Gossip Teen

‘Twilight’ star Jackson Rathbone will be in Dallas making dreams come true, especially for one young fan. While promoting ‘New Moon’ at the upcoming TwiCon Twilight fan conference, Rathbone has invited a young girl who has terminal cancer, to come backstage at his concert with his band 100 Monkeys.

“We’re all very lucky people and helping others makes us who we are,” Rathbone, who spent some of his formative years in Midland, Texas, says.

What a generous thing for Rathbone to do for her.

Jackson Rathbone is most famous for his role as Jasper Hale in ‘Twilight’ and ‘New Moon’ movies, but he is also a working musician touring and recording with Ben Johnson, Ben Graupner and Jared Anderson and their band 100 Monkeys. The guys of 100 Monkeys recently gave an interview to Starshine Magazine about their music and touring and what it’s like having fans of ‘Twilight’ show up.

How has “Twilight” mania affected the band’s popularity?

Jackson: It’s definitely gotten us some attention, but I think the main thing is our lives shows. People get to –

Jared: – escape into a fun land. Enjoy good music.

Jackson: Yeah, we like to have a good time. That’s what we’re always trying to do – play music for as many people as possible.

Jared: Hopefully, they come in ready to rock out and have some fun. That’s all you can expect.

Ben G: If you scream loud enough, we’ll make up a song that you decide what it’s called. Things like guitar picks and sweat.

The group really has a unique point of view when making music – using improv to jump start their creative spark. Most bands are too self-conscienous and image oriented to do spontaneous, off-the-cuff music.

Rathbone also hints about ‘New Moon’ saying it’s going to be ‘raging’ and he also gives a brief mention to ‘The Last Airbender’ he just finshed with M. Night Shyamalan calling it ‘epic’ and ‘beautiful.’ I absolutely love watching Jackson and can’t wait for his part to be expanded in the Twilight series. I am also looking forward to his turn as Sokka in ‘The Last Airbender.’  It sounds like it’s gonna be a fantastic live-action version of the animated series.

Check out the band’s official page for tour dates and music info here.

Jackson Rathbone has quite a bit going on currently. If you can’t wait till November to see him reprise his role as Jasper in ‘New Moon’  then check out wednesday night on CBS’s ‘Criminal Minds.’  He’s also flying back and forth from Vancouver to Philadelphia while working on ‘The Last Airbender’ with M. Night Shyamalan. His band 100 Monkeys is making appearances (two in Vancouver in April) and around California. Check out his fansite Jackson Rathbone Online and his band’s Myspace Page 

He’s in a bunch of movies due out this year and I can’t wait to see him as Sokka in ‘The Last Airbender’ – loved the show on Nickelodeon. For my Rathbone fix – I’m gonna check him out wednesday, 4/8 at 9pm on Criminal Minds.