Exclusive Clifford Hoad Interview - Kings Of The Sun
November 22nd 2011 12:56
Sarah Steinberg has a brief chat with Clifford Hoad, drummer from Kings Of The Sun fame, one of Australia's most successful export bands of ALL time. Clifford answers a few questions about his career, what lies ahead for his music and sleeping on buses. An honest approach to some aspects of the music industry and the grainy, tiresome 'not so glamorous' side of being an international touring rock god!
Q: Firstly, Clifford, for your fans and industry that are wondering what you have been up to. What have you been up to since the late 90's and early 2000's and are you still actively creating and performing music?
A:"Well, that makes all of us because I'm wondering too
!!! OK aside from trying to stay alive, I've managed to keep my love of music going. Starting with the making of the 4th Kings Of The Sun "Daddy Was A Hobo Man" CD which took quite a lot of soul searching. Eg. Trips to Byron Bay & disastrous relationship's activities which all ended in tears usually by me!
Finding a new direction musically from the one we had just been on, was tough! This CD was shelved for 15yrs, unreleased until now, it goes to show how wrong you can be when one is too critical of their own music. This sparked The Rich & Famous new name, new attitude, new drum kit, new hair do, new girlfriend. I'm feelin' good now , it's all showing on the CD's. Stardom & Riches had eluded us, but we tried to keep living the dream which had been recreated by The Rich & Famous. 3 brilliant Hoad Brothers CD's later, I'm staring at my reflection in my cymbals asking "what was all that about!"
Q:Looking back on your amazing career, as an entirety, what stands out the most that led to your ultimate success in the beginning, when was your first big break?
A:With a big smile and a laugh, Cliff replies, "Did we get one?"
Q:Besides Jeff, are you from a musical or talented family? what led you to take up music? and as a youngster did you always know you wanted to be a musician? Where did your main avenue/s of support come from when you were developing your career?
A: "Mum had a great voice, she never did anything with it but was very supportive with my drumming, protecting me from my over zealous maniac father who wasn't too keen on the noise, but as temperamental as he was, he had a great hippness to him & would tend to point out when things got a little too corny & safe. Thanks Dad, this contributed to my over the top drumming style. I can remember one day about 1965 wandering around with a group of kids with sticks in our hands on the stinking hot bitumen streets of Ultimo, Sydney, and I said "Lets form a band", someone had a tennis racket for guitar, another had a pretend microphone, & I chose the drums beating on an upside down dog bowl. It all happened so fast, I remember looking into the sky at the telegraph wires & having an eerie sense of knowing what I was to become, a drummer in a band. From that moment on, all questioning & anxiety about myself seemed to leave in receiving this information."
Q:As Kings Of The Sun, what is your creative process in writing and composition? Is there a certain style or rule that you stick to? What did you feel worked best for yourself and what was the quickest song you ever wrote to completion?
A: "Isn't that giving our secrets away? Like a magician, you have to find your own way as an artist.
Rules were, You must rehearse & keep on writing until something came up, no matter how stressful the situation! Very army, very disciplined. We called ourselves "The Cliff & Jeff Hoad Song Fighting Machine" even the love songs were written with this trauma"
Q: What is your personal favorite song that you have written and composed? And from your video clips, what is your personal favorite? What makes them your favorites?
A: "Drop The Gun from Full Frontal Attack says it all, great clip, great feel, tight but explosive, great message. I believed we peaked on that track. It did stay in the charts dribbing & drabbing for over 6 weeks until it fell from grace. It should of been our "Highway To Hell". I remember hearing it on KROC radio driving along Pacific Coast Highway, out at Malibu in my Roadrunner thinking "Oh my god! We've made it, its gonna happen" & then I ran out of fuel
"
Q: Looking back at your time overseas and on the road touring? What was your favorite place of all? And what was it like touring? Was it draining? Emotionally taxing? What did you find the best strategy to cope with hard days on the road?
A: "A lot of my time spent overseas was in California out at Malibu. We had a little shack up in one of the Canyons, this went on for 6 yrs. This was my favorite place of all! It incorporated all the things that I loved. Surf, Jazz, Hotrods, beach girls, rock n roll with L.A. just 30 miles inland. A dreamers paradise for all those that never wanted to grow up
Touring was spent in buses finding it incredibly hard to sleep, eat, & shit. No privacy what so ever for months. I remember waking up one morning gasping for air, I was asphyxiating in my little bunk from heat & petrol fumes. The bus had pulled up on the side of the road overnight & everyone was still asleep at 10am in the morning including the driver. It was the worst feeling, of my life being taken out of my own hands! We had lost time getting to the next gig, so went the big anxious charge towards New York. Spinal Tap had nothing on this tour.
How did we cope, by amusing ourselves! I preferred to see how many breakfasts I could have without paying, half hoping I'd be caught & sent home. Nice character reference! Buses certainly break up bands! No wonder the bigger acts end up with a bus for each member, ho ho! I remember the story of John Bonham from Led Zepplin that Eddie Kramer told me of how he would travel behind the band bus in his new hotrod or motorbike.
If only I'd known, I would've done the same, but us drummers definitely need our sleep unless you fall victim to the endless drug supply that follows bands around."
Q: Looking back on the entire music industry, from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and through until now, the industry itself has changed quite a lot, from what it was and what it currently is. How do you feel it has changed and how do you think the digital age helps or hinders bands in promotion?
A: "I think bands have had it tough always, which I've never been able to understand, because music is so loved yet so much wonderful music is never heard, whole lives & careers never see the light of day. I have an incredible record collection since a young boy & 3/4's of the artists are unknown to the average listener. There doesn't seem to be any true appreciation for the people who did give their whole lives to learning an instrument & trying to put it all together. Sometimes not even knowing why they are doing it themselves, just driven to lighten the load of life & raise up peoples spirits. Speaking for myself, if I had my time again, I wouldn't be a musician, there's been good times but just too much sacrifice & heartache, so don't make my life in vain, enjoy the music, it came at a very high cost!"
Q: If anyone was to ask you, the one most important tip for an up and coming musician or band? From your own experiences what one tip would you give?
A: "You must live it, even if it means radical self doubt at times, don't expect others to be as excited about what your doing as you are, there not in your body, they will not understand your need to create & do the things that you need to do, to establish your individual self. From the way you look, to the way you behave, it all has meaning helping you to write. Get to a point where only you know what is good, without asking for others opinions. However they do at times count, but are secondary to the creator. If you don't believe in yourself, you can't expect others to and you will need those other important people to help you achieve your goals. God love them, for they need to believe in you big time!"
Q: Now, the big question for Kings Of The Sun fans...Do you have any upcoming plans that you can reveal? Either for Kings Of The Sun or for yourself. Upcoming releases etc.
A: "With the new technology, Facebook, websites, Youtube, Myspace etc.... is the only hope to reconnect bands with fans who have gone astray due to the old world of burn out & be forgotten.
Music that never left, can come back to life & ignite new interest, this is the power of music & to hell with it. With $20,000 extreme makeovers in Thailand being offered, I think there is every chance for Kings Of The Sun to return. All we need is $80,000 for 4 members, maybe a discount for rock bands. Seriously though, I'm off to Thailand tomorrow, I'm going to lead by example, I'll keep you posted
You see, I'm going to have to do this to continue with my own Rock N Roll fantasies. I've recently written an album of songs that I needed to write. All included on, wait for it! the words of tragedy, MY SOLO VENTURE! which I hope to record in completion next year. Learning the guitar has been a lot harder than I expected, but I'm loving it & some great songs have been written."
Q: Where can your fans find more information online? Can media contact you at this same place? Do you have a website, youtube, facebook, myspace etc.
A: "People can speak directly with me on my Facebook Fanpage, look forward to hearing from you, come on, make my day!"
Clifford Hoad @ Facebook
Official website
Clifford Hoad Youtube Channel
And a big big Thank you to Sarah A true patron of the arts. Your interest & support creates a foundation for any artist to thrive & keep on writing new music. All musicians need this security blanket which only comes from someone like you Sarah Steinberg making it all seem worthwhile, I applaud you, without visionaries like yourself, it just doesn't happen. Thanks for the interview.
Clifford Hoad -
Kings Of The Sun/ The Rich & Famous.
Clifford Hoad - Drummer - Kings Of The Sun
Q: Firstly, Clifford, for your fans and industry that are wondering what you have been up to. What have you been up to since the late 90's and early 2000's and are you still actively creating and performing music?
A:"Well, that makes all of us because I'm wondering too
!!! OK aside from trying to stay alive, I've managed to keep my love of music going. Starting with the making of the 4th Kings Of The Sun "Daddy Was A Hobo Man" CD which took quite a lot of soul searching. Eg. Trips to Byron Bay & disastrous relationship's activities which all ended in tears usually by me! Finding a new direction musically from the one we had just been on, was tough! This CD was shelved for 15yrs, unreleased until now, it goes to show how wrong you can be when one is too critical of their own music. This sparked The Rich & Famous new name, new attitude, new drum kit, new hair do, new girlfriend. I'm feelin' good now , it's all showing on the CD's. Stardom & Riches had eluded us, but we tried to keep living the dream which had been recreated by The Rich & Famous. 3 brilliant Hoad Brothers CD's later, I'm staring at my reflection in my cymbals asking "what was all that about!"
Clifford Hoad - Drummer - Kings Of The Sun and Foreground - Jeffrey Hoad - Kings Of The Sun Front man
Q:Looking back on your amazing career, as an entirety, what stands out the most that led to your ultimate success in the beginning, when was your first big break?
A:With a big smile and a laugh, Cliff replies, "Did we get one?"
Q:Besides Jeff, are you from a musical or talented family? what led you to take up music? and as a youngster did you always know you wanted to be a musician? Where did your main avenue/s of support come from when you were developing your career?
A: "Mum had a great voice, she never did anything with it but was very supportive with my drumming, protecting me from my over zealous maniac father who wasn't too keen on the noise, but as temperamental as he was, he had a great hippness to him & would tend to point out when things got a little too corny & safe. Thanks Dad, this contributed to my over the top drumming style. I can remember one day about 1965 wandering around with a group of kids with sticks in our hands on the stinking hot bitumen streets of Ultimo, Sydney, and I said "Lets form a band", someone had a tennis racket for guitar, another had a pretend microphone, & I chose the drums beating on an upside down dog bowl. It all happened so fast, I remember looking into the sky at the telegraph wires & having an eerie sense of knowing what I was to become, a drummer in a band. From that moment on, all questioning & anxiety about myself seemed to leave in receiving this information."
Clifford Hoad - drummer - Kings Of The Sun
Q:As Kings Of The Sun, what is your creative process in writing and composition? Is there a certain style or rule that you stick to? What did you feel worked best for yourself and what was the quickest song you ever wrote to completion?
A: "Isn't that giving our secrets away? Like a magician, you have to find your own way as an artist.
Rules were, You must rehearse & keep on writing until something came up, no matter how stressful the situation! Very army, very disciplined. We called ourselves "The Cliff & Jeff Hoad Song Fighting Machine" even the love songs were written with this trauma"
Q: What is your personal favorite song that you have written and composed? And from your video clips, what is your personal favorite? What makes them your favorites?
A: "Drop The Gun from Full Frontal Attack says it all, great clip, great feel, tight but explosive, great message. I believed we peaked on that track. It did stay in the charts dribbing & drabbing for over 6 weeks until it fell from grace. It should of been our "Highway To Hell". I remember hearing it on KROC radio driving along Pacific Coast Highway, out at Malibu in my Roadrunner thinking "Oh my god! We've made it, its gonna happen" & then I ran out of fuel
" Q: Looking back at your time overseas and on the road touring? What was your favorite place of all? And what was it like touring? Was it draining? Emotionally taxing? What did you find the best strategy to cope with hard days on the road?
A: "A lot of my time spent overseas was in California out at Malibu. We had a little shack up in one of the Canyons, this went on for 6 yrs. This was my favorite place of all! It incorporated all the things that I loved. Surf, Jazz, Hotrods, beach girls, rock n roll with L.A. just 30 miles inland. A dreamers paradise for all those that never wanted to grow up
Touring was spent in buses finding it incredibly hard to sleep, eat, & shit. No privacy what so ever for months. I remember waking up one morning gasping for air, I was asphyxiating in my little bunk from heat & petrol fumes. The bus had pulled up on the side of the road overnight & everyone was still asleep at 10am in the morning including the driver. It was the worst feeling, of my life being taken out of my own hands! We had lost time getting to the next gig, so went the big anxious charge towards New York. Spinal Tap had nothing on this tour.
How did we cope, by amusing ourselves! I preferred to see how many breakfasts I could have without paying, half hoping I'd be caught & sent home. Nice character reference! Buses certainly break up bands! No wonder the bigger acts end up with a bus for each member, ho ho! I remember the story of John Bonham from Led Zepplin that Eddie Kramer told me of how he would travel behind the band bus in his new hotrod or motorbike.
If only I'd known, I would've done the same, but us drummers definitely need our sleep unless you fall victim to the endless drug supply that follows bands around."
Q: Looking back on the entire music industry, from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and through until now, the industry itself has changed quite a lot, from what it was and what it currently is. How do you feel it has changed and how do you think the digital age helps or hinders bands in promotion?
A: "I think bands have had it tough always, which I've never been able to understand, because music is so loved yet so much wonderful music is never heard, whole lives & careers never see the light of day. I have an incredible record collection since a young boy & 3/4's of the artists are unknown to the average listener. There doesn't seem to be any true appreciation for the people who did give their whole lives to learning an instrument & trying to put it all together. Sometimes not even knowing why they are doing it themselves, just driven to lighten the load of life & raise up peoples spirits. Speaking for myself, if I had my time again, I wouldn't be a musician, there's been good times but just too much sacrifice & heartache, so don't make my life in vain, enjoy the music, it came at a very high cost!"
Q: If anyone was to ask you, the one most important tip for an up and coming musician or band? From your own experiences what one tip would you give?
A: "You must live it, even if it means radical self doubt at times, don't expect others to be as excited about what your doing as you are, there not in your body, they will not understand your need to create & do the things that you need to do, to establish your individual self. From the way you look, to the way you behave, it all has meaning helping you to write. Get to a point where only you know what is good, without asking for others opinions. However they do at times count, but are secondary to the creator. If you don't believe in yourself, you can't expect others to and you will need those other important people to help you achieve your goals. God love them, for they need to believe in you big time!"
Q: Now, the big question for Kings Of The Sun fans...Do you have any upcoming plans that you can reveal? Either for Kings Of The Sun or for yourself. Upcoming releases etc.
A: "With the new technology, Facebook, websites, Youtube, Myspace etc.... is the only hope to reconnect bands with fans who have gone astray due to the old world of burn out & be forgotten.
Music that never left, can come back to life & ignite new interest, this is the power of music & to hell with it. With $20,000 extreme makeovers in Thailand being offered, I think there is every chance for Kings Of The Sun to return. All we need is $80,000 for 4 members, maybe a discount for rock bands. Seriously though, I'm off to Thailand tomorrow, I'm going to lead by example, I'll keep you posted
You see, I'm going to have to do this to continue with my own Rock N Roll fantasies. I've recently written an album of songs that I needed to write. All included on, wait for it! the words of tragedy, MY SOLO VENTURE! which I hope to record in completion next year. Learning the guitar has been a lot harder than I expected, but I'm loving it & some great songs have been written."
Q: Where can your fans find more information online? Can media contact you at this same place? Do you have a website, youtube, facebook, myspace etc.
A: "People can speak directly with me on my Facebook Fanpage, look forward to hearing from you, come on, make my day!"
Clifford Hoad @ Facebook
Official website
Clifford Hoad Youtube Channel
Clifford Hoad - Drummer - Kings Of The Sun
And a big big Thank you to Sarah
A true patron of the arts. Your interest & support creates a foundation for any artist to thrive & keep on writing new music. All musicians need this security blanket which only comes from someone like you Sarah Steinberg making it all seem worthwhile, I applaud you, without visionaries like yourself, it just doesn't happen. Thanks for the interview. Clifford Hoad -
Kings Of The Sun/ The Rich & Famous.
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Comment by swanston1
on Melbourne Trams, an insiders perspective..
Justice for all?
Breaking the cycle.
mmappmusic