Hellyeah Interview with Tom Maxwell: "In the post-Darrell world, when someone jumps up on stage you don't know what his intentions are"

With Hellyeah it’s quite obvious. What you see is what you get. Just a couple of friends, playing the music they want to play and they know how to have a good time. Tommy Maxwell makes that really clear, while h explains why they include all their friends and fans in their "Band Of Brothers". Read what he had to say about Hellyeah’s third album, touring, the difference of rock and roll mentality and Randy Blythe among other issues.

Hi Tommy. Is this the first time you speak with a Greek media?
Yes!

Well, at least you must be hearing a lot for us lately...
I hope one day I’ll visit there and play on a tour. We all know about the Greek culture, the food and the people there, so I hope we can visit real soon.

We’d also like that. So, this is the third album by Hellyeah and it’s called "Band Of Brothers". My initial thoughts are that this is the heaviest effort you’ve done so far. Am I right?
Yeah, I would say so. I think it’s the best effort that we’ve done so far. The two previous albums were kind of experimental. On the first album we were trying to find our way with each other. Most bands when they put out the first record, they have been a band for a year or so, have forever to write that first record, when we got together for 17-20 days to write that record. In the second album we wanted to experiment with different stuff and different sounds. Tracks like "Hell Of A Time" and "Pole Rider", that are more of a straight ahead rock n’ roll kind of thing. But this record, it describes ourselves. We wanted to make a record that is heavier and honest…

So, your true self is a little bit more aggressive?
Yeah, I think so. I like that. It’s who we are. You have the bands that we’ve been at. Pantera, Mudvayne, Nothingface, Damageplan, metal bands. I think that’s who we needed to be. An interviewer earlier said the same thing. We are a real band, other than Vinnie Paul’s side project. You know what I mean?

The name of the album is like a statement, as is the name of the band in a way. Is it important for you to show that it’s a band of true friends? Especially, in an industry like music that seems to get colder...
You are right. It is. It represents us as who we are. Despite whatever kind of underdogs that we feel, we come from other bands that are successful, so we have this supergroup underdog mentality as a project. We are a band, we stuck together, we’ve been through a lot, we had our back against the walls and we had a lot to lose. But we stand by each other, like brothers. In a way, I think it’s about all the fans of metal and rock. Everybody sticks to it. Look at other kinds of music out there. Pop artists, fly by night, teenage mall stars. You know, these Justin Biebers of this world. You know, their fans grow up and they get over it. The Backstreet Boys and the N Sync and all that stuff... No one listens to these things anymore and the ones that were their fans back in the day are kind of embarrassed that they were their fans now. My point is that with rock and metal music, the fans stick by it. I still listen to "Kill 'Em All" by Metallica. I’m sure you do too...

Of course...
I still listen to "Reign In Blood" or Mercyful Fate, all the great rock stuff and the old school metal. Kids that are growing up now in metal will keep listening to this record ["Band Of Brothers"] and our previous records, even when they get fucking old. That’s the 'Band Of Brothers' we are talking about. It’s that loyalty to rock and roll and heavy metal. Because we are the underdogs and that’s fine!

I believe one more thing that distinguishes this music is that the longer a band is around the more respect it gets.
Yes. It’s the whole lifestyle. That’s what the title of the album represents. It’s not only about the band and its persons. It’s about all the fans out there, the whole brotherhood that is included. All the die-hard fans of rock and roll and metal...

Ok. I’d like to ask you a couple of questions about the lyrics. I’d really like to know what the lyrics behind "Drink Drank Drunk" are for...
Hehe! Well, I think when Chad wrote that song it was really about ...party. It’s a battle cry I guess. That’s just a way to put a lifestyle to things. I think when he writes songs, he likes to write in a way that like... in that song it’s more like going back to your backyard beer party with your friends. Hanging out, having a good time and raising hell, kicking ass. I don’t know if you have seen this movie called "Dazed And Confused"? Have you seen that movie?

"Dazed And Confused"? Sorry, I only know the Zeppelin song...
(laughs) It’s also a movie. I think it has that kind of mentality. It’s about a bunch of guys, good friends that get together to have a nice time and party and roll down. I think that pretty much sums up what this song is about.

Then, the only 'softer' song in the album is "Between You And Nowhere" and it’s one of my favorites, as I’ve always been a fan of Chad’s clear voice, especially in Mudvayne.
Well, this song is not an angry song. It’s a sad, lonely song. When I was writing the music to it, I was in a lonely and dark place. And I think when he was writing the lyrics to that, he was feeling the same way, he was going through some heavy personal stuff and it’s a point where he raises his voice a little louder, but at the same point it’s an open wound. I think he did a wonderful job.

I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of growls or screaming vocals and knowing he has such a good clear voice I wonder why in Hellyeah he doesn’t sing more clearly...
He’s just angry (laughs). He’s an angry guy. But I don’t mean it in a negative way (laughs). I’d like him singing more as well, but he’s got to do what he wants to do. If a song calls for him to sing he’ll do that, but if the songs demands something harder he’ll also do that. I’d like him to sing more often as well and in the future I’ll try to write more songs that he’ll actually sing (laughs)...

Ok. So, you’re in the middle of a tour right now and what a hell of tour is that! Volbeat, Iced Earth and Hellyeah. What a strange combination!
(laughs) It’s true, it is strange! But in a weird way it’s working. The fans, the kids that are coming to the show, they’re loving it. We’re loving it. It’s a weird combination. You have Iced Earth, that’s really old school like Iron Maiden, you have Volbeat who are kind like Elvis meets Metallica and you have us which is a “full get in the pit and fuck things up”. But it’s really working and we’re having a lot fun. Everybody’s really enjoying each other and we’re partying, we’re hanging out, we barbeque. You’re right it’s a little weird, but it works. It really does...

I’d really like to see this tour, but it’s a little far away...
You know, it could move to Europe at some other point...

Another impressive tour you were part of was the Uproar in 2010, with a lot of cool bands like Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour among others. I’d really like to know if there’s a cool story from that tour...
Jeez man! We’re known for the parties on the road. In this tour we would put our buses together with the other bands and we would set up tents, chairs and music and kind of barbeque. That’s a cool thing that we had all these bands to come over and hang with us. And that’s the coolest thrill of them all. Being able to being friends and tour with your friends and hang out with them and it’s all real. You know, we don’t talk about music, we just hang out.

Let me mention one thing. Lzzy Hale from Halestorm recently said that Vinnie took her for the first time in a strip club. Maybe it was during that tour and you were with them?
(laughs)I would imagine that being true, because he owns a strip club in Dallas, Texas. I can see that and believe that...

So you weren’t there? You should have been (laughs)...
Well, I’ve been to Vinnie’s club many times. It’s a cool place. It’s a rock and roll kind of place. It doesn’t play pop music or hip hop, or anything like that. It’s rock and roll. It’s AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails and stuff like that. A lot of bands that go into Dallas to play, they are partying at the club, because it’s a good place to go. It’s a rock and roll club. Rock and roll people want to hang out to rock and roll places. I am not of a fan of going to places that have that “boom-boom” [makes that beat sound with his mouth] and all this shit. I want AC/DC or Motley Crue...

It could be an interesting idea for a franchise. So, would you know what’s going to be with Mudvayne as you share two members? I think they’ll be on hiatus till 2014...
Well I really don’t know. Nobody talks about it. We’re really busy with this. I know we’ll be touring with Hellyeah until the end of next year probably and we have other records to do. I can’t really speak for them, I truly don’t know, but If we fall flat on our face and it’s not a success and we don’t want to do it anymore -which I seriously doubt- I would see that. But as the machine is moving we’re not going to take a break.  We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. I know they have a lot of fans that would like to see them put out a record or do a tour, but I really don’t know and I can’t speak for them.

You’re right about that. As for Nothingface?
Naahh... This band is enough for me. I’ve moved on. I’m proud for what we did with that band. We had some really good music and good times, but I’ve moved on and I’m proud of where I am. Right now, playing with this band and being here with my family is enough for me.

Now, as you are a close person to Vinnie Paul, I’d want to ask you about the rumors of something like a Pantera reunion for a tour. You know, with Zakk Wylde and stuff. What would you think of it? Also, would Hellyeah add any Pantera song on their set just for the fans that want to see these songs played live?
Hellyeah would never do that. We would never play anything that has to do with Pantera. Cause you’re not getting Pantera. You’re getting a cover song. You get Vinnie Paul playing drums, but it’s not Pantera. And I think Vinnie stands very firm in that. There have been a lot of rumors about a Pantera reunion and of course people get excited about that. They have something to talk about. But, you know, Vinnie has stated multiple times that he would not do it without his brother. I would love to see Pantera reunion too, but with Dime. I don’t care. You can get the greatest guitar player in the fucking world, playing that shit inside out, but it’s not going to be Dime back there. You know what I mean? Vinnie says “I’m very proud of the 14 years we did, but I am not going to tour without my brother” and I understand that. And I am a huge Pantera fan. If Dime was alive I’m sure they would have patched things up. But he’s not with us anymore and I personally can’t see it ever-ever happening.

I understand it, but last year I was talking with Rob Halford about K.K. Downing leaving the band and Rob mentioned that the legacy of Judas Priest’s music is beyond him, or K.K. or anyone and fans need to see these songs being played live. Just another point of view maybe...
Another point of view is that K.K. Downing is still alive. He wasn’t murdered on stage and I think that’s a big difference. It wasn’t Dime’s choice that he left this world. People come and go and the band will continue on, but when something like that happens it’s like you’re losing a relative. How can I say it? If you lose your mom, you don’t go to a neighbor you like and ask him to be your mom for a week… (laughs). I can’t imagine Vinnie changing his mind regarding all that. I just wish people would respect the legacy they left and leave it like that. And respect the fact that Vinnie doesn’t want to do it without his brother. I totally understand that...

Of course! We’re just making a conversation of what people say and think, but I guess we all understand Vinnie. Well, also seeing what Randy from Lamb Of God is going through these days...
Oh it’s heartbreaking man! The guy is such a sweet dude. Living in the post-Darrell world and with the shit that happened when some fucking asshole jumps up on stage you don’t know what his intentions are. That kid jumped -from what I understand- three times...

You are right. Especially, after December 2004 nothing is the same...
Yeah. Is that all right now? Should we stand on stage, have people jump on stage and take what they’re going to give? We can’t defend ourselves? You know man, this sucks. I’ve watched the video. He was singing at the same time as he was throwing this kid off the stage and there was also a security guard there. It was obvious that he wasn’t fighting the guy; he was singing and pushing that dude away from him.

Let’s hope that everything is going to end well and Randy will be free soon. Although it will always be a burden for him, what he’s going through...
Yeah, it’s terrible. I don’t know how it’s going to be, but our love goes down to him, his family and his band. We wish for anything but the best and if there is something we can do, it is to show our support. Show it, start a talk about, it write about it. Do what you got to do to show your support.

So, Tommy, is there anything else you‘d like to say about Hellyeah or whatever?
All I am going to say is that we hope with this record we shall be coming to Greece and play for you people, for all the fans there and really have a great time down there. I don’t know when, but sure we will.

Thank you for your time.
Thank you as well. Hope to see you soon. Take care.