Molly Hatchet has been playing its bluesy, swinging Southern rock for more than 30 years.
Named after a legendary prostitute, the group has released 10-plus albums and endured several lineup changes.
The band also knows its way around a motorcycle rally, so expect some ease from the band this weekend at the Tucson Thunder motorcycle event.
"As soon as we get there, we're going to get us some Mexican food," said lead guitarist Bobby Ingram.
Ingram is the band's longest-running member at 20 years and currently writes all the music. He had some time recently to speak from the band's birthplace of Jacksonville, Fla.
So, how old are you?
"How old am I? Well, I'm old enough to know better and young enough to keep doing it (laughs). Try that one on, huh?"
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Are there any members of Molly Hatchet who ride motorcycles?
"Yes, there are, and I'm not going to tell you which ones."
You guys play a lot of bike festivals — why is that — and have you always had a lot of bikers for fans?
"The biker community has been just wonderful to us. They've really embraced the band for many, many years, and us the same with them. There's definitely a bond there."
Why do you think there is that bond?
"I think it's the music that we write. It's music for us. It's music for the common man, everyday-life people and good-hearted people. And we write about truth, honesty and friendship. I think a lot of people can relate to that. We don't try to overwrite songs or overwrite things where people have to do a lot of thinking about what the song's about."
You wrote all the music for the last album in three days?
"I wrote the album, 'Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge,' in three days, and I can tell you exactly the way it is. I don't care if you print this or not, all right? I'm about as blue collar as it comes, OK? I got on a long-sleeve black shirt right now and white shorts and a pair of Reeboks. I'm dressed for a 9-to-5 today. I wrote (the album) in three days. I sat in front of a big-screen TV, had about 30 little microcassette tapes, I turned off the telephone, didn't answer the door, ordered pizza. Didn't talk to anyone, and I sat there and played music."
Do you have any Greg Allman stories?
"Yeah, I got a good one for ya. I did 'Rockline' with Bob Coburn — that's a nationally syndicated radio show — a couple months ago . . . and I was asked a question by dear Greg Allman himself, God bless him. We all love him. But he asked me, 'Bobby, why you have all those cartoons all over your album covers?'
"They're not cartoons; they're actually oil paintings. . . . Look at them real close, and the album cover is basically a pictorial image of what the album is about."
What's up with the Molly's Dollys?
"It was something to get dedicated fans involved with the group. Not only with the street team, but they can go to the shows and drum up business. They're good for promotion. I think it's just an all-around good thing. And it lets fans get involved with the group. What is wrong with that? You ever heard of the Kiss Army? Molly's Dollys."
But they're all girls, right?
"Well, yeah, they're all female. The band's sure not going to have any transsexuals in there."
• What: Molly Hatchet and Bad Company.
• Where: Tucson Thunder's Classic Rock Stage, on North Fifth Avenue between East Broadway and East Congress Street.
• When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
• Cost: $10, also good for admission to Rialto and Club Congress outdoor stage.