What kind of advice have you received from the likes of Ozzy and Rob Halford (lead singer of Judas Priest who does backing vocals on "Goddamn Devil")?

Oh yeah, all these guys who have seen it all and done it all, they always give you these little "words of wisdom." They talk a lot about staying true to yourself. Don't let the label make you do this or that. Just remember that as long as you're doing well, everyone's going to be nice to you, but the second you start not doing well, you'll find out who your real friends are in the label and in the industry, when you see the hard times.

Kirk Hammett (Metallica's lead guitarist) has been really cool to us. He's sort of protective of us, he always calls and asks "Have you guys seen any money yet? Who's your accountant? Let me give you some numbers of some really good people." So he's been kind of keeping an eye on us. They got ripped off a lot in the beginning, and they've been doing it for ten years now, so he's seen a lot and wants to make sure other bands don't get screwed over.

In an recent interview with Rolling Stone, Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea had some rather unflattering things to say about Ugly Kid Joe. How did you feel about that?

I think it's really stupid because he's been doing that a lot, putting down a lot of bands. He put down Extreme, he put down us, he put down Def Leppard, he just puts down bands like off the tip of his tongue in major press.

What he said was really ridiculous. He said "I know exactly where they're coming from." He hasn't got a damn idea where we're coming from! I like the Peppers, they're a band I've always liked, but as far as I'm concerned, musically we're nothing like them at all. I think they're really great, with their attitude and all they've done, but musically they're not like our big idols. It's not like they're such great musicians or their songs are so fantastic. So it didn't hurt that bad because it's not like I have posters of them all over my wall.