Steve Holland , co-founder and guitarist of the southern rock Molly Hatchet , died this past weekend. The news was revealed on the social media accounts of his most recent band, Gator Country . The cause of death was not disclosed.
Holland and Dave Hlubek , also a guitarist, formed Molly Hatchet in 1971 after meeting at a record store in Jacksonville, Florida. After a series of lineup changes, in 1976, the group created what is now considered its classic lineup with Holland, Hlubek, Danny Joe Brown (vocals), Duane Roland (guitar), Bruce Crump (drums), and Banner Thomas (bass).
Molly Hatchet enjoyed incredible success for five years, with her first three studio albums achieving platinum status. Her 1979 LP, Flirtin' with Disaster , went double platinum and reached the top 20 of the Billboard 200.
Holland left the band in 1984 after saying he no longer wanted to tour and was replaced by John Galvin . Later, in 1999, he reunited with the band for a one-off show in tribute to Brown, who had suffered a stroke.
In 2005 he created Gator Country with former Molly Hatchet members Jimmy Farrar, Bruce Crump, Duane Roland and Ralph “Riff” West , and remained with the band until his death.
Rest in peace, Steve Holland.