|
This interview from the Southern Rock Society is with Bobby Ingram of Molly Hatchet, including input from John Galvin and Tim Lindsey, on May 22, 2010, at the Long Island Summer Jam.
SRS:
Let’s introduce Bobby Ingram, the visionary, the one with the main focus for Molly Hatchet, the theme, the main song writing, and the direction. Bobby, as the primary song writer for the past 24 to 25 years, tell us about the journey, your history, the development of the band and of course, the new album.
Bobby:
Not just 24 or 25 years, it’s been nonstop 24 – 25 years; try that one on for size…! I mean, I have to keep pinching myself; it’s been a really good ride. The thing is, John Galvin and I started our first album together 1980 – so we have working together for 30 years. John and I have worked together twice as long at Molly Hatchet as any of the guys. We have seen life go in all directions. A word about Timmy, he was the first bass player of the band back in the 1970s.
From the original days with Danny Joe until now, the growth, the hybrid; and remember, John came aboard in the 1980s and he’s been there ever since, so this is the natural evolution of the band. This is what Molly Hatchet lived and breathed and suffered through and triumphed through. This is what it is, right here, the combination of these musicians that we have right now, it is the longest running of any of the combinations of musicians in the history of the band; we are over 5 years with this combination. Which, includes Dave, and when it was time to bring Dave back, it was time. Dave also adds to the band that nostalgia thing, all of this, was in-line with the vision I saw from the conception of the band, which a lot people don’t know. This is the side of the band that grew and persevered …
The band is moving forward. We are crossing over into different markets. We have been embraced by the heavy metal / hard rock “society” as well as the Southern Rock community, here and in Europe. We have been able to break boundaries that no other southern rock band has been able to do, and we are honored, we’re blessed, and we are proud of that.
SRS:
There’s a new album, so let’s get right to it. The album is named “Justice”, that is a big word that can be interpreted or interrogated in so many ways. What’s behind the name, the word “Justice” for you, Molly Hatchet, and this new album?
Bobby:
Let me first define why [the Album} “Justice” is justice. This is the first real concept album, real time concept album for Molly Hatchet. You are probably asking, what does real-time mean here? Well, there is an on-going situation that we found ourselves involved in, that we did not turn our back on. There was a seven year old girl that was abducted while walking home from school, right down the road from her house in Jacksonville. Abducted by a stranger, and was murdered, and found in a Georgia landfill 3 days later.
Well, we got a call while we were in Orlando playing the Hard Rock hotel, so we came back in the middle of the night and we did this fund raiser which helped to bury the little girl. The FBI took the whole band over to see where she lived because the mother wanted to meet us… and man, it hit everybody so hard because, we are human, you know. This tragedy was hitting everybody, it severed a community, and it tore up Jacksonville, and tore up the heart of the American people because nobody knew what to do. We don’t know why the phenomenon of Somer Thompson is the phenomenon that it is, and how it got there, but she now is the poster child of stranger adductions. We did not turn our back on her or Dina (Somer’s Mother), we stood beside them.
I know what suffering is about, so do a lot of people, and I have recent suffering, with the death of my wife. So, Dina was briefed on that before we met. One way or another justice is the scale. You know that, and so, I’m saying this album was written with that theme. That is what justice is about. John is the one that titled this album, and we agreed it was the obvious way to go, and I’m on the production side of it, and so on.
SRS:
You and the band have written and dedicated a song to Somer, which is on the album. Will you tell us about Somer’s song, “Fly on Wings of Angels”?
Bobby:
Well, right after we left their house (the Thompson residence), we went to work. We had just started preproduction for the new album, and John and I went into the studio and we came up with the chord structure and melody in like 20 minutes. The song evolved from that, with everyone‘s input and involvement. So it’s not just a Molly Hatchet song, it‘s a song from the musicians of Molly Hatchet. Somer’s song is a song that’s a gift to someone. The only gift that we know how to do, the universal language of music, and it fit the situation and was written to fit the whole scenario.
We have little Abby (Somer’s 10 year old sister) singing “You Are My Sunshine” in the song. Her mother used to sing that to her when she would wake up for school. That was Somer’s favorite song and Abby sang it for her. On Christmas Eve we went to the studio. Dina was there, and cried her eyes out. I could barely handle it; at times I had to walk out. Abby was so cool though, and she would start crying a little bit, and then she got it back together to finish the song.
SRS:
Was there more you would like to add and further define about Molly Hatchet‘s “Justice” and Justice?
Bobby
Yes! Buy the album, or the CD…. not just download a song here and there… Get the album, support southern rock, and keep Molly Hatchet going…. The artwork is amazing, the pictures, and attributes within the CD and Album are something to keep and enjoy. You’re not going to be disappointed – if you are then you are too old……lol… It’s hard-driving classic Molly Hatchet.
Also, with the Somer Thompson situation opening our eyes to a lot of things with justice, I said that this is more universal than any one thinks, and this is why. It’s that since the beginning of humanity there has been injustice done to societies, to people, to cultures and to countries. There has been injustice done throughout the history of mankind. There has been justice sought and justice served.
In the same respect, there has been is a positive side of that as well. For example, how many times have you felt that you have been cheated or robbed, and felt that you deserve justice out of that. I don’t thing there is human being alive on the face of on this planet that doesn’t know that feeling. That’s why it is such a big record, because it touches the heart of everybody, not just southern rockers, but everybody from the president or prime ministers of countries, down to the folks at the poverty level.
SRS:
That is excellent. Do you mean that this album represents the common thread among everybody?
Bobby:
Yes, everybody, and it is crossing boundaries everywhere we go. I mean we are seeing this, everyone has felt injustice some time in their life, and they have felt justice being served. Now real-time, back to real-time – with Somer Thompson’s case – they have arrested… well, I don’t want to say his name…. I don’t want to give him any credit. They have arrested this monster and they got him in Clay County Jail, right up the road from where it happened. I have been to court with Dina a few times, and I have sat next to her crying throughout the whole thing when that SOB comes through the door with hand cuffs. It will freak you out….. I have never done anything like that…. in the court room, when there are like 5 people and you are one of the 5 on the prosecution side and you’re seeing that fucker come through the door, I gotta tell ya man, it turns you bitter real quick…..
Everybody is seeking justice, and Molly Hatchet is unleashing our style of justice with this album. We didn’t turn our back when someone needed help, and that is what we are trying to say here. You have to help your neighbor. And I came up with this, I don’t know how, but like, 3 o‘clock in the morning, after a show, after interviews all day, I just thought it’s a chain reaction. If one person helps one person, and that one person helps one person, and it keeps going and going. Then we all help each other in the end.
I’ve heard it from others, as well as realizing that we have hit on something that has been in front of everyone for their entire lives, it’s been on front of us. We didn’t know until we saw a situation. I saw the entire band cry, I did too. So was everyone in that room when we were holding Dina Thompson. Holding her in your arms; that was someone who got their child stolen, murdered…..and for what.!? Unnecessary. She was working at a dentist office and they fired her two days after, because of the intense press. I said no way. I hired her. I gave her a job as a melody crafter.
SRS:
That is so true, and you are helping this family. Is this help continuing?
Bobby:
Yes, and we are showing that it can be done. We are showing that it can help, and with music, because that is all we know how to do. And we know how to be people, and how to help them as much as we can. The band has started a Foundation for her so she has a platform. Not only for her, but she can help other people. So we’re back to the Justice, being served to other people.
SRS:
So, is there a web-site or link to the Foundation for Somer Thompson?
Bobby:
The web-site is: www.somerthompsonfoundation.com. You’ll hear the long play version without vocal, just background vocal of that, you have to hit play and it will run through the whole thing. There is the story on there, the mission, the vision and value of the foundation. Look, the bottom line is that we care about people, and that is what this album is about.
SRS:
The first song on the Album/CD - Been to Heaven, Been to Hell…. Why is this song the lead track, and is there any relation to the “Justice” theme?
Bobby:
Yes, been to heaven been to hell, can’t wait to get back to Jacksonville. Jacksonville was the home of the band. That was an ’ol Blue collar saying, meaning I’ve been through the crap, the triumph, good times, bad times, got to get a way back home to Jacksonville, but is said in such a cool way. Everyone has their own Jacksonville, metaphorically speaking. And that’s the whole thing. People can relate to this album.
SRS:
The song, American Pride, the timeliness seems so right... Can you elaborate on this song and what’s behind it?
Bobby:
A lot of troops are coming back – we’ve done the best we could, and we still have pride in our hearts we are not going to win anything – we just wanted to slow stuff down, we wanted to show the terrorists down – diffuse the situation – what’s there to win – we still have American pride – southern style, Hatchet born and bread.
SRS:
Which songs on “Justice” are set for radio play.
Bobby:
In the USA, the songs are:
1. American Pride
2. Fly on Wings of Angels
These two are the songs to request when calling their radio stations in the U.S.
In Europe, the song will be “Safe in my Skin”
SRS:
Any thoughts you might like to share about the Southern Rock cruises?
Bobby:
I love ‘em…! Do ‘em anytime! Love the Skynyrd cruise, and hooking up with those guys on the boat. I remember this one girl on the balcony, I saw her making this gesture, and I’m thinking, what the fuck? Where did that come from? She kept going, and every time I looked she would go again, and I finally just stopped playing and said Fuckin’ aye – right! That was funny.
SRS:
You bring the metal edge, the chain saw to southern rock, and really put the “Rock” in Southern Rock. When the fans go to a Molly Hatchet concert during this tour, will those concert goers hear plenty of “Justice”?
Bobby:
Yes. Let’s even set a precedent, let’s have it up to them to decide which songs they want us to play, not only what we would like to play – you know what I’m saying. Let’s take a poll on what songs do you want Molly Hatchet to play? Have the top 3 identified that they want to hear and let us know and we will do that. That is a perfect way to put it together.
SRS:
Is there anything you would like to add or reiterate to your fans, and audience?
Bobby:
Yes! Buy the album, or the CD…. not just download a song here and there… Get the album, or CD and support southern rock, keep Molly Hatchet going…. The music rocks, the artwork is amazing, the pictures, and attributes within the CD and Album are something to keep and enjoy. They won’t be disappointed.
SRS:
Well, thank you Bobby for your time, and for sharing your thoughts.
Bobby:
You got it Brother, thank you man.
|
