Interviews
With the three bands about to tour the UK together, taking it in turns to go on last, it’s shaping up to be quite a party.
You guys must know all one another pretty well, right? Richard Young (Kentucky Headhunters): A few of us have met before, but this will be the first time any of us have played together except when Dan [Baird] and I were out on a Rock Legends cruise. I want to make it clear that without Dan and the Georgia Satellites and Jason & The Scorchers, the Kentucky Headhunters would have had no chance in hell of signing a record deal. So hats off to you boys – even if I don’t own a hat! Dan Baird: The Scorchers pre-dated everybody. They were absolutely ground-breaking, and unafraid of being DIY, which just about all of us are back to now. Jason Ringenberg: You guys are giving the Scorchers way more respect than we deserve. Some of you were doing this before us. I know all about Itchy Brother [the forerunners of the Headhunters]. Warner E Hodges (Jason & The Scorchers): I really cannot wait for this tour. How have we left it this long to make it happen?
With each band playing full-length sets, will there be an element of trying to blow one another off the stage? Young: Naaaaw. The Headhunters are looking at this as a vacation, to be honest. If it’s alright with y’all, we’ll go on first every night. Hodges: I think it should be a hootenanny of friendly competition, a kind of southern-fried family reunion. Baird: This is the show that none of us wants to have to close.
So the three bands are going to be taking it in turns to go on last? Baird: The headliners will be rotating, yeah. Everybody will headline at least one of these gigs, known only on the day of show. Young: That way if you don’t know who’s gonna headline, you’ve got to come to all of them. The Headhunters won’t be playing the same songs every night. Baird: Each band will play for an hour, with a fifteen-minute interval. Everybody is using the same backline [to speed up the changeovers].
Can we assume there’ll also be some jamming going on between band members? Baird: You know what? I really don’t know. Hodges: I for one would like to do some of that. Young: Once we get a feel for what’s going on, I suspect anything will happen.
Richard, the Headhunters had to wait until 2016 to play in the UK, due to your fear of flying. Have you now found a way of overcoming the condition? Young: Yessir, I have. You start acting nervous whilst boarding, and the stewardesses take you to the back of the plane. That’s where they keep them Heineken beers.
Dan, how is your health at the moment? Baird: I’ve taken a couple of punches recently but everything is good now. Before that it was the other thing [in 2018 he was treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia], but my story is far from unique. Anyway, I’m back. Young: Listen, boys. We’re just like an old fifty-five Chevrolet – every once in a while you’ve got to get tuned up.
Given that this tour is unlikely to be repeated, you must film one of its shows for a DVD. Baird: I believe that we have talked about it. Young: Yeah, but on our budget we’ll have to find somebody with a camera and we’ll pay them with a case of beer [everybody laughs].
Why should people buy a ticket to see this? Young: Because they’re going to get their asshole handed to them, that’s why. Hodges: We are going to show up and we’re going to kick ass. Baird: You’ll definitely get your money’s worth. Ringenberg: The level of musicianship on this run of shows will be a unique thing. I can’t imagine a better bunch of musicians than these guys, and it’s going to be a great honour sharing the stage with them. I would buy a ticket, for sure.
The first date of the tour is in Norwich on September 5.