INSTANT ACCESS

Dan Haseltine
Lead Singer for Jars of Clay

All Access, Family Christian Stores
May 2000



Full Name: Daniel Paul Haseltine

First Song (& Age Written): The first song I wrote was called "Suicide Note" and was actually a song written for a church youth group album called "Youth Sing" in central Florida. I was fifteen, I think.

Read Any Good Books Lately?: This will sound really sad, but I've been out of reading for about a year now. I've picked up a couple of things here and there. There's a book called "The Sacred Romance" by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge about drawing closer to the heart of God.

What are you learning from this book?: I'm learning how to read a little bit quicker, so that I can get through it. No, I grew up in a church that had a lot of really bad theology, so I've been really interested in learning a lot of the basics again, reminding myself of the gospel, the heart of that. This is a really good book that gives a good solid foundation of faith.

What's in your CD player right now?: Wilco's "Summer Teeth", Vertical Horizon's "Everything You Need" and "The Soft Bulletin" from The Flaming Lips.

Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7, which is where we got our name. It's kind of a cop out, but it says so well what we, the human race, are about, how fragile we are and how much we need God. It says so much about what God has done, that that's what matters and not what we do. That's really it.

Family Facts: I have one wife, just one.

What Song Do You Wish You Had Written?: "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle and there's a song by Sting called "Fragile"

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?: Probably a teacher. I'm not sure about the subject; I just really love to teach, at whatever level that means.

Hobbies: I am becoming a photgrapher. I got a camera last year and I love it. I collect old cameras, really bizarre cameras that take weird pictures. I've gotten involved in graphic design, also.

If you could meet anyone, who would it be?: I would like to meet Morgan Freeman, the actor. I just really love his movies. Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite movies. He's just always played such an upstanding character, not necessarily a good guy. I've followed him since The Electric Company was on.

Favorite Board Game: I loved Chutes and Ladders.

Favorite Soda: Stewart's Keylime Soda, which I found in Destin, FL.

What was the first instrument you learned to play?: I learned to play the recorder and the flute, actually both around the same time.

Favorite Place: I have a great study in my house, a really quiet place, great bookshelves and a comfortable couch. I just love to spend time there.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?: I hope that I'm still doing music at some level and playing with my kids at that point.

Favorite comfort/pig out food?: Oreo's...double-stuffed.

Favorite Cartoon: Wallace and Gromit, it's clay-mation, an English cartoon. It's more about the expressions given to the characters.

Must See TV: I've always loved Seinfeld, but it's not on the air anymore, so the Drew Carey Show and Who's Line is It Anyway?

Most Cherished Possession: A picture of my wife when she was a little girl which shows the same expression that she makes now. She was six years old.

Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption

Dream Car: I actually own my dream car, but it needs some work. It's a 1981 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with wood paneling on the sides. It's got burnt orange rust shag carpet in the back and orange leather seats, and an AM-FM radio that you can switch over to a CB which is in the glove compartment. It's amazing!

If you could be any kind of tree, what would you be?: A cypress tree. They have the greatest roots and limbs that spread out and go everywhere.

In your humble opinion, what is the best album ever?: I would say for me that it's U2's Joshua Tree.

What event from 1999 still influences you today?: I went on a retreat with the guys in Jars to Decorah, IA, where we wrote a lot of the songs. We built a luge in the front yard. I think that retreat was a turning point for me, just in the way that we as a band got to know each other.

First question you will ask God when you get to Heaven?: I might ask Him what He thought of George Burns. If he thought he did a good job? I'm stalling ... let's see ... I would ask why did God give us pets.

What question do you think He will ask you?: Can't answer that one.

Chicken or Steak?: Chicken