by LATEEF MARTIN

A black woman fronting a metal band is a rarity. The visceral soul metal of Skunk Anansie and Tamar Kali come to mind. Then there’s Jada Pinkett Smith. The actress of Ali and Matrix series fame, wife of the ubiquitous Will Smith, is the thrashing banshee fronting Wicked Wisdom, and she comes real with it. Cutting their teeth at Ozzfest, Wicked Wisdom, which boasts the legendary Phillip “Fish” Fisher of Fishbone on drums, got the naysayers moshing ahead of Iron Maiden and the Ozz-meister himself. The Mirror got a hold of Pinkett Smith and Fisher as they geared up for a tour with Sevendust.

Mirror: How did this all start?

Jada Pinkett Smith: About four years ago, after I did the Matrix movies. It was something I always wanted to do. I met [guitarist/musical director] Pocket [Honore]. He and I had the same ideas on where we wanted to take the music, so we went through a few band members together and finally got the combination we have now. We also got with [musical co-director] Cameron [Graves], who really helped us solidify our sound.

Phillip Fisher: [Bassist] Rio [Lawrence], Pocket and I could see that Jada was serious about doing this band. I was on a break from doing my project, so I came to their studio to play on one of their songs and I’ve been with them ever since.

M: It seems like the Ozzfest was a trial by fire.

JPS: Oh, my goodness, yes. It was really a great experience. The first seven or eight shows were really, really rough. We had a huge learning curve, but once we got past that eighth show, it started to change—the whole attitude of the audience and word of mouth. By the end of Ozzfest in Florida, we went from “Get the fuck off the stage” to having three pits going. I think it’s very difficult to reconcile the idea that Jada Pinkett Smith is gonna be at Ozzfest. It’s like someone comin’ up to me and saying Celine Dion is coming out with a hardcore album and she’s opening up for 50 Cent. So I understood what I was up against. But people don’t know me. They only know a persona.

M: Jada, are you putting your acting aside to pursue music?

JPS: I’ve dedicated the last four years to music. I did squeeze a few films in there. I might do a four-week squeeze-in this summer. But what I like about the music is that I create it, I love the freedom that it offers me.

M: Phillip, any thoughts on the evolution of the industry?

PF: I’m happy that people are able to record music on their own. I’m glad to see some of the demise of some of the major labels’ control of people’s art.

M: You’ve been in the scene for over 20 years. Best and worst experiences?

PF: Some of the worst might be being stuck on the side of the road and missing a gig, or having someone sue you because they did something stupid at your show. The best would be performing with my brother and the friends that I grew up with in Fishbone. That was the goal since I was a kid. Opening for the Rolling Stones, playing with George Clinton, AC/DC, Branford Marsalis—playing Ozzfest is a highlight of my life. n

With Sevendust and Non-Point at le Spectrum
on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., $29.35, all ages

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