He’s a favorite on Twitter, adored by over 17,000 fans. Coming off a tumultuous, yet defining year, we sat down with Billy Mays III, son of the late, famed pitchman, Billy Mays Jr. Billy took some time out from his vacation and spoke with us about his music (including his recent CD release), his love for Chicago, and Pitchmen Season 2.
So what’re you doing around here? Been around here before?
I have, I really like this city. It’s got the big city feel and the midwest people. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and lived there for eighteen years. So I like seasons. There’s something about Chicago that just clicks with me. I actually plan on moving here at some point. I imagine in the next five to ten years.
Did you get around to any clubs or shows or anything while you’ve been in town?
Yeah, awesome, on Friday night I checked out the Beat Kitchen on Belmont. Pelican was playing there with two experimental bands, Pinebender and Follows. Awesome show and great venue for sound. I’m really into Pelican, I don’t know if you know them. Really experimental post-rock kind of band from Chicago, so it was like a home show for them. They collaborated with Intelligentsia, the coffee shop to make a coffee that was only available at the show. Since I happened to be in town I went and bought a couple bags of it. It’s good coffee.
So is that the sort of music you’re into then?
Yeah, I really like experimental things, you know. I really like everything actually. I’ve been getting heavy into ambient music. A little bit of Helios, Hammock, that’s been influencing my sound right now. I want to take [my sound] a little more edgy, I call it edgy, even though it’s not what you think of as edgy. When I hear an ambient artist, someone who really drones out their sound, it’s less accessible, but it’s totally worth it for the listener who really commits to it. That’s how I am. I really commit to a fourteen minute song here and there, like the old Godspeed and stuff like that. I’m kind of mixing up my sound. It’s still got a long way to go.
Yeah I saw that you were saying you could possibly add lyrics and rework some.
You know this trip has actually been a big influence on my creativity in terms of; I’ve been mapping out a new EP to release. And I’m working with new artists on various projects. I’m trying to put together some nice ideas to work with charities and stuff to just get involved with other artists. I already have a lot of artist friends out here so that’s another draw that a lot of my friends already live in Chicago that I went to school with.
Where’d you go to school?
I went to Full Sail. Graduated in 05.
Oh ok, you can’t go online without seeing an ad for that school.
They target people like you, that’s how they got me. They actually pump out students every month. It’s getting bigger and bigger to where you have to get on a waiting list to even get in. Just think about all of them coming out. Not all of them pursue the career they went for, but a good percentage of them do and it gets more and more competitive. I didn’t really come out of school and pursue that career. I kind of got into the infomercial thing. How can you turn down a network that was already built for you? I’ve always been doing music, so slowly I’ve been refining my lifestyle to what I wanted to do. You know I’m not the kind of person who’s gonna follow money. I’ll look for money in my dream instead of the other way around. I’ve finally found a way to start, I’ve started doing the scores for two minute infomercials, I’m trying to get some thirty minute infomercials. There’s a new spot it’s already out, it’s testing. It’s called Cold Fire, it’s hosted by Sully (Anthony Sullivan, Pitchman), it’s an aerosol fire extinguisher. Its $19.99, you get two big ones.
Are you trying to sell it to me?
(Laughs) I could, I could pitch it to you right now. We shot it, I work on the set in the art department, and Sully hated the music that they used for it. It was like a subtle techno. Its like (in his best energetic pitchman voice), "You’re house can burn down, with millions of fires every year," and Sully was says, "can you do the music? I know you play music." I said yeah, he kinda put me on the spot. So I tried it in like a day and I just made some ominous synths. You have to really stay simple with that stuff, you can’t over think it. I made a nice little riff and scored it to the picture, which I don’t think a lot of companies do. It’s more like, pick a song and put it there. So I actually tried to cue a riff right when the mood changes and I tapped the tempo out to the speech and everything. He loved it, so I’m pursuing that more. Making up a little library on the side. There could be money there.
It’s always nice to do what you like and make money.
It’s the dream.
So you work with the art department now?
I started out as a PA. I’ve been with Sullivan Productions; they’re my biggest client, for three years now. It’s great being a freelancer, I can still use the rest of my time, it’s not 9 to 5, so I can still work on my music. I’m still splitting up my life, but hopefully it will all integrate one day.
Do you see yourself playing out and doing shows?
You know a lot of my music is very studio and production based. I actually just started jamming with a drummer. I’ve thought about working on my stuff with him and having him play drums for me live. Which I still might do, but I kind of like to keep it separate, do my own thing, but I also have other projects. Like I work with a hip hop artist in Ohio.
I can catch some of that influence in your music.
I actually make some of his beats. He’s coming out with a new Mixtape that I’m an Executive Producer on. We collaborate through iChat. He’s a really good friend of mine. His name’s Cameron Grey. Very dedicated. So I have a bunch of different paths and I’m slowly following them all.
So you play guitar and…
Guitar, yeah, is my main thing. It’s usually how my songs start. Inspiration, guitar.
There’s a lot going on in them.
Yeah there is, so you can imagine how it is to play it live. I will be doing it. It’ll be very computer based. But it’ll definitely be a performance, not just a backing track. Right now though my home is in the studio. I consider my songs more like paintings than performance. A painter would mix colors, experiment, if he messes up, go back. You don’t have to display the painting until it’s done. That’s kind of what I do. It’s put together a lot like that. The final product is the final product, like a painting. I kind of see it like that.
Do you see yourself going back to some of the songs that you’ve put out and revisiting them?
No, I’ve gotten to the point where I put things out and I hear something and think, oh I can fix that. I’m a perfectionist; everyone is to a certain extent.
Yeah that can really hold you back.
Yeah, so I’ve gotten to the point where, like this album came about after my Dad died. I had three songs recorded, three songs from the album, and I released those three songs on EP right after he passed. You look in the future and think I might not record again, it’s so uncertain. I just took a step back and when you face death, you really put some perspective on things. I wanted to just finish an album, a personal album that’s from the heart. It’s just art. It doesn’t have that motive of making money or anything like that. So I kind of set a goal and said I’ll have one by December. This was August/July. It’s one of those things where you just set a goal and I believed so hard in it that even when things kept happening throughout the months, it’s one of those things that you blink your eyes and it’s December all of the sudden and I had all the songs done. It’s in the mixing process and I sent it away to New York to be mastered at The Vault. It was December 15th when it came out and it was like if anything ever proved to me that I can set the end goal and get there, that’s it. It’s kind of gotten me through this whole year. The crazy year of 09 for me. I don’t know if you know I had an apartment fire.
Oh no, I didn’t.
In February I had an apartment fire. Someone burned down our building, it was arson. I was sleeping in the apartment, there was a fire and I had to get out. I didn’t really grab anything. I lost everything. I had my phone, keys, wallet, and a digital camera. I was taking pictures of the fire, what can you do? That was the first thing, in February, and my Dad kinda got me through that. He gave me the speech where, you know this stuff happens just keep moving. He helped me out all the way through it, and then he dies in June. Right when I get on my feet again, I get an apartment. I had a studio in my old apartment that I lost and he kind of hooked me up with a lot of stuff I had, like a nice Strat. And right then in June he dies and it’s like, that’s something where at first you’re shocked, but little did he know that when he gave me that speech back in February that kind of got me through the next thing. It was really like, what good can you take from this? You just have to be a strong person and think about it. It’s like how is this a good thing? So this happens and it’s hard for people to accept when I tell them that as bad as it was, it really set me on track. Especially with my family who tend to see more negative. But this is how my Dad would have wanted it. It’s how he was. You might not know the story of my Dad, but it took a lot of time to get to where he was. He didn’t really become successful until 40. He had from 40 to 50 to really enjoy the successes and before that he was a struggling pitchman. He was doing what he loved, but he wasn’t living the life. He didn’t get to spend the kind of time with me that he would have liked to. That’s why he brought me under his wing for the last five years. Little did I know that would be biggest gift of all time. Life’s funny you know, (he gets distracted by someone taking a picture of a paper cut out). Oh look, someone’s got a Flat Stanley. Somebody did that with my Dad they made a flat doll and sent it to us. It’s funny. We have it in the office, anyways I digress. (Laughs).
Before I forget I should ask about the Where’s Billy Mays stickers.
Yeah for a while it was sorta out of control with people wanting them and finding them in weird places. I don’t know if you ever watch TMZ, I don’t watch it that much. They got in touch with me and, there’s a lot of nice people over there actually. I sent them some pictures of my Dad and a bunch of stickers. Now if you watch, at certain camera angles there’s stickers everywhere. I get texts once a week "I just saw your stickers on TMZ." Yeah I know." (Laughs) They do though, it’s cool. They’re all over the place. It’s funny that website (www.wheresbillymays.com) it’s just a tribute that I don’t really update that much anymore. I’d like to get back into it, it’s just busy. Busy times. But it’s like; I’ve been accused of trying to capitalize on it. It’s like there isn’t even ads on it, I’m not trying to make money on it. Most people are supportive, a pretty positive response. There’s always haters. That’s one thing I’ve learned that I’m still not used to. No matter what you do, some one will find a way to hate on it. Whether you have cancer and are being positive, someone will hate on you for being happy. You just gotta be above it, transcend it.
So how far have these stickers gone? Have you gotten pictures from like, Israel and…
I have, I’ve sent them to friends in other countries. They’ve taken pictures, you know, wherever. I have a lot of famous things with stickers on them. I don’t like when it’s like vandalism, but you know, stickers are everywhere, so. I’ve always wanted to tie it into a
charity for heart disease or something like that. It’s hard to set up, but it’s in the future definitely. I’ve been in talks with a lot of people. I have a lot of non-profits in my network. I think it will happen in the future. I think me and Sully will end up creating it. The idea was to take money and give out grants to young inventors and give out scholarships to entrepreneurs and things like that. Just use my Dad’s face as a symbol. A lot of people were inspired by my Dad. Actually at these trade shows people stop me and pitch products to me.
When I watch Pitchmen and they bring in those inventions to pitch to Billy and Sully, it always makes me think, "What does the world need that I can create?"
Exactly man. It’s actually a huge demographic. I think it’s a lot of our viewers, amateur inventors. It really is that story where you can be down on your luck, can’t pay your mortgage and you come up with this idea, and you’re making millions of dollars off it. That’s what we try to do for people. That’s what my Dad tried to do.
People call it luck. But it’s really if you’re passionate enough. It’s inspiring. We’re doing Season Two right now. We had people last week pitch to us their product and a guy from a big company really loved it. She started crying and telling us her story and he wrote her a check right there to go home and live a few months on him, so she could perfect the idea and come back and sell it on TV. Changed her life.
How much of a part are you playing in Season Two?
Kind of the voice of the family. I’m on set everyday. I’m not on the business side as much. I am actually, but not as much as they want me to be. If you ever saw season one I had a couple appearances but nothing major. That’s kind of what I’m doing this time. Walking the show floors with Sully, hearing stories about my Dad and stuff like that. I think it’s good for the show though. I’m pretty much volunteering for it actually. It’s only the second season, so they don’t have much of a budget. They tell me it’ll come back around, but I’m basically doing it for the fans of my Dad. We’re really doing it to continue what they started. Sully is the biggest supporter of my Dad ever. People find it confusing that he’s stepped into that role and with the products that my Dad pitched. Sully’s like a mentor to me.
It’s nice to hear that he actually is the way he comes off on TV.
Yeah he really is. A lot of people just don’t get it, like oh he’s taking over and it’s lucky for him that my Dad died. It’s like now he has to shoulder all the burden, too.
If anyone followed him on Twitter they would know better than that.
I know. It’s a shame he doesn’t have more followers because then they would know. I think the general opinion has been that it’s kinda sleasy that he takes over my Dad’s old spots, but who knows. People live in their own little world, you can’t change it.
Do you actually get to use a lot of the stuff that he pitched, the Oxi-Clean, etc?
It’s funny we actually bought a lot of Oxi-Clean. We probably could have gotten a lot of free stuff but my Dad wasn’t like that. He would tell people, you know they’d be like can you bring me some Oxi-Clean? Like family or a distant cousin, and he’s like, "oh yeah." We’d be going over to see them and its like, "Did you get any Oxi-Clean from the company?" and he’d say, "No we’re stopping at Publix. We’re gonna buy ten tubs." (Laughs) That’s just how he was. He didn’t want to ask. He didn’t want to abuse his power. Being on set I sometimes get some free stuff. A lot of the time it’s really good stuff. Most of the time I send it back to Pittsburgh to an aunt or
something.
So are you doing more and more music for them? Or did that just start?
Sully knows that’s what I want to do. As much as people would like me to go pitch and stuff. I grew up in the business and I’m not that shark. Like anybody else I want to be successful. I’m a huge supporter of the business. I just can’t see myself in it. My Dad never pushed me into the business. He was the biggest supporter of my music career. Which is surprising, cause maybe he wanted to pass it on, but he wasn’t thinking about that. He actually sent me to Full Sail and got me through it. I lived with him a couple years after it. It’s what I wanted to do. I was never pressured at all. I think Sully knows that. I’m actually building him an audio suite in his office. So I can come in and do his voice overs and final mixing.
So you’ll have your studio at home and a studio at work?
Yeah I’ll have a couple places to play. (Laughs)
What kind of 
ption has your CD gotten?
It’s been pretty good. It’s not a very mainstream thing. I mean I don’t expect to have a hit song, it’s instrumental. Most folks need lyrics to latch onto. I don’t. I think a lot of bands would call it music for
musicians. I really think more artists and musicians really flock to my CD because it’s for them. It’s for thinking. It’s for really taking it in. It’s not that polished. It’s actually a very unusual form, where you can’t really hate on it. You can’t say, wow that sucks, because they didn’t understand it or something.
When I heard about the album I know personally it surprised me because for some reason I was expecting something that was gonna be like, real rock.
Yeah I can understand the expectations by anyone. Some reviews have said how ironic that a loud, in your face, pitchman’s son would, you know. But it’s also fitting that it’s the opposite. It’s very calming. Some people say it’s very meditative. It’s ambient music. I really like the old ambient music, like Brian Eno. I’ve been researching the old days of ambient music. Brian Eno coined the term ambient music to mean, music that one doesn’t have to engage and listen to. It can be background music or it can be watched like a film in your mind. A lot of people say it’s very cinematic. Actually one day I’d like to start scoring some indie films. I actually have a few projects; you know you always talk about projects. I actually have a few film ideas, I actually have an animated short idea that I’ve always got on the backburner. Who knows maybe in ten years I’ll do it. It’ll all come together. I keep it in the back of my mind. I think the big thing is you can’t be hard on yourself.
It’s funny to me as an illustrator how I can relate to your music stories in my own art stories. Like how the arts are so similar.
I have a lot of filmmaker friends who I can relate to like that. I can really step back and see everything really is so parallel. Even in the pitch business. You would think it’s the coldest thing ever but I can see art in some of the approaches to it. I see it in Sully and I saw it in my Dad. It’s their art form, it’s their expression. So what that it was advertising and it was that sort of thing.
Yeah I saw that a lot between the fine artist and commercial artists in art school.
Yeah people are living fulfilling lives and they don’t see themselves as selling out. They’re still expressing.
That’s why I asked about revisiting songs earlier, because I know as an artist I’m always fighting that.
I’m still tempted. Like even old songs. I’ve switched styles so many times. It always evolves as you evolve. I started out in prog-rock. I still explore that a little bit. Back then it was more like straight up rock. It kept getting more and more experimental. I’d actually love to play some of my older, it’s like prog-alternative, really melodic, instrumentals. I have a seven song EP that I never released. I love it to this day. I can listen to it and I’m very satisfied with it. I just never released it. I have a Myspace for it. I actually lost a lot of it in the fire. I have five songs left from it. It was seven songs, but I lost the last two because nobody else had it. My Mom lost her copy. Then I had another five songs that were heavier, almost to the point of like grindcore. All instrumental, that’s usually what I stick to.
Do you sing?
I do, but I haven’t mixed it yet. I think on the new EP there will be some things; it’ll be surprising to see where it goes. I’m working on a few covers actually. I’m working on a cover of a Bush song, "Letting the Cables Sleep." It’s one of the more relaxed songs. It was a single, one more like Glycerine. You know [Gavin Rossdale] had one on every album, where he gets to just relax.
So what’re you onto next?
Heading back to Florida. I’m kind of redesigning my studio, stuff like that.
Fireproofing it?
(Laughs) I have renters insurance now. And I have Cold Fire hidden and ready to go. But yeah, I’m gonna work on my EP. Just keep pushing that’s all there is to it.
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