An interview with ex-RCB and Allen Collins Band drummer Derek Hess

These two pictures were kindly provided by Barrylee Harwood

Many, many thanks go to Derek Hess for this fantastic piece.  Barrylee Harwood acted, very kindly, as the facilitator for this interview, passing my list of questions to Derek.

Derek took those questions, and built this great essay about his career around them.

Many thanks to Derek, Barrylee, and to Queenie for transcribing it.

Enjoy..........................

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, I grew up in the coastal community of Atlantic Beach in a family with my parents, two older brothers and a younger sister. Around the age of six, my mother, who had a good idea of our knack for music, put my sister and I onto piano lessons. I would say I progressed pretty well, performing in recitals and judged competitions. Well, a couple of years later, maybe age 8 or 9, around 1958, my oldest brother, Paul, was head-long into the dawning of the age of Rock & Roll, which also got my attention. Lucky for me, he had also assembled a little combo that happened to set up their gear in my tiny bedroom. He was the band’s guitarist, most likely as a result of our dad possessing a Gibson Melody Maker guitar and amp set. So when his band wasn’t practicing, they would leave their stuff set up and I would throw on some 45 records and play along on the drums. This little system worked pretty good for me and finally got the attention of my folks, so they hooked me up with a beginner set, but of course the piano lessons had to continue. About this time, Buddy Holly was coming on, and amazingly my brother and his band-mates got to see him in person in a downtown armory, 3 weeks before his death. I didn’t realize of course who he was ‘till much later, but thought how cool was that to have seen this legend in his time. Well, of course I was hooked on this "New" music and the drums, but I managed to keep mom happy playing on with piano and eventually working in a little sax on the side. My folks divorced along about the time I was heading into 7^th grade, and I moved into an inland section of Jacksonville and went to a junior-high school, where one of the first kids I met was Barry Harwood. He was a very accomplished bass player for his age. His Dad was a bass player in a country/western band and his mother also sang in the group. By now, the Beatles and the floodgates of the "British Invasion" were pouring in, so eventually Barry and I put together probably one of our first bands. We seemed to assemble the better players of our area, with room to grow. Barry later decided he wanted to switch to guitar, an idea I at first thought was a mistake. Boy, did I not see what was coming!!! To this day, I believe Barry is one of the stellar players and masters of his instrument; also a master songwriter.

Rewinding a bit, on some of my influences and being "hooked" on live music; my mother would take my sister and I to see these Vegas type shows at a dinner club in Jacksonville. I really took all of that in and as a result have an affection for all music styles; big band, classical music (Debussy) and, oddly enough, bluegrass music.

I did get to see the Beatles in ’64, and the original Rolling Stones with Brian Jones in about ’65. You might say I pretty much "played" my way through high school, with and without Barry, met and married my high-school sweetheart. We had our first child, a wonderful daughter, at age 18. She is now 33, married with a daughter herself. We also have a son, Dylan, who is now 26, who recently had his first son, also named "Derek"!

Dylan himself is also a "monster" drummer. Then came a late surprise in our marriage, my wife and I had another son in 1997. He is now 5 ½ and a pure joy and reason to be. His name is Phillip, and yes, my wife has withstood the test of time and disappointments of the music business. She is a very spiritual person and give all the credit to my mother, prayers and God. Through my 20’s, I was in various bands, some all original material, and some seedy little lounge bands.

Barry and I found ourselves in studio situations, which later was quite rewarding for him. At the time, I was under the irresistible spell of "The Band", Levon Helm on drums, who later became an actor in his own right. You could say I ate, slept and drank their music. I found it very haunting, sort of a history lesson on the American past. A great concept, and yet just pure and subtle, kick-ass playing. Real greasy and solid, a sort of contained energy that kept me on the edge of my seat. Now, all of this after the Hendrix era, with Mitch Mitchell and the like. I believe that all of the youthful years as a musician really enabled me to pay more attention and have an understanding to the very substance of the music within these groups.

I soon was overwhelmed with the genius of Stevie Wonder and his progressive jazz/adult contemporary era of his early ‘70’s albums. I am still blown away by that man. If you’re not hip to his music, treat yourself to "Talking Book" and "Innervisions". I promise you’ll be hooked. He pretty much plays all instruments on his work. An awesome talent! I am also a big Brian Wilson fan, and I am sure I’m leaving out a long list of favorite, and the list goes on, music I’ve indulged in over the years.

I would have to contend that these groups and their overall image and artistry have influenced my taste and creativity when it comes to my playing. There is no one particular drummer who has given me any direction.

In the late ‘70’s, Randall Hall and I spent a little time playing and touring with "Melanie", the folk singer turned rocker. We traveled with her to Switzerland, to a folk/rock three-day festival on Lake Geneva. What a blast! Soon after this period, aware that the Skynyrd survivors were quietly putting a band back together with Barry Harwood, I got a call very early one morning from Billy Powell as to my interest in playing drums for their new band.

I was fairly well stunned by the proposition, and as I tried clearing my head, he explained to me that Artimus was losing interest and had severely injured one of his legs in a motorcycle accident, and then asked if I would be interest in coming out to Allen’s studio and work through some ideas to see if it would work, with possibly Artimus returning.

Needless to say, when I hung up the phone, I was up the rest of the night buzzing with anticipation. Up to that point, I had known the boys for many years, as I watched their success, only to have the door slammed shut on them. Of course, all the world was stunned by the tragedy of the plane crash. All I could think of was the time Ronnie VanZant and Gary Rossington walked into a music store I worked in the early 70’s. They approached me about joining Skynyrd. This was around the time between their first and second albums.

Well, naturally I said I would consider it, and had no way of knowing their first big hit "Sweet Home Alabama" would have likely been a track I would have played on. But I guess fate and the Lord had other plans, as I was not to end up on that plane four years later. Anyhow, I hauled my drums out to Allen’s rehearsal studio, where I was affectionately received and greeted by these "super rock stars" even in my own mind and I proceeded to put it on them. One hour into the affair, Allen says "We’re going into the studio in three weeks, you’re our man, no doubt" and I was thrilled.

I took the pleasure and the flattery in the fact that after our first Rossington Collins Band album’s seemingly good success, Gary and Allen proclaimed I’d saved the day. Of course, I knew I was just a piece of the puzzle. I’d have to give a lot of credit to Barry Harwood for that great record. He wrote and co-wrote most of the material, musically and lyrically.

As far as the apparent outcome to the sound and style of RCB’s records, I think the natural progression of the three new hands on deck just naturally set our sound apart from Skynyrd’s. Obviously, Skynyrd’s last album, "Street Survivors" had no question turned the corner as to their previous work. It really spun my head around. I‘ve always been of the opinion that was one of the finest performances ever captured on an LP. I was blown away by their new effort. Can you say, "Steve Gaines"? They really polished that one up. However, I think it was very unique, the blend of the Skynyrd sound and the fresh approach of the three new faces in RCB.

Reviews of our first album were all very positive, that our sound was that of old style music with an uncanny new flair. Sort of a fresh take on some very solid "old school" music. Really well received.

I would say that for the most part, Arti and I get along well even now, I guess a mutual respect. I do see him on occasion. As for my present day contact with the rest of the guys, I am still very saddened by Leon’s passing. He and I became very close very quickly. Two peas in a pod, as a player and a dear friend. He had called me at home literally a couple of nights before he passed away, from the same hotel room he died in. I was apparently out that evening and he spoke with my wife for a time. She always said Leon was the sweetest. Always polite and sincere, always thoughtful in that, over the years, after my departure, he would faithfully call in at special times and holidays, and always on my birthday. He was a very special man. What a loss. He and I had always hoped to reunite with Barry, the three of us, and make great music again…..you want to talk about a rhythm section!

Billy Powell and I are still good friends. We boat and camp together from time to time. He is a riot! He also played in my daughter’s wedding a few years back.

Currently, I have no contact with Dale or Gary Rossington.

A couple of years after the ’87 Skynyrd Tribute period, they realized they wanted to continue with new music, a new "Lynyrd Skynyrd". Ed King contacted me and approached me about playing on a couple of tracks on a new album. I really did not know Ed very well, however, I went in the studio, did the tunes. That really went down well, and then I was considered to continue with the whole album. Then without even the courtesy of a phone call, I was replaced overnight. Ironically, Arti presented a great idea in that we both would play drums in the band, he on the old material, and me on the new.

From there, I moved on with playing around home, went on the road mostly in Canada and up north, with 15 year old Blues phenom, Derek Trucks. He and I got along wonderfully, but I just got burned out with all the travel, approximately a year and a half. Did a really decent five song demo, funded by Capitol records, with Derek in ’93, in which keyboardist Chuck Lavell (of Eric Clapton, Allman Brothers and Rolling Stones fame) also producing the project, and on vocals, Jimmy Hall from 70’s great band "Wet Willie".

Presently, the playing still keeps me quite busy. As for me making a living at it, I work pretty much every weekend, public places, such as upscale clubs/restaurants, sports bars, and some private and corporate affairs with some really good local players. I really do have some fun in doing these gigs.

My situation with the playing these days is very casual. I have maintained a reputation for solid and tasty playing and spared my dignity as well (The Axon Lounge). It’s funny, and flattering, that even now, around my hometown, I still get people, who ask me for autographs, as though it has not been that long ago.

I do think keeping up to speed and quality of playing has helped, though. And on a more creative and stimulating note, myself and my long-time bantam, Barry Harwood, have entertained quite seriously the long awaited and very rewarding idea of finishing a mission started long ago in the early ‘70’s, of some original, homespun, great and good for the heart and mind music, along with an old friend and cohort, Timmy Lindsey.

There was a time when we spent long evening in my living room working up compositions of Barry and Timmys. Also, in our roster of players was a great bass player and studio engineer, Billy Prince, who now is an instructor of audio and sound engineering at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. We also hope to reel in one of the paramount keyboardist, Steve Perez, another local Jacksonville fellow who can just rip on the keys – we’re hoping to incorporate some new material with some great older pieces that are near and dear to us – very strong stuff … Listen up and look out!!!

Also, my daily existence is involved with a nine-to-five full-time job in the ship’s chandlery business. It can be interesting, lots of foreign ships and the crews and captains who I interact with.

As for Skynyrd now, with the absence of Leon and the seemingly unsure direction musically and personality wise, and all the baggage, I have to say I would pass on an opportunity to play in the band. There seems to be a whole lot of "politikin" going on in that band. Too much bullshit and upheaval. Who’s gonna sue us this month, you know?

As for the Artimus/Skynyrd range war, I really not sure I could speak of it’s specific source. I would probably be speaking out of line to elaborate.

I do wonder of the damage being done to that band’s legacy I could only imagine what Ronnie would be thinking! Give it a rest, fellas!

As for my own leisure time, as I mentioned before, I spend as much time with my little one, Phillip, and my family, with a little boating, camping and outdoor activities mixed in. My other son, Dylan, and I are quite close, so I drag him to the woods also.

I’ve always believed and been thankful for the good fortune, enrichment and blessings of getting in deep into music, as a gift from God. I think he has showered me and my family with an abundance of happiness and contentment. But you gotta really pay attention, you know! There has surely been the lion’s share of ups and downs along the way, but I can profoundly say I’d make the same journey over again, perhaps putting form more effort at writing and creating.

NOTE: As for your inquiry ass to the Thin Lizzy subject; I cannot say for sure, not knowing the nature of that situation. I really was not aware of it. If we were considered the opening act, maybe RCB was too strong, I dunno!

OUT!