Yes, in the heat of the Presidential election, it seems both parties are ignoring an all-important voter constituent: the Juggalo vote. So what says Violent J, the leader of the Juggalos, of the Insane Clown Posse's brood of devoted fans?
"I'm not too big into politics," says J, on the phone earlier this month from Psychopathic Records headquarters in Farmington Hills. "I've been trying to watch the debates, but I don't understand 90 percent of what they're talking about."
So for his political advice, J turns to someone he knows he can trust. "My mom has always told me to be a Democrat, that's all I know."
In other words, don't expect too much in the way of politics at ICP's Hallowicked concert at the Fillmore Detroit on Friday. Instead, expect business as usual for the Insane Clowns, which is to say a whole lot of sticky Faygo and smeared greasepaint.
The show marks the 15th straight year the ICP has played a Halloween concert in Detroit, and J -- real name Joe Bruce -- has been dusting off some vintage ICP material in preparation for the celebration.
"We're doing 15 years worth of songs," J says. "We'll be doing a lot of stuff we haven't done in a long time, and we've been rememorizing and relearning a lot of older songs. I want it to be special."
The Insane Clown Posse, the disproportionately reviled and revered Detroit-based horror rap duo, may have cooled in terms of mainstream notoriety (or infamy, take your pick), but the ICP machine keeps on cranking. Hallowicked is one of two annual tentpoles on the ICP's schedule, the other being the summertime fan convention known as The Gathering of the Juggalos.
This year's Gathering -- Aug. 7-10 at Cave-in-Rock, Ill. -- was the ninth annual outing, and a documentary team chronicled the weekend's event for future release. J says the goal is to have the movie out by Christmas time.
Also in the world of movies: In January, the Clowns will head to Los Angeles to begin shooting "Big Money Rustlas," the follow-up to the group's previous foray into filmmaking, "Big Money Hustlas."
The film, which J says has a $1-million budget, is a prequel to the 2000 comedy spoof and takes place in the Old West. J stars as Big Baby Chips, a gambling tycoon in a lawless Western town, and Shaggy 2 Dope plays Sugar Wolf, the sheriff who brings justice to town and vows to take down Big Baby Chips.
J wrote the script for the film earlier this year while he was on tour. "It feels just like the first one, which I think is what people want," he says. He says roles will be filled by other members of the Psychopathic Records roster, and he hopes to get a few cult figures to make cameo appearances, as well.
J says he hopes to mount a small tour to support the film next year. As for a new album, he says the duo is taking its time following up 2007's "The Tempest" and may start recording something next year, but not before another solo set from Shaggy 2 Dope.
"We don't want to release an album every year right now," says J, a family man (he has two children, ages 4 and 2) when he's not rapping or wrestling. "We never want to slow down working, but when it comes to ICP albums and touring, we want it to mean a little something more now. When we put out an album, we want it to be a big deal. We work at our own pace."
