Who is Luke Grimes?
Luke Grimes is an actor and musician who stars as Kayce Dutton in the “Yellowstone” spin-off series “Marshals,” airing Sundays at 8 PM Pacific / 7 PM Central on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+. His new album, “Red Bird,” will be released on April 3.
TLDR — Key Topics and Moments
- 01Luke Grimes stars in Yellowstone spin-off Marshals and released new album Red Bird on April 3rd
- 02Discussed Taylor Sheridan's impossible work ethic and how he writes multiple TV shows while maintaining a full life
- 03Luke started performing music live at age 39 after his father passed away and encouraged him to pursue his passions
- 04First show was in Billings Montana with 1,200 people where he blacked out from nerves, fourth show was Stagecoach festival
- 05Compared Oliver Anthony's overnight success from one song to Luke's slower music journey as a successful actor branching into music
- 06Joe shared stories about discovering UFC in 1997 when it was banned from cable and how following unconventional paths led to his success
The Show
JRE 2468 features Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton in the Yellowstone spin-off Marshals and is releasing his debut album Red Bird. The conversation kicks off with mutual respect between Joe and Luke, who's been listening to the podcast for years while Joe has been watching Yellowstone. They dive into how massive Yellowstone became and whether anyone predicted it would blow up like that.
The bulk of the early conversation centers on Taylor Sheridan, the creator, and just how insanely productive he is. Joe and Luke marvel at how the guy manages to write, direct, and produce multiple major television shows simultaneously while still having time for family and friends. Luke describes Sheridan's output as literally impossible, while Joe jokes about how he must not sleep and wonders if the guy's going to have a heart attack from overwork. They discuss how Sheridan's background story is like a real-life Rocky tale, struggling until his late 30s before breaking through with massive success.
The conversation shifts to Luke's music journey, which is fascinating because he didn't start performing live until age 39. A music manager essentially cold-called him on set and pitched him a record deal, which Luke initially rejected. But after his father passed away and imparted the wisdom to pursue anything you want while you're here, Luke decided to go for it. His first show was in Billings, Montana with 1,200 people, and he literally blacked out from nerves, not drinking. He had no idea how it went until people told him it was good. His fourth show ever was Stagecoach, which is a massive festival stage.
Joe brings up Oliver Anthony as a comparison point, the guy who blew up overnight with Richmond North of Richmond and had his first live show in front of 20,000 people. Joe explains how he advised Oliver not to sign with any record labels because they're all vampires trying to exploit him. Luke acknowledges his own path is way different and less cool than the Oliver Anthony story, but Joe argues that sometimes that pressure works in your favor because you have to prove you're legit and not just a pretty TV actor trying to cash in on his fame.
They also discuss LA culture and how the entertainment industry molds people into the same type of person. Joe talks about how his unconventional choices early in his career, like announcing UFC events in 1997 when it was banned from cable and barely anyone watched, got him weird looks from TV actors who thought he was ruining his career. But those decisions to follow his actual interests over career advice ended up being exactly right. Luke reflects on how desperately people cling to their dreams in LA because they've given up everything to pursue them, which makes them vulnerable to getting molded into whatever mold the industry wants them to fit. Joe mentions how successful comedians often tone down their material once they get TV deals, locking themselves into a velvet prison of safety and mediocrity.
Key Moments
Best Quotes
"It's surreal being here. I've been listening to the show for years."
"I just don't know how the guy even sleeps. Every time I look in the news there's a new show that he's doing. His output is literally impossible."
"The first show I played I was 39 years old. I blacked out. Not drinking. Like I just blacked out on nerves, dude."
"If there's anything you want to do while you're here do it, you know. And something about that moment I was like I'm just going to do it, you know. I don't care what's the worst thing that can happen."
"I wasn't supposed to be in LA. I only came for money and I would have moved back. I hated being around actors and producers. I was used to being around fighters and comedians and pool players, like the rawest, funniest outcasts of society."
Products and Books Mentioned
Everything brought up in this episode — linked to Amazon.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
AmazonHunter S. Thompson's gonzo journalism account of his drug-fueled trip to Las Vegas covering a motorcycle race.
Slow Horses
AmazonBritish spy series featuring Gary Oldman that Joe highly recommends.
Red Bird
AmazonLuke Grimes' debut music album released April 3rd.
Marshals
AmazonYellowstone spin-off series starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, airing on CBS and Paramount+.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Full Transcript (click to expand)
Joe Rogan podcast. Check it out. >> The Joe Rogan experience. >> TRAIN BY DAY. JOE ROGAN PODCAST BY NIGHT. All day. >> It's surreal being here. >> Is it? >> Yeah. I've been listening to the show for years. >> Well, I've been watching your show for years. Yeah. >> Are we rolling, Jamie? All right. Beautiful. I love your [ __ ] show. It's great. >> A thanks, man. >> It's really awesome, man. Espec Well, I haven't watched Marshalls yet. Is it out now? >> It is. >> When did it come out? Uh March 1st. Okay. So they just had the second episode air. >> I like to binge, man. I like to wait until stay offline. I like to sit down and binge them >> for sure. >> Yeah. But Yellowstone's [ __ ] awesome. It's such a great show. Did you have any idea it was going to be what it is? >> Uh not. No, I don't think anybody did. I thought it would find an audience for sure. I mean, Taylor was really, you know, hot at the time. He he he'd been nominated for Oscars and I was kind of like surprised he was even writing a television show. He was just like so hot in the the film business. >> How the [ __ ] does that guy even sleep? >> I don't know, man. >> Where does he have the time? Every time I look in the news or there's a new show that he's doing, a new thing he's doing is like, how are you doing all this? >> It's impressive. You know, I feel like there's a lot of people I've worked with where they do things that are impressive, but his is impossible, >> right? You know, like someone would be like, "Could you direct a movie as good as Unforgiven?" I'm like, "Maybe, maybe if I tried real hard." But like, could you write 10 television shows single-handedly? No. No way. Not possible. He directed Unforgiven. >> No, I'm just saying like people that I look up to that I'm impressed by. It's like his is a different level, right? His is like it's like impossible. >> Who did direct Unforgiven? >> Clinty SW. >> That's the [ __ ] greatest western movie of all time. >> It is. It's the best. >> Yeah. >> It's like, you know what it was like to me? It was like he was making up for all the silly westerns and was like, "Let me show you what it was probably really like." >> Yeah. >> What was really like when a man was about to get shot? What was really like when a dude was a stone cold killer? What was it really like? The hardships of living back then. >> Yeah. And it's interesting, too, because he starts out kind of a loser. >> Yeah. those first, you know, like the first three quarters of the movie, he's this sort of timid guy who's lost his power, you know, and then he takes that one sip of whiskey and it's all over for everybody else. It's a crazy premise. >> It's such a good movie, man. It's such a good [ __ ] movie, man. But yeah, Taylor is a he's a real freak and there's not a lot of humans like him and it's his background story is so interesting, you know, like he was just kind of scrambling around till he was almost like 40. Yeah, it's like a real life Rocky story or something. Like rags to riches, the whole the whole thing. >> I know, man. It's just I just don't I guess that's why he has so much ambition because he knows what it's like to be poor, >> right? >> You know, he knows what it's like to like barely make it, >> right? >> Then all of a sudden, he's got a kid on the way and he's like, "Oh [ __ ] I got to buckle down >> and really get moving." And he kept his foot on the gas. >> Absolutely. Do you guys keep in touch? Yeah. >> His buddies. >> Yeah. Yeah. All the time. >> I love Taylor, man. >> I love him. He's an awesome dude. I just worry about him. Like, you know, you do so much. Like, don't have a [ __ ] heart attack, man. Don't go crazy. >> You know what's weird is he does he does like have a good time, too. It's not like he doesn't hang out with his family or friends or, you know, that's the the craziest thing to me is like the guy has a really fun life and is able to do all that. I guess like the moral of the story is don't play golf. You know, that'll take up all your time. >> No [ __ ] man. Tell that to Jamie. >> If I can get out once a week, it's great. >> Yeah. >> He's an addict. Jamie's an addict. He's got a simulator back there. He's always whacking golf balls. Yeah. All my friends are trying to get me to play. I'm like, I'm not doing it, man. That's a six-hour commitment. [ __ ] off. >> No, man. The the the amount of time it takes to get good enough that it's not the worst thing ever is too much time. >> Right. And my problem is I'm I'm an addict. Like, when I start doing things, I just start like, "Okay, I need to play in the PGA." I start I start going crazy. I'll start getting lessons and [ __ ] that. >> Yeah, don't do it. We need your show, man. We need you. >> It's Well, I'm never doing it. >> We can do both. >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no. >> Try it. We try it. Try it out. >> No, I know. All my friends who play [ __ ] love it. Ron White and Tony Hinchcliff, they go out every day. It's like, it's too much, man. I can't...
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