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Rocking the Foo Fighters and Jackson United

Chris Shiflett, lead guitarist of the Foo Fighters, recently self-released the record “Harmony and Dissidence” for Jackson United, the band of which he is both the guitarist and vocalist.
    At only 37 years old, Shiflett is a veteran in the rock music scene, having played in bands such as No Use for a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, prior to joining the Foo Fighters in 2000. Not one to take time off, Shiflett has decided to go full force with Jackson United, by both releasing the record and going on a U.S. and U.K. tour in support of it.
    Foo Fighters fans beware, while the record has hints of both surf rock and punk rock, this is quite a departure from the typical Foo Fighters sound. However, mega fans may be intrigued to give Jackson United a listen because both Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins helped record drums on the album.
    Jackson United has rotated members since it’s creation, most recently with the departure of bassist (and brother) Scott Shiflett and addition of cousin, Charlie Ellis (This will be Ellis’ first time on tour). In fact, Shiflett mentioned that he had asked almost every musician he had known to come on tour with him. Rockers The Loved Ones will be taking Jackson United on their short U.S. trek, and once the band hits the U.K. in November, it’s anyone’s guess as to whom they will be playing with. Shiflett revealed that he had booked the entire U.K. tour himself.
    Shiflett wasn’t afraid to share stories from his rock ‘n’ roll past. After displaying his Gimme Gimmes tattoo on the inside of his mouth, he began to reminisce about his first tattoos as a teenager. After his mother threatened to throw him out of the house if he had gotten tattoos before the age of 18, Shiflett worked really hard to hide both the tiger and dragon tattoos on both sides of his arms.
    “One drunken night I decided to steal a dog and bring him home with me,” said Shiflett. “Once I got home and went in my room the dog wouldn’t stop barking. My mom entered the room and started screaming at me ‘You think you’re so rebellious!’ and I stupidly said, ‘You want to see rebellious?’ (Shiflett proceeded to lift up both his sleeves, revealing his tattoos), and my mother turned around and walked back to her room. It was the first time I ever saw her speechless.”
    Today, Shiflett is covered with tattoos, most notably the Foo Fighters tattoo on his forearm and FF on his index finger. Prior to joining the Foo Fighters, Shiflett was a huge fan of the band and jumped at the opportunity to audition for them when he heard they were in need of a guitarist.
    “I actually had to audition a couple of times before I got the gig,” Shiflett explained. “I remember giving Dave some of my past work with No Use and thinking that I got the gig as guitarist because he was impressed with my music. It wasn’t until months later, when I reached into a guitar case to get something, that I noticed my stack of CD’s were completely unopened, shoved in the back of the case!”
    Shiflett still performs with the Foo Fighters, but with their recent time off, Jackson United will be hitting the small club circuit. Now is a great chance to go see him up close and personal before the Foo’s start up again, as they typically perform for thousands of people a night.
    Jackson United will be performing at the Knitting Factory on Oct. 1.

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