Molly Hatchet
This Lynyrd Skynyrd-style, blues-rock boogie outfit emerged from the USA's deep south. The name is taken from a lady who beheaded her lovers with an axe after sleeping with them, back in 17th-century Salem! The initial line-up comprised guitarists Dave Hlubek, Steve Holland and Duane Roland plus bassist Bonner Thomas, vocalist Danny Joe Brown and drummer Bruce Crump. Their debut album, produced by Tom Werman (of Cheap Trick and Ted Nugent fame), was an instant success, with its three-pronged guitar onslaught and gut-wrenching vocals. Brown was replaced by Jimmy Farrar in 1980, before the recording of BEATIN' THE ODDS. Farrar's vocals were less distinctive than Brown's, and an element of their identity was lost while the former fronted the band. Nevertheless, commercial success ensued, with both BEATIN' THE ODDS and TAKE NO PRISONERS peaking on the Billboardalbum chart at number 25 and 36, respectively. In 1982, Danny Joe Brown rejoined the band, while Thomas was replaced by Riff West on bass. NO GUTS, NO GLORY emerged and marked a return to their roots: explosive guitar duels, blood-stained vocals and exhilarating rock ‘n’ roll. Amazingly, the album flopped and Hlubek insisted on a radical change in direction. Steve Holden quit and keyboardist John Galvin was recruited for the recording of THE DEED IS DONE. This was a lightweight pop-rock album, largely devoid of the band's former trademarks. Following its release, the band retired temporarily to lick their wounds and re-assess their future. In 1985, DOUBLE TROUBLE LIVE was unleashed, a real triumph that marked a return to former glories. It included stunning versions of their best-known songs plus a superb Skynyrd tribute in the form of Freebird. Founder member Dave Hlubek departed, to be replaced by Bobby Ingram in 1989. They signed a new deal with Capitol Records and released LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE. This leaned away from their southern roots towards highly polished AOR. It featured covers of Paul Stanley's Hide Your Heart and Miller/Burnette's There Goes The Neighbourhood, but was poorly received by fans and critics alike.