The only time I shed a tear on stage was at the show in São Paulo
Wikimetal (Nando Machado): Hi, Ritch?
Big Dad Ritch: Yes, sir.
W (NM): Hi, this is Nando, I'm with Daniel, we're the hosts of Wikimetal. How are you?
BDR: I'm great, man, I'm great.
W (NM): Great, it's a pleasure to speak with you. We're very happy to know that the Texas Hippie Coalition will be coming to Brazil next week; we'll definitely be there. So I'd like to ask you a few questions before we meet in São Paulo on April 28th.
BDR: I would be more than happy, I would love it.
W (NM): So tell me a little about the music scene in Denison, Texas, when you formed the band.
BDR: Well, in Denison, Texas, there's a lot of talent, an extreme amount of talent, from the Blues sound, then you also have a more old-school Rock n' Roll here, a lot of Country people coming out of here, so a lot of Red Dirt Country too. So, you know, the music scene for us was really the Dallas music scene. And when you've seen Pantera almost 30 times in your life, and Clutch twenty-something times in your life, and Corrosion of Conformity countless times too… Loving that style of music and growing up listening to Johnny Cash, Waylon and Willie, The Outlaws early on, and later in life, you know, discovering Southern Rock n' Roll, ZZ Top, very special… Lynyrd Skynyrd… And then being able to enjoy bands like Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, the best party Rock n' Roll bands… Sharing it all, we created what we call Red Dirt Metal, which is the Texas Hippie Coalition.
W (Daniel Dystyler): Excellent, Ritch, and since you're talking about these bands, these Southern rock bands, last week we had the opportunity to speak with Bobby Ingram from Molly Hatchet. He was here in Brazil and played a great show, his first ever in the country. You had the opportunity to play with them, and how important were these bands to the history of Rock n' Roll, and also to the history of the Texas Hippie Coalition?
BDR: Oh, definitely. You know, like other Southern bands, Molly Hatchet… I always loved the heaviness of that band, they weren't like the other Southern rock bands, they were heavier than the other guys, and they seemed more monstrous… A bigger animal, and of course, I love that stuff. You know, we got to tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd, we were with those guys for about 8 days, and you know, Little Johnny, he came and talked to us, and said he was really happy to have us with them, he thought we really won over the Lynyrd Skynyrd nation, and he said that wasn't an easy task. And I know we had everyone on their feet screaming and cheering, so… I really appreciated that the guys let us have a chance to play music for their audience. Not only was it a pleasure, it was also one of the best moments of my life.
W (NM): Great, Ritch. And speaking of the show you guys played in Brazil, what do you remember about the show here in São Paulo two years ago at Virada Cultural? Do you remember how many people were watching? Because it's a huge festival…
BDR: It was ridiculous. All I know is that as far as I could see, I saw people. I never stopped seeing people, even when the ground started to curve, I could still see people, so I imagine it was a mass, I never managed to estimate a number, I wish I knew. What I remember about that show is that we started playing so early that it was still dark, and when we finished it was already daylight, so the sun rose above us and started the day with us. And it was as if we had finished the night and started the next day. I'm an emotional guy, despite being a big guy, but I can probably tell you how many times I've cried in my life – not many. You know, I cried when my children were born, I cried when my father died, but the only time I shed a tear on stage was at that show in São Paulo… It felt like thousands and thousands of people were singing my song to me, and hearing so many people singing to me all at once, it really got to me… I even said, “São Paulo, I’m crying for you, I’m crying for you, Brazil, I love you.” I know everyone there speaks Portuguese, and it was wonderful that they were singing in English to me, it moved me, it touched me deeply.
We are the only Red Dirt Metal band in the world
W (DD): Ritch, thank you for sharing this, it's a great story. I'm going to ask you the same question we ask all our guests, it's a classic question we have on our show: imagine you're listening to a lot of heavy metal music, and suddenly, a song starts playing that makes you lose your mind, and you can't contain yourself, you feel like you need to headbang immediately. What song would that be, so we can listen to it on our show now?
BDR: Oh man… “Cowboys from Hell” by Pantera makes me want to get up and kick someone right in the neck.
W (DD): What was it like working with David Prater on your second album, “Rollin’”?
BDR: David is like family to me, he's like… Like an uncle, like an older brother sometimes, you know. But it's always great to work with Dave. A lot of people see Dave as a charlatan, they think it's all a trick, but in reality, he's a magician, and he's doing magic. When I listen to the albums he produces, I can definitely hear the magic.
W (NM): And what was it like working with Bob Marlette, who also produced Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath, when you guys made your last album, “Peacemaker”?
BDR: It was great, it was wonderful. Bob is a very easy guy to work with, always busy, always attentive, and you know, any discussion we had, you know, arguing about things every time one of us had a very strong point of view on something, we immediately conceded to the other, because we knew our hearts were in it, we were both fighting to make this album as strong as it is. And I think we're both like generals fighting side by side, we really brought this thing to the forefront of the music world. And with the guys I have with me, John Exall, Timmy Braun, and Wes Wallace on this album, it's an incredible feeling. Even Randy Cooper helped write a song called "Peacemaker." So, you know, the whole process was wonderful, but I have to admit it was a pleasure working with Bob, I hope one day we can work together again, I really hope so.
W (NM): Do you already have plans for a next album, or is it too early yet?
BDR: You know, I'm already writing a new album. John and I are starting to write some songs with the new guys, the new guitarist, Gunnar Molton… I mean, the new drummer, Gunnar Molton, and the new guitarist, Cord Pool, we're starting to write some songs and playing around with some things. We have a song called “Making Bullets,” and we're having a lot of fun writing it. I'm sure that as soon as we get through this year strong, probably at the beginning of next year, we'll go into the studio to work on it.
I called the band a 'coalition' so that everyone would know that it's not just guys on stage, it's the whole world, we are one single army together.”
W (NM): Can you tell our listeners what exactly Red Dirt Metal means? And what other bands play this same style of music?
BDR: Red Dirt is what's described as Oklahoma and Texas country music, there's a lot of Red Dirt Country here, and they're like the new misfits, you know… Not exactly against Nashville, just not pro-Nashville. But it's probably some of the truest Country you could hear. Actually, Texas Country has become so popular that it now has its own billboard chart, a system of its own for Texas music. And I think that's wonderful, I think it's a very good thing, and I think it needed to happen. And Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cody Canada, and another guy, Kevin Fowler, and another guy called Johnny Cooper, who are Red Dirt country boys, created this Red Dirt Metal. And since they founded it, we've taken ownership of that badge and wear it with pride. And Red Dirt is a type of music that tells stories, you know, it's great music, and it takes you places, but also, each song tells a separate story, and I think that's why they created this Red Dirt Metal. And in relation to other bands… We are the only Red Dirt Metal band in the world.
W (DD): That's great. And Ritch, since you mentioned Texas and Oklahoma, how popular is Metal there these days?
BDR: You know, Texas doesn't have the radio stations we'd like, so the metal scene in Texas isn't as good as we'd like it to be. Definitely in the Dallas/Houston area, it's not what you'd want it to be. But in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the metal scene, or the rock 'n' roll scene… it's happening, and it's really big, and you can see a lot of bands that have come out of Oklahoma City in the last few years. Even going further back, you know, you have Kings of Leon, American Rejects, which are really good bands that came from Oklahoma City. We know Oklahoma City is always packed, and we love playing in those places. The thing about Texas is that Texas is my home, and there's no other place I'd rather be on stage than in front of all these crazy people… And I'd like to say nice guys, but we know they're good Texas sons of bitches, you know? And beautiful Texas girls, all of them fighting for the front row, hands in the air, swaying and singing the lyrics to every song. I simply love Dallas, Texas… You know, every time I'm in front of these people I feel so good having an audience like that in front of me, especially when they're singing your song for you.
W (DD): Could you now choose a song from the Texas Hippie Coalition that you're very proud of, so we can hear it on our show now?
BDR: Absolutely, absolutely. This next song is called “Damn You to Hell,” and this song… I think it’s not only the heaviest song on the new album, but it may very well be the heaviest song we’ve ever written, and… We’re promoting it heavily, it was on the charts at number 46, it’s already climbed to number 41, and we expect it to be in the top 40 this week, and this song here is a real kick in the neck, it’s called “Damn You to Hell.”
W (NM): Great, Ritch. You've talked about those great legendary bands from the southern United States… And about the great heroes you have, like Willie Nelson, or Waylon Jennings, or even Johnny Cash, when they were still alive? Did you have the chance to meet those guys, or even play with them?
BDR: No, sir. No, sir, I never had… But I did… I swam in the same lake Johnny Cash swam in, you know? And I'm sure Waylon and I both ripped the seal off the same bottle of Jim Beam in the past. And I know Willie and I smoked some of the same stuff, I guarantee you that. But no, in life I never got to enjoy Waylon's or Johnny's company, and I hope that before Willie's gone, those two red-haired strangers can meet and smoke something together, you know? And that we can enjoy each other's company.
I know some people think it's a state, but I'm telling you, Texas is a country
W (NM): Speaking of the band's name, Ritch, which came first, THC, or Texas Hippie Coalition? Is it Texas Hippie Coalition because of the THC, or the other way around?
BDR: Well, the reason the band is called Hippie Coalition is because I'm from Texas. And there's no country in the world better than Texas. I know some people think it's a state, but I tell you, Texas is a country. And Texas is… I'm very proud to be from Texas, that's why I called my first album "Pride of Texas," and if you notice, "Pride of Texas," the initials are POT, marijuana. And when I was growing up, you know, my parents were hippies. I never had short hair, I've had long hair my whole life, since I was born, when I was five years old, I had hair down to my butt, and people thought I was a little redhead girl, you know? And Coalition is because I wanted all my fans to feel… to think and feel that they are part of the band, I don't want to be just another band out there, I want them to feel part of it. The music is real, my fans are real, and I want my relationship with my fans to be real, so I called it a coalition so that everyone would know that it's not just these guys on stage, it's the whole world, we are one army together, and together we are the Texas Hippie Coalition, and after that come the initials.
W (NM): So it's kind of a coincidence, like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, isn't it?
BDR: It wasn't supposed to be like that, but as soon as we said it, we knew, you know? We didn't intend to… Our goal was to have something like… There was Pantera, and there was CFH. What happened was that our… We became THC, the band of outlaws. Instead of our nickname being our initials, our real name became the initials, and vice versa.
W (DD): Excellent, Ritch, thank you so much for your time and patience. We are very happy and excited about the show that will take place here on April 28th. Could you invite all the Brazilian headbangers and tell them what they can expect from this show here in São Paulo?
BDR: Dude, I'll tell you. Come on, Brazil, it's a rock rodeo, man. It's gonna be like a mechanical bull, and all you have to do is try to hold on for the full eight seconds.
W (NM): Thank you very much, Mr. Big Dad Ritch, on Wikimetal! See you next week.
BDR: Yes, sir. Thank you, everyone, thank you very much, and I'll see you soon.
W (DD): Thank you, bye, bye, Ritch.
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