Jason Hook Talks Flat Black, Band Names, and Life on Tour at RIFF Fest 2024

Steve Black: Jason, I’ve got to start with a little story, if that’s all right. It’s a bit silly.

Jason Hook: Okay, go ahead.

Steve Black: My last name is Black, and when I was a teenager in a band — not the best singer in the world — people used to joke that the band should be called Flat Black.

Jason Hook: Are you serious?

Steve Black: Yeah, because I would hit flat notes, and with my last name, it just fit.

Jason Hook: So it was a description of your singing?

Steve Black: Pretty much. It’s funny, though. That was over 30 years ago. But enough about that — how did you come up with the name Flat Black for your band?

Jason Hook: Well, truthfully, finding a band name is tough. It’s something that sticks forever, so you’ve got to get it right. I kept a running list on my iPhone for a couple of years, filled with terrible names. One day, I was driving down Las Vegas Boulevard, past this private airport. I saw this jet, completely flat black—windows, engines, wheels, everything. It looked so sick, and the name Flat Black just popped into my head. I’ve always liked colors like Deep Purple, and Flat Black just felt right. Black is such a core color in the metal community—it represents the darkness, the heaviness. And flat is that next level of cool, like when people talk about their car being “murdered out” in flat black. So I bounced it off some people, and they thought it was cool too. And as luck would have it, Flat Black wasn’t taken on Instagram.

Steve Black: That’s hard to believe these days.

Jason Hook: Right? You can’t secure anything anymore, but we lucked out.

Steve Black: That’s awesome. And now you’ve got some music back on the radio. I know you’ve been working on it for a while — must feel good.

Jason Hook: Oh yeah, it’s great to be back. You never really know how things will go, but it’s been fun. [Seeing Robbie Merrill] Hey, that’s my buddy from Godsmack! I’d run over and give him a hug, but I’m in the middle of this. We’ve become really close with those guys. This is our third run with them, and it feels like family. They’re just the coolest dudes.

Steve Black: It helps that you’ve been through this before, right? You know a lot of people in the industry.

Jason Hook: Definitely. At the end of the day, life and business are all about relationships. Our rule is to be cool with everybody, and Godsmack has the same approach. It’s been great reconnecting with friends from other bands. It feels good to be back out here.

Steve Black: I saw your signature stripe on a double-neck guitar earlier — that was cool.

Jason Hook: Yeah, we were supposed to play a song with the double-neck, but something went wrong with it at the last minute. So we had to pull that song from the set.

Steve Black: I saw you warming up with it earlier.

Jason Hook: Yeah, exactly. It’s a Gibson, actually. They made it as a one-off for me. It might be the only Gibson double-neck Explorer in existence.

Steve Black: Wow, that’s really cool.

Jason Hook: Yeah, except now it’s the only broken double-neck Explorer. But we’ll get it fixed.

Steve Black: That’s part of the fun of live performances, right? Stuff happens.

Jason Hook: Exactly. It’s all about how you handle problems. At the end of the day, it’s just music. We’re not out here saving lives like the Coast Guard. As long as the audience is having a good time, that’s what matters. My little technical problems don’t mean much.

Steve Black: That’s a great attitude. I guess as someone who listens closely, I pick up on those issues more. But the average fan doesn’t notice.

Jason Hook: Yeah, especially with real amplifiers and all that old-school gear, which can be fragile. But as long as I’ve got an amp, a cable, and a guitar, I can play the whole show. The extra tricks are just for my own fun.

Steve Black: You’ve done a lot of session work over the years. Is there one that stands out for you?

Jason Hook: I played on an Alice Cooper record once. I was in his band for a while, and although I wasn’t originally involved in the recording, Alice made sure I was included. That’s just the kind of guy he is — always thinking about the people around him. He’s such a genuine human being. So I went into the studio and played something, though I can’t even remember what it was. But it was cool to be a part of it.

Steve Black: That’s awesome. And especially fitting, talking about Alice Cooper while we’re here in Detroit.

Jason Hook: Right? He’s from here, after all.

Steve Black: One last question — are you excited about Shiprocked coming up?

Jason Hook: Absolutely. I love Shiprocked. It’s like a paid vacation. I’ve done it many times, and the best part is that people come from all over the country. You get to see bands you’re friends with and fans you’ve met over the years. I’m a people person, so I enjoy mingling with everyone.

Steve Black: This will be my 12th Shiprocked. I’m the media partner for them.

Jason Hook: That’s awesome! So you’ll be there?

Steve Black: Yep, I’ll be covering it. I’m really looking forward to seeing some of the bands this year.

Jason Hook: Me too. I’ve become good friends with the Shiprocked crew over the years, and they always invite me, even if I’m not playing. They’re such great people.

Steve Black: It sounds like it’ll be a blast. And I’m glad to see you back out here. I know you’ve been working behind the scenes, but it’s great to see you performing again.

Jason Hook: Thanks, Steve. It feels good to be back. There were a few years of uncertainty, but now I’m ready. I love this venue, I’ve played here many times, and RIFF has been great to us. It’s been a fantastic day, and it didn’t even rain!

Steve Black: Yeah, that’s always a bonus.

Jason Hook: Exactly.

Steve Black: Well, I’m already playing some tracks from Flat Black, and there will be more to come.

Jason Hook: I appreciate the support, man.

Steve Black: Anytime. Thanks, Jason.

Jason Hook: Thanks, Steve.