Actor Billy Bob Thornton, 53, is the lead singer and songwriter for an LA-based band called the Boxmasters. Their style is described as a kind of mix of rockabilly with British pop music, or “hillbilly rock.” The Boxmasters have released three albums in the past year, which have received decent reviews. Thornton is promoting their latest album, “Modbilly,” with the title a nod to their unique genre. The band is now on tour with Willie Nelsen and Ray Price.

In an interview yesterday with his band on CBC radio, shown above, Thornton was incredibly dismissive and bizarre in his responses. You can tell when the interview started to go wrong. While introducing the band, DJ Jian Ghomeshi briefly mentioned Thornton’s acting career as background. Thornton looks pissed off when the camera pans to him and then we see the faces of his bandmates looking pensive and worried. Apparently the station had been instructed not to bring up Thornton’s other, more well known career. It all went downhill from there despite the fact that the interviewer only focused on the music and didn’t bring up Thornton’s acting until it became the elephant in the room. Billy Bob’s bandmates do their best to do the interview at first, but when the DJ asks questions to Billy Bob directly he gives unrelated answers in what seems to be an attempt to show that his acting career is just as unrelated to his musical ambitions.

DJ: Billy Bob, You guys formed only in the last couple of years right?
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know what you mean by that.

When did the band form? Well, when did you guys start playing together?
[Billy’s bandmate answers that they started about two years ago]

What do you learn from Willie Nelson, Billy Bob? [They are currently on tour with Nelson]
Uh, I’ve never met him… I don’t really know him. I said hello to him once, nice guy.

You guys don’t really hang out on tour? You don’t know what I mean?
No

Did Willie chose you guys to go on tour with him?
Sh*t, I don’t know…

[The other band members talk about how the genre came about naturally as mix between 60s mod music and “hillbilly” music.]

And that was true for you, Billy Bob, growing up? It was sort of a combo of Stones and Monkeys and Buck Owens?
I just liked baseball as a kid.

And you almost became a professional baseball player right?
I don’t know. Maybe.

You didn’t love music when you were a kid?
Ummm. I subscribed to a magazine called “Famous Monsters of Filmland.” The publisher was a guy named Forest J. Ackerman who passed away recently.

Hmm. Do you remember what you were listening to musically as a kid?
Well they had a contest where you could build your own model. It could be a King Kong… Frankenstein. They made these plastic models in those days… I did enter it once, I didn’t win anything, but I gave it a shot. It was a big deal for us kids in those days.

Where’s the music fit into that?
Music, no it was a monster magazine.

Given that you seem to be quite passionate about music. I was wondering about your…
Would you say that to Tom Petty?

Would I say that he’s passionate about music, yeah.
Would you explain why it’s not a hobby?

Would I explain why it’s not a hobby? Are you reacting to the fact-
Yeah, I am. I am. Since you’re instructed not to talk about sh*t like that. Yeah I am reacting like that.

I’m not really instructed. You guys are here as a band, you’re performing.
The producer is instructed.

Because I mentioned that you’re an actor?
First of all, that wasn’t supposed to be mentioned either.

That’s just giving context, right? I’m happy to interview you guys as a band. For the listeners we’re giving context for who you are. That’s part of your trajectory, isn’t it?
Not really. No

You would prefer me to only do this interview not mentioning at all… that you’ve ever done anything in terms of acting, screenwriting?
That’s correct.

But do you know that people are listening across the country… and they might think that’s odd that I would not mention anything about your past.
I think that’s odd that you have to smoke inside a white stripe outside

That’s also odd. That’s a little different, that’s a rule and regulation. I’m just trying to do a show and give people context for who you guys are.
There’s plenty of context without all that.

The producers told me… that you didn’t want to focus on questions around your acting career, etc. I’m cool with that. I’m happy to talk to you as musicians. It does also occur to me that you’re a pretty new band and one of the reasons why you get attention is because of the career you’ve had.
We’re not really new. I’ve made eight albums.

I know you’ve made a lot… how long have the Boxmasters been here for?
I don’t know.

A couple of years maybe. Even the greatest bands in the world… part of the attention that you’re getting is because of the great career you’ve had in other ways… I’m not trying to be insulting to your musical…
What I’m explaining is that we said do not talk about sh*t like that and we also said that we didn’t want to hear anything about how this is my first love. You wouldn’t say that to Tom Petty, would you? ‘I understand music is your first love.’ Well my first love was a chick named Lisa Cohen.

Do you want to continue this if we talk about music?
That would be great.

If we can call a truce then I can ask you questions about music. [nods]

[Roughly transcribed from the Boxmaster’s interview on CBC Radio, April 8, 2009, video above]

Billy Bob Thornton needs to get over himself. The DJ did a great job at gently prodding him without getting too annoyed or giving up entirely, and eventually was able to turn it around and establish a little rapport. Thornton refused to sing when the Boxmasters eventually performed, saying he was the drummer and there were no drums. He does play drums for some songs, but I’ve seen other performances through YouTube in which he stands up front to sing. His fellow bandmembers must put up with a lot of ego from this guy if this is how he treats an interviewer.

It’s fitting that Thornton kept referencing Tom Petty because he came across as “petty” indeed. The DJ was right, this band wouldn’t be getting as much attention if Thornton wasn’t the lead singer and he needs to accept that and move on. Now he’s going to be known for being a colossal jerk instead of the musical purist he fancies himself.

Thanks to TMZ for featuring this interview.

Here’s BillyBob shooting a video with the Boxmasters on 11/19/08. Credit: WENN.com