Hudson Falcons
This interview was done on my 25th birthday, Decemeber 31, 2000 in Gainesville, Florida
When the Hudson Falcons tour the country, they really tour the whole country. In 2000 they toured extensively in support of their LP Desperation and Revolution, in fact they played 182 shows last year (that's a show every other day of the year). They played in 40 different states, plus Canada, invading nearly every corner of the country and they played their hearts out for the fans every night.
If you are unfamiliar with the Falcons brand of music, they call it "Rock and Roll For The Working Class". It's a punk rock concoction with influences ranging from Bruce Springsteen to the Stiff Little Fingers. They sing out loud for what they believe in, workers rights and human rights in general. Like any Oi band, they know how to drink and have fun, too. They stand out from the pack with their heartfelt, political and well-written lyrics. I saw the Falcons for the first time this year, and the band( Mark, Chris, Ben and Creighton ) put on an incredible show to the delight of the predominately skinhead crowd. Mark shared inspirational words of wisdom before every song and had the crowd going nuts throughout their set. He began with a new song called "Rich Kids Can't Play Rock and Roll" which got everyone going, he continued with more stuff off of their LP including "Rat is Dead" and their cover of "GLC" which had us all pumping our fists yelling "shit, shit, shit, shit!". Of course the best song of the night was "Pride" which was dedicated to my friend Jonny and me.
After the show Mark and Chris sat down with us and shared their insight on the show, the scene, and political issues...
Sink Hole Zine-When exactly did you start Hudson Falcons and what was your original mission in starting the band?
Chris: I'll let you know right now, he's (Mark) gonna answer 99% of the questions.
Mark: I've always played rock and roll, but I wanted to play something a little harder and a little faster. I didn't get into punk till I was at least 21, I mean I was always a Clash fan, but nothing more. The first time I ever heard Stiff Little Fingers, I was like 'fuck, this is what I want to play'. It took a little time to find all the people to start it up. The band itself really came together in May of 1998. That's when we got the last piece of the puzzle, our old drummer, Allison. We've had a lot of line-up changes in the past 2 years, but me and Uncle Chris have been steady throughout. Now, in Ben and Creighton, I think we finally have a group that is going to stick together for a very long time. As far as a mission... there are just some things out there that we see that don't sit right with us, we talk about those things. Some people like that, some don't. There are things people can disagree on, or have different points of view, and that's okay. But any people who are against workers rights, or are in favor of sweatshops or child labor those people can go fuck themselves because that's inhuman.
SHZ-Have you stayed true to that mission over the years?
Mark-Yeah, pretty much. There is some stuff that comes to the foreground more than others. Like on the full length on GMM Records. There were a couple songs about the troubles in Ireland. Well, things are getting better there now, the peace process is going well. We're a very political band, but we're not here to stir shit just for the sake of stirring shit. We don't need to get people all riled up for no reason. If things are going well over there, that's great. If there's peace and the imperialism of the British isn't there anymore, that's great. So, with that said, the new album probably won't have any songs about Ireland on it, because things are going well. Workers rights will always be paramount with us, because that's our message and what we sing about. There are peaks and valleys, but workers are always getting treated like shit. I think that things will only get worse with this new administration, especially with these cabinet appointments. Ashcroft is not going to do anything for workers rights. So, that's where we are coming from, and that's our message.
SHZ-Of course, I have to ask about the name, who picked it and what is the storry behind it?
Mark- I've had the name for a while. I originally wanted to go with a 50's sounding name, so I came up with the Falcons. I then remembered that there was a 50's band named the Falcons, they had the song "Your So Fine". So I attached Hudson in front of it. I come from Hudson County in New Jersey and I am very proud of my roots.
SHZ-Your singing about it to raise awareness, but what can normal people do to fight for the rights of the Working Class?
Mark-That is a very good question. It's sad but it's a little different up north. The Unions are pretty much hogtied by the government down here. Union membership is a good thing, because if you speak collectively you get the respect that you deserve and a lot of times better wages, too. I am a Union organizer, that's what I do for a living, and I hear what people want. I don't think that there is anyone who works who doesn't want more money, but they also want to be treated with respect and dignity and that is what is lacking. As far as what you can do for the Working Class...don't let shit like race and religion separate us. I don't give a shit if you work on a farm, a factory or in McDonalds, it doesn't make a shit difference what color you are because we are all in this together. So why hate the guy next to you on the assembly line because he's black? He's not taking your job away, he's trying to break his ass just like you are. I think that people need to make sure that they see that. Yes theres an enemy in this world, but it's not the black guy or Latino guy or the women who's probably getting more shit than anyone. It's the person who is paying us $7. an hour while they make $15. an hour off of our work. That person is the enemy, when people realize that, I think that we will be better off.
SHZ-You know, I don't think that Unions are always the answer. I am not a member and I have some personal issues with Unions. I have tried to join and have been turned down because of my appearance-whether they didn't like tattoos or colored hair or whatever. I appreciate what the Union does, but I can't back any organization that discriminates...
Mark-I want to apologize for them. Like in any other faction of the world-in the Union there are good people and bad people. In the 70's and part of the 80's Union leadership was for shit. I mean the AFL-CIO...Until John Sweeney came in 5 or 6 years ago, leadership was terrible. They didn't try and organize and work for the more exploited people. They let shit like race and gender be issues, and that shouldn't happen. I really apologize to you...the essence of what the trade Unions try to do is the complete opposite of the way that you were treated. I am very pro-American, I think that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are paramount. Now, when the government does something shitty-it doesn't take away from what the Bill of Rights is all about. If a leadership takes a bad direction, it sucks, but it doesn't ruin the integrity of the United States. To make a parallel to trade unionism-if someone in leadership corrupts it, we need to work past that and make sure that the essence remains true.
SHZ-Fair enough, how about a new topic...You guys have a new album coming out soon, is it recorded yet and do you have any details?
Mark-We will record it as soon as we get home (Jan.2001). The name of the record will probably be "For Those Whose Hearts and Souls Are True". It will be along the same lines as the last album, but I think that it will be a little more personal. Instead of talking about the masses, we are going to talk more about the individuals. The plight of the working class but, from a more specific persons standpoint. We also re-recorded two songs that have already been released-"Scab" and "I'm A Worker". The main ideas and our message are still the same, just now from a different angle, plus this album will be a little more rock-and-rolly.
SHZ-Who came up with the cover art and concept for "Desperation and Revolution"?
Mark-I wanted something to convey feelings of both desperation and revolution. The soldier passed out drunk on a respite from fighting for whatever cause he particularly believes in is hopefully the combination of both ideals. As far as the pictures in the background of George Washington, Che Guevera and Jesus. They are all revolutionaries. Although the ideals they expressed may have gotten corrupted over the years, the ideals unblemished are truly revolutionary.
SHZ-Off that album, the song "The Rat is Dead"...I know there are probably a lot of kids singing along calling Billy Wright a son of a bitch without knowing who he was. Do you want to clear that up and explain what he did?
Mark- He was in a loyalist organization in the northern six countries of Ireland. He allegedly went around murdering many innocent people. Among those that he is accused of murdering are children and on at least one occasion a pregnant women. He was assassinated in jail a few years back. I would hope that anyone who listens to our songs gets activated to find about more about a particular subject. We obviously aren't the be all and end all with anything that we sing about. If there are people who get activated to learn something and agree with us after their findings-that's great. If they disagree, that's fine too. Just as long as they get off their fucking ass and try to make their own informed opinion. Nobody should follow blindly.
SHZ-Before the Falcons had you been in any other bands?
Mark-None noteworthy at all for me. I played in a shitload of bar bands, playing originals and covers. I've sat in with a bunch of bands playing guitar. Chris used to play bass for Electric Frankenstein.
SHZ-Now this tour that your on-it seems like you've been on the road forever, Has the band remained intact throughout it?
Chris-There was a part of this tour that I couldn't do so we had to havce someone else fill in. Doug and Dave from the GC5 filled in. This is the legitimate line-up of the Hudson Falcons now though. We have to send a shout-out to the GC5 and thanks for bailing us out.
Mark-They are the best band in the America, and this is the lineup for the Falcons and hopefully will be years to come.
SHZ-Speaking of the lineup, how did you guys hook up with Ben and Creighton?
Mark-After our bass player and drummer quit, we were rotating different rhythm sections. We had one full time bass player for a while (Chris Sorenson), but everyone else just lent us a hand. When the GC5 split from the tour with us, Ben and Creighton began filling in with us because their band, The Brass Knuckle Boys, weren't on tour at the time. When things started to go a little sour with the Boys, their singer, Mark Dacey, recommended that they stay with us if they have the chance. They did and we are more than happy to have them on board. Mark Dacey has since found some new musicians and the Brass Knuckle Boys are kicking ass again.
SHZ-How's the van holding up-any accidents along the way?
Mark-Only the one accident in South Dakota. One day we were in Minneapolis and it was 55 degrees out. The next day in South Dakota it was like -30 with the wind chill. The road was one sheet of ice. We had the high top on the van, and with 50-60 mile an hour winds, it wasn't a good combination. It blew us right into a guard rail.
Chris-We were going along at about maybe 25 miles an hour. You could feel the wind pushing the van sideways, and the road was a sheet of ice. Everywhere you looked there were cars on the side of the road, trucks jackknifed. Finally we hit the rail.
Mark-No real damage, but it did make us miss one show. I have to apologize to all the kids in Aberdeen, SD. We will be back.
SHZ-Any more disasters on the tour, natural or unnatural?
Mark-We didn't have many problems at all, but I didn't realize how fucking bad the weather is in November in places like Montana, Idaho and the Dakotas. I had no idea. I figured we would avoid those places in January, but they would be okay in November, How fucking wrong I was. We had to cancel a show in Salt Lake City because the roads were closed and we couldn't get by. Then crossing the fucking the Rockies in Montana, there was fucking ice everywhere. Other than that the road was fine.
SHZ-Did you get to meet any bands that you had never heard much from that really impressed you. Any hidden gems on the road?
Chris-King Sized Braces in Canada.
Mark-Real straight ahead Oi band. They're really good and they are young guys, too. They are really genuine. Hopefully in July they will do a month long US tour, so if you are reading this-go check them out.
Chris-We're going to end up forgetting some people going off the tops of our heads...
Mark-The Roustabouts in Oklahoma. TankaRay in Kansas City. Of course the bands that we tour with. They are like family. The GC5, Brass Knuckle Boys, Persuasives and Callahan. The Brass Tacks in Madison, Wisconsin, Tommy and the Terrors. The list can go on and on.
Chris-Hey, don't forget Worm Suicide from Victoria, Texas.
SHZ-How about different scenes that you played to-any that stood out or any shows that you played that were really outstanding?
Mark-It's hit and miss. We book everything DIY. One night we may play out to 200 kids, the next maybe only 10. Thats fine though, you play the same no matter who shows up. Whether its just 10 kids or only 2, they paid their money to get in and they want to see a rock and roll show. Who are we to say that we can't play because there isn't enough people here? Fuck that-thats what rock star bands do. Any band that wants to do that can go fuck themselves. Any bands that we mention as being good, well thats a criteria. There are bands that have good songs and sound good, but they have their heads up their asses. They don't put it on the line every night. We have no use for people like that. I don't want to mention names, but there are a lot of bands out there who do shit like that. As far as towns go-Conway, Arkansas is fucking amazing. Rapid City, South Dakota. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Buffalo is cool, Ontario, they treat us real well in Sacramento, we went out there and played with Pressure Point. They are some of the most genuine guys, they're awesome. Some more towns-Oklahoma City, anywhere in South Texas.
SHZ-There are places like here in Florida that are starved for good Oi and Street Punk music. We all drove 4 hours to see this show, and I know a lot of kids here drove longer. Is it rewarding for you to see that kind of dedication from your fans?
Mark-It blows our minds. The first time I noticed something like that-we were doing a show in DC and a kid came up from Norfolk which is 3 and a half hours away. I couldn't believe that someone would do that. Why, to see a bunch of jerk offs from Jersey? He had to rent a car to do it, I almost shit myself. I know today a lot of kids came from all over northern Florida, and everywhere.
Chris-We did a show in Nashville and a group of kids drove 8 hours over from Knoxville.
Mark-It's an amazing feeling. We're just trying to play a little rock and roll and spread a positive message. People appreciating what we are doing is an amazing feeling. I mean financially the band is in so much debt. I'm in more than that. I wouldn't change it for anything though. I am having the time of my life. I've been playing guitar for over 15 years and its what I have always wanted to do. This is 100 times better than I ever imagined it though. When people say that their lives are affected by our music-I can't fathom that.
SHZ-Going with what your saying there...there are a few songs that you sing that really move me. "Worker Fate" in particular touches me and I often get goose bumps when I hear it. Are there any songs that you wrote that touch you that way?
Mark-First off, thank you very much for saying that. As a songwriter there is not a bigger compliment. All of my songs move me in a different way. Some days, or under certain circumstances, a song may be a little more meaningful. But if it's a song that I wrote, it came from inside of me, so there will always be a special bond with any song I write. Some songs are a little more personal rather than political, and I feel different towards them. Same thing with a song that is a little bit less serious. It's really hard to compare them.
SHZ-Lastly, I ask this question from time to time, but I am especially curious knowing that you are a champion for the Working Class, What would you do if you won the lottery for a multi-million dollar jackpot?
Mark-I'd pay off the thousands of dollars in band debt. I'd buy a van, get my Mom a house. She's struggled and worked her ass off for the last 40 years-she deserves it.
Editors note� Since this interview the Falcons have had 3 major releases, plus a solo LP by Mark Linksey, they have logged thousands of miles on the road and continue to lead the way as one of the best and hardest working bands out there.
For tourdates, merch and more info in general on the Falcons, visit Hudson Falcons dot com
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