Where are you all at the moment??

Jay:  we’re on the way to Erie, Michigan.

(For all):  First of all, c'mon - who's in charge??

Jay:  Jakson is the chief. Heap big man on campus.

Duane:  I’m the new guy, but I’m in charge.

(For Duane and Jakson):  how does playing with SRA differ from Blackfoot / Molly Hatchet - do you enjoy it more - or just differently?

Duane:  I enjoy it more.

Jimmy:  I definitely enjoy it more---it’s more fun!

Jakson:  Ditto to that.

(For all):  who were your greatest influences on your respective instruments (inc vocals for Jimmy) and which of your contemporaries do you dig?

Jay:  I liked bands like Saga, Kansas, Thin Lizzy, Rush, stuff like that.  I was a HUGE Blackfoot fan, Skynyrd too.  For new stuff, I like Nickelback.

Jimmy:  Paul Rogers, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding.  For contemporaries, Audioslave, James Taylor

Duane:  Jimmy also likes the Meat Puppets and K.D. Lang.

ALL OF SRA LAUGHS

Jimmy:  I’m gonna stick my foot in somebody’s anus---y'all kiss my ass!

Duane:  Eric Clapton for me—Johnny Winter.  Contemporaries, well, I liked the Meat Puppets until Jimmy started liking them…

Jimmy continues cursing, everybody laughs.

Charles:  Chris Squire, Geddy Lee.  Audioslave, Foo Fighters.

ALL THE BAND YELLS: “And the MEAT PUPPETS!”

Jakson:  I like John Bonham, Steve Upton, Brian Downey.  New stuff, the guy from the Gin Blossoms, but I don’t know his name.

(For all):  How did the Dixie Allstars become the SRA ?

Jay:  The Dixies broke up due to bad decisions and bad management.  That’s about it.  There are some things that are best left buried in a deep, dank cave where they belong.  Dave, Jak and I got back together as SRA and did things right. Let history never repeat.

Jimmy:  Well said sir.

(For Jakson):  what happened to Pete Geddes - why did he leave - do you still hear from him?

Jakson:  He was a guitarist that we hired on as a bass player.  Basically he wanted to do solo stuff and go back to guitar.  We parted friends, and we still see him at gigs from time to time.

(For all):  How do you decide on your set lists - Blackfoot and Hatchet (as well as Skynyrd etc) could produce hours of great music in their own right.  What process do you have for deciding what you’ll play.  Also, do you always stick to the same sets?

Jay:  Somebody has to be the MC, and it’s usually me, so I call out the tunes.  I’ve been accused of NEVER following the set lists I write out myself!

I usually just call out whatever pops into my head, and if the crowd is going really wild, I call out something non-southern and totally off the wall like “Roxanne” or “Play That Funky Music”, both to freak the crowd out, and to piss the other guys off.  I call out “Kung Fu Fighting” every so often just to watch the crowd stand there with their mouths open.  There’s nothing like watching a redneck band play funk!

Duane:  It keeps me on my toes!

Charles:  With the Meat Puppets…

(For Jimmy):  what were you doing between Molly Hatchet and SRA?  Were you still playing and singing?  The trail went cold on the web when I tried to do some research!!

Jimmy:  I was playing just enough to stay active, but mostly I was working a regular job and taking care of my family.

(For all):  What differences / edges has Jimmy brought to the band as the new vocalist?

Jay:  I love it!  Nobody sings “Mississippi Queen” like Jimmy!

Jakson:  I think he sings better now than he did 20 years ago.

Chaz:  And he has a driver’s license too!

Duane:  Not only has Jimmy been my best friend for over 25 years, he’s one helluva singer.

(For all):  What do you prefer to do - play live, write, or record?

Jay:  I can’t choose—both are fun!

Duane and Jimmy:  PLAY LIVE!

Charles:  I like ‘em both.

What made Dave Hlubek make his star appearance in the publication "Chicken Lover:  For men who prefer feathers to flesh" ????  Did you even know about this?

Jay:  I don’t even think he ever knew about that one! It was a fowl joke for sure!

(For Jay):  Did having a well known father in the industry help or hinder your career?

Jay:  It did nothing but help—I learned things being around him that would have taken years to learn on my own.  He’s quite a guy.

(For all):  Are you all Thin Lizzy, and esp Phil Lynott fans?  I know Jakson played with him - Jakson, can you tell me a little about that as I’m a huge Lizzy fan.

Jay:  Thin Lizzy was one of the all time greatest!

Jimmy:  I’m a fan.

Duane:  me too!

Jakson:  It was a great band---too bad so many of the good ones are gone.

Charles:  Yes, I’ve loved them ever since the Jailbreak record.

(For Jay):  How did it feel to take Duane Roland’s place at Jammin’ for DJB?

Jay:  I had a great time playing with the guys, though I wish Duane could have been there.

(For Duane):  Why couldn’t you make it for Jammin’ for DJB?

Duane:  It was a political battle between Molly Hatchet’s present manager and myself, and a deal could not be worked out.  However I was able to sit in and do some tracks after the performance.

(For Charles):  I understand that you engineered for Gov’t Mule - how much of an influence was Allen Woody on your playing??

Charles:  I did’nt really know much about him prior to working with him, but now that I have I rank him right up there with my favorites.

(For all):  Everyone has a favourite “Dave Hlubek” story - what would stick out in your mind as the funniest thing that’s happened to you on tour?

Jay:  Well, he got his butt stuck on a toilet seat one time---he forgot to drop the lid.  Eight hours later we had to help yank him off the throne.  He tells that story better than anyone, so I have no qualms about "rebutting" it here.

(For Duane):  I know some original members from Hatchet don’t seem to have time for the Bobby Ingram version of today.  Do you wish them (the new MH) well, or feel ill at ease with them?  Is the stuff about them trying to block Jammin’ for DJB true?  Also, do you still see Banner, Steve and the guys much?

Jay:  I’ll answer part of that.  A certain member of a certain organization DID INDEED try to sabotage the DJB benefit.  I won’t name the jerk, but feel free to read between the lines.  Greedy mean people really suck, and the sad thing is that the saboteur in question owes his ENTIRE career to Danny Joe, so it would not have hurt him to participate in the benefit.  He WAS asked to, but he declined.

Duane:  Ditto.

Duane:  We see Banner and Steve fairly often, and we talk on the phone several times a year.  Banner asked me to join a band with him a few years ago, but I was not ready to tour again at that time.

(For Jay):  I once read that you’d love to get Gary Rossington to do a radio spot - did it ever happen?

Jay:  that was a little joke on my part.  I remember Gary blustering his way through a “tongue twister” of a radio spot back during the Tribute Tour that left all of us laughing, including Gary!  That remark was sheer sarcasm on my end there folks.  Sorry, Gary!  No offense meant, truly.  It was just a funny thing that happened to him.

(For Jimmy):  What was it like having to replace Danny Joe Brown? Did you meet him at the time.  There were rumours of acrimony between you two - is that true?

Jimmy:  At first there was much animosity, but we met later at a show and settled that issue.  It was hard to replace him. It was quite a change going from playing for 17 people a night to 17000.

(For All):  if someone waved a magic wand and said you could whoever you want, living or dead to jam with SRA, who would each of you have?

Jakson:  Freddy King.

Jimmy:  Eric Clapton

Duane:  I’d LOVE to stand next to Eric Clapton.

Charles:  Tommy Bolin.

Jay:  I still say we need Darth Vader on keyboards and bass vocals!

(For Jakson):  Do you ever meet up with Rickey Medlocke anymore - how would you feel if he asked to come down for a jam?  Is it likely though?

Jakson:  I’d say come on down and jam with a real band, but it isn’t likely.

(For all):  I once read that Lemmy from Motorhead said that he wanted “My Way” sung at his funeral by a pub singer, just to piss the mourners off!!!!  What would you have ?

Jay:  When I go I’ll be the first to know and the last to care, so, whatever works is fine.  Have ‘em play “May It Be” from the Lord Of The Rings soundtrack.  I’ll rest easy then.

Jimmy:  “In The Garden”

Duane:  “Tears in Heaven”.

Charles:  If one of you fuckers says “Freebird” I’m jumping out of this vehicle now.  For me it’s “Who Wants To Live Forever” by Queen.

Jakson:  Something by Kate Bush.

(For all):  Any chance of playing in the UK?

Jay:  We’re like the oldest profession: they pay, we play!  Sounds good to me anytime!

Jakson:  We’ve had many offers, we’re just waiting for someone to come through with it.

Duane:  We’d love to.

Thank you very much to Jay, Jakson, Jimmy, Charles and Duane for being so generous with your time.  Cheers guys!!!!