Cover Stroy

The most fun band in the world talks about life on the road, Pope Leo and Attila the Hun!

By EMMA RICHARDSON

Date published: 9/2/2004

YOUTH CORRESPONDENT

I'm standing outside a big, black tour bus.

It's starting to rain. I begin to worry because I'm wearing a white shirt.

Suddenly, the door opens, and I get the OK to walk up. I shake hands with the tour manager, who tells me to sit down. He introduces me to accordion player Matt Hensley, the member of Flogging Molly whom I'll be interviewing.

I sit down and pull out my notebook. Drummer George Schwindt sits in the corner making a phone call, and Hensley stands to get another drink and to make a sandwich.

Lead singer and songwriter Dave King walks past me and down the stairs, out of the bus, followed by fiddler Bridget Regan.

At last, Hensley sits across from me, and I take a deep breath, ready to begin the interview.

I'll bet you get this one a lot, but here it goes: How'd you come up with the name Flogging Molly?

Yeah, I do get that one a lot. We played a bar called Molly Malone's so much that Dave said we flogged it to death.

What's it like being back on the Warped Tour?

It's a lot of fun--a lot of fun. It's that easy. It's easy for the band, just a lotta fun.

Not too long ago, two of my friends and I dressed up like pirates and drove around blasting "Swagger." What's your opinion on pirates?

[Laughs] I like pirates. I liked "Pirates of the Caribbean"--it was [flippin'] genius. It's just further proof that Johnny Depp is a [flippin'] genius.

Where's one place you'd never want to tour again?

I don't know. I don't have an answer; I've never toured any place that [screwed] up. Plus I'd just be kicking myself, because we'd end up having to go back there, and they'd be upset that we were talking [badly] about their town.

Is songwriting a hard process for you?

Personally, yeah. I'm not gifted with the gab. You'd probably have to ask Dave; he's the principal songwriter. To write music, I have to be in a certain zone.

I mean, I'm just an accordion player. But I've never written lyrics that were worth a [thing].

A friend of mine says that Guinness tastes like liquid wood. What would you say to him?

Your friend's a jackass and should be shot on sight.

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Date published: 9/2/2004