Half o' Hatchet

The original.....

Banner Thomas > Duane Roland > Bruce Crump

Big thanks to all the guys for being a part of this. 

Since starting this website, lots of good people have been very generous with their time - for some reason, the majority of them have connections with Molly Hatchet.

This interview took place about four months ago, before news broke that Bruce was suffering with Cancer. This interview is dedicated to him.

Many things have been written about Molly Hatchet that are negative, digging up dirt. However, the original recording unit of Molly Hatchet did so many great things - I’m goin to concentrate on them.

What were you doing immediately before Molly Hatchet?

Banner: I was between gigs, and looking for work.

Duane:  I was working for the Jacksonville Electric Authority by day. Playing anywhere I could at nite.

Bruce: I was a senior in high school

Had you worked with anyone in Molly Hatchet before?

Banner: Yes- I had played with Dave in one or two other situations, including an earlier version of Molly Hatchet. Also, I had just finished trying to start a band with Bruce and Duane, which didn't get past the rehearsal stages.

Duane : Yes, Myself, Banner and Bruce had tried to put something together, but it didn't pan out at the time

Bruce : Yes, Banner Thomas and Duane Roland – we had jammed together in my grandmother’s living room in the fall of 1975

How were you asked to join. What is the story behind it? In Dave and Steve's case, how did you get it started?

Banner: Hatchet was going through some lineup changes in early '76, and when Dave invited me back, I jumped at the opportunity.

Duane: Dave was late for a gig one night and Banner called me to see if I would sit in. They needed to make the nights money. So I jammed with them that night

Bruce: Molly Hatchet was a popular local band with very fragile members – they seemed to change on a weekly basis. There used to be a Sunday jam session at a local club and I ran into a few of the Hatchet guys who basically told me that they were leaving the band to go back to Atlanta. I got Dave Hlubeks’ number and called him and offered my services!!!!! I had already been jamming with Banner and Duane at the time, and so Banner was brought on board first, then Duane a few months later. Dave had asked Steve Holland to come down from Va. Beach and Danny Joe came on about 6 months later. This was early 1976.

What were the main strengths you brought to the band?

Banner: Besides my good looks? I played really loud.

Duane:  Me joining up with these guys seemed to round out the line up. Triple harmonies and all.

Bruce: I think my lack of experience (I had really only played the drums for a few months when I first joined) was overshadowed by sheer determination and blind luck!!!!!

Molly Hatchet recorded great albums and songs. Which album and which song was your favourite?

Banner: I just recently acquired some mint-condition copies of the first four albums, so this is fresh in my mind: the "Flirtin' with Disaster" album, and the song "Let the Good Times Roll", although I have a better copy of that song from a live recording which features the long-lost third verse which ended up on the cutting room floor when we recorded it.

Duane: Sorry, can't pin that one down. Every effort I put in, I always tried my best.

Bruce: As for song, I would have to say "DREAMS I’LL NEVER SEE" from the first album. It had a magical quality to it – it was a second take I believe – and a feel that is rarely captured on tape. As far as album goes, "Flirtin’ with Disaster"

What gear did you use to record, and take out on the road?

Banner: I used Fender Precision basses on all four albums, and a Fender Bassman amp on the first album, and Peavey bass amps on the second, third, and fourth albums, along with direct lines and studio processing gear.

Duane: I have used everything from a Pignose to Marshall's, Randalls and Peavey, Crates..you name it. What ever sounded best for the track.

Bruce: I was fortunate enough to endorse Ludwig drums while in Molly Hatchet and I used Ludwig drums on the road and on record.

Can you describe for us fans what it was like to go out on tour with Molly Hatchet?

Banner: For starters, you learn to live off of the five major food groups: MacDonalds, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, and Long John Silvers. Seriously, some things that would sound extraordinary to most people become routine after being repeated night after night. For example, around noon your tourbus arrives in town and unloads you at the hotel, where you have lunch and just screw around (I'll leave that one to your imagination) until four o'clock, when the limo takes you to the concert hall for soundcheck, which lasts about an hour. Then you either have dinner with the crew backstage, or go out to eat. Then you go back to the hotel, clean up, get ready for the show. At about eight o'clock, the limo takes you back to the concert hall. You hit the stage and do what you've been waiting all day, no, all your life for. You rock just as hard as you can for about an hour and a half, then you go back to the hotel and party until the bar closes. Then you get back on the tourbus and head on down the road, and party or kick back or whatever (use your imagination here, too) until you climb into your bunk and sleep until your road manager wakes you up to tell you you're in the next town at the hotel. Repeat this every night for six to eight months, and it becomes normal, or at least normal for you. Get the picture?

Duane: Good times, bad times.mostly insanity. We took extreme way past infinity. Loved it.

Bruce: I know it sounds cliché, but it was the epitome of the roller coaster ride. Great highs (multi-platinum selling records, sold-out shows) and the lows that usually come along with it (Danny Joes’ diagnosis with diabetes, being away from family, broken relationships…)

Which concert's stand out in your mind, and for what reason?

Banner:  Nuremburg, Germany, 1979, at the Zeppelin-field, opening for the Who in front of over one hundred and fifty thousand people. We got there a day early, and Bruce and I climbed up on the podium where Hitler gave his speeches. I stood on the exact spot where Hitler stood forty years before, and it was the creepiest thing in the world. It was as if the concrete still remembered the evil that had taken place there.

Duane: There were quite a few. Selling out Madison Square Garden comes to mind.

Bruce: That’s easy – Nurenburg, Germany: 140,000 plus, opening for The Who, AC/DC, Scorpions. Playing Madison Square Garden for the first time was a thrill as well…

Do you miss the band? If everything was magically came just right, and there was a chance for the 76 - 80 lineup to reunite, would you do it?

Banner: Yes, at least for a while, until it started going sour again.

Duane: At times I'll think about some event here or there and it brings a smile to my face. But, No, I don't think so. Those days are gone forever.

Bruce: I miss the guys, but life is different now. With Danny’s health, it wouldn’t be possible and I wouldn’t do it without him. But yes, in a perfect world, I’d do it again!

You must've played with some other great bands. Do any of those days particularly stand out in your memory?

Banner: Touring with U.F.O. Those guys were the best friends I ever made out on the road. I'm still a big U.F.O. fan. Also the Outlaws, for the same reasons.

Duane: Playing with The Who in Germany was a nice highlight. Meeting Pete Townsend. Of course there were others. Sitting down and spending time with one of my idols, Johnny Winter was great.

Bruce: Our first tour was with REO Speedwagon – that was a memorable tour. Opening for the Stones for two nights in Syracuse New York was great also…

I'm a Bon Scott fan - when you gigged with AC DC did you come into contact with him, and what was he like?

Banner: Bon Scott could and did drink Danny Joe Brown under the table every night. Need I say more?

Duane: I am a huge Bon Scott fan myself. Actually, AC/DC in general. Bon WAS the main voice and I did not know how they would replace him, however, I don't think they could have found anyone better. Brian has done some great things with them. We did have a day off out west and Danny, Steve, Bon, myself and some girls decided to go canoeing. There were some pretty good rapids and we made the best of them, however, it got dark before we got to our pickup point and we had no idea where we were. It was fun and interesting .

Bruce: I was introduced to the music of AC/DC by the late Leon Wilkeson from Skynyrd. Banner Thomas and I gave him a ride home one night and he put it on – this was before we got a record deal – so after our first record came out we did some shows together. They were awesome, and Danny Joe and Bon spent a wild night in Tijuana trying to deplete the tequila supply – I think they succeeded!!!!!

Can you tell me a little about what your participation at Jammin' for DJB meant to you.

Banner: It wasn't as big a deal to me as I thought it would be, but it was great to play together again. What was really great for me was that the opening act was the Seventies' metal group "Captain Beyond", my favorite band in history. We bootlegged a video of them, which is the pride of my collection.

Duane: This has been rehashed too many times. But I will tell it once again. There were assholes that kept me from being there the night of the performance. It truly is a pity someone, somewhere was that insecure. This is a dead issue. I was asked by Riff West to come and listen and see if I wanted to play on the tracks. I decided to play. That's all. I would have done it for Danny anyway.

Bruce: If I had to WALK there (I live In VA) I would have. Danny was there from the beginning so when Riff (West) called me to see if I would participate, I couldn’t say YES quick enough. And Riff did an outstanding job putting everything together.

What kind of shape is Southern Rock in today?

Banner:  It depends on what you mean by "southern rock". If you mean all the old, original southern rockers, we're not in very good shape. Too many of us are dead or disabled nowadays, and the rest of us aren't getting any younger. If you mean new, younger bands playing and writing old-style "southern rock" music, I have mixed feelings about that. If they sincerely love the old stuff that we used to play and try to make their own music just like it, I'm honored and flattered and support them happily, except for one thing: what's new? The Allman Brothers made something new. Skynyrd made something new. Yes, Hatchet made something new. Don't copy someone else- make something new. Create a sound of your own, that no one has ever heard before. I'll really cheer for you if you do that. As far as new southern rock, who's doing it? Limp Bizkit? I hate Limp Bizkit for being the hypocrites they are (remember Napster?), and they committed the unforgivable sin: they jumped on somebody else's bandwagon, to be specific, the Korn "rap-metal" bandwagon, and they didn't even do it well. Believe me, I've been accused of the same thing, but Hatchet was around just about as long as Skynyrd. Skynyrd just grew and developed and got to work faster than we did. What I'm trying to say is, we need more rock in southern rock. That's what rock and roll music is: having your own thing to say, and finding your own way to say it. Like Steve Holland told me recently: "We might have sucked, but nobody sucked the way we did!"

Duane:  Southern rock will never die. You cannot mix country, blues, and rock and expect it to go away. The music is too good.I don't know if you have heard the SRA's Danger Road cd, I hope you pick up a copy. You are in for a real southern treat.If you get a chance to come to one of our shows, we'll be happy to talk to each and everyone of you.

Keep the Faith, and Keep Rockin, SRA Style...

Bruce:  Can’t really say – I don’t pay attention to it much anymore. My current focus is playing drums in the praise band at my church – we do a contemporary worship service – it ROCKS!!!!!

Where are they now?

Duane Roland still loves to play, and made his comeback in March 03 when he joined the Southern Rock Allstars

Banner Thomas has never stopped playing since he left Hatchet in 1981. He nows performs with Big Engine.

(pic courtesy of bannerthomas.com)

Bruce Crump finally left Molly Hatchet in 1990, to raise his young family.

In his words : " i'm a "new" dad to jaden hull crump, 14 months (also jessica, 14 and bradley, 11)i'm still a full-time musician: play with party-rock-dance band daddy-oh (see www.daddy-oh.com ) smilek (see www.smilek.com ) and most importantly of all, drummer/sometime worship leader at countryside christian church ( see www.countrysidechristianchurch.com ) and a part-time real estate agent!!!!!all of the above leave NO spare time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These two photo's kindly supplied by Bruce Crump