Jon Peter Lewis
11-28-06
The Official Jon Peter Lewis Site
Jon Peter Lewis was a contestant from American Idol season 3. His debut CD Stories from Hollywood is now available.
Jon: When I found out I’d gotten America’s vote in the wild card round.
SSM: Out of all the other contestants, who was your closest friend from the show?
Jon: I was pretty good friends with Matt Rogers. We still keep each other posted on what’s going on in our lives.
SSM: With the recent release of your CD what are you looking forward to most right now?
Jon: Selling records, playing shows, and writing new songs
SSM: Who would you consider the biggest influence to you musically?
Jon: Well, my dad was always a big musical influence…he was in a band in the early 60s called the Marketts and he’d play around the house all the time. He had a lot of interests other than rock, though....mostly Bach. So, I had a heavy dose of classical appreciation as a kid. Also, after the music biz my dad got lassoed into the military and ended up putting in 20 years. So, I spent my childhood on the run. That influenced me a lot musically. It’s funny how each region has it’s own little subculture. I remember when I lived in San Diego in the late 80s Ska was really big and I was into fishbone and Madness. Then we moved to West Virginia and man, that’s not a place you want to be when Billy Ray Cyrus comes out with Achy Breaky Heart! Later I lived in Detroit when Boys II Men were popular and I really fell in love with soul and R&B out there. When I started getting interested in pop culture I think my background gave me a lot of love and respect for a ton of different genres. I could sit and listen to Marvin Gaye for hours or rock out to Motorhead like I knew what I was doing. So, I guess, here’s the answer to your question. I love the Beatles, Beach Boys, Beck, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Muddy Waters, Kiss, AC/DC, Muse, The Police, Van Morrison… a bunch more…they keep me sane.
SSM: Out of any song ever made, which one do you think you can relate to most & why?
Jon: You know, I think since I’m changing all the time it’s not really accurate to give you some sweeping answer, but right now at this moment the first thing that comes to mind is Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
SSM: Out of all your songs recorded to date, which one means the most to you and why?
Jon: Turn to Grey is kinda’ special to me since it’s the first one I wrote and it made the record.
SSM: If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you want to perform?
Jon: Hmmmm, Never really thought about it before…I think one place is as good as the next, but It’d be cool to play at the Prince Albert Hall. I’ve never been there, but it’s mentioned in Sgt. Pepper.
SSM: If you could do a duet with anyone, alive or dead, who would you want it to be?
Jon: Paul McCartney
SSM: Can you describe how you felt on American Idol, having so many people cheering for you, with posters and t-shirts ?
Jon: Imagine yourself playing in the super bowl with considerably smaller opponents and you’d have a pretty good idea
SSM: If you could be magically given the talent to do something, what talent would you want to be given?
Jon: Womanizing
SSM: What is one modern convenience you can’t live without?
Jon: When things go world war III it’d be sad to see hot water go.
SSM: Where is the weirdest place someone has recognized you?
Jon: While standing at the urinal
SSM: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Jon: I don’t know…maybe quick healing…like regeneration, or something. It seems to me that if you could bounce back from anything all other super powers wouldn’t matter.
SSM: If you could switch lives for a day with anyone who would it be and why?
Jon: James Bond…cars and girls
SSM: Do you have anything you would like to say to all your fans? Jon: Thank you very much!!!