Ari Lehman of First Jason Talks Silver Scream Con, Upcoming Tasks, and Extra!

Ari Lehman, extensively identified for portraying the primary on-screen model of Jason Voorhees as a baby, has many different sides. As an illustration, he composes music and fronts a metallic band referred to as First Jason, which simply occurs to be opening for Ice 9 Kills on the upcoming Silver Scream Con. Past that, he’s a genuinely good man who loves assembly followers and mingling with the horror group at conventions.

We had the prospect to talk with Ari earlier than his look at Silver Scream this 12 months, and he couldn’t be extra excited. He additionally has a couple of initiatives within the works that we’ll be maintaining a tally of!

iHorror: Hey Ari! You’re showing at The Silver Scream Con once more this 12 months from September thirteenth to the fifteenth! What are you able to inform us?

Ari Lehman: First, I need to say that my band, First Jason, can be opening for Ice 9 Kills on the live performance throughout Silver Scream Con on Saturday the 14th!

Dude, that’s superior! That’s actually huge information!

It’s! So far as the conference goes, from my perspective, I might need one of many best vantage factors on what Ice 9 Kills, Spencer (Charnas), and Silver Scream have actually contributed to this wonderful worldwide household of horror. We’ve bought horror filmmakers, horror actors, horror tattoo artists, individuals who run haunted homes, individuals who do festivals. It’s such a giant household. Issues have been transferring alongside in a sure manner. We got here by way of the slasher period, we got here by way of “The Strolling Lifeless” period, and other people in all probability thought, what extra is there to say?

That is the place I really feel I can converse to this very eloquently. You have a look at Spencer’s strategy, and it’s knowledgeable by that emo perspective. It was a completely new manner of these characters—from a really introspective facet. “He drowned in all our concern, he drowned in our errors.” (Lyrics from Ice 9 Kills’ “Thank God it’s Friday.”)

Rewind. When Spencer requested me to sing on the acoustic model of “Thank God it’s Friday,” it was an unimaginable expertise for me. Right here I’m, doing my very own factor. My lyrics come from that anger, that fierce and brutal Jason. Then I heard Spencer’s lyrics, and wow… It’s simply wonderful what he did. That’s only for one franchise, for Jason. He additionally did that for Michael, Freddy, “THE EXORCIST,” and “JAWS.” After I first noticed them (Ice 9 Kills) right here in Chicago, it was packed, and I noticed the response—how nearly each fan was singing all of the lyrics. It’s a phenomenon. They’ve breathed new life into all these older franchises.

iHorror: I’ve been to lots of conventions, and I do know you’ve been to greater than I’ve. Many instances, they really feel like merch and autograph factories. Silver Scream Con feels extra in regards to the tradition. Extra in regards to the horror group. In all probability as a result of it’s by horror followers, for horror followers, not simply by some huge firm for revenue. Ideas?

Ari Lehman: Effectively, you’re hitting an actual matter there that I undoubtedly know an excellent deal about. Initially, lots of the conventions manner again have been really fan-supported entities. Then what ended up occurring, in sure circumstances, is you’ve distributors who got here in and have been doing backroom offers with celebs. So, what finally ends up occurring is, they are saying look, you pay these folks’s ensures, we’ll are available and do autograph work with them, and canopy their ensures. I’m providing you with guys the within scoop right here. That’s all fantastic, besides what it does is it modifications the scope of how the occasion is drawing. In different phrases, they don’t have to create an entertainment-based occasion, and it turns into extra of a sales-based occasion.

If somebody pays to get there, you’re paying for gasoline, you’re paying to park, paying to get in, and now you stroll as much as the primary desk and someone is asking for, I don’t know, possibly $50.00 for an autograph and a selfie. Then you definately get to the subsequent desk, and it’s the identical factor. I typically questioned, particularly for a household that walks in there with a bunch of youngsters, how can that be enjoyable? It’s bought to be enjoyable for everybody. If somebody comes as much as my desk in that state of affairs, I’ll be giving out numerous freebies. That’s simply who I’m.

iHorror: I noticed you do it final 12 months!

(Laughing.)

Ari Lehman: Possibly we shouldn’t print that. (Laughing.)

iHorror: No, no, no. It’s all good. All of it works out. It’s a matter of, let’s all have enjoyable, and make it entertaining.

Ari… you’re the person. How did you find yourself getting concerned with Silver Scream Con initially?

Ari Lehman: See, this can be a loopy factor. I do lots of autograph signings. This was years and years again, I used to be doing autographs and a vendor introduced his child with him, who was about 15. I used to be enjoying music by my band, First Jason, and the child was into metallic. He requested me actually properly if he may placed on a CD of a band he thought I would really like: Ice 9 Kills. This was so a few years in the past. I immediately considered Kurt Vonnegut Jr., as a result of Ice 9 comes from his e book “Cat’s Cradle.” I assumed that was cool. Positive sufficient, he put the CD on, and we have been blasting it on this auditorium, and I used to be simply floored.

Then, a couple of months later, I bought an e-mail from Spencer (Charnas). I used to be like, oh wow, it’s that band! I immediately jumped in, and he wished to do an acoustic model of “Thank God it’s Friday,” and wished to know if I may do it. The observe labored out, and after that, he requested me to be part of the conference. For me, it was simply a tremendous thought {that a} band would have their very own conference. It was very pure and natural. But when not for that child telling me about Ice 9 Kills, I might need by no means opened that e-mail. Who is aware of?

iHorror: I don’t need to take up all of your time, Ari, however I do need to provide you with an opportunity to say something you may be engaged on or excited for.

Ari Lehman: Thanks! There’s an impartial horror movie that I’m in that individuals ought to take a look at. It’s lots of enjoyable. I performed the Satan! It’s a film referred to as “LUST, MAGIC, and the WITCHES’ SABBATH.” It’s wonderful. It was shot in Des Moines, and we performed a rock present that night time after which began filming at midnight. They painted me pink from head to toe, with hooves and horns. It’s in regards to the initiation of a younger witch, and it’s lots of enjoyable. It’s undoubtedly a type of B-horror thrill rides, however I do should say that it does respect the lore of Wicca. They did an excellent job with that.

iHorror: That is out now?

Ari Lehman: Oh, yeah. It’s on the market! After all, I used to be additionally in “THE BARN,” and “THE BARN 2.” Then with First Jason, we’re doing a lot nice stuff. We’re doing lots of reside reveals, we’ll be at Silver Scream Con, opening the live performance, and we’re going to rock the roof off the place. Additionally, we’ve bought some new remixes up. We’ve been working with our buddy DJ Flatline, out of Buffalo. We did a tune referred to as “Killin It,” which is a collaboration with Alex Vincent from “CHILD’S PLAY,” Courtney Good points, who performed Malachai in “CHILDREN OF THE CORN,” the horny sax man, Tim Cappello, from “THE LOST BOYS,” and Twisted!

I don’t know what occurred, however DJ Flatline’s remix of it has gotten like 6,000 performs in simply a few weeks. So, that’s up, and we’re so pleased about that. It’s on Spotify, First Jason, “Killin It” remix.

Everyone on the market, preserve creating, don’t cease. Hold wanting on the creativeness of the darkish facet, as a result of that’s the place you will get all people’s consideration. Additionally, if you may make it to The Silver Scream Con, and also you come as much as my desk and point out this interview, you’re going to get one thing free from me!

iHorror: Candy deal! We actually respect your time, Ari! Thanks! We’ll see you at Silver Scream Con!

Remember to take a look at Ari’s band, First Jason and for those who’re attending Silver Scream Con, don’t neglect to say this interview at Ari’s desk for some free goodies! See you there!