The collaboration we didn’t know we needed.
You won’t find a lot of modern-day superstars in the bluegrass music scene, and that’s honestly okay, because Billy Strings has it pretty much covered. Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson sometimes dip into the realm of bluegrass, but there’s no one who can fill an arena by flat-pickin’ quite like William Lee Apostol, A.K.A. Billy Strings.
Billy Strings didn’t just magically turn into a master bluegrass player overnight. He dedicated himself to playing guitar and learning music at a young age, even studying the likes of bluegrass legends like Doc Watson and trying to emulate the greats. And his parents helped introduce him to a variety of different music, which ultimately shaped him as the impressive artist that he is today.
Now, at 33-years-old, there’s not really a song or style that’s off limits for Billy Strings. He’s far and above one of the best, young bluegrass artists in the world, and that’s why the Jackass crew knew they could trust him with covering a song that means so much to them and their fanbase.
Ever heard the song “If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough?” It’s a track that’s cherished by the Jackass community, and for their forthcoming movie – which has been confirmed to be the crew’s last – they got the one and only Billy Strings to cover it.
Jackass fans will certainly recognize the tune, as it’s been featured in a number of the projects created by Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O and company. Most notably, the song was played in the first ever MTV film focusing on dumb pranks and not-so-thought-through stunts: Jackass: The Movie.
Believe it or not, that was released all the way back in late 2002, and it helped launch the crew and the Jackass brand to new heights. There in the 2000s, Jackass was on a roll. Over the years, the movies and idiotic clips have become fewer and far between. But the one thing that’s remained constant through it all? That’d be Roger Alan Wade’s “If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough.”
The song was penned for the Jackass movie, but Wade eventually included it on his 2005 album All Likkered Up. It’s a wonderful track that perfectly encapsulates everything the Jackass gang has been doing ever since they broke out on MTV. Now, after over two decades of tomfoolery, Johnny Knoxville and the rest of the crew are calling it quits… and they probably should have done so a long time ago for the sake of their health.
Though it’s sad, they are going out on a high note, and that’s especially true now that they have this wonderful cover from Billy Strings to go along with their upcoming film.
Check it out:
“If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough” by Billy Strings
And here’s the original, just in case any Jackass fans wanted to throw it back to Wade’s version
“If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough” by Roger Alan Wade
