Jeff Golden – An Xperience Interview

Jeff Golden – An Xperience Interview – by Jesse Skinner.

“Set your goals and go for it!”

Originally from Connecticut, Jeff Golden started his journey as a veteran local musician, working with notable heavy metal acts such as Goatwhore, Thy Will be Done, and Crowbar. Currently, he’s the bassist for the iconic metal band Six Feet Under, led by death metal pioneer Chris Barnes. He got his start just like any other metalhead, buying albums and performing in his own local music scene. Jeff Golden moved up in his career: played with some iconic bands while also being hired to play in bands he looked up to. During the current co-headlining Revenge of the Underworld tour lead by Nile and Six Feet Under, Jeff took time out of his busy schedule to give RadioRadioX a glimpse into what forged him into being an accomplished musician.

RRX: What equipment do you use while on tour with Six Feet Under?

JG: I’m using a GK 2001RB head with an Ampeg 8×10; we are sharing cabs and drums with Psycroptic. I’m using a DarkglassB7K ultra pedal. For my bass, I’m using an LTD B4-E.

RRX: How did your journey lead you to tour with Six Feet Under?

JG: I’ve been working with Chris and SFU since 2011. When I saw that their bassist left them, I sent an email to an address I found on the SFU website. I received a reply quickly. At that point, SFU had a bassist already that they were working with, but needed a fill-in for the Christmas metal festival in Germany later that year (2011). I sent in a few live videos of bands that I previously toured with the year before (Thy Will Be Done and Goatwhore). Throughout 2011, I would meet up with Chris and Steve Swanson, along with Chris’ nephew Ryley, who played drums, for rehearsals. From that point on, I have been tech, stage manager, merch, and touring bassist numerous times. SFU is a band that I’ve always enjoyed touring with! My mom gave me the “Haunted” CD for Christmas one year when I was about 15, and have been a fan since.

RRX: Do you have any memorable moments from the current tour you would like to share?

JG: All the shows on this tour have been great! My mom and my stepdad were at the Charleston, SC, show. I was finally able to introduce Chris to my parents, and my mom had a ticket stub from 2004, when my band (at that time) opened for SFU at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT. I’m originally from Connecticut. Chris signed the ticket stub, and my mom has added that to her collection of tour items and photos that she has of me. My mom’s always been really supportive of this rock ‘n’ roll dream of mine! The Greensboro, NC, show is another special show for me as well. My sister and brother-in-law live about 80 miles from there, and my brother-in-law brought my 16-year-old niece to her first concert, and it just happened to be her uncle playing it. She got a SFU shirt and wore it to school the next day! The Worcester show was also a highlight for me – my friends and I grew up going to shows all over Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Palladium was a venue we frequented a lot in our teenage years and early twenties. Two of my friends that introduced me to death metal and Cannibal Corpse when we were teenagers were at that show. One of my favorite parts of touring (besides the shows) is being able to see friends and family that we don’t get to see often.

RRX: What are your main influences that got you into playing your music style?

JG: My influences for bass started off with Jason Newsted, Rex Brown, Peter Steele, and of course … Lemmy.

RRX: At what age did you start playing music, and how did you decide you wanted to be a working musician?

JG: I started playing saxophone in elementary school, around 6th grade if I remember correctly. I moved onto guitar at 13 years old and bass at 14. Music has always been something that was around me; my mom plays piano really well. I remember saving up my Christmas money to buy the Metallica box set “Live Sh*t: Binge & Purge.” Watching those live shows got me hooked on wanting to travel and play shows. I started touring in 2008, and from then on, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. My first band, My Uncle the Wolf, opened for Ministry on their C U LaTour, European leg (2008). After that, I played bass for Thy Will Be Done on the Bound by the Road tour (2010), which also included Goatwhore, Suffocation, and DevilDriver. I filled in for Goatwhore for a week on that tour as well. From then, I joined up with Six Feet Under 2011 – present. I was the bassist for Crowbar from 2013-2016 and played bass on part of the tour with Lord Dying in 2016.

RRX: Do you have any other musical endeavors currently in the works?

JG: My wife, Katie, and I have a band called Blood of the Earth. We have a demo EP out now entitled “ …and the Pillars Shook.” It’s a mixture of our influences, and includes elements of doom, sludge, atmospheric, metal, and some symphonic parts. Katie is a classically trained pianist, and she programmed the drums as well as played keys. I’m doing the bass and guitars. We are currently a two-piece instrumental band, and will possible add vocals and a full lineup. After we get back from the Revenge of the Underworld tour, we are aiming to re-record /mix our debut EP, and add a few new songs to make it a full length.

RRX: What was the most memorable moment of your career?

JG: It’s hard to pick one memorable moment. I reached a lot of goals/dreams over the years, such as playing on stage with musicians that I looked up to since high school, and becoming friends with them, such as Chris Barnes and Sammy Duet to name a few. And being able to play overseas and countless festivals, such as Bloodstock, Hellfest, Brutal Assault, and Desertfest London and Berlin when I was with Crowbar. I also met my wife on tour – her previous band was supporting SFU in Europe in December 2019. We became friends for a few years and recently just got married in October. Music has brought a lot of really awesome people into my life, and for that, I’m extremely grateful.

RRX: If you could tour with any band, who would it be?

JG: Clutch would be a band I would love to tour with. I’ve seen them a few times, and it’s always an awesome show – great music and bass lines! I haven’t met them yet, but I’m a huge fan.

RRX: What advice would you give to a younger musician just starting out?

JG: Practice your craft and set goals for yourself. Start off small and get comfortable with playing. It won’t happen overnight, and there’ll be a lot of people telling you that it won’t work out. Ignore the naysayers. If you have the determination to do it, then you’ll be able to make it happen. It’s tough at times, but it’s worth it. Right now, from what I’m noticing, social media is a huge part of it as well, as far as marketing and followers go. I’ll be 44 on this tour, and I’m still getting the hang of the social media stuff. Set your goals and go for it!

Photo by Rachel Skinner.

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