HARDLEIN
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 4th January 2010.
Hardlein hail from Louisville, Kentucky, and play a solid heavy rock with balls the size of grain silos. Their latest album Down To The Fire appeared in 2009. We thought it was about time we had a little chat with them to found out just how they roll...or words to that effect.
Guitarist Hayward 'Chief' Embry Jr answers questions on behalf of the band.
Hi, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
Chief: Couldn't be better thanks.
Could you give us a brief history of how Hardlein came to exist?
Chief: Hardlein came about from me and the drummer Danny Cordy working together at a metal stamping factory and finding out after talking that we both shared similar tastes in music. Once we also found out each other played we started jamming together. Looking for a singer, a guy we worked with suggested his best friend's step son. So in came Bobby Lee Stamper who shared the same vision as us. All we needed was a bass player who we could click with. We found that in Bosnian rocker Ado Kalajdzic.
Has anyone in the band been in other groups we may have heard of?
Chief: No were relatively unknowns...but hopefully not for long...
Where does the nickname ‘Chief’ from? Is it the obvious answer that you’re in charge, or something more dramatic?
Chief: Actually my brother and our manager Rick Embry from Against The Oddz Entertainment nicknamed me that a long time ago...I try to keep the Hardlein machine on track so I guess you could say I'm the leader on the business side of it.
How did you get into music and what were your first instruments?
Chief: My father, God rest his soul, Hayward C Embry Sr. was real big into country and bluegrass music. He played in church as a kid then moved from the country to Louisville and played in all the Honky Tonks around town when I was just a glimmer in his eye, lol...
He started me out playing when I was around 8. I put it down to chasing girls. I also played drums in my school band, but when I saw that you got more attention from the girls by playing in a rock band I picked the guitar back up at 15 and the rest is history.
Have you had lessons or are you self-taught?
Chief: I've had some lessons, but I owe it all to my father really.
To us, there’s a real ring of AC/DC to the band’s sound. Was it a deliberate decision to go down that road or are AC/DC simply one of the band’s many influences?
Chief: It is one of the many influences we have along with Kiss, Krokus, Thin Lizzy, Tesla, etc... I think most people hear Bobby's voice and that's the first thing they think of...
How would you describe the Hardlein sound to someone who hadn’t heard you before?
Chief: We are a straight ahead Rock 'n' Roll band with a hint of metal thanks to Ado, lol.
Was there any concept or theme in mind during the writing of ‘Down To The Fire’?
Chief: Not really. We just arranged the songs on the album and turned out that way.
How long did the writing and recording process take from start to finish?
Chief: On and off about a year and a half. We would do some recording then save up enough money to come in and do some more until it was finished. It was more of a financial than creative thing that took it so long.
How does the song writing work in Hardlein? Do one or two of you write the songs separately, or is it more of a jamming session for the whole band?
Chief: Well I try to come in with a cool riff or idea on the guitar, then we try to build on it as a group. Our writing is really collective.
Was the recording work, pleasure, or both?
Chief: Both. We have had some great times in the studio but we're more into playing live. That is what it's all about for us - connecting with the fans!
Do you have any favourite moments or tracks on the album?
Chief: Watching the band grow together in the studio was awesome and, as far as the tracks go, they're all like our children. We don't pick favourites, lol.
Have you had much radio airplay yet?
Chief: We've gotten some in The States. Thanks to Nicky Baldrian and Two Side Moon Promotions it really seems to be taking off in other countries too.
Are your already looking towards the next album, or is it all about ‘Down To The Fire’ at present?
Chief: We are mainly focusing on pushing this CD but we are writing new tunes for the next album for sure.
What are your shows like – as in what should someone expect if they turned up to a Hardlein live set?
Chief: A high energy, kick ass rock 'n' roll show that makes you want to forget about all the doom and gloom in the world and come out and have a good time!!!!
Any particularly memorable gigs?
Chief: The CD release at the Portland Festival 2009. The oldest neighbourhood in the city and where I was raised as a child. It was estimated to have over 30,000 people in attendance for that evening. It was a very special show for me!
Shared the stage with any of your heroes yet?
Chief: Oh yeah, we've shared the stage with greats such as Jackyl, Bullet Boys, Skid row etc...and we'll be playing with Bang Tango in March of next year.
Do you have any plans to come and play the UK?
Chief: We would love to come to the UK...just waiting on the right situation to be presented to us and man we're there!!!
Could you tell us a bit about the benefit show you played in December?
Chief: This is a very near and dear friend of ours and fellow local musician who lost his sister on Thanksgiving day...The benefit was to help raise money for burial expenses.
Where do you see Hardlein heading in the near and far future? Are you going to tread the same path or do you see the band becoming more experimental?
Chief: The way I see it, don't fix something that ain't broke. This is who we are. We are a Rock 'n' Roll band: nothing more, nothing less.
That's where our name derives from - from sticking to your guns and not being swayed by the industry or trends.We our Hardleined Rock 'n' Rollers...
Do you have a good rock ringtone on your cellphone?
Chief: No, I can't say I have really, lol.
What are your top 5 albums?
Chief: Hmmmm that is a good one. Lets see...I'd have to say Jail Break by Thin Lizzy, Ace Frehley's first solo album, Kiss Alive, AC/DC's Highway to Hell and Appetite For Destruction by Guns n Roses
What question do you hate being asked? Have I avoided it?
Chief: It's when you stop asking me questions I hate it, lol!
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Chief: Anything about the band. That's what this is all about - bringing Hardlein to the masses all over the world.
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Chief: I think I'll have a bite to eat and play my guitar.
Anything else you would like to mention?
Chief: Ok here is the shameless plug...
You can purchase our CD at CDbaby, Digstation, and also iTunes.
Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/hardlein
We're also looking for a good label to call home and help us distribute our music!
Thanks again to Chief for his time. You can check out the Rock Realms review of Hardlein's latest album Down To The Fire here.
http://www.myspace.com/hardlein
