Williams has three albums recorded as Assjack, but they have yet to be released. He says one, called “This Ain’t Country,” is ready for release. Bootlegs are available in the meantime. One, called Boot III is available at the shows, or online. (Boot I and II are out of print.) “If I have my way, I’ll be releasing Boot III and This Ain’t Country together.”
By the way, bootlegging is allowed, nay, encouraged by Williams. This is his answer to the modern-day street team. More notably, Williams has a message on his Web site encouraging people to NOT support the Curb Record’s Street Team, which promotes his country outfit. “To have a street team to promote me though country music, I think it fucking ridiculous. Most motherfuckers out there in the United States know that Hank Williams is part of country music,” he said. “It’s money being thrown out the window. That’s why I got my own message board and bootleggers. That’s why I let people bootleg shows every night.”
Another hat Williams wears is as the bassist for Superjoint Ritual, which boasts former Pantera front man Phil Anselmo. Williams is currently on a two-month break from the Superjoint Ritual tour, which is how he is able to tour as Hank Williams III.
One of the things missing in the metal world is an outlet for the music. There just doesn’t seem to be anywhere that music can be found on a large scale. During the course of the interview, we discussed the status of music of both genres.
“I guess Sharon Osbourne needs to buy Jack Osbourne his own metal channel,” he laughs. “You know? There’s not something dedicated - a metal channel for TV that’s playing Old AC/DC to Black Sabbath, to black metal, to death metal, to hardcore to grindcore. That desperately so needs to be in place, and it’s a shame that somebody with that much power, like the Osbournes, won’t do something like that.”
Williams also talked about the problem with commercial country music today – radio and video. “The CMA awards, VMA awards, whatever. Real country music is in the underground and they will continue to do it, always. Junior Brown doesn’t need a hit song to keep on fucking playing. Asleep At The Wheel doesn’t need a hit song to keep playing,” he said. “There are some bands that, if they don’t have that game, or whatever, then it’s over. It’s a big scam to them. It’s a big money making deal to them. If you’re in this business to make money, then you’re going to be having a very rude awakening.”
Of course, mentioning country music means mentioning Nashville, which most who have heard Williams’ song, titled “Trashville,” know his stand on that town. “Country music will have a chance in Nashville whenever Dixie Rose is signed. She is the Loretta Lynn of the day just like Wayne Hancock is the Hank Williams of the day. And, nobody knows about her, yet. She has over 340 songs – they are all amazing,” he said. “‘The people’ in Nashville know who she is, but because she’s not perfect and clean and does all these dance moves and all that shit, they’re not going to give her a chance. But even as a songwriter aspect that’s bullshit. She should be making millions with as many killer songs she has.”
Williams has also done some acting. He plays a salvage man in Southlander – Diary of a Desperate Musician, a movie he said he was talked into. “That was just friends saying ‘hey man, come be in my movie.’ Awww, I suck at acting ‘Come on man, you can do it, dude’ and I’m like Awww,” he said. “That’s all that was.”
As for any further roles, Williams says director Larry Clark (Kids) is asking him to play a part – a character named Hank Three. “I’m like ‘I can’t act, I can’t remember my lines. I’m pretty paranoid, and I hate it,” he said. “He’s like ‘That’s what I love. I’m so sick of these fucking actors that think they know everything. That’s what I’m looking for. I can work with you.’ I don’t know. I really hate acting, man.”
In December, Williams turned 31. His grandfather passed away at 29. There was a time when people talked about Williams dying early too, following in grandfather’s footsteps, given the fast life he has historically chosen to live. “I’m here for a long time to do what I gotta do. I live the way I live; I don’t have a death wish. You know. I do want to get shit done,” he said. “Hank Williams was dead at 29. Wow. I only had out like maybe two albums. That’s bullshit. I should have out about six country records and three rock albums by now. And they’re just wasting my fucking time. That’s the way I look at it. You know...Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Bon Scott, they all died at 27. That’s the age that scared me more than 29. It’s like you make it past that, you’re an old man in rock and roll.”
Williams is now used to being compared to his grandfather and being part three in a musical legacy. “I’m proud to be. Some people hate it, some people don’t,” he said. “You always get compared to (the other two), but I think I’m doing a pretty good job getting my own niche. Getting my own following. Being different.”
The lingering question most ask is: Is he punk or is he country? Well, the truth is, he’s Hank Williams III. The answer is - yes. If you are fortunate enough to have Williams come to your town, put on your stompin’ boots and come out to see a legend in the making.
To the fans Williams says, “Thanks for sticking with us. Thanks for bootlegging. Superjoint Ritual or myself will be on the road. Check us out on the net,” he said.
For tour dates and general information about Hank Williams III visit his Web page, hankthree.com.
Sean Claes, (seanclaes.com) is a freelance entertainment writer in Central Texas
