November 27, 2006
Jon Peter Lewis

C = Cath, J = Jon

C: Who were you closest to while you were on American Idol? Who do you still keep in touch with today?
J: I was pretty good friends with Matt Rogers. We still keep each other posted on what’s going on in our lives.

C: What were some of the funniest pranks that were pulled while you were on tour with the American Idol 3 finalists?
J: Honestly, we were pretty boring, but I did almost get into a fight with another contestant over a cheese pizza. It was a good pizza.

C: What was the biggest thing you learned from being on American Idol?
J: How not to win...no, seriously, I learned so much about me and what I wanted to do with my life that it’d be hard to pinpoint one thing and label it as the biggest thing I learned.

C: After leaving American Idol, did you have any big goals? Do you feel that you have accomplished any of them at the present time?
J: Yeah, I had some pretty lofty goals after leaving. I wanted to write some songs and make a record my own way. I’ve done it now.

C: Your new album, “Stories From Hollywood”, just came out last week. Did the record turn out how you had envisioned it to when you first went into the studio?
J: I’ve been in and out of the studio over the last couple years, so my vision of the project has constantly been refining itself. In the beginning I knew a lot of things that I didn’t want, but I wasn’t too clear on the direction I wanted to go in. Over time things began to get clearer. I’m very happy with the record.

C: What is your favorite song off the album? Why?
J: It’s hard to say, they’re all like children, you know? If I had to pick one, though, I’d say “Man Like Me”. Guess I’m a softie inside….

C: If there was one point you could get across to anyone who listens to your music, what would it be?
J: Man, I’m not singing for world peace or anything…well, not yet anyway. I just hope people can enjoy it and forget how life sucks most of the time.

C: Who are some of your musical inspirations? How have they affected your life?
J: Well, my dad was always a big musical influence… He was in a band in the early 60’s called the Marketts and he’d play around the house all the time. He had a lot of interests other than rock, though - mostly Bach. I had a heavy dose of classical appreciation as a kid. After the music biz, my dad got lassoed into the military and ended up putting in 20 years. So, I spent my childhood on the run. That influenced me a lot musically. It’s funny how each region has it’s own little subculture. I remember when I lived in San Diego in the late 80’s, Ska was really big and I was into Fishbone and Madness. Then we moved to West Virginia and man, that’s not a place you want to be when Billy Ray Cyrus comes out with “Achy Breaky Heart”! Later I lived in Detroit, when Boys II Men were popular - I really fell in love with soul and R&B out there. When I started getting interested in pop culture, I think my background gave me a lot of love and respect for a ton of different genres. I could sit and listen to Marvin Gaye for hours or rock out to Motorhead like I knew what I was doing. So, I guess, here’s the answer to your question. I love the Beatles, Beach Boys, Beck, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Muddy Waters, Kiss, AC/DC, Muse, The Police, Van Morrison… and a bunch more… They keep me sane.

C: Who were some of the first bands you ever saw live?
J: I wasn’t much of a concert go-er until a few years ago. My first show was David Bowie.

C: Do you have any plans of doing a national tour soon?
J: …Defiantly planning on touring.

C: While doing my research on you, I found out that you can speak Spanish fluently. Can you give me your best Spanish pick-up line?
J: Tengo hambre y quiero comerte la boca…It sounds weird translated, but people actually say it... I never used it, I swear.

C: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring with you? Note: no transportation devices (aka ways to get off the island) allowed.
J: Ginger, Mary-ann, and the Professor.

C: Let’s say Taylor Hicks challenges you to a dance-off. Who would win?
J: We’d both lose, neither one of us has any business dancing.

C: Anything else you want to say? Closing statements?
J: Nope.