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When done right, the one-man band builds upon the foundations layed by West Virginia pioneer Hasil Adkins, but doesn’t merely imitate him. The one-man band format lends itself to individuality, to a pared down and rudimentary creativity that connects with the listener on the most primal and personal level. Bloodshot Bill is case and point. Although he is from Canada, I associate him more closely with the syrupy humidity of North Carolina where I first saw him bash out some of the most rollicking hillbilly racket these ears have ever had the pleasure to be damaged by. Later, when I would spin songs from his CD “Rockabilly Trash” while DJing, people would always ask who that was they just heard howling and growling from some backwoods beyond. His music quickly grabs you like a groper in the backseat making his move. It is pure libidinous smarm all gunked up, tarred and Charlie Feathered. The following is the “lost” interview I did with him back in January 2005. - Ben
Bloodshot: Well, I’ll tell you ‘bout that whole weekend. It all started in New York. I was playin' CBGB’s on a Friday. About a half hour before I was supposed to play, I went out to the car for something... turns out somebody had smashed the lock off the door and stolen my guitar and all my clothes. Not fun. Luckily I had most of my gear inside the bar. So, here I am: car won’t lock and I gotta go play now. So, I park it in a lot for the night, played my show and didn’t bother with the cops (what would they actually do?), slept for about an hour, walked to the police station (figured I’d report it, for insurance), found the car, went back to the station, then hit the road headed for Detroit... got there late with no time to rest, partied & played & partied, decided to drive outta D-town into Canada (safer to park when your door doesn’t lock, it’s true). So, finally I went to sleep (in the car) at some gas station around 6AM. About 9AM I get up and head out to my next gig (a trailer park in Ontario), play it, then head out for drinks with friends. Realize I’m startin’ to get a lil tipsy, and I figure I should cab home, right? But wait. Can’t leave my car parked on the road with all my gear in it ‘cause the door won’t lock. So, somebody mentions that they live three blocks away and I can park there. They’re on a bike and will meet me at the corner to show me what house it is. Well, as I am slowin’ down to find them, that’s when the cop stops me (‘cause I was slowin’ down!). Anyhoo, I fail the breathalyzer, get taken in, and the car is towed. They said I was the only DUI they’ve even had on a Sunday, which I thought was kinda funny. When the cop was filling out my description in the report, under “hair” he wrote: “black and greasy”! Too cool, eh? So far I lost my license for 3 months automatically for this, but it was gonna go to court... 3 months? Shit, I gotta start a tour in 2 weeks!! I knew I wasn’t gonna cancel my tour, so I started a contest (“go on tour with Bloodshot Bill”) and found some folks to go with me. Our first day on the tour we all went to court together! It was nuts. Judge was cool, but he still gave me the minimum sentence – 1 year suspended license and a $690 fine... ugghh. I get it back in September 2005. RRP: I remember reading something a while back about your car getting stolen with your merch inside. What is the story behind that? Bloodshot: Yeah, that was in Halifax (a city in eastern Canada, known as being real friendly. It was our first tour over there (me & the Hubcaps). Shows were goin’ good, then one night we all got really drunk. The club said we could leave our car in the back over night, so we said “sure” and took off. Nothing was visible, everything was in the trunk. Next day, we get there: no car. Some clothes scattered around, but that’s it. I didn’t even have a shirt, just my leather. We got to watch it all on the club’s “surveillance” cam. Funny thing is, there is a police station right next door to the club! The club was cool and put us up in a hotel and Travis from the Sadies let me borrow his guitar to play. I didn’t have any clothes, so I played in the bathrobe form the hotel. Cops found the car totally burned to the ground (I don’t mean worn out, I mean literally burned to the ground!). I didn’t have insurance either, for anything: fire, theft, etc. Ooh, that sucked. RRP: How come you are doing the one-man band now instead of playing with the Hubcaps? What or who inspired you to go it alone, and how long did you play with the Hubcaps? Bloodshot: Well, I started out playin’ as a solo thing, no drums, just foot stompin’, so it’s not like I was like “I’m going solo now!” I like doin’ whatever I wanna do, and it’s a lot easier too when all you gotta do is make up your mind and do it, don’t have to wait for everyone’s schedules to be the same. I played with the hubcaps for about 2 years while doing other things too. We’re still buddies, I’m just doin’ the OMB thing more now. RRP: I have read that you also played with a band called the Guilloteens. What was the band like and why did it cease to be? Bloodshot: Guilloteens were cool: a little more traditional sounding with upright bass, snare, acoustic, electric guitars. We played local shows for less than a year together, then I went on a “solo” tour, came back, and everyone was doin’ something else. We’re still all buddies. RRP: Being from Montreal and having toured in the U.S. many times, what kind of trouble have you run into when crossing the border? Bloodshot: Knock on wood, I’ve never been turned away. Well, once, but I wasn’t crossin’ to play, so it don’t count. Dude wanted proof that I live and work in Canada, but he was just bein’ a jerk. One time, after 9/11, me and the Hubcaps were crossin’ and our drummer, Dom, didn’t bring any I.D. Nothing. Not even his license, and he was the one drivin’! But we ended up getting outta there on charm, I figure. RRP: What have been your favorite cities in the U.S., and how do the shows, people, and music scenes seem different from Canada? Bloodshot: Well, I’m really down with weekenders. Ya get more time to hang out with people and stuff. My favorites so far are the Heavy Rebel Weekender (Winston-Salem, NC), Elvisfest (Chapel Hill, NC), and Greaserama (Kansas City, MO). But as along as folks are cool and the food is good, I’m havin’ a good time. Differences? Guess that would depend on the town. There ain’t no weekenders in Canada (well, no good ones... yet), but it’s all pretty similar no matter where ya go. Most folks just wanna have a good time. RRP: What have been the highlights and lowlights from your tours? Any interesting people, strange occurrences, or tales of complete rock-n-roll abandon? Bloodshot: I’ll list a bunch and you decide High or Low!
- Losing car keys and having to sleep in a haunted opera house (no shit!) RRP: So what is the “Murder Room” story? Bloodshot: Ha!...The murder room story!...Well, here goes... I was on tour in June 2003 in Western Canada. We arrived in Winnipeg at the “Royal Albert” (Fancy name but it’s a total dive; one of those venues that is half bar, half hotel, and all the regulars live there ‘cause it’s dirt cheap) and they always give out of town bands a room. Anyhoo, front page news on the day we show up is “Body Decapitated at the Royal Albert!” Turns out a couple nights before, two dudes were in a room and got into a fight. One of them was decapitated, dismembered, and disemboweled! They had to take the body parts out in a coffin, it was such a mess! It happened in room #309 (as in “Phantom 309”!). At this time there was a big Hollywood movie (“Shall We Dance”) being filmed in town with Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, & Richard Gere. Turns out some jewelry was stolen form the set (I figured it would just be costume jewelry, but the newspaper said it was worth a lot of $$). Anyhoo, guess where the jewelry turns up? Yep, with all the body parts!! Damn! What?! That was weird enough, but then I ended up passin’ through Winnipeg three months later to play at the “Albert” again. We show up, they give me my room key, and it’s room #309 – the Murder Room! Well, I guess they forgot that I was there when this all happened, but I was pretty stoked about it. So, I headed up to the room, and they had painted the walls really, really light green, which was really dumb ‘cause you could still see lines of blood dripping down the wall! Fucked up. I hung my bolo ties with horse shoes on ‘em for good luck! I took a bath there (you can’t pass up a chance to get clean on the road) and later I found out that’s where they found most of the body parts... in the bathtub! Too much, eh? RRP: Do you count Roger Miller as a big influence? Has anyone ever told you that on your more subdued numbers, your voice is uncannily like his? Bloodshot: Wow, nope, never heard that, but I love Roger Miller. Used to listen to him lots in the car while on the road. Good drivin’ music! I guess it just sunk in me? RRP: I know you just got back from Elvisfest in North Carolina. How was that experience and the 50 hour bus ride home? Bloodshot: Elvisfest ruled! I had the best damned time! People were so cool and all the bands rocked. Each band has to play at least two songs by the King. “Little Sister” was a popular one this year, but it didn’t matter ‘cause each band has their own style, ya know. I played both nights and had a total blast each time, soaked in beer.... cheap beer. Dave Quick knows how to throw a party. I’m really looking forward to Heavy Rebel Weekend. Yeah, the bus ride sucked (I was on the damned thing for 50 hours total, with about 3 hours sleep!), but I would do it again right now, I swear! RRP: What was your New Year's celebration like? Is it also your Birthday? Bloodshot: Yep, New Year’s was fun. Played in New York with Reverend Beatman at a lil’ Tiki Bar. It was my birthday too and they put me on last around 2:00am. Well, they kept the bar open way late that night, and I ended up playin’ for about 2 hours straight! I was totally soaked by the end! RRP: Are you heading to Europe this year? Whereabouts are you going? Bloodshot: Yep, I’m headin’ there early February. Goin’ to Holland, Germany, Norway, France... not sure where else. I booked the first half and a dame form France is takin’ care of the rest.... who knows? RRP: What is your life like when not on the road or playing a show? What sorts of things are you into? Bloodshot: Well, after being in bars every night for however long, I like to just hang out and lay low till I head out again. I stay home, listen to records, get drunk alone, play music, watch movies. I only go out to see shows and play ‘em. RRP: What is the typical Bloodshot Bill performance like, and what have been the best and worst crowd reactions to what you do? Bloodshot: Well, the later and longer we get to play, the better! Typical show? Well, it gets real sweaty! Worst crowds are the ones who are too cool to move. Best ones are the ones where everybody’s shakin’ and dancin’ all around me on stage, with drinks ‘n’ clothes flyin’ everywhere! RRP: What are your pet peeves? Bloodshot: - Not having a license, Crossing the Border, Getting stuff stolen, Guys who hit on other guy’s gals, People who are just fuggin’ lame. RRP: What do you desire most? Bloodshot: Uh, I dunno... back rubs? Full body massages? Room service? RRP: How do you want to be remembered in the history of rock-n-roll? Bloodshot: As a guy who played good rockin’ music.
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