The Return - Interview with Young Hines
The Return (formerly The Roaches) are from Georgia. They are a hugely popular band who have lots of dedicated fans - it's Beatlemania all over again with every concert they play!! They are all around the ages that the Beatles were at the height of their fame and their enthusiam and energy comes across in their live performances. Check out The Return's official website - www.thereturnonline.com
Jarah Westmoreland, our roving Georgia correspondent, took on the job of interviewing The Return's John Lennon aka Young Hines.
Where did all of the original members meet?
I met (Michael) Fulop ('George') in middle school...we both had a common interest
in music, so that's where that started...I met Adam (Thurston - 'Ringo') in
high school...he was a year below us so we saw him around time to time...I met
(Mike) Williamson (Original 'Paul') through one of my older brothers...they
were friends before I knew him. Shane (Landers - 'Paul')(had a very similar
phone number to mine so we often got each others calls...Jerry Walker was just
the town rockstar...not to go unseen.
Who came up with the idea to form a band?
I would have to say that the Beatles group was most likely Williamson's idea...it
was a multi step growth.
How old were all the original members?
Geez...seems like we were all about 18ish
How long did it take to get all the right equipment?
Still don't have it all completely right...but the bulk of it we do have and
it took a couple of years...keep in mind this was pre e-bay for us...so it was
a lot of driving.
Describe your very first time playing live.
...Well I guess you mean as a Beatles act...it was totally a rush...the whole
summer had built up to that day...it was our golden summer...and that show was
just the climax to it...it was totally awesome...no show since then has meant
anywhere near as much.
Where is your absolute favorite venue?
I really like the theaters...especially the smaller ones...so far I liked the
Holly in Dahlonega.
What performance would you say is the most exciting and which one would
you most like to forget?
Well of course the first was the best...I'd like to forget about a half dozen
private parties...not all are bad...but sometimes we're just out of place.
What do you like most about being in a band?
Well the work doesn't feel like work...you just enjoy it...not many people truly
dig their job.
How do all the members prepare for a show? Ever get totally nervous?
We usually are in such a rush that the prep time consists of everyone rushin
around tryin to make themselves look presentable...(which is hard)...if we do
have time we usually still wait till the last minute because we get the PST
(pre show tired)
Which celebrities/musicians have you met because of the band?
Little Richard...Chubby Checker...Pete Best...Jerry Lee Lewis...the bass player
for the Mavericks...Peter Noone...Micky Dolenz...just about every teen idol
that was in the 60's...tooooooooooo many to name.
How long have all of you been Beatlefans?
I guess since around high school
Which album is your favorite?
My present fav is the White Album...but it changes like the weather.
How did all of you decide which Beatle you would portray?
Just worked out... everybody happened to play that instrument.
Do you play the part of your favorite Beatle? If not, why?
I guess it got it easy because I got John...he's the coolest no doubt...the
rest of the fellas probably wish they could do John...sorry fellas ;}
Other than the Beatles, who else are you fans of?
I know that recently, Fulop has been into the Allman Brothers and the Jeff Beck
Band...Adam is tough to tell because he changes radio stations too fast...Shane
as of late has been into Coldplay...I've gotten into a group called Nickel Creek...kind
of a progressive bluegrass kinda thing...
Do you ever get sick of signing autographs and taking pictures?
No of course not.
What moment made you realize you had truly obsessive fans?
Questionnaire after questionnaire??????
Do you ever get irritated with your fans?
No....long as everybody stays in line and respects our privacy, I'm cool.
How does it make you feel to know how much this band touches people?
I guess we don't know the full extent of that...we only know what we see...and
we see a lot of people singing those great songs right along with us...I think
its the music more than us.
Have you ever felt that your fans were TOO obsessed?
Like I said before, I think that people's obsession with us (if there is any)
is just a small amount of what they feel about the Beatles...so if they are
too obsessed its not with us...its with the image of the Beatles and all that
goes with that...I'm the one dressing up night after night...aren't I the obsessed
one?
What are your feelings towards those fans who have been following you since
the beginning?
I think they are all the greatest...I don't really know any of them really...but
I do know that for a few hours once or twice a month in the middle of their
complex lives they choose to come rock out with us...and I think that's awesome.
How do you feel when you see friendships forming with your fans purely
because they have you in common?
I think its gonna make one interesting story years down the road when they tell
people where they met.
What other instruments can all of you play when you're not in character?
I won't say who does what but piano, bass, mandolin, kazoo, penny whistle, vibes,
skin flute?
Any secret talents? no
Who would you most like to meet? (dead or alive)
I'd like to meet them while living.
Anything you'd like to tell your fans?
We'd like to carry on now with...
Jarah Westmoreland
TWIL Issue 4 May 2001