INTERVIEW: Todd Hansen - King Parrot

Aussie metal legends King Parrot are heading back out on the road across country towns in Australia, dubbed the ‘Regional Rampage’ tour. The tour kicks off first in Melbourne at the first ever Download Festival in Australia so we threw a bunch of questions at King Parrot drummer Todd Hansen ahead of the tour to see what “sticks with the stixman” as we rampage through a quick tenner.

First thing that comes to mind when talking about Download Festival?

Excitement! Festivals are always so much fun to play. The atmosphere, the vibe, the big stage. Can’t wait! It’s a great show to kick off our massive Aussie regional tour too!

Name 3 things you can’t live without on the road.

Food, water, air.

Best song for driving on tour?

Flesh Storm – Slayer. I always chuck on some Slayer when I drive as it really gets my hyped up and I end up getting a second wind when I listen to Christ Illusion. It may not be one of their popular albums, but damn it’s a good one to drive to!

Which is crazier – Slatts on stage or Slatts on the road?

Tough question. I’ll say on stage because our Slatts does like to sleep the other 23 hours of the day. However, when that man needs a shit, there’s a new kind of crazy unleashed until we find him a dunny!

Favorite town in Australia to play?

I reckon Frankston in Victoria is pretty much the craziest place we play. They go nuts! This could change after this Regional Rampage tour though as we’re hitting some remote locations who I’m sure will go nuts for it!

Most memorable tour story so far?

Argh, there’s so many!! The first one that comes to mind though is from the Origin tour in 2014, in Omaha Nebraska. Squiz and Slatts were rocking out and Slatts got down on his knees and pretended to ‘pleasure’ Squizzy in the pantal region. After this Squizzy spun around and accientally took out part of Slattsys tooth with his guitar. Slatts kinda lay there in a daze for a moment, but finished the set. Then we took him to hospital and later a dentist and got it all fixed up.

Bendigo Hotel in Melbourne or Bendigo the town?

I like both, but I’ll go with…. Bendigo Hotel.

Craziest fan experience at a show?

Every show is the craziest fan experience. Parrot fans are nuts and thats just the way we like it!! Speaking of nuts, a bloke in Hobart wearing a nice dress jumped up on stage during our set and pulled his cock out and started windmilling it. After about a minute of that he stage dived, cock still out, and the whole crowd moved so not to cop a turkey slap on his way through.. Needless to say, he landed on his cock. But he got up and started thrashing around in the pit again.

If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?

Kris Kross – Totally Krossed Out.

What is the meaning of life?

Do what you love, try not to be a cunt.

Catch King Parrot at Download Festival Melbourne this Saturday.

TICKETS TO DOWNLOAD
downloadfestival.com.au/tickets

KING PARROT ANNOUNCE REGIONAL RAMPAGE AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2018!
With Special guests: CHILD BITE (USA)

SAT 24 MAR – DOWNLOAD FEST – MELBOURNE*
WED 28 MAR – ALBION HOTEL – ALBURY, NSW
THUR 29 MAR – TRANSIT BAR – CANBERRA, ACT
FRI 30 MAR – DICEY RILEY’S – WOLLONGONG, NSW
SAT 31 MAR – LONG JETTY HOTEL – CENTRAL COAST, NSW
SUN 1 APR – SMALL BALLROOM – NEWCASTLE, NSW
WED 4 APR – GOLLANS HOTEL – LISMORE, NSW
THUR 5 APR – MIAMI TAVERN – GOLD COAST, QLD
FRI 6 APR – SOL BAR – MAROOCHYDORE, QLD
SAT 7 APR – THE BACK ROOM – BRISBANE, QLD
SUN 8 APR – THE NORTHERN – BYRON BAY, QLD
WED 11 APR – TATTERSALLS HOTEL – MARYBOROUGH, QLD
THUR 12 APR – RAILWAY HOTEL – BUNDABERG, QLD
SAT 14 APR – DALRYMPLE HOTEL – TOWNSVILLE, QLD
SUN 15 APR – EDGE HILL TAVERN – CAIRNS, QLD
THUR 19 APR – SPOTTED COW – TOOWOOMBA, QLD
FRI 20 APR – PARLOUR HOUSE SHOW – POST MACQAURIE, NSW
SAT 21 APRIL – UTSC FEST, BALD FACED STAG – SYDNEY, NSW
SUN 22 APRIL – UTSC FEST, BALD FACED STAG – SYDNEY, NSW (ALL AGES)