Actor and comedian Jim Carrey came into pop culture prominence through his unique stand-up and also as the star of the long-running sketch comedy show “In Living Color.” He became a mega-star after blowing up on the silver screen in movies like “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Carrey is currently promoting the second “Sonic The Hedgehog” film in which he stars as mad scientist and Sonic’s archenemy, Dr. Robotnik. Film critic and entertainment reporter Kevin McCarthy asked Carrey about the first time he ever heard legendary headbangers Pantera.
“The first time I ever heard Pantera, I was driving down to San Diego to do a concert at a theater and to check in to a hotel. And me and my manager, Jim Miller at the time, we put Pantera on. And I had never heard anything like it. And it hit me on such a level of, like, extreme stimulation that I just started laughing uncontrollably for the entire track. Just like nervously laughing, like, ‘What is happening right now?’ And then we went to check in to the hotel, and the guys behind us in the line checking in to the hotel were Pantera. We turned around and we went, like, ‘Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?’ This is too weird, man.”
Death metal pioneers Cannibal Corpse made a cameo appearance in “Ace Ventura” Pet Detective” in 1994, and Carrey was rumored to be a fan of the band. But the ex-husband of Carrey’s daughter, Jane, said that’s not the case. “For the record, Jim hates death metal,” said Alex Santana, vocalist for L.A. death metal band, Blood Money. Santana is also the father of Carrey’s grandson. “He’d never heard of Cannibal until doing that movie. Trust me, it’s the first thing I asked him when we met.” Carrey also revealed other artists he listens to when he’s at home. “When I get up in the morning, my musical taste is so all over the spectrum, it’s crazy. I can go [jazz pianist] Count Basie one day, I can go rap another day and then I can go… Most mornings I’ll wake up and grab my coffee, sit on the back porch and listen to Gregorian chants. Because it brings the birds to life, it brings the whole world to life, and suddenly I feel like I’m not just in the body but I’m the whole yard. And if I get into a certain mood, if I need to get chaotic or crazy sometimes, something like a Pantera which challenges the world on a masculine, in-your-face level. Or ‘Breed’ by Nirvana. ‘Breed’ is one of the greatest, unsung, really… It’s kind of an unsung piece; it’s overshadowed by other hits they had. But ‘Breed’ is one of the most kick-ass tracks ever in history. It’s wonderful.”
