Jared Leto 30 Seconds To Mars

When Jared Leto takes the stage as the frontman of his band 30 Seconds to Mars, he's not just another actor living out his rock star fantasy; he's a musician that also happens to be an actor. He says he's not taking time out from films to make music; he's doing movies when he can squeeze them in between touring and recording.

Leto and his band are currently out on tour in support of their September 2005 release "A Beautiful Lie."

Even though the group's second album, "A Beautiful Lie," entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at a respectable Number 44 in September of last year, Leto is still surprised at the success of the band's current tour.

Speaking with CBSNews.com from a tour stop in Milwaukee, Leto said "I really didn't expect to come out and sell out virtually every single show that we played and that was a shock. We've been playing a lot of venues (where) just a few months ago we were opening up for other bigger bands. And to come back and sell out those same venues all over the country has been pretty unexpected and exciting."

The band has already developed a loyal fan base which has grown into its own community, following the band from gig to gig and showing up in their 30 Seconds to Mar gear.

"It's a beautiful thing to see people get so creative," said Leto, "and we have this very interesting thing happening out here, it's like a cross between Grateful Dead and David Bowie but without the patchouli oil and transgender outfits."

That 70s theme is appropriate, since the 34-year-old Leto was influenced by progressive rock bands of that era. "When I was a kid my favorite bands were everything from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd – bands that seemed to put more into what they were doing than just ten singles for the radio. I never got into pop music. I think people can see that when they listen to our first record which was a very conceptual album."

The band grew out of Leto's musical experimentation with his older brother Shannon, who's been playing drums since he was a child. But Shannon isn't the band's drummer because he's the movie star's brother.

"The best part is I get to play with such an incredibly talented drummer," Leto said. "If he wasn't such a great drummer we wouldn't be playing together."

Leto played all the instruments, besides the live drums, and wrote all the songs on 30 Seconds to Mars's self-titled debut album, released in 2002. For "A Beautiful Lie," Leto brought the touring members of their band into the studio.

"I still write all the songs," he said, "but I do have the contribution…right now of the band who continue to surprise me, inspire me and challenge me in all kinds of different ways."

While the first album was what Leto called "more conceptual," he wanted "A Beautiful Lie" to be a more emotionally revealing album, "something that was brutally honest." He said, "This record is written from the point of view of someone on the crossroads of life, someone who has to make really intense changes in order to move forward as a human being. It's really about going to war, going to war with yourself and ultimately winning the battle.

"There are all kinds of metaphorical and different narrative elements that are cohesive, there's lots of continuity throughout the album thematically," he continued. "I used a lot of very strong violent imagery to represent an internal struggle. So 'Attack' and 'The Kill' (are) about very violent emotional situations."

Leto said that he doesn't struggle at all with balancing his film and music careers, and is clear about his priorities. "It's more like I blocked out a time period to make a film," he said, "than I blocked out a time to make the album. There was a priority while we were doing it so that's what was important to do. I don't make that many films, for the very reason I need time to finish the music."

Right now Leto's in the middle of a North American tour that began in early March and is scheduled to extend through the end of May. Performance footage from the tour will be in the band's upcoming DVD, which will also include plenty of backstage antics and extras according to Leto. "It's going to be a very, very full DVD," he added.

Being on the road and giving a high-energy performance every night has helped Leto shed much of the over 60 pounds he gained for his role as Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon, in the film "Chapter 27."

Leto has been known to dive in the audience during a show, but he insisted his family – and his agent -- have nothing to worry about. "I'm very careful. I try not to do anything that's going to be life threatening," he added. The result of all that nightly aerobic activity is that Leto is almost able to fit in all his pre-Chapter 27 clothes. "I'm wearing my skinny jeans!" he joked.

At least the stylists over at ABC's "Desperate Housewives" don't have to worry about Leto's pant size. He denies rumors that he will be appearing on the comedy series. "Not true, that's a total rumor," he said. "I don't even know how that got started. I'm sure they're as shocked as I am. I've never seen the show. I'm sure it's a good show, I just never watch television. I don't even have the time to watch TV."