American Dog

Michael Hannon - Vocal & Bass Guitar
Keith Pickens - Drums
Steve Theado - Guitar 

Rude, lewd, dirty, and drunken hard rock is American Dog's stock in trade. A breath of fresh air from a band who brings back "working man's" metal, spitting in the face of political correctness.

Formed from the ashes of Hilljack by former members Michael Hannon (vocals/bass, also ex-Salty Dog and Dangerous Toys member) and Keith Pickens (drums). They recruited Steve Theado on guitar and started taking their raunchy music to every seedy bar around. Their debut album was released on an independent label, and the following year they released a live in the studio EP that showcased the power and rawness they possessed.

The current album is more straight forward kick-ass rock'n'roll that stays true to their roots. These are the type of rockers that will never hit it big despite entertaining songs and live show. Music like this just isn't made for the mainstream; it's created for people that have fun in dark, smoke-filled bars.

- The Gauntlet
http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/1003/American-Dog.html


For more information on American Dog, tour dates, discography & more, visit http://www.americandog.us or you can find them on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/americandog

MICHAEL HANNON

Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar

Photo by Joe Kleon

And all the while, this three-headed posse of Columbus, Ohio veterans were destroying crowds with a smoking set of covers and originals, playing warm-up to all the legendary bands that now found themselves stuffed into clubs, formidable touring machines that were scary live experiences in their own right. American Dog has dueled with 'em all, and won over their no-nonsense mobs.

"Well, we do get the bikers crowd," offers Michael warily, "but it's not real hardcore bikers. Bikers can only ride their bikes, what, six months down here? We basically get a blue collar crowd, the long-haired rednecks; that's what I like to call them. Around our area, that's all you get, it's nothing but blue collar. And that's still the older guys who basically grew up on this stuff, AC/DC, Ted Nugent, Black Sabbath, those guys who haven't changed. You know, so many in our age group have grown up and say, 'Oh, I don't listen to that stuff anymore, I'm married. I do not understand that concept one fuckin' iota. I mean, just because you're married, you can't listen to this music you like!? What the fuck is that about!? I guess they were never true to the cause. But it's basically white males, older rednecks, guys in their thirties. We get the Skynyrd crowd, we get the Aerosmith crowd, the ZZ Top crowd, the Blue Oyster Cult crowd. And now there's a new type of people out there, the stoner rock crowd. Those people really like us, that Hellacopters-type crowd, the Unida people, because we've got that big groove and it's loud. I think we're crossing dimensions here (laughs)."

It's an experience captured in the album's ersatz title track 'Last Of A Dying Breed'. "That's our battle cry, isn't it? That's our whole thing. I listen to the radio and their ain't none of us left. I mean, there are no new troops coming up flying the flag. The only guys left are the old guys like AC/DC and Motorhead. " 'Dying Breed' and 'Barely Half Alive' are joined by 'A Dog's Life', the three together forming the core of the Dog philosophy. "'A Dog's Life' was an old song from an earlier version of the band when we were called Hilljack. That's the only song we used from back in those days, and it was never put out. It's just a 1-4-5 good time boogie. Just like it says, I came home one day, beat to hell, asbestos and drywall dust all over me, sat down, and I'm like the guy in Peanuts, with the cloud of dust all around him? The dog is just sitting there, does nothing but eat and shit and when he shits people say 'good boy!' So I figured that my dog had a better life than me." But like a shot of java in the morning, a rock rocket like 'Be A Man' gives your head a shake, eradicating any thoughts of mopey alternative angst. "Yeah, that one is just kind of a goof. You know, it says 'Don't be a fag, be a man', and by fag I don't mean homosexual. It's like I say, life's beating the hell out of you, but you gotta get up when the alarm clock goes off. Just get up and fucking do it."

STEVE THEADO

Guitar, Vocals

Photo by Joe Kleon

Which sounds like the motto of guitarist Steve Theado. Or if it isn't, it better be. "Yeah, Steve's great, the ultimate working man. Everybody calls him Piggy because he's been doing construction for the last ten years, and every time he shows up to practice, he's got his redneck hat, and his overalls which he's been wearing for five years straight. They're covered with paint and glue and goo. It's not anything cool sexually, I can tell you. But it's basically because he looks like a walking fuckin' pigpen. He looks like a fucking railroad bum. I swear to God, it's like 'Jesus, he's in a band!?' You want to throw him out of the store when you see him. And that's Piggy, and he's a great player, and he's played in a million bands,
a real whore (laughs). Anything to make money, alternative, Top 40. He'd do anything, even though he hated it, just so he could pay the bills. He was hating life but he was making some money, but now he's American Dog full-time."

KEITH PICKENS

Drums, Vocals



Rounding out the band is drummer Keith Pickens, another highly versatile player who can, and has, done everything. "Keith did the Holiday Inn circuit if you can believe that! He did the easy listening, Top 40 shit to make money. I got him out of there. He also played country. He hates that stuff, but it's really easy to do. He just had to listen to the tapes on the way to the gig. And then he got offered a gig with Hank Williams Jr.'s band, but he had to turn that down because he was having a kid. So I think that tells you how good a drummer he is. And he's sober. Doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. And Steve and I are fucking drunks. I mean in our time off. We don't do it before the gig. We'll do it while were playing, but we're all smart enough not to get drunk until afterward. God, I don't know how he puts up with us at times. I've known Keith for about six years. He's been playing with me since Hilljack. And I've known Steve probably since '80 or '81. I always played in heavy metal bands, and he always played in heavy metal bands. I was in a band called Lust, and he was in a band called American Steel. We were cross-town rivals, and we kept stealing each other's members back and forth (laughs)."

Piggy and Vulcanus jamming on some Motorhead at the Headbangers Ballroom-Hamburg

Well deserved night off with Elke and some cardboard dude!!!

Rock Rotten jamming on some Bomber with the Dog!!!!!!!

Pictures from The Spirit of 66-Verviers Belgium,our home away from home!!

Jamming out with the Spirit

Down the hatch,again!!!

Piggy-sweating BEEER

Michael-spreading the gospel!!

Pictures from The Headbangers Ballroom - Hamburg with the V-8 Wankers

Vulcanus and the Dog!

Michael screaming some Lemmy with the Wankers!!

Ralf Lutz and Vulcanus tearing it up!!

fond farewell...Sammy and Vulcanus say goodnight...Cheeers

photo: Dominique Chevalier

BE KIND TO ANIMAL WEEK

BE KIND TO ANIMAL WEEK CONTINUED

STEVE FINALLY GETS A DATE!

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A ONE HOUR AMERICAN DOG
CONCERT, RECORDED BY G4ORCE STUDIOS!

Merry Melodies
Columbus, Ohio
March 29, 2003

Merry Melodies
Columbus, Ohio
March 29, 2003