Voices of Southern Rock: an interview with Tim Lindsey
Forty two years after its beginnings as a Westside Jacksonville band, Molly Hatchet is still driving the crowds wild. They played last night to a sold out crowd in Sacramento, This “heavy metal” of the Southern Rock bands is recording, touring and finding itself particularly popular in Europe where its regional Southern Rock sound (not to mention unique album covers) is in demand.
Metro Jacksonville's Gloria Devall had an opportunity to ask Tim Lindsey, bass player and long time Southern Rocker, some questions about himself, Molly Hatchet and about the town that gave birth to this signature music.
GD: You’ve been a bassist for Molly Hatchet since 2003. In the nineties you toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the past 20 years, how has the fan-based changed for southern rock?
TL: It’s amazing to see everywhere we play how many people love the music. Young fans, old fans they all connect to the music. There is no generation gap.
GD: Some have said that there is a Southern Rock revival happening, do you see it?
TL: Country music seems to have embraced the Southern Rock style and in my opinion has helped to keep it alive. It’s still the good stuff.
GD: Robert Nix calls Jacksonville the mother of Southern Rock -- “Southern rock was in the womb and Jacksonville was the mother.” Do you agree with this statement?
TL: Of course I do. More bands of Southern Rock came from here. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Grinderswitch and .38 Special.
GD: You grew up in the Westside. What was it about the Westside that produced such talented Southern Rock musicians? Any thoughts on this?
TL: Must have been something in the water.
GD: What could Jacksonville do to celebrate its role in the formation of Southern Rock?
TL: I can’t believe there isn’t a Southern Rock Hall of Fame and museum here since Southern Rock put Jacksonville on the map and made it famous.
GD: What could Jacksonville do to help new musicians develop their craft and promote local music?
TL: Having a Hall of Fame/Museum/Venue where all of us old timers could mentor the young ones coming us.
GD: Molly Hatchet just returned from the Rock Legends Cruise and the European tour. What’s next for the band? For you?
TL: We (Molly Hatchet) will have another full year of touring the U.S. and Europe. This year we have added Brazil to the tour, which is a first and very exciting. As for me, as long as the Good Lord’s willing, I’ll still be pounding my bass.
Steph Hamilton credit, “An Image in Time”
No one could argue the fact that something magical occurred during the sixties on the westside of Jacksonville. Back in the days of the speedway and dirt roads, wild-eyed southern boys took inspiration from the newly-formed Beetles. With a fervent desire to escape the “mean streets of Jacksonville”, they created for themselves and for their city a sound that speaks to people, even decades later, and says that tough guys sing the blues too.
Jacksonville’s only reminder of those heady days -- when the battle of the bands included such teenage dreamers like Ronnie Van Zant, Duane Allman, Robert Nix, Dave Hlubek, Allen Collins -- is an old convenience store the site of inspiration for “Curtis Loew”and perhaps a building which may or may not have been the site of “The Jug”.
In this city we treat our history too casually and in it, we discard our identity. We have much to be proud of and to celebrate. Southern Rock is one example of Jacksonville’s ability to change the world.
Current line-up:
Dave Hlubek - guitars (1978–1987, 2005-present)
John Galvin - keyboards (1984–1991, 1995-present)
Bobby Ingram - guitars (1987-present)
Phil McCormack - vocals (1996-present)
Tim Lindsey - bass (2003-present)
Scott Craig - drums (2011-present)
'Image in Time Photography”
https://animageintimephotography.webs.com/apps/blog/
Article by Glorida Devall