Back in November, a metal band called Threatin embarked on a European tour that gained widespread media attention for the wrong reasons: Nobody attended. Through reports from MetalSucks and The New York Times, it was revealed that the band’s frontman, 29-year-old Jered Eames, had duped venues across Europe by creating fake industry backing and buzz. He fabricated his management team, record label, and PR firm. He also made music videos with fake concert footage and even faked press coverage. Following these reports, Eames made an announcement on social media: “What is Fake News? I turned an empty room into an international headline. If you are reading this, you are part of the illusion.”
Now, Eames has spoken with Rolling Stone’s David Kushner, marking his first interview about the stunt. In the article, Eames reveals that he grew up in Moberly, Missouri and played in metal bands with his brother from a young age. After a medical emergency at age 20, he decided to leave home for Los Angeles and pursue a career in music. Soon after, he began theorizing a new “villain” persona. He explains, “There was no way that I was going to get enough attention being a rock artist in 2018 unless I did something to get people to pay attention.” The article also notes that his idea was inspired by “artists such as Andy Warhol and Andy Kaufman.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Eames responds to criticism that he was simply a privileged artist who was able to buy himself a tour. “I’m not some fucking rich kid,” he says, noting that the money he spent on his recordings came from “savings.” “All this is, is good money management.”
The interview also reveals that Eames will continue to tour and make new music (and possibly publicity stunts) as Threatin. He also notes that he is working on a documentary about the experience, filmed by his wife Kelsey. “A happy story lasts a day, but a tragedy is going to last a lifetime,” he says. Read the full story at Rolling Stone.
