guys open for Filter in Cleveland…
JD: Oh my God dude!!! (laughs) I remember our lead singer being pelted with things from the audience. When one missed he went to the microphone and said, “Hey man bad shot”. That was a grave miscalculation on our management’s part to have us open for those guys.
BF: Was that a tour or a one off show?
JD: No. That was the worst show I ever played. To go out on stage and be met with nothing but hate is an amazing feeling, let me tell ya.
BF: How did the collaboration with Claudia from 12 Rounds come about?
JD: It was very strange how that happened. I originally
met Claudia when Nine Inch Nails was in London doing shows. I had not
heard any of 12 Rounds stuff, but I met her backstage and we talked and
she seemed cool. About two years later I was in New Orleans working on
some songs with Trent.. It may have even been some stuff for the Tapeworm
project. When I was there Dave “Rave’ Olgive was down there
working on some stuff for 12 Rounds. Trent pulled me aside and asked if
I would be interested in playing on the 12 Rounds record that he and Dave
were overseeing. Trent didn’t like a lot of the rhythm tracks on
some of the songs, so I went in and played some drums on a few songs.
Unfortunately, due to legal issues with Trent’s label, that record
was never released. But they are looking to release it soon. I think they
are very close to getting the rights to release the album at least on
Itunes, which would be great. I’d love to see the album see the
light of day. I was blown away by her vocals on that record. It is very
sophisticated and emotionally potent. I asked her if she would mind listening
to some of my stuff. I dropped her a CD of about 20 songs that had no
vocals that I was working on, She ended up liking the stuff and that was
that.
BF: Are there any other guests on the album you’d like to talk about?
JD: Keith
Hillibrandt, a NIN sound designer worked on some of the tracks. Petra
Hayden (ex-That Dog) is also on the record. In The end, I knew I wanted
to write a record that was very honest, and I felt that if I could listen
back to it on a regular basis and connect with it cerebrally and emotionally
then I’ve done something right.
JD: Well I’d love to continue with it. And I’m not going to stop writing music.
BF: So this is your main musical focus now?
JD: Yes, absolutely. My priority now is to put together a live band and play some shows.
BF: Is there going to be touring?
JD: I don’t know if there will be extensive touring.
We may do some one off shows. I don’t know about a worldwide tour
it might be a bit ambitious on many levels. Since we are a piece band
with live strings…
