Nine Questions

James Muñoz

Tucson native James Muñoz is the lead singer of The Bled. He is spending this week in Las Vegas with local friends/musicians Jericho Davidson, Josh Skibar and Garth Bryson. Together, they are The Inglorious Budsters, competing in the Budweiser Band of Buds, a search for "America's Greatest Crew." The grand prize is $100,000 and a spread in Rolling Stone. Get more info at bandofbuds.com/crew/inglorious-budsters.

What was the first concert you ever saw?

My father took me to see Dokken when I was just a wee lad. Everyone was air guitar-ing, and I had no idea grown adults were capable of behaving so awesomely.

What are you listening to these days?

Them Crooked Vultures, Twilight Singers (and any Greg Dulli stuff) and Jericho's old band, The Gentlemen of Monster Island. They broke up in, like, five days, but they were "highly listenable."

What was the first album you owned?

I stole a cassette of The Beatles' White Album from my dad ... and my world got body-rocked. I think the first thing I bought ... was an Aerosmith's Greatest Hits.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?

Terrible "scream-o-fied" covers of Lady Gaga or popular '90s hip-hop songs.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

I'd like to see Prince before I die. I never saw Fugazi.

Musically speaking, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Princess Eater. I want to take them all to the top of "A" Mountain and finger them.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral?

Blast Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack." Then I would actually rise from the open casket with a headset microphone and perform the song, and then quietly return to the loving arms of Death.

What band or artist changed your life, and how?

Queens of the Stone Age. Until I heard Songs for the Deaf, I didn't know what a good record sounded like.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Jawbox, For Your Own Special Sweetheart.