The Hangmen performed in Paris (France) on September 15, 2021. It was the first concert of their European tour. The tour included gigs in France, Spain, Germany and Netherlands. Originally this tour was planed to start in March 2020… Just when all concerts were cancelled due to the pandemic! At least the concert ban came in just before the tour while they were still in the USA. Other bands were less fortunate and had to come home after just one or two gigs of their tour.
At the end of July or beginning of August 2021, another American band, the Mudhoney, announced that they will really going to do their European tour which was to start at the end of September (tour already postponed as originally scheduled for 2020) but something like 2 or 3 weeks later their tour was again postponed to 2022. For this reason, when a few days later Teenage Lust Prod (the association that organized the Hangmen concert in Paris) announced that the Hangmen would play on September 15, I must say that I was a bit skeptical that this concert could really take place. Since March 2020 when concerts were banned I had seen only few
concerts and only French bands, mostly local (from Paris or nearby) and the idea of the arrival of such a great band as the Hangmen sounded just too nice to be true. But they really came!
The concert in Paris was in a venue called « La Dame the Canton » (The Lady of Canton) and is a boat (a Chinese junk). This boat is moored near François Mitterrand Library on the river La Seine and near other venues that are also on boats (Le Petit Bain, la Guinguette Pirate, le Bateau Phare), in the past there were also venues in barges at this place in other words it is a high place for concerts in Paris.
Bryan Small, rhythm guitarist, singer, songwriter of the Hangmen kindly accepted my request for an interview. The interview took place before the concert, on the quai of the river. At one point, as we were in a public space, a crazy guy wanted to spoil the interview so we moved a bit further to finish it.
The interview (September 15, 2021)
1. At the time almost all American bands would rather postpone their European tour because travelling is far not as easy with all the pandemic sanitary measures. Do you think you have a pioneering spirit not to give up when so many bands rather postpone their tour?
Pioneer spirit, absolutely. Whether it’s for touring at this time or not, I don’t know, we had to put this tour on hold a couple times and you know we found a little space for us to come over and do it somewhat successfully I hope and so we took that opportunity and you know we’ll see how it goes but the pioneer spirit is definitely there. We placing the flag over here and we’ll see how it goes.
2. How many European tours have you already done?
I believe over the past like 20 years this is our 6th tour of Europe, Yeah. The last time we were here was 8 years ago almost now so it’s been a while but we will be back much, much sooner after this tour.
3. When I first saw you on stage, your bass player had to be replaced for the tour. Your original bassist at the time was Finnish and entered the USA with a tourist visa and stayed longer than his visa allowed. He feared he was not able to come back if he left. Was this probably a handicap for the band tour outside of the USA?
That was our guitar player at the time, Rane was in the Finnish band Smack and he was a long time friend of mine in Los Angeles. It was a little bit difficult touring but by the time we did do the tour he was able to get all his legal things taken care of and he was able to tour then come back to the States with no problems. But up until then he wasn’t able to do that.
4. The album “Lost Rocks” was released by the Finnish record company Hype Records. Was it thanks to your Finnish member?
Interesting, Yeah he had a lot to do with it, I mean it would have come out on Acetate which is our label in the United States or Hype, and it just happened to work out Rane had some contacts you know and we were getting ready to do a tour including Finland so it just made sense for them to put it out also. We have two versions of that album you know, one is the American version which is more extended liner notes and the other one is kind of the quicker version that we did for that tour that Hype put out.
5. At your start, Keith Morris from Black Flag and Circle Jerks helped you a lot. Was he also your manager?
Yes. Keith was our manager for a few years and our roommate, and buddy and kind of a mentor to us so yeah, Keith had a big part in the Hangmen’s early history, definitely.
6. Between your first album released in 1989 on Capitol Records and your second album “Metallic I.O.U” released in 2000 on Acetate Records, another album, “Suicide Doors” was registered. It was mixed by Rob Younger of Radio Birdman but the record company DGC Records (division of Geffen records) were you signed decided not to release it. Why this decision? Is there any hope it will be released one day?
I don’t think it will ever been released as the Rob Younger production, we’ve taken the songs, I’ve taken the songs I really was proud of, off that record and put them on « Metallic I.O.U » and I think they represent which should have been our second records anyways. I loved Rob’s influence, his friendship and you know his work on the record but we were… no one of us was in a good state at that time with our drug issues. So it’s not the record I was hoping we would make.
7. Talking about that, the band unfortunately has been in stand-by several years, due mainly to drug troubles. How long has the group been inactive?
The band never really stopped, it just…uh, things move a lot slower when you have substance abuse problems so… but we never really stopped, like completely you know, so… But in the publics eye we did. So it was about maybe for like 7 years it was very, very limited, limited shows, not really writing many songs and just try to… I was focused on other things, so… After I got sober it’s when we started doing the Hangmen for real again.
8. Since your second LP « Metallic I.O.U » released in 2000, all your records are on Acetate Records that is to say for more than 20 years. Can you tell us a bit more about this record company?
Well Acetate came along right when we needed them to, or… we didn’t even know what we needed, we were making « Metallic I.O.U » and they approached us and wanted to put it out because they were fans of the band and that to me was a very important thing after having like 6 years of major label dysfunctions on our part and on their part, I didn’t want to go through that again so put it out on an independent label made the most sense for where we were at the time and where we are now, you know because we have a lot more freedom than we ever did on a major label. So, they’ve been great and Rick, the owner of Acetate is a big part of the Hangmen today.
9. The name of your LP « Metallic I.O.U » makes me think to the Stooges album « Metallic K.O ». Is that fortuitous?
Meaning was that on purpose? Is that was that means?
Just the name « Metallic » and then letters
Yes it was Jimmy James came up with that title because it’s not to Iggy but it’s also but it’s also like an IOU to our fans or people who like the Hangmen you know because we were gone for a long period at the time without releasing anything, was that we owe you something good so it’s the « Metallic I.O.U. »
10. You seem to have a close connection with the Supersuckers as you have released a split single with them; Eddie Spaghetti performed on “We’ve Got Blood On The Toes of Our Boots”. Former Supersuckers Rontrose Heathman was even in the band for “East of Western”…
We’ve known… I’ve known Eddie and Ron since the first time the Hangmen came to Arizona back in probably 1986 and they weren’t the Supersuckers yet they were in another band and they came to our show and took us out and we partied all, all week-end with them and became good friends back then. Then they became the Supersuckers later and we started team in up for shows. After « Metallic I.O.U » came out we started to do tours with them. Eddie and I have been friends and Ron have been friends for a lot of years and then when Ron was no longer in the Supersuckers and Rane had moved back to Finland, it was the perfect time for Ron to be in the Hangmen. So he did some great work on « East of Western » with us and you know since he’s passing we’ve written a song dedicated to Ron: it’s called « The last time I saw you ».
11. The Hangmen has had several changes of line up but finally at the time, only the drummer is a new member.
At the time yeah, right now the drummer is the newest member but Angelique is been with me for 20 years or more, Jimmy James has been in the Hangmen guitar player for 20 years or more, not steadily, he has quit he’s gone to do other things and he comes back. So he’s back. I consider that this is the definite lineup of the Hangmen, including Jorge our new drummer, Jorge Disguster.
12. You have toured in support of Social Distortion and Mike Ness even produced your 7 tunes EP “in the City”…
Their guitar player « Johnny 2 Bags » he’s a friend of ours and his band the Cadillac Tramps and the Hangmen early on played together and then Johnny joined Social Distortion and was always telling Mike Ness about us and so Mike decided to have us on a show and he really loved the band and they took us out for (on and off) almost a decade of shows and tours so, and then when we were getting ready to do something recording wise, Mike said he wanted to produce our next thing whatever it was and that had been « »In the City ». That was great to work with Mike. You know I admire him as a songwriter and he’s a great guy.
13. When looking for the Hangmen rock band on Wikipedia, there’s only an old American band from Washington DC from the late 60’s and a rockabilly English band. Would you be too quiet?
We’ve been trying to fix this problem for a long time and I guess apparently it’s very difficult to get the Wikipedia things straightened down out and I’m busy working on Hangmen songs and playing you know. It’s unfortunate it’s like that but you know this will change it’s just taking time.
14. Generally speaking, in what kind of venues do you play when you play in your home town Los Angeles and in the USA?
Well it just depends: we’ve played in every venue in Los Angeles from you know the Wiltern theater to you know in small clubs so like the Redwood and back in the old days Rogie’s. So you know we’re playing in clubs and if we’re supporting somebody else you know it’s usually in theaters sometimes.
15. You released last year a CD single with a cover of “Thunderhead” by the Gun Club. The Gun Club appears to be one of your main influences, does the name, The Hangmen, have something to do with the Gun Club?
Hum, yeah in a way it was the genre, it’s the dead image of the West and you know kind of deeper calling the kind of music what we were doing cowpunk back in the day, We’re not as cowpunk today we’re more just a rock’n’roll band but the Hangmen came from that: Tex and the Horseheads, The Gun Club, Screaming Sirens, these different kinds of more western type things, that’s where that came from.
16. You also covered the Flaming Groovies, the Lords of the New Church, The Rolling Stones… Are all these bands major influences for you?
Absolutely.
Who are your other mains influences for you?
All those that you have named, yeah. And I love good songs and I love guitars so you mix those two and you have you know some great Lords of the New Church, you know Flamin’ Groovies, Rolling Stones, all that stuff.
17. You are from Los Angeles, this summer once again gigantic fires rage in California. Do you feel concerned with climate change?
Of course I’m concerned with climate change because it affects almost every city that I lived in, you know. I just moved to Montana and we had a lot of wild fires up there and I’m in L.A. only to do Hangmen stuff right now. So yes it’s concerning and I think you know there are certain things that everyone can just do, the little things but we got to be conscious of what we do everyday in some form and you know just do what we can, a little part and if everyone does that we will have better chance.
This was the last question
That was it?
But if you have something to add…
Oh no, no no, that’s good… Climate change, Wow, that’s a heavy!
The concert
There wasn’t any support band to get the people going before the Hangmen played but there
was no need as we were all hungry for concerts and the Hangmen was a great band. They chained the songs together and if Bryan Small sometimes presented the songs, these introductions were always very short, no blah blah to kill the atmosphere, rock without frills, raw and efficient which gives pride to the guitars but without forgetting to be melodic. The duration of their show was average including the encore but it seemed short because it was intense and never boring, even their slowest tunes had high energy.
This tour was organized by Bomber Booking, a European tour operator based in Spain and the concert of Paris was organized by the Teenage Lust Prod association.
The Hangmen story
Bryan Small, guitarist, lead singer of the Hangmen was born in Montana but raised in Boise, Idaho. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and founded the Hangmen in 1986. In their early years they met Keith Morris who played in the renowned hardcore-punk bands Black Flag and the Circle Jerks. Keith became their manager and helped the band out a lot. Thanks to his help, the Hangmen signed on to a major label, Capital Records, which released their self-titled debut album in 1989. The album was produced by Vic Maile who is known for producing albums « Live at Leeds » by the Who and « Ace of Spades » by Motörhead. This album is now out of print. Some second hand copies can be easily found on the Web but at a higher price. At the time the sales were not enough for what Capitol Records would have liked and they broke their contract with the Hangmen.
The Hangmen then signed on by another major label DGC Records, a division of Geffen Records. They recorded another LP, « Suicide Doors » produced by Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger but DGC Records refused to release it. At the time, the band members were dealing with substance abuse and were not at their best.
Happily Bryan Small managed to get off of drugs. The Hangmen emerged from their zombie state and came back to life! They signed on to Acetate Records, a small but active label with great musical taste given the bands they signed. The Hangmen released their album « Metallic I.O.U » in 2000 comprising of a few tunes originally composed for « Suicide Doors » such as « Bliss » or « Downtown » and many new tracks.
The current guitarist of the Hangmen, Jimmy James, was already in the band but left before they recorded « Loteria » in 2004. Only recently did he return in the next Hangmen album, « Cactusville ». Jimmy James has also joined the Junkyard since 2017 and is still with this band. He also plays in Barrio Tiger.
In addition to playing in clubs, the Hangmen did a tour in support of their friends, The Supersuckers (see the interview for more details regarding their relationship with the Supersuckers). They recorded a live « We’ve Got Blood on the Toes of our Boots » in 2001 (but released in 2002). Eddie Spaghetti the singer of the « Greatest Rock and Roll band in the World », that is to say the Supersuckers, sings on the track « Coal Mine ». « We’ve Got Blood on the Toes of our Boots » was produced by Rick Ballard, who is none other than the owner of Acetate Records. This is the first album of the Hangmen featuring Angelique Congleton, who is still the band’s bassist today.
In April 2004 the Hangmen released a split single with the Supersuckers featuring one track per band: « Never Go Home » with the Hangmen and « Flying into the midday sun » with the Supersuckers. This single has been released in classic black vinyl but also in different versions of colored vinyl: purple transparent, brown transparent and a very beautiful blue transparent marbled with black.
In the summer of 2004, the Hangmen released their album « Loteria ».
Rane Raitsikka from Finland replaced Jimmy James on guitar.
The Hangmen toured with Social Distortion in 2007 (see the interview) and in the same year, Mike Ness, lead singer of Social distortion produced their short album (7 tracks) « In The City ».
In 2010, the Finnish label Hype released a 18 tunes sampler « Lost Rock » for a European tour of the Hangmen. Acetate Records also released this sampler for the US market a little later.
Ron Heathman (guitarist) left the Supersuckers in 2009 and joined the Hangmen as Rane Raitsikka returned to Finland. He plays on the album « East of Western » released in 2012. Sadly, Ron Heathman passed away in August 2020… RIP!
Jimmy James came back and Jorge E. Disguster (drummer) joined the band giving the Hangmen their current line-up. They released « Cactusville » in 2019. The corresponding European tour should have started in March 2020… Their tour finally took place in September-October 2021 and started in Paris. It included other dates in France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Their tour went very well: no cancellation due to Covid restrictions. In the end, this tour was a winning bet.
Following the interview, the Hangmen played a few shows in California. Then, they recorded their album “Stories to Tell” (released on September 8, 2023); its second track, “Midnight Riders,” was previously released as a single on May 2, 2023.
They toured in the USA and Canada in support of their close friends, the excellent Supersuckers, in April-May 2023. A European tour followed in September-October 2023. As in 2021, the first date of the tour was in Paris, once again organized by Teenage Lust Prod at the same venue (La Dame de Canton), but this time with a local support band (Talia). Bomber Booking managed their Spanish tour again. But, while the Hangmen still played mostly in France and Spain, this time their tour covered more of Europe: happily, Covid restrictions were no longer in force.
The album “Stories to Tell” has 10 tracks, including a cover of “Sinister Purpose” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This album is less turbulent than the previous ones, but the songs are very good, more polished and subdued. The album was recorded at multiple sessions. All recording took place in California except for some additional sessions at Sound Rich Productions in Missoula, Montana. Most of the album tracks were recorded by Jimmy Dixon at 64 Sound (Highland Park) with additional sessions in California at Buzzbomb Studios (Orange) and Mant (Eagle Rock). In concert, the Hangmen struck a good balance between their old and new material, which made for a very enjoyable concert that was never dull.
The Hangmen toured in the USA in April 2024.
Photos of the concert on September 13, 2023 at La Dame de Canton (Paris)
Concerts to come
May 25, 2024 – Las Vegas – Notoriety Lounge + The Zeros + Egg Drop Soup + Madam Bombs – 9:30 PM – $ 22
Video links
Discography
(in bold: the members of the current line-up. I only mentioned the main line-up of these records however a few tunes have been recorded with different line-up).
Albums:
The Hangmen, 1989 Capitol Records, produced by Vic Maile
Bryan Small : guitar/vocals
Billy Catterson: guitar
Johnny D. Holliday: bass
Lenny Montoya: drums
Metallic I.O.U. , 2000 Acetate Records, produced by Jimmy Sloan and Bryan Small
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Jimmy James: guitar, harp
Laura « Lucky » Bennett: bass
Dino Guerrero: drums
We’ve Got Blood on the Toes of our Boots, 2002 Acetate Records, produced by Rick Ballard
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Jimmy James: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Todd Haney: drums
Loteria, 2004, Acetate Records, produced by Rick Parker
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Rane Raitsikka: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Todd Haney: drums
In the City, 2007 Acetate Records, produced by Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
Short album (7 tracks)
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Rane Raitsikka: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Dino Guerrero: drums
Lost Rocks (best of), 2010 on Hype Records + 2011 on Acetate Records
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Rane Raitsikka: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Todd Haney: drums
(Appearance of Eddie Spaghetti on « Coal Mine »)
East of Western, 2012, Acetate Records, produced by Mark Chalecki
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Ron Heathman: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Dino Guerrero: drums
Cactusville, 2019 Acetate Records, produced by Bryan Small and Rick Ballard
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Jimmy James: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Jorge E. Disguster: drums
Stories To Tell, 2023, Acetate Records, mixed and mastered by Andy Carpenter
Bryan Small: guitar/vocals
Jimmy James: guitar
Angelique Congleton: bass
Jorge E. Disguster: drums
Singles:
Roten Sunday, 1989, Capitol Records
Used, 1995, Deep Six Records
Thunderhead/She Walks, 2020 (but recorded much earlier), produced by Rob Younger
Midnight Riders, 2023, Acetate Records
Split single:
The Hangmen « Never Go Home »/Supersuckers « Troubleman », 2004 Bootleg Booze Records
Links
Thanks
Big thanks to The Hangmen and especially to Bryan Small who kindly accepted my request of interview.
Thanks to Guillaume Sellier of Teenage Lust Prod
Thanks to Mark LeBlanc and Jon Von Zelowitz (USA) for their great help regarding the English version, as my English is far from perfect.
Special thanks to Valentine Arrom for her great video editing
Pascale DAUTZENBERG
Publisher (France)