Watch My Morning Jacket’s Memorable Appearance On ‘VH1 Storytellers’ In 2011

Jim James was born James Edward Olliges Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky on this date in 1978. As the frontman for beloved rock band My Morning Jacket, James has achieved a multitude of milestones. But nothing says you’ve made it quite like appearing on VH1 Storytellers.

In February 2011, James and My Moring Jacket filmed their Storytellers episode, joining legendary artists like Elton John, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks, Steely Dan and many more who have appeared on the program giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and experiences behind some of their favorite songs.

MMJ launched their Storytellers session with “Wordless Chorus” before James gave some background on the song “Golden” off the band’s third studio album, 2003’s It Still Moves. Jim noted that the song stemmed from the era of their second album, 2001’s At Dawn, and both a sad and humorous conversation he had with his grandmother about playing in bars.

Ahead of “The Way That He Sings,” James reveals some of his favorite singers while an interview that plays before “Gideon” sees him explaining that the song is about the destructiveness of religion being used in politics. The 2011 broadcast also gave fans some of their first live glimpses of songs off the band’s new album at the time, Circuital, which would arrive in May 2011. Before the title track, Jim reveals how they recorded the song in a Louisville gymnasium with no air-conditioning and how the heat affected the performance and recording, especially the “greatest guitar solo of all-time” by Carl Broemel.

The Storytellers took a poignant turn when a visibly emotional James explained that “Dondante” was about a childhood musician friend who took his own life. “Every time we play this song, he’s with us,” Jim said. MMJ’s Storytellers concludes with “One Big Holiday,” which James said was inspired by Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.”

To celebrate Jim James birthday today, watch My Morning Jacket’s 2011 episode of VH1 Storytellers below: