The Band that wouldn’t go away is here to stay. First European tour is a success.

Drunk Stuntmen were once described as “the Band that wouldn’t go away.” I’m sure the person who uttered this observation could be easily be tracked down and identified, but who has time for that? We will assume, more than likely, it was someone who had to do with booking bands. After 12 years rocking the Pioneer Valley and their fair share of national touring, they finally did go away. But do not fear the Stuntmen will be back and they will continue to do their own stunts. More on the stunts later, if you please.

Yes, indeed, that loud, raucous tattooed bunch has left us. Defying all the odds, and I wish I’d put money on this, Drunk Stuntmen left their devoted fans in the Pioneer Valley and made their first trip to Europe. Drunk Stuntmen are a band that would seem more at ease participating in one of Fred Eaglesmith’s legendary weekends, or playing with the world renowned founders of Hillbilly Surf, Southern Culture On the Skids. An unlikely pairing provided their ticket to Europe as they backed up Northampton’s beloved Young at Heart Chorus at the world premier performance of their “Road to Heaven” tour at the Luxor Theater in Rotterdam, NL. The Young at Heart Chorus, a group of elders, most of whom had reached their teens by the time WWII broke out, live up to their name by performing a unique song list encompassing anything from the Rolling Stones, to the Clash, to Santana.

Stuntmen front man, Steve Sanderson said, “You have heard the songs they perform so many times, but when these old folks sing them, the meaning of the song changes so profoundly.” Sanderson admitted to being overcome with emotion during one their practice sessions, a feeling whom anyone who has ever seen the chorus perform the Bob Dylan classic, “Forever Young,” has experienced.

In addition to performing with the Young at Heart Chorus, the Stuntmen have filled in the blanks with a tour of the Netherlands promoting their latest recording Iron Hip. They played to enthusiastic crowds in Amsterdam, Heythusen, Rotterdam and appeared at the Axis Festival, an annual display of Music, theater, and dance in Assen. The Stuntmen were also featured live on radio station VPRO’s Club 3 voor 12, which is broadcast in front of a live audience. The show’s host recounted the tale that the “Drunk Stuntmen were formed around the moonshine still in the backwoods of Western Massachusetts at a time when honest music was being mugged and beaten to death in a dark alley somewhere in the bowels of corporate America.”

Of the radio experience, Steve Said, “First the Dutch look at us wierd, and then the music starts and they come around to the connection between the way we look and the music we play. Being on VPRO radio was sort of like being on American Bandstand with out Dick Clark.”

When “Not Dick Clark” asked if they make honest music and what honest music is, Sanderson asserted, “I hope we make honest music. I think honest music is what comes from the heart,and don’t try to be anybody else, just be yourself and see what comes out.”

“Not Dick Clark” also asked if they had ever been to Europe. Freddy said no, but Steve offered the information that he had been in Europe before as the tour manager for another band. To which “Not Dick Clark” asked “It wasn’t ZZ Top was it?” alluding to Stuntman Steve’s elongated beard.

“Nope, My beard’s not long enough.”

When prompted with the question, “Have you ever been in a band where you were not yourselves?” Steve responded, “Well, actually this band at times, long ago wasn’t itself. It took a while to grow to become.” (I bet NDC contemplated the word grow is as another opening for a long beard joke.)

And when did they realize they had become themselves? “When we stopped getting booed.” Quipped Lead guitarist/pedal steel player F. Alex Johnson. And the name? "Freddy fell down and didn't spill his beer." He later went on to marvel that he was a Drunk Stuntman. Some things just stick. True story, and it happened in NYC on New Year’s eve. You can listen to this interview and live performances Downtown, Out of Bed, and Stars, from the album Iron Hip at http://3voor12.vpro.nl/3voor12/maps/index_overzicht.jsp. Click the icon for the third hour of the show.

One of the more raucous Stunts in Europe occurred at the Axis Festival in Assen. Early into the set they popped a fuse and lost electricity. Undeterred by the lack of current Stuntman Steve raced down into the crowd to deliver an acoustic version of “Drunken Sailor”, soon to be joined by JJ. O’Connell on tambourine and Freddy singing his guitar parts, to a very enthusiastic crowd. A bird’s eye view of the scene caught on video by Bow Bow will be featured on a soon to be launched members area of their web site Drunkstuntmen.com.
-- Paul Brown