Jeff Hardy is hitting a high note - in more ways than one.

(Credit: Knoxnews.com)

Not only has he enjoyed a resurgence in World Wrestling
Entertainment, Hardy is close to finishing the first release of his
rock band Peroxwhygen. That musical project, which also features WWE
newcomer Shannon Moore on backing vocals, is one of the reasons Hardy
took a brief hiatus from touring on live WWE events earlier this
summer.

"At one time, the schedule was driving me nuts," said Hardy, who is
Peroxwhygen's lead vocalist. "I spoke to (WWE management) about it
and finally said I wanted to try to do something with my music. I
worked a schedule where I was just doing TV with no road shows. I was
off for a month.

"It's kind of strange that when I had the most time off that I would
be on TV and having the most things happening."

After stringing together three years of excellent tag-team matches
with his brother Matt, Jeff Hardy's wrestling career seemed on a
downward spiral in 2001 because of injuries and a lack of quality
storylines. A prime example was an attempted brother-versus-brother
feud that also involved Matt Hardy's real-life girlfriend Lita, which
was scrapped after a negative reaction from fans.

"Nobody wants to see us fight," said Jeff Hardy, who is teaming with
his brother once again on non-televised WWE shows. "We had a real
good thing going because it was real. That's a big part of it. I'm
glad to see us working everything thing out (in WWE storylines). It's
great because we haven't broken up and can still do the tag-team
thing."

With Lita out of action until next year following neck surgery, Matt
Hardy doesn't have a prominent role on WWE programming. But her
absence has given Jeff Hardy the chance to shine as a singles
performer.

Although he lost a series of matches against The Undertaker several
months ago, Hardy began to gain momentum as an edgy underdog. Since
then, Hardy has won two WWE singles titles and is a fixture on the
promotion's weekly Monday Night Raw telecasts on TNN.

Hardy, whose interview time has been almost non-existent since
joining WWE in 1998, said the decision to make his character more
outlandish was approved after promotion owner Vince McMahon listened
to a goofy greeting on his voice mail.

"I come across more like how I am naturally," said Hardy, who has
added body paint to his ring attire. "I get to show a little more of
myself with all the weird stuff. It came about from the way I really
am backstage. One thing people say about me is how I am one of the
most unique guys you will ever meet. It's really coming across on
television now, which I think is really cool."

The key for Hardy's long-term success will be whether he can remain
healthy.

Although he doesn't turn 25 until August 31, Hardy sometimes feels
like he's double his age. Hardy has persistent lower back pain and
bone chips in his elbow that hurt too much to wear protective pads.

Hardy became a star through his risk-taking style, but is now trying
to temper his moves for his own longevity.

"At one point, it was getting crazy," Hardy said. "It was like, 'If I
feel like this now, what am I going to feel like later?' Once I
established myself doing crazy things and being extreme, people want
to see it all the time.

"I've got to do my best to still do the gimmick. But one thing that
has helped me out is that I've got several signature moves now not
that are not that bad (pain-wise). As long as fans can see them and
are happy, it's not that bad. It's good to establish moves that fans
are always going to recognize and scream for."

More information on Hardy's band is available at www.peroxwhygen.com

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