INTERVIEW
CHIP HANNA
by Christer Davidsson, March 2006
I think most people know you as the guy who used to play the drums in U.S. Bombs and One Man Army. What have you been up to since One Man Army split up?
I have been living in Phoenix, Arizona and working at a Wild West Theme park doing stunt shows and learning how to play my guitar. I did a tour with the U.S. Bombs in March of last year, and also did my solo tour of Europe in October of last year.
I think that the Busted Hearts release “Bluegrass” was one of the best releases in 2005. Tell me a little about the band and how long you’ve been playing with them.
I started playing with the Hearts right after OMA. About a year and a half... Just snare drum with brushes and singing. I will soon be playing guitar instead of snare drum for the more traditional bluegrass sound.
How come you started to play country/bluegrass? In what way is it different from playing punk and who are your influences?
I was raised listening to country music. My Mother was always singin' when we were in the car and such. She used to sing on the radio in Baton Rouge. I can say without a doubt that all music is pretty much the same, at least from my drumming point of view. There are tons of different approaches to music, different ways to cook the shrimp. It's still a shrimp
A Busted Hearts full-length is to be released on Fundamental Records, what can we expect from it and when will it be released?
"Sin, Sorrow And Salvation" will be released on April 11th. Pretty soon now. Just some good old timey music with banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitarand stand-up bass. I sing on all tracks but 2 and there are a couple of instrumentals thrown in. It's cool.
There are two covers on the 7”, one by Ralph Stanley and one be Hank Williams. How come you decided to cover those songs?
The first song I can ever remember singing is "I Saw The Light." The Hearts do the Stanley Brother's version with Banjo. Ralph Stanley is one of the most unique singers in the world today. His voice gives me chills. When I heard Medicine Springs it blew me away.
Have the Busted Hearts been playing a lot of live-shows. And what have the response been like?
Response is pretty good. We have played with Ralph Stanley and Wayne "the Train" Hancock, and done our own shows. No tours yet. I hope we will be able to tour. As my friend Tex says "Boogie-Woogie is a hard life."
Are you in any punkrock band now or does the solo-stuff and the Busted Hearts take up all of your time?
I am gonna do some demos with Jack soon but mostly doing my own thing, writing songs and recording them.
Which record, of all the records you have played on, are you the most proud of and why?
I love the new Busted Hearts, "Sin, Sorrow and Salvation" because I can't believe its me singing! I love "US Bombs The World" also because I got to play with my buddy Jonny.
U.S. Bombs have a new record out called “We Are The Problem”. Have you heard it and what do think of it?
I haven't heard it. I'm sure it rules.
What are your plans for the near future?
I will be getting a band together and playing the material I have written. Shouldn't be long now...
Any last words?
Thanks for the support Mutiny. Keep in touch...