Mickey Hendrix of Alastor

FEMMUSIC: When and how did you decide that drums were the medium of expression for you?

MH: I figured out pretty early in life that I liked the drums. I was very hyper (ADHD as they call it today) and I was always beating on things. My grandmother would give me wooden spoons, pull out some pots and pans and let me have at it (for as long as she could stand it of course).

     I did the orchestra/band thing in middle school and I played tenor sax back then. I had pretty much lost interest when I hit high school because of sports, etc. A friend I had met while playing on my county’s softball team was in the marching band at the high school we went to. She asked me if I had any interest in trying out for the DrumLine. I tried out and I originally started out on bass drum. One of the snare drum players quit and I quickly jump at taking her place. The rest is history.

     I got my first drum kit as a graduation present. Most kids were getting cars or whatever. But I made it very clear to my mother that a drum kit was what I wanted.

FEMMUSIC: Do you have any drum heroes/influences?

MH: There’s so many! I would have to say that my favorite and the one who influenced me the most is Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers. I just love his style. He’s not flashy but he’s rock-fucking-solid! Others? Jimmy Chamberlain from Smashing Pumpkins, Matt Cameron from Sound Garden, Dave Grohl from Nirvana/Foo Fighters, Chad Sexton from 311, and Steve Ferrone from Average White Band and who ever else he does studio work with. The list is endless! I hope I didn’t leave anyone out.

FEMMUSIC: So you’re related to Jimi Hendrix?

MH: It was about 3 years ago when I found out I was related to Jimi. My girlfriend and I were shopping with my Grandmother and I was wearing a t-shirt that had a quote from ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ on the back. Grandmother said, “You know he’s our cousin, don’t you?” I had all of these bags in my arms and I put them down and very sarcastically said, “Ok grandmother, tell me how we’re related to this man.” She said, “His father is my uncle and that makes him your 3rd cousin.” I started counting their ages in my head when she said, “Remember they had kids REALLY young back then.” I was like holy shit! She’s not kidding!

     Good thing or bad thing? I didn’t tell anyone at first because I didn’t want anyone to think that I was trying to make it on his coat tails. I was already using the last name because it sounded good. Since it was my grandmother’s maiden name I had planned on legally changing it anyway. I can’t really tell if it has helped me or hurt me at this point.

FEMMUSIC: Who was your first band? How did you find them?

MH: My first band was Orange Hat. I met them during my senior year of high school through a mutual friend. In a nutshell, I sucked when I played with them. I was just learning how to play, not to mention how to set up my drum kit. I was with them for about a year then all of a sudden I didn’t suck anymore. It was weird how that happened. It made me realize that I could actually play.

FEMMUSIC: Give me a quick rundown of some other bands you’ve played in and what impact they had on your career and skills.

MH: Shawn Mullins and I attended the same college. I was taking a speech class and my first speech was on playing the drums. The instructor pulled me aside after class and told me that he wanted me to meet a student from one of his other classes. Shawn and I met that same day, nothing exciting. About a week later we ran into each other in the cafeteria and he asked me if I wanted to jam. We jammed and again nothing too exciting. He called me up over Christmas break and asked me if I wanted to start a band with him. I acted all cool and said, “Sure, why not.” Of course he couldn’t see my reaction on the other end of the phone line. When we hung up, with my arms raised in V, I ran around the house shouting, “I’m in! I’m in!” We quickly got into the Atlanta acoustic scene click and I started getting noticed when I wasn’t with him. It opened a lot of doors for me. Shawn also taught me a lot about the music business, the dynamics of music, and he convinced me that I can sing back up as well.

     After the Shawn Mullins Band ran its course and he decided that he wanted to be a solo artist I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. Starting over terrified me. I started looking in the Musicians’ Exchange in Creative Loafing and nothing appealed to me. I had pretty much decided to move on with my life. A few days later I was looking in the Loaf and I saw an ad that said, “I only have a few weeks to live, drummer needed to start a band. Influences XTC, Squeeze, Split Ends, and the Beatles.” The ad stuck out from any of the others I had read and I couldn’t pass it up (and of course he had more than two weeks to live). I called and scheduled an audition with Radiant City. When I got there, the person I talked to on the phone told me that from the way I sounded on the phone she thought I was a 14-year-old boy. We laughed about it and that’s when I met Paul Melancon. We played one song and then he asked me if I wanted to be in his band. I really dug the songs he had written and I agreed.

     Radiant City was probably the best career move I had made at that time. It was pop music with an edge and we were good. From the moment we starting playing out and all of the key members were in place we started getting VERY well known around Atlanta. We played all of the premier clubs on the local circuit, Music Mid-town, Atlantis Music Showcase, and several key festivals and all. We were even voted Best Local Band in Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta and we were considered Atlanta’s best kept secret. Amy Ray from Indigo Girls was at one of our shows and she really liked our music. We showcased for her label Daemon Records twice. When it all came to an end, it was devastating for all of us. It’s been 3 years since the break up and I’m still dealing with it. For a long while I couldn’t talk about it.

     Next was Candela, perhaps one of the biggest mistakes of my career. First of all, it was an all girl band. Nothing against all girl bands, let me just say that, ok? Here’s the way I see it – I can deal with male egos ALL day. But four girls who are PMSing at the same time, watch out! The music was considered metal and what made me join was the fact that I felt like I needed to prove to myself that I could play something other than pop. However, leaving that group was a really tough decision because I did enjoy playing with the lead guitarist/bass player Mo Darneine and the rhythm guitar player Gia Garrison (former guitar player from Booby Trap). Those two are good musicians and good people. However, I could not get along with the lead singer. There was absolutely no room for creativity.

     Without her knowing it, the lead singer made a lot of enemies within the music community and it was hard to get decent shows. Everything was so LOUD and I went from playing the drums to pounding on them every time we practiced or had a show. I started having problems with my hands and wrists because I started using a heavier gage stick. I play barefoot and I started having constant pain on the ball of my kick foot. About a month after I left, all of that stopped. I had to get out for my reputation, my sanity and my health.

FEMMUSIC: Tell me about Alastor – who found who? Why them?

MH: I knew Elizabeth Elkins from my days with Radiant City. Alastor always got the sweetest gigs back then. I found out that Elizabeth was looking for a drummer and I quickly sent her an email letting her know I was interested.

     I met her at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA to pick up a tape of songs she wanted me to learn, plus a copy of the EP they had just finished. I put the EP in my CD player and I was absolutely blown away! Alastor’s sound had almost completely changed – it went from pop to harder edged pop. I learned the songs and that EP remained in my CD player long after because the shit was just that good. I auditioned and my first gig with them was at the 40 Watt in Athens, GA. When Elizabeth wasn’t around I told the bass player that I wanted this gig BAD.

     After the show in Athens and we were all packed up, she finally offered. Man, that was the most painful waiting experience of my life! The rest is history. Elizabeth Elkins is a star and that’s the type of players she wants in the band. I wanted to be a part of that.

ELIZABETH ELKINS OF ALASTOR REPLIES: I was surprised when she emailed me asking to audition for the band. I jumped on the opportunity because I knew exactly how good a drummer she was. When she auditioned at the 40 Watt Club show last October, I felt like I had a freight train behind me and I was sold.

FEMMUSIC: Have you experienced any discrimination as a woman in the music biz?

MH: I’ve experienced some discrimination in my career. But it wasn’t bad. It was usually a sound guy or guys from other bands who would thought I couldn’t play because I’m a female. I’m not the type who plays around while the sound guy is putting mics on my kit and I don’t beat on tables or a practice pad when waiting to sound check or play. I let my playing speak for itself. By the end of our show, guys from the other bands or whatever would tell me that they really dug my style or the sound man would tell me that I was very tasteful and tight in my playing.

FEMMUSIC: Do you have a day job? What does it take to support yourself playing music full-time?

MH: I’m currently searching for employment, as I was laid off 2 weeks ago. Supporting myself? I have an insatiable thirst for high-end electronics so whatever job I have, I have to make sure I make enough money to support that habit! LOL! Seriously, whatever job I have has to be a 9 to 5 because my evenings and weekends are for music.

FEMMUSIC: How would you characterize the Atlanta music scene?

MH: Now that Atlanta is an “international city” people are more willing to take you seriously. They also see all of the R&B/hip-hop and acoustic music that has come out of this town, and they want to look at other forms of music as well. But there are WAY too many bands and not enough clubs to play in. Good clubs that is.

FEMMUSIC: What is your ultimate goal?

MH: I want it all. Fame, fortune, an endorsement deal with Drum Workshop drums, a tour of my house in MTV Cribs, all of that!