Dumb Blonde Podcast – Hollywood Undead: The Masks Came Off

Host: Bunnie XO
Date: September 8, 2025
Guests: Johnny 3 Tears (George), Charlie Scene (Jordon Terrell) of Hollywood Undead

Episode Overview

Bunnie XO welcomes two members of Hollywood Undead—Johnny 3 Tears and Charlie Scene—for a candid, hilarious, and raw conversation. The masks come off as they discuss their childhoods, the crazy beginnings of the band, addiction, trauma, friendship, and how they've evolved personally and musically over 20 years. The interview features wild stories, intimate confessions, band lore, and memorable moments, capturing the heart of what has kept Hollywood Undead standing through chaos and change.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Hollywood Undead's Early Days and Band Dynamics

• Band Origins & Lore:
  • The group formed from childhood friendships and a collection of broken-up bands in East/Northeast LA.
  • “Some of us [have] known each other since before we could... three, four years old.” – Johnny [11:06]
  • Initial MySpace success shocked them—label offers and celebrity support came fast and unexpectedly.
• Monikers & Masks:
  • The guys reveal the origins of their stage names and the creation of their iconic masks.
  • “With the masks you want to—if you're—it would be lame to have masks and be like, 'I am George.'” – Johnny [28:10]
  • Fun detail: Charlie originally wore a Del Taco bag as his "mask" until their first record deal.
  • “I just want free soft tacos, dude.” – Charlie [30:12]

2. Band Camaraderie, Fallout, and Resilience

• Brotherhood Tested:
  • Despite losing original members and navigating lawsuits, the band survived thanks to deep roots and friendship.
  • “It’s a lot like a marriage.” – Johnny [11:07]
  • “We’ve gotten through most of them because of friendships we had prior.” – Johnny [11:24]
• Deuce Controversy:
  • For the first time, the guys discuss the infamous split with Deuce, dispelling rumors and sharing their perspective.
  • “It wasn’t the way we wanted it... None of us made that decision. He left.” – Charlie [54:45]; [54:47]
  • Issues included controlling behavior, legal disputes, and a physical altercation.
  • “Who starts a fight, loses, and then sues?” – Johnny [57:51]
  • Despite it all: “I don’t even have any hard feelings towards any of these people now.” – Johnny [59:07]

3. Growing Up: Childhoods, Upbringing, and Trauma

• Contrasting Upbringings:
  • Johnny shares a story of neglect, trouble, juvie, and early depression leading to anger and addiction.
  • “I was very angry... all that stuff was just an extension of trying—that repressed stuff coming out.” – Johnny [18:33]
  • Charlie had a stable, arts-supportive home, contrasting drastically with Johnny.
  • “My house was always the party house. She let everyone go there and crash and... gave you guys, like, a safe space.” – Charlie [24:17]
• Reflections on Parenting and Breaking Cycles:
  • The guys talk about breaking generational trauma, sobriety, and creating stable environments for their own kids.
  • “My role now is...to arrest those things and steer a different course.” – Johnny [19:50]

4. Addiction, Recovery, and Changing Culture

• Winding Stories of Benders & Sobriety:
  • Johnny opens up about a decade-plus battle with cocaine and alcohol, hitting rock bottom after his wife left him.
  • “You will lose everything in pursuit of these things… there are consequences.” – Johnny [35:40]
  • Charlie avoided hard drugs after seeing his dad’s addiction spiral:
    “For the most part, beer is fine for me.” – Charlie [40:18]
• Changing Attitudes in Youth:
  • They’ve noticed a big generational shift, with fewer young people drinking or using drugs.
  • “Number of kids that don’t do drugs and don’t drink has skyrocketed... that was 90% of our era.” – Johnny [36:59]
  • Newfound so briety: Johnny’s two years clean.
    “Life is much more fulfilling without that stuff.” – Johnny [73:36]

5. Musical Evolution & Future

• Evolving Sound:
  • The band continues to push boundaries—new singles are sonically diverse, and they’re excited to be working with producer Tyler Smith.
  • “What I always like... is nothing like what we’ve done before.” – Johnny [76:23]
• On Genre-Bending:
  • Openness to country and any genre:
    “We do have the luxury of doing any genre… fans are almost expecting us to do a country song.” – Charlie [77:01]
• Touring:
  • Upcoming tour with Falling in Reverse and Slaughter to Prevail (September, US/Canada).
  • “Catch you guys on tour... this summer.” – Host/Bunnie XO [78:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“He had this trick where if you take a knife...and you put your D on a cutting board...it looks like you’re chopping your dick off. So I do that as a gag.”
– Charlie Scene, wild party tricks [8:27]

“At least [90s LA gangsters] had more balls. I almost prefer the gangsters over the hipsters.”
– Johnny, on LA's gentrification [15:37]

“We’ve been on four labels. We’ve been sued, sued back. We’ve been on five, six, seven management groups...everything you can imagine that can go wrong has gone wrong. But you guys are still standing.”
– Host & Johnny [12:03–12:08]

“When we stopped caring about whatever, you know, the rules were, was when it actually worked out.”
– Johnny [26:55]

“You guys look so intimidating...you have such alpha personas. But sitting here—you’re like just sweet little babies.”
– Bunnie XO [30:43]

“If you want to stop vaping, you have to actually want it. Hypnotist can’t help if you don’t.”
– Hypnotist story, Johnny [7:13]

“We all hang out, and yeah, we all get along very well...we’re all, like, best friends.”
– Charlie Scene on current band dynamics [12:15]

“Piece of shit.”
“He’s been saying that since you guys were kids.”
– Charlie describing Johnny, affectionately [59:29–59:31]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Childhoods and Band Origins: [12:23–15:58]
• Wild Party Stories & Camaraderie: [8:22–10:28]
• Generational Trauma & Addiction: [17:31–21:00], [33:42–38:48]
• Band Breakups/Deuce Departure: [54:06–58:24]
• Masks, Names, and Band Evolution: [27:01–30:41]
• Industry Insight & Label Stories: [46:37–49:35]
• Musical Identity and Evolution: [66:16–68:57]
• Sober Life & Life Lessons: [73:06–74:58]
• Upcoming Projects & Tour Info: [75:14–78:11]

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• The authentic personalities behind Hollywood Undead shine through—equal parts wild, vulnerable, and mature.
• Behind the masks are lifelong friends who’ve weathered losses and learned hard truths, growing musically and personally.
• Although their early years were about chaos, flash, and rebellion, their recent focus is on family, healing, and honest artistry.
• The band’s future: genre exploration, major tours, and never backing down from their original spirit.

Where to Find Hollywood Undead

• All platforms: /hollywoodundead
• Charlie Scene: @therealcharliescene
• Johnny 3 Tears: (variations of @johnnythreeteirs)

“Catch you guys on tour with Falling in Reverse this summer.”
– Bunnie XO [78:03]