The Steel Guitar Forum

Stephen,
I only edited my post to add the "smiley"
so no one would think I was being a hard ass! BTW, I NEVER take back anything that I say!

Bless your heart,
( ok, edited for spelling)

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 12 June 2006 at 04:23 PM.]</p></FONT>

Larry, I don't wanna argue with anybody, either . I saw Hank II last year, made up my mind that he was a goofy put-on, and I still feel that way . No soul, whatever type of music he was trying to play, and he got more applause for his cussin', than he did for his playin'! Now, that's sad .
But all this is just my opinion, which I guess I should keep to myself---NAAH, that'd defeat the theme of this thread, wouldn't it? Hank III just isn't very talented. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it .

Well, well, well...I must admit that I've only read about 70% of this string, but it seems to me that nobody has thought to quote Bocephus in the old "Family Tradition"

To the best of my recollection:
"People ask me Hank, why do you drink?
Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live like the songs that you wrote.
Stop and think it over. Put yourself in my unique position...If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a Family Tradition"

I am a mega fan of Hank Sr. (it was Don Helms playing on my old vinyl that inspired me to pick up the steel),AND

This is truly disrespectful, ungrateful, and unforgivable behavior by lil' tricephus,

BUT

I don't think Hank Sr. was an angel...He did die in the back seat of a chauffered vehicle en route to a gig as a result of alchohol and heavy barbituates, I believe.
If that's not setting a "rock-star-lifestyle" precedent for your progeny, then what is?

Well, I hope I've rustled some feathers with my comments, cause this is a fun topic.

p.s. HowardR...lest you accuse me of obfuscation, I will benevolently proffer an elucidation concerning the afforementioned suspect vocabulary:
Progeny: a descendant or offspring

Here's a link to a quick autobiography:
http://www.otrcat.com/hankwilliams.htm

Health and Happiness, friends?

Ain't it kinda like picking up a Rattlesnake? You know you're gonna get bit!

Bob

He didn't do anything he doesn't do at any show- and some of us appreciate him for his unique approach. As to him being a disgrace, it's a disgrace for folks that haven't even heard him to condemn him based on hearsay- the old gossipy hens at the churches I grew up in weren't such jerks. Listen before you criticize or maintain silence- lest you make yourself look any stupider.

I wonder if anybody has considered a package

show with Hank III and the Dixie Twits?

That should really bring in the crowds!

Sounds like he put on a show with whatever music he played.
People should quit looking at the cover and actually read about the performers they hire.

I'm with Ryan. Family Tradition came immediately to mind. Worst concert I ever attended was by his dad in 1982. Jr. was stoned and sounded nothing like his records. Family Tradition, in deed.

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HagFan

If you will notice, if you have great talent, you can make it on your own regardless of who your grand-father was. Anyone who would say Hank Sr. was as bad as Hank Jr. or Hank 111 is grossly mis-informed. As I said in a previous post in another thread on this subject, Hank Jr. spent a lot of money trying to break Hank 111 into the rock field, but Hank 111 couldn't make it there either. He is the worst no- talent out there. Jody.

I saw a special on all 3 Hank's on maybe discovery channel or something. Probably 6-8 months ago. The only music Hank 111 did was some of his grandpa's old songs just him and an acoustic guitar. The kid knocked me out. Sung with as much feeling as his old grand daddy did way back when the songs were hits. Shame he's not into good music.

Rick

<SMALL>I wonder if anybody has considered a package show with Hank III and the Dixie Twits?</SMALL>

UH-OH,I can almost hear the key being inserted into the lock right now!


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I've seen Hank play...It was really good.
Sadly his mouth was clean as whistle.
Then, I suppose we miss alot of great shows this far north.

But really...let the kids learn to swear naturally. It's a right of passage...and means more when they find it on their own.

Solano Beach, say hello to country punk. I'm shocked, shocked I say. Let's all give these young bucks the prudish indignation and outrage they crave and expect.

<SMALL>Anyone who would say Hank Sr. was as bad as Hank Jr. or Hank 111 is grossly mis-informed.</SMALL>

Are you talking about music or lifestyle?

Because only one of the three died of self abuse before he even turned 30! Of course he also made the best music of the three.

Interesting thread, and also interesting to note no comparison/contrast reference to Shooter Jennings.

These two guys are in a difficult position, inviting all kinds of stereotypical reaction, such as, "Well, what else would either of them do, anyway," or "How convenient that both of them follow in their father's footsteps,"etc., etc., most of which isn't complimentary.

One aspect of interest is their appearance: Shooter is a knock-off of his dad, and Hank's I'm country-but-no-(insert the usual expletive)-way-am-I-gonna-wear-a-suit-and-tie half-buttoned shirts is hardly an original idea.

Neither of these motifs suggest much in the way of distinctive self-vision, or long-range vision, for the matter. Look at Jennings as an actor: who else could he have played in "Walk the Line"--or any other film, looking as he does? Shave your head and ditch the shades? I doubt it.

As for Hank III, there's little prospect there, as "Lonesome Highway", now touring the country, has an excellent professional actor (Van Ziler) at the controls, someone who will dress and show us Hank III's dad.
His foulmouthed bent needs no discussion, other that to say that his grandfather was aware of audience and situation when he opened up.

These two are not by far the first of their kind: offspring who, by birthright and little else, tread their parents' paths, but their's is a clear case of preordination and packaging, regardless of talent level or other legitimate aspects of entertainment success.

Unfortunate, indeed, and in fairness, they may not deserve the flack they get, but based on what we've seen so far, what have they got beyond fateful birth?

AMen, Alvin!

Just wondering how many of you have ever listened to a Hank III album?


This guy created a few riots of his own!
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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 14 June 2006 at 12:57 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 14 June 2006 at 12:57 PM.]</p></FONT>

I have 2 Hank III albums and I have seen him live.

I enjoyed his show and I like his albums. I don't compare him to anyone else and I accept him for what he is - a punk artist.

I wouldn't feature him on a Rose Bowl parade float for the same reason I wouldn't feature Pat Boone at a punk rock venue.

There's a time and place for everything...

...and a remote control to change the channel.

Terry

It's the promoters job to know what he's booking. It ain't Hank III's fault, he's a metalhead with Hank I for a granddad who plays the same show every night. Great show, too, but not for everybody. Again, the promoter didn't do his research.

Drew

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<font size=1>Drew Howard - website - Fessenden, Derby and Fender guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.</font>

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 14 June 2006 at 03:05 PM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Just wondering how many of you have ever listened to a Hank III album?</SMALL>

Well, I have - several - and I saw him live a few years back. I believe he does the same type of show every night in, night out. Pure country to start, and then with a warning to the audience that it's about to radically change, shifts to hardcore punk/metal. The time I saw him, he suggested anybody who didn't like that probably ought to leave after the country set. Many did.

The fair promoter (perhaps abetted by Hank III's management) made the error here - he is definitely not-ready-for-prime-time. This was totally predictable, IMO. He just does his thing - you either like it or not. I don't suggest anybody should or should not.

Let me say that, out in the country here in central PA, there is a strong musical dichotomy. I call it the "heavy-metal country" mentality - I have played places where a strong mix of pure country and very hard rock/metal is expected. It sounds crazy, but I don't think it's that unusual. Part of it is the mix of ages in a lot of the rural clubs/VFWs, etc., but part of it seems to transcend that. Many younger people have the country roots from their parents, but pick up the hard rock/punk/metal thing from the wider culture, and they wind up with an amalgamation. I don't think Hank III is out of touch at all.

By the by, Hank III has an enormous respect for his granddaddy's music, and in the country portion of the show is very true to his roots- and does it well. Some of the great country musicians from Hank I's day say that he is eerily close to the original. He has the look and a lot of the voice, he also has a serious love for old glam punk like the Misfits and that accounts for the other half of his show. He doesn't shove it down anyone's throat, and he always warns the audience that gears are aabout to be shifted and gives the country only fans a chance to clear out. I have seen him 4 times and would gladly pay to see him again!

Hopefully everyone wont judge Hank III from one news article.


I've had the opportunity to be around him several times, he has always been very nice to me and easy to be around. One of the last times I saw him play was a few years ago and he was obviously physically sick--it was the tail end of a tour, but after the show was over, everyone who wanted to hang around the stage and talk to him he was very nice. I witnessed him talking to people who had never met him before and he talked to them like he had known them all his life, signed everything they wanted signed, from what I've seen he's a very nice person.


Of course I cannot deny what went on at the venue but that's the promoters screw up if they werent 100% sure what he does during a show. They should have researched his shows to find out exactly what he does before booking him.

And like others in this thread have said before me, he just isnt the first Williams to make a venue upset....

Hank Sr. accomplished more in his short career than Hank Jr. or Hank 111 will in a lifetime. Hank Sr. has been dead over 50 years, and his music catalogue still generates thousands of dollars each year. It would be interesting to see how much money Hank Jr. or Hank 111 music catalogues generates when they have have been dead 50 years. Jody.

This is what happens when you let that rock 'n roll crap pollute country music, and I'm not simply talking about the music, but the whole rock 'n roll mentality. I have about 10-12 years of hard rock/heavy metal playing experience under my belt so I feel qualified to say this. That kind of music is not as bad as it seems... IT'S WORSE, with a few exceptions and I'm talking a very few!

Besides, wouldn't you have to be a nit-wit to know that you are playing in front of a family crowd, and not realize that you don't act that way in front of kids? Was he powerless to tame it down just a little bit? Give me a break... Once again, the rock 'n roll mentality.