INTERVIEW: (HED) P.E. IN CONVERSATION WITH JAHRED GOMES
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Photo Charlyn Cameron
Going For Broke – Inside Jahred’s (Hed)
Interview with Jahred Gomes of (Hed) P.E.
Jahred “M.C.U.D.” Gomes from Huntingdon, California, founded seminal Post Punk Rapcore band (Higher Education) Planet Earth (aka (Hed)P.E.) with guitarist Wesley Geer in 1994. In 2026, it will be the 30th anniversary of his time as a professional musician in (Hed) P.E. and their important second album ‘Broke’ will be 26 years old. It’s time for fans to revisit and reassess the importance of this vital album released in 2000, where (Hed) P.E. let all hell break loose in those 12 songs where “there was a hole in me I can’t fill” and loved the new sounds, but declared “it’s still hip hop to me”.
(Hed) P.E. were known for their fusion of punk rock and gangsta rap with reggae influenced music. The album ‘Broke’ took the best of these genres and delivered songs that have stood the test of time.
“I tried to push people’s buttons in our early years,” laughed Jahred Gomes. “I liked to offend a lot of people on ‘Broke’. I look back now, and it was a toxic time for me. There were issues with drugs, relationships, but writing that album was important. I think back to how young we were when we wrote and recorded it - all the anger and the insecurity – different times”.
“People have been asking us to play ‘Broke’ live – like forever,” explained Jahred Gomes. “It will be hard to play ‘Broke’ right. The live version will be more stripped back to the song. The bells and whistles of the studio recording won’t be there. But the energy in the songs will be there, and that’s what counts”.
The energy of ‘Broke’ is embedded in the songs and the vocal delivery from Jahred Gomes. His voice resonates and has a huge range, from the growls of ‘Waiting to Die’ and ‘Boom (How You Like That)’ to the dreamy melodic tones of ‘Killing Time’, ‘The Meadow’ and ‘Jesus (Of Nazareth)’. The songs on this album were ahead of their time.
(Hed) P.E. have released 17 albums over the last 30 years. And, the music the band makes changes every time, from 2025’s ‘New And Improved’, to 2023’s ‘Detox’, to their first self-titled album released in 1997.
“I love music and I don’t stand still,” stated Jahred Gomes. “I like to play with music and songs. It is what makes me happy. It’s all I know how to do as well. I am trying to convince my son not to be a musician. It’s a hard way to live. But I am thankful I have been able to write, record and tour”.
It is now time to celebrate the landmark writing and recording of ‘Broke’.
‘‘Well, we aren’t going to play it in order,” said Jahred Gomes. “I am not a front to end kind of guy. No song 1,2,3…I am going to mix it up. We will play the whole album – all 12 songs – but it will be mixed in with some surprises”.
(Hed) P.E. will traverse the decades, defy genres, and unleash pure, unfiltered chaos when playing live.
“We are looking forward to coming back to tour Australia and New Zealand,” enthused Jahred Gomes. “We have such fun playing live in those countries. You guys love live music. Our last shows in 2025 were all bangers. That Triffid show was great! The new tour will be even better, as we know fans really want to hear these songs. It won’t be a nostalgia trip. We will deliver a full-on gig that will be a bit of everything”.
‘Broke’ as an album showed real vision. It really is a fascinating and great record. It was so much better than other rap-tinged rock albums released at the time. Go back and listen to the diverse sounds and styles on the album. And think about the bravery it takes to tackle the big issues in young men’s lives: loneliness, lack of trust, toxic friendships, and substance abuse, performed with style and grit.
And if the music ain’t ‘Broke’, don’t fix it. Celebrate it!
(Hed) P.E. and NonPoint Australian Tour dates:
Friday, 6th February 2026 – Sydney - Manning Bar
Saturday, 7th February 2026 – Brisbane - Princess Theatre
Sunday, 8th February 2026 – Melbourne - Max Watts
Tuesday, 10th February 2026 – Perth - Rosemount Hotel
Wednesday, 11th February 2026 – Adelaide - Lion Arts Factory
Tickets are on sale now via October Presents.
