Albums of Purgatory interview Hellstomper

Firstly, whats the band up to right now?

We've pretty much been in the studio constantly lately, recording some stuff for various splits, singles and compilation tracks. We've got a split 7" with Before I Hang coming out on Proud To Be Idiot Records. We've got an all new 7" coming out on Casual Records....let's see....a track on the Hank Williams tribute on Devil's Shitburner Records who will also be putting out our live album very soon. We've also got a tune on the soundtrack to the movie "Come Get Some". Oh yeah, and we're working on reassembling Hillbilly Motherfucker for re-release on Steel Cage Records this summer.

How would you describe the Hellstomper sound?

Southern Thunderfuck

How did you get involved with the band?

Me and Sweet GA Brown started the motherfucker way back in 1994. We wanted something that combined the ferocity of Motorhead with the outlaw country and Southern rock stylings that we'd grown up on. Almost ten years down the line and here we are.

Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?

How could I forget? We scared a shitload of people that night. We just came into this shitty little dive (actually an abandoned parking garage with a disco ball hanging from the ceiling) and took no prisoners. We were booked with a bunch of the pseudo-political dirty punk rock mohawk bands. They hated us immediately. We were boozin' and raisin' all kinds a hell. We established our reputation on the spot. The video of our first two shows got circulated quite a bit and that's when John down at Hardline gave us the opportunity to do our first record. It's been long string of broken hearts and empty bottles from that point on.

Are you involved in any other projects and if so how do they compare to Hellstomper?

none whatsoever

What are your favourite Hellstomper tracks?

My favorites are two brand new ones: "Trouble" and "Long Way Back (to Louisiana)".
Out of all the others I love "Prison Tan", "Pabst Blue Ribbon" and "Haulin' Ass". I like 'em all but those immediately spring to mind.

What are your favourite all time songs?

Gee, could we make that question a little bit harder? Goddam, I don't know. I'll give you a top five, first off the top of my head:
1)I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams
2)All I Can Do Is Write About It - Skynyrd
3)Trudy - Charlie Daniels Band
4)Ragged Old Truck - Billy Joe Shaver
5)These Days - David Allan Coe version
List would probably be completely different day to day depending on what kind of mood I'm in, but the songs listed are all phenomenal tunes by great songwriters. Oh yeah, and don't forget Bon Scott, maybe the best rock lyricist ever. Oh yeah, Rolling Stones "Torn and Frayed"....that's a knockout. I told you this question was too hard. I'll stop now.

What the first record you ever bought?

The first albums that I dilligently saved up just to buy them especially were CCR's "Creedence Gold" on cassette and a vinyl copy of Hank Jr's Greatest Hits. My parents bought me Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" on a 45 and I played the grooves offa that one.

Which album was it that got you into metal and can you explain why?

Um, I don't know if you could say I'm all that into metal as far as in keeping up with everything that's happening in that particular genre. I'm into music period. All the classifications tend to bog me down. Is Motorhead or AC/DC metal? I've like them since I was a acne-ridden, pre-teen white trash monster. Um, Twisted Sister I always liked. I saw Dee Snider and the Sick Mutha Fuckers a few years ago on my birthday...that was great. Led Zeppelin....are they metal? Led Zep 2 is one of my favorite rock records of all time. They lost me after Led Zep IV though.

Whats the last album you purchased and what did you think of it?

Angry Johnny and The Killbillies - Killville Tales. It's phenomenal.

What would be your dream band line-up?

The Gaines-Collins-Van Zant-Pyle-Rossington-Powell-Wilkeson Skynyrd line-up. I can't honestly imagine a band ever sounding better than that. If you're talking about people I'd like to make an album with and using living musicians I'll say.....Gregg Allman on keyboards, Keith Richards, Sweet Ga Brown and Warren Haynes on guitar, Lemmy on bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums, Matt Reynolds on various percussion. That should make for a nice sonic evening.

If you could do a cover for a tribute album to any band, which song of which band would you pick and why?

I'm kinda sick of doing tribute tracks. I'll pass. The only tribute I'd do would be a Plum Hollow tribute and I'd wanna do "No Beer Joints In Heaven". Unless that comes to pass, count me out.

What do you think of the position of metal and music in general today?

It seems the shit rises to the top and you've gotta search out the good in any genre of music. Nowadays more than ever. If the shit they played on TV and the radio was all there was out there it would be a truly dismal landscape.

Which other bands stand out for you at the moment?

Cocknoose, Hammerlock, Antiseen, Angry Johnny and the Killbillies, The Dallas Moore Band, Brothers Of Conquest. Those are the ones that spring immediately to mind.

Do you have any funny stories about the band you can share with us?

They're all funny stories. It's always one damn thing after another. From playing through amps held together with plywood and chicken wire to gigs in backwater bush league wrestling halls. It's all pretty damn funny.

and finally, what do you see in the future for Hellstomper?

I just take it a day at a time. We're working on a shit-hot album right now, so keep you're eyes peeled for that. It'll be the definative Hellstomper LP, that's for sure.