Threatin (Kind Of) Explained His Huge, Elaborate Scam To ‘Rolling Stone’
We still have so many questions.
After concocting a truly elaborate scam, fake rockstar Jered ‘Threatin’ Eames has given an in-depth interview to Rolling Stone, one which fills in a few blanks but ultimately leaves us slightly more incredulous than before.
For a quick run-down, last month, the LA-based one-man band Threatin kicked off their first European tour, booking a series of gigs across 10 cities despite having no fanbase. Three people came to the tour’s opening night in London.
After a few more near-empty show, his hired band suspected something was off, given Threatin said they’d pre-sold hundreds of tickets to each gig. Multiple venues were pissed off too and called Threatin out on Facebook, prompting Metal Sucks to do a little sleuthing.
Turns out Threatin had created an elaborate web of lies to book the gigs, including (but not limited to) faking interviews, record deals, awards and fans. The last of which was most impressive, given Threatin created fake ‘fan-uploaded’ concert footage on YouTube, splicing together footage of him playing with huge, non-existent audiences.
After the tour was cancelled one week in, and received coverage everywhere (from here to the New York Times), Threatin made a statement on social media implying the tour was a commentary on fake news, or something. It didn’t quite connect: thankfully, we learn a lot more from David Kushner’s Rolling Stone feature.
In short, Threatin has wanted to be a rockstar since he was a teen in Missouri. After sinking $100,000 of his own money into recording across six years in LA, he decided upon a different approach. “It’s a publicity stunt,” he says, “but the music is very real.”
Idolising Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne and Marilyn Manson, he realised he should lean into being a “villain” for media attention. In creating a fake clout, he says he was inspired by how Andy Warhol and comedian Andy Kaufman both manipulated the media.
That, and a sense of impending death. Threatin first moved to LA after he coughed up a lot of blood, an ongoing issue he did not seek medical help for. This September, he was hospitalised after a coughing fit, and was diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition, but declined surgery before the impending tour.
“I was in the hospital for four days, then rehearsed the next day,” he says. “This is my whole life.”
When asked about the backlash online, he admits he didn’t realise it’d be quite so severe, but seems to have few regrets. In fact, he says he has more trickery planned.
Read the full interview at Rolling Stone.