Interviews: Hembree & The Satan Sisters

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Hembree & The Satan Sisters from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Hembree: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, GG Allin and the Murder Junkies, Dr Hook and the Medicine Show. You get the picture.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Hembree: I have often wondered this myself. Maybe it's because loud Rock 'n' Roll was the music that delivered the biggest knockout punch to me. But, I also write country music, and believe it or not, almost all of the songs that I write begin as country songs. Ninety percent of those songs end up becoming loud punk or metal songs. It's a process that has served me well. I guess I have too much anger or hate left in me that I can't just sing about it. I need to scream it.  

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Hembree: Yea, every one of us has known each other for almost 2 decades. And we all have a long history of being in bands together. I met Ash (lead guitar) and Charley (bass) back in 2000. Ash and Charley were in a very popular and full time touring punk band called guFF for a long time. They actually recorded a song with Steve Perry from Journey! Parker (drummer) and I have been in several bands together. Parker and Charley were both in the punk band Burns Like Fire. KC/DC (rhythm guitar) has played music with Ash and Charley for years in Atlanta hard rock band the Mids.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

My favorite band changes constantly. I have been on a massive southern rock kick again for the past month or so. So, right now at the top of the list would probably be Lynyrd Skynyrd. But, Black Oak Arkansas, Charlie Daniels Band, ZZ Top and early era AC/DC have been my go to bands for the last month as well. Nashville Pussy has been getting a lot of playtimes, too. An all-time favorite is tough. But, it would probably be a 3-way tie between Lynyrd Skynyrd, ANTiSEEN and Danzig.

KC/DC much like myself loves a ton of metal as well as punk and Rock 'n' Roll. She is a massive fan of bands such as Hannoi Rocks, Rose tattoo, Thin Lizzy, Darkthrone, and Mercyful Fate. She also has a passion for George Michael, that's no lie. Step up, talk shit about it, and KC/DC will handle you with a quickness you ain't prepared for.

Ash like all of us is all over the place as well. I can think of three of his top bands. Ash is guitar players' guitar player type and it shows through his guitar idols. He is a huge mark for a serious guitar god trilogy that consists of Skynyrd, Iron maiden and the mighty Waylon Jennings. Unrelated side note, Waylon Jennings actually died on my birthday, which is a bit of a bummer.

Parker is also all over the place musically, but I know he has big time respect for Foo Fighters.

Charley is always blasting Alice Cooper, KISS, or Cheap Trick . Lately, he has been turning me onto the new Hank Von Hell album, which I dig. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Hembree: Anything and everything. It's a bit of a complex question to answer. It's always different. Sometimes it can just be picking up a guitar and strumming. That is my favorite way, when a song comes out of nothing and writes itself is the best.

But, yea anything from having a road rage session, a movie, or something I heard someone say. Sometimes there is a constant theme that will run through a batch of songs written close to each other. The last album was inspired from disgust by what I perceived as human hypocrisy at the time. Things I saw in the media, music and a lot what I considered to be disingenuous bandwagon jumpers or grandstanding for the sake of grandstanding.

It was an easy set of similar targets for me to lash out at. But its not all hate and rage. It didn't stop at just being annoyed and angry, for good measure I made fun of it as well, I like to laugh, too. I poke just as much fun of myself as I will you, and that puts you in good company, so be thankful you fucks!

6. Where was your last gig? 

Hembree: Our last gig was at a massive festival in Atlanta called Slaughter Que. Headliners featured Exodus, Kataklsm, Exhorder, Krisiun and of course Hembree & the Satan Sisters.

I'm just kidding, obviously! We played the outdoor stage early in the day, but we still had a solid crowd of around 60 to 70 folks. We have garnered a pretty solid and steady growing following in North Georgia and areas of South Carolina and Florida. And we are fortunate that our fans, we call them Hellions or Hembree's Hellions & Harlots, are always on the frontline for our shows. We were the least metal band on that bill but I won't shy away from saying we have a vibe that stands out, and I know makes some nervous. I think we are probably a love 'em or hate 'em type band, but there seemed to be more love towards what we did at that show than I anticipated. It was also KC/DC's first show with the band and she fuckin' owned it!

7. Where would you like to act?

Hembree: Aw, hell. I don't know. I don't give a shit. Anywhere is fine with me. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Hembree: I'm sure most folks probably name only their heroes but I immediately thought about bands that I consider friends and or family. To name just a few Murder Junkies, Guillotine, TAPED FIST, Die 985, Freakshow Cinema, Craigzlist Punks, Casket Creatures,DDC-Drink and Destroy Crew, Weedeater, Beithemeans, The Aggravated. ANTiSEEN (who happen to be heroes but also friends which is badass), Fisted Sister, and A Killing Tradition. I would love to play some shows with Jethro Skull, Warboys US, Tomcat's Torpedo Band, The Besmirchers, and Cancerslug.

9. Whom not?

Hembree: I like to steer clear of uptight college town pretentious type bands, but I admit I take pleasure and enjoy to see them get pissed or butthurt at what they perceive the band to stand for. It's fun to see some get offended by things I may say, or better yet, get mad at things I don't say or don't do that is expected. There are a few bands in particular that come to mind that I have a genuine dislike for as humans, but I don't feel like wasting my thoughts on them or giving their names any publicity. They already know who they are and to steer clear of me.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Hembree: I don't think that any member of this band suffers from stage fright, and if they do they don't show it. We have all been playing live since we were teenagers or younger, so about 1,000 years.

I started playing music in front of audiences at age 5. I don't get nervous but I do get amped up like adrenaline hits me or something. It's always around 5 minutes before we hit the stage. I guess it's excitement more than anything. If that feeling vanishes, I will probably lose interest. As long as the feeling hits me then it means that I am still into it, and that it's alive inside of me. Once that feeling goes then I will quit. 

As far as a tip, my only tip would be to start with just the tip and then to quote David Coverdale-"Slide it in, right to top!"

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Hembree: For me inspirations have been ANTiSEEN, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Danzig, David Allan Coe, Hank Williams Jr, Cancerslug, Black Flag, Marilyn Manson, GG Allin, Roky Erickson, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Bathory, The Damned, Deicide, Dio, Carnivore, Philip Anselmo, Saint Vitus, Patsy Cline, Judas Priest, Type O Negative, AC/DC, the Ramones, Type O Negative, the KING Elvis Presley and most importantly, above all else "the Streak" Ray Stevens.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Hembree: I have been asked for my socks, which is fucking gross. I have signed several people's skin for them to get tattooed, that weirded me out a little the first few times. One that sticks out was a massive gay bodybuilder metalhead who was at every show I played in his town of Montgomery, Alabama. I signed his hand and then he informed me that he couldn't wait to jerk off with that hand because he had such a crush on me. I had no idea if he was really serious at first, but I could quickly sense he was dead serious. I laughed and walked back to my merch table as if I didn't know the correct way to respond. The next time we were in Montgomery, sure enough, he was there and he had my signature tattooed around his thumb and index. After our set that night, he gave me a massive bottle of whiskey and said I could have it if I signed his neck. I agreed, he then attempted to tell me what his intention was, but I changed the subject to Hank Williams Sr's grave. Since we were in Montgomery, it was a conversation change that felt natural and worked. I appreciated his support and am in no way homophobic but some things I just don't need to know, and his full intentions were one of them.

I'm reminded of an encounter I had some years back with David Yow of the Jesus Lizard. I went to see him play with his band at the time Qui and was invited backstage by the employees of the venue after the set. I was and am a big fan of David Yow so I was looking forward to meeting him. I was pretty drunk and by the time I was introduced to him so was he. Just like the fella I mentioned earlier, I nervously asked Yow if he would sign my arm. He agreed instantly. He asked me my name, I told him Zach, and he replied Hi, I'm David. He then signed my arm and handed me back my sharpie. When I looked down, the name signed on my arm was not David Yow, but it was Zach. Hilarious.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Hembree: It may sound tired or cliché, but our fans are very dedicated to the band and are the best fans out there. I am in awe of the fans we have made, and in turn I have become fans of them as well and some of them naturally have become friends. In the past year of our existence, our logos keep showing up tattooed on people and that means a lot to us. We fuckin' love the Hellions and Harlots.

14. Something add?

Hembree: Life is short. Don't fuckin' waste it.