If that title makes you think of Molly Hatchet, you are absolutely correct. Another one of my favorites I might add. That sound and unmistakable voice of Danny Joe Brown always makes this fan feel right at home. Without further ado: Molly Hatchet!!


Jacksonville, Florida in the mid-sixties. A new form of music was emerging in the South. A mixture of Blues, Country, Gospel and the English invasion of Rock and Roll that later was to be coined the phrase “Southern Rock”.


While the rest of the world was glorifying the Beatles and surviving the soul expression, there were numerous musicians hanging out and jamming at the Forest Inn on the West side, Greenfields Stables, or the now defunct Comic Book Club.


While most lay-people tend to categorize Southern musicians with the Macon, Muscle Shoals, or Miami empires, the spawning ground for at least five top Southern bands was actually in Jacksonville. It’s a well known fact that the very first Allman Brothers Band jam took place there in the park in 1969 and, of course, the rest is History. Such locals as King James Version, Magi, 1%, and Sweet Rooster contributed their formidable array of talent to form such bands as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grinderswitch, and .38 Special. These bands went on to carve their niche in the world of Rock ‘n Roll.


Meanwhile back in Jacksonville, an obscure band called MOLLY HATCHET was dipping in that talent pool once more, coming up with what some would call one of the best of the rest These six guys,Danny Joe Brown, Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, Steve Holland, Banner Thomas and Bruce Crump, sat back, observed what their fellow bands were doing and what they weren’t, then hit the road for the obligatory Southern road house/club/bar circuit.


Okay, MOLLY HATCHET does sound like a strange name for six-tough, extremely macho Southern boys. The explanation for the name comes from the 17th Century Salem where one legendary lady (if one could call her that) named Hatchet Molly would behead her lovers with that hand tool Lizzie Borden made famous. Now the mystery still is what that has to do with these guys but once you listen to the opening bars of “Bounty Hunter” or such cuts as “Gator Country”, “Big Apple”, etc. you won’t even worry about it anymore.


To get on with our story, the guys paid their dues and were referred to manager Pat Armstrong by .38 Special, whose career, along with Lynyrd Skynyrd, he has helped guide in their formative stages.


Armstrong drilled MOLLY HATCHET until they were ready for the national recording scene.
At the end of ‘77, Epic Records quickly snatched up this group knowing a great band when they hear one.


Their self-titled debut album was released on Epic Records in 1978 and reached multi-platinum status as the band established their reputation of working hard, playing tough and living fast through intense touring with such bands as Aerosmith and Bob Seger.


In 1979, Flirtin with Disaster was released and history was in the making. The band continued touring on the road with an average of 250 live shows per year and like the first album, it also achieved multi-platinum status. Lead singer, Danny Joe
Brown left the band in 1980 and contacted Bobby Ingram, a well known southern guitarist and friend, who gave Brown his first singing gig in 1975 with a Jacksonville based band called “Rum Creek”. Brown and Ingram then put together with keyboardist John Galvin the Danny Joe Brown Band and continued touring until 1982. During this time, “Beatin the Odds” (1980) and “Take no Prisoners” (1981)was released with singer Jimmy Farrar.


Brown returned to record “No Guts … No Glory” (1983) ,“The Deed is Done” (1984)and “Double Trouble Live” (1985). In 1985, Bobby Ingram, with his songwriting and live performance abilities came into the band to replace Dave Hlubek. The band continued to tour over 200 dates a year and in 1989 record “Lightning Strikes Twice” for Capitol Records. In 1990, while Brown and Ingram continued the tradition as Molly Hatchet other members departed from the band to pursue other interests.


The “Greatest Hits” album was released in 1991 and certified gold. The band from 1990 until 1995 took a break from recording but continued to write new songs and tour in the United States, Canada and Europe. “Devil’s Canyon”, the first studio album in 6 years was then recorded in Hamburg, Germany in 1996 and was voted the number one rock record in Europe for 1996.


With a History of diabetes, Brown was unable to fulfill studio and touring responsibilities and he brought in Phil McCormack to take over the lead vocal position. Long time member Bobby Ingram – lead guitar, Phil McCormack – lead vocals, John Galvin – keyboards, Bryan Bassett – lead guitar, Andy McKinney – Bass, Mac Crawford – drums, make up the current lineup. From the release of “Devil’s Canyon” and the world wide touring, the band has continued performing the classic hits such as “Flirtin with Disaster”, “Gator Country”, “Whiskey Man” and “Dreams I’ll Never See”, as well as, the current hits in the true spirit and Southern tradition of “Molly Hatchet”.


The 1998 release of “Silent Reign of Heroes” is kept in the same spirit and tradition as the past with new hit songs “Mississippi Moon Dog”, “Saddle Tramp”, “Miss Saturday Night” and the title track “Silent Reign of Heroes”. Included on the album is an acoustic version of the classic hit “Fall of the Peacemakers”.


In 1999 the band took off on a history making event know as the “Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam” and traveled from coast to coast. The Volunteer Jam made history due to the fact it has never been taken out of the State of Tennessee.


The band continued touring after the jam and started production on the third Molly Hatchet album since Devil’s Canyon in ‘96. This album to be titled “The Kingdom of XII”. The release in Europe in late 2000 gave way to sold out shows from England
thru Scandinavia, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland and the band charted in Europe for the 3rd consecutive album!!! The “Kingdom of XII” is a Southern Boogie Showdown with tracks like Cornbread Mafia, Heart of the USA, White Lightning and the Vocal and guitar solo epic of “One Last Ride” in true Hatchet Tradition. The band recorded in acoustic style of “Edge of Sundown” as a tribute to Danny Joe Brown, who had suffered a stroke in 1998. He died at his
home in Davie, Florida. His obituary attributed his death to renal or kidney failure, a complication of his diabetes he had since age 19. He was 53.


MOLLY HATCHET, a band who lives fast, works hard and plays tough. Put it on and decide for yourself!


Bounty Hunter

Gator Country