------Feature • Heywood Banks------Down on the Farm By Mark Hunter

When I reached Heywood Banks at his compound somewhere in the wilds between Detroit and Lansing, the ------Feature • Hollywood Undead------unique and wildly popu- lar singer/songwriter was busy concocting new singer/songwriter-type stuff from deep within his unique and wildly popular compound some- where between Flint and Masked Mavericks Ann Arbor. Heywood Banks By Deborah Kennedy control us.” has always been a tough Eventually, the wise people at A&M/Oc- “get” for working jour- The Hollywood Undead have a very tone Records agreed to put out Swan Songs nalists. Intensely private simple rationale for wearing masks. just the way it was, and goody for them be- and reluctant to expose “We just thought it would look cool cause the record was a smash. It climbed to himself to the probing, in pictures,” bass player J-Dog (aka Jorel No. 22 on the Billboard 200 chart and threw sometimes rude ques- Decker) told me in a recent phone conversa- the Undead into the spotlight. They saw, tions lobbed at him like tion. He’d just returned from his first ever they toured, they conquered. They also lost desperate returns at Wim- fishing trip in the hills outside of Los Ange- a bandmate, Deuce, in the process. bledon, Banks typically les and was a bit high from having caught a Most reports suggest that Deuce (aka prefers to let his deeply trout, a huge one J-Dog described to me as a Aron Erlichman) might have been a little personal art speak for ‘Rambo-looking fish.’ on the high maintenance side, insisting on him. And considering his “I mean, it’s not taking his own as- hardscrabble upbringing, like we thought we sistants with him who can blame him? could maintain this HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD on tour and mak- Heywood Banks air of mystery or w/All That Remains & Threat Level ing other diva-like was born Stuart anything. With the Saturday, July 9 • 7:30 p.m. demands. Erlich- Mitchell to a pair HEYWOOD BANKS Internet, all it takes man, who has since of parents in a whatzup: Is is for one person to Piere’s Entertainment Center penned a rather bit- log trailer in the Thurs., July 7 • 7:30 p.m. this a good time snap you on your 5629 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne ter tune about his rugged, hard- Fri.-Sat., July 8-9 • 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. to talk? way to the grocery former band, “Story scrabble moun- Snickerz Comedy Bar H e y w o o d store and, bam, Tix: $22 adv., $25 d.o.s. thru of a Snitch,” was tains in Tennes- Banks: Yes. you’re exposed. We Ticketmaster or Piere’s box office, replaced by Daniel see, a state well 5535 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne whatzup: just figured, why 260-486-1979 Murillo (aka “Just known for the Tix: $16.50, 260-486-0216 What are you not do something a Danny”), who aban- tough, moun- wearing? little different? And doned his spot in tainous regions which occupy certain areas. H.B.: A beekeeper hat and a pair of we do look cool. You have to admit.” Season 9 of “American Idol” to hookup with Tragedy reared its ugly head soon in young clown shoes. I did admit it. I also asked him why, in the Undead. Heywood/Stuart’s life when his chronologi- As it turned out Banks was in a jovial his case, his mask sports a $2 bill over the J-Dog said the lineup change has worked cal parents, Hank and Heyena Banks, were mood, rare form, if you will, for a man su- mouth. out great for the band. killed in a freak revolving restaurant ac- tured by an adhesive conformity to societal “I’m putting my money where my mouth “Danny brings a certain something. He cident atop a hardscrabble mountain. Hey- strictures. Banks is a gentleman chicken is,” he joked. “Literally. Nah, I don’t know. brings the sexy and the class,” he said. wood later learned that a misanthropic em- farmer and was spreading wood chips when I just thought it would be clever. When we All you have to do is give Hollywood ployee had set the speed of the restaurant to I reached him via cell phone just before a put out our first album it was a $1 bill. With Undead’s latest release, American Tragedy, “puree.” “Grisly,” Banks has been quoted as violent thunderstorm reined in our conversa- our second, I made a $2 bill and put it on one listen and it’s obvious that HU have saying. tion. there.” changed direction. The new album, while Orphaned at a young age, the young “You know I can always find wood The first album, the ironically titled still sporting the Undead’s trademark metal/ Banks/Mitchell was soon adopted by mathe- chips,” he said, “but I can never find wood Swan Songs, came out in 2008, after much rap sound, clearly displays more rock in- matical parents who quickly set him to work chip dip.” ado. The ado was due to the fact that several fluences. And tracks like “Comin’ in Hot,” at a local Kroger bagging groceries. Things A regular on the Bob & Tom radio show, labels wanted the Hollywood Undead – then “Gangsta Sexy” and “Hear Me Now” are go- went smoothly for the young teenager, who Banks has penned such classics as “Toast,” Johnny 3 Tears, Da Kurlzz, Charlie Scene, ing over big with fans. year by year was approaching adulthood, “Pancreas” and the ever-popular “Big Butter J-Dog, Funny Man, Shady Jeff and Deuce “It’s Hollywood Undead, only more re- until one tragic day he was hit in the head Jesus.” Those familiar with the Dayton-Cin- – to censor their expletive-sprinkled tunes. fined,” J-Dog said. by a flying can of lunch meat. The resulting cinnati I-75 corridor will be familiar with The Undead unequivocally said screw that Want to come back to life? HU will be spamnesia resulted in an affinity not only for the reference Banks makes to the creamy 60- to the folks at MySpace Records and others at Piere’s Saturday, July 9 with All That Re- forgetting tragic events but for wearing loud foot tall statue of Jesus which once graced who for two years tried to get them to com- mains and Threat Level. After that they’ll sport coats and songwriting. Banks soon dis- that stretch of pavement. Tragically, the promise. be on big tours in both the U.S. and Europe. covered he was unqualified for most jobs, so steel, fiberglass and spray foam sculpture “They would literally go song by song, There’ll be a third album sometime in the he picked up a guitar and headed north. felt the wrath of nature a year ago when the suggesting we take out almost every word,” future for sure – and when that happens, will When I reached him at his apartment in right hand of Jesus was stuck by lighting and J-Dog said. “The stuff they were complain- J-Dog make a $3 bill for his mask? rural Compound, Michigan, he reluctantly the entire thing was incinerated in a swirl of ing about, it was crazy. It was stupid. And “I’ve thought about that. Do I make a answered my call three times before the cell flame and toxic smoke. we just thought, ‘We’re not the Backstreet fake $3 bill or do I jump to a fiver? Am I phone service I’m hostage to decided to ap- “I thought about adding another verse to Boys. We’re not ’N Sync.’ We would rather thinking too much about this? I don’t want prove the connection. What follows is the not release the album at all than have a label to be a dork about it,” he said. conversation we had: Continued on page 27 June 30, ’11------www.whatzup.com------5 ------Classified Ads------HEYWOOD BANKS - From Page 5 Fo r Sa l e Se r v i c e s the song,” Banks told me. “You know they’re rebuilding it. It’s going to look like one of those big fiberglass men holding a muffler outside car $125 QUEEN PILLOWTOP LADIES 40-PLUS Mattress and box. New in plastic. Can Who want to be wined and dined by a shops. Big Muffler Jesus. But I’m working on other things. It would end deliver. 260-493-0805. white gentleman, call 260-433-4637. up like the Edmund Fitzgerald.” 4-7/14 whatzup: What’s your writing process? 6-7/7 H.B.: I walk around. Se r v i c e s Se l f He l p One of the new “things” Banks recently completed is a travel song, a custom drum services Drug Problems? “road” song, if you will, called “Ohio Iowa Idaho Hawaii Highway.” “It’s By Bernie Stone expert repairs, refin- Narcotics Anonymous can help! a sing-along,” he said. ishing, restoration. Bearing Edges cus- Free. Confidential. 260-427-9113, www.na.org or www.naindiana.org Another song, dubbed “Never Trust a Puppet,” recounts a horrifying tom drum shells. Thirty years experi- ence. [email protected] 52-2/5/11 experience from Banks’ youth when his mother would soothe her young or call 260-489-7970. Wa n t e d Heywood with a song about an untrustworthy lamb puppet who was used X12-3-17 as an oven mitt and subsequently burned its tongue. jiffy port-a-jons 260-468-2623 Roommate Wanted N.E. House “My wife is the inspiration for that song,” he said, “When she and her Restroom sanitation services for any All utilities included. $400 per month. siblings were toddlers, they were getting a formal picture taken and she event: parties, weddings, auctions, 260-755-1842 Classified Ad remembered the photographer assistant had this puppet. In the picture she festivals, concerts, bike rallies, K-mile 2-7/7 has a big scowl on her face.” runs. Toll-free, 1-877-711-5667. Rewards It turns out Banks’ wife is a frequent collaborator. Apart from their X12-1-3 Private Guitar Lessons Program children, they’ve produced a musical called Swap Opera. “She wrote the Private guitar instruction for beginners Up to 18 Words Weekly lyrics and came up with the concept. I wrote the music,” he said. “It’s of all ages. Call T.J. at 260-438-7976. Find your treasure or find your pleasure at (not including headline of up to being produced by a community theater in Lebanon, Ohio this summer. 15-9/15 25-characters). I have a friend, a comedian in L.A., who said he will shop it around, so Unlimited Copy Changes who knows.” (copy/copy changes due noon Friday the week As for current events, the venerable comedian steers clear, giving prior to publication). such recent obsessions as Anthony Weiner a wide berth. “Mainly I’ve just been writing new, funny songs,” he said. “I mainly Just $25/Month consider myself a songwriter. People who see my act will say that too. (billed the first Thursday of each But I’m on a little bit of a vacation right now. Got some other things go- Co n v e n i e n c e month). ing on. Home projects. I just got 50 baby chickens and four turkeys. It’s Wi t h o u t t h e Hi g h Pr i c e . Guaranteed Rate Two Fort Wayne Locations. Present valid college student or wonderful except for the lack of cash flow. military ID to receive 10% discount (your monthly rate will stay the same for “I have a CD I’ve been working on with my wife. She writes the 6214 Lima Rd. • 416-0636 as long as you stay in the program). words and I put them to music. It’s a serious collection called Calamity 338 E. DuPont • 489-4471 3506 N. Clinton 2014 Broadway 12-month commitment is required. For details, call Jane. I have that kind schizophrenic thing going on in my life.” Fort Wayne, IN Fort Wayne, IN SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: 46805 46802 As the conversation ground to a halt Banks was being pelted by a Cigarette smoke contains Carbon Monoxide 260-424-4200 violent thunderstorm which had enveloped a portion of his 30-acre com- 260.482.5959 260.422.4518 pound, where birds that look like Elvis sing “Heartbreak Hotel” and laughter is only a wood chip away. WHO YOU ARE ~ In case we need to contact you. BETA LAUNCH - From Page 21 Name: ______Mailing Address:______macy and love, or the absence of it, can impact your world.” This is indeed what she shows us throughout the story as the four City: ______State: ______Zip Code:______interact and evolve. As a method of dealing with the heartbreak of his breakup with Nicole, Martin begins to write a relatively awful and com- Day Phone: ______Night Phone: ______pletely overwrought play. A few scenes from this play are interspersed WRITE YOUR AD ~ Please print clearly. with the main plot of Beta Launch. For the most part this works, but when the relationship between Martin and Nicole changes again, Mar- ______tin’s play is pretty much dropped. Perhaps one more scene from it would (25 Character Headline - This part is Free!) have rounded out that sub-plot a little better. As Andrea and Dan, the friends who take Martin in when Nicole ______boots him, Tamara Cummins and Scott Hess are quite good. They’re 1 2 3 4 5 6 funny and really seem like people most of us have as friends. The bits about Andrea’s obsession with food provide some of the play’s funniest ______moments. 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ethan Bair, who plays Martin, has become a very strong actor and seems to stretch a little further with each production. Stephanie Vander- ______wall, as a fairly unlikable Nicole, plays the character unapologetically. 13 14 15 16 17 18 I think that. as the production goes on. there may be little tweaks here and there; overall, though, this new piece of theater has come together ______very well. And it’s good to have something fresh produced by local tal- 19 20 21 22 23 24 ent. [email protected] ______25 26 27 28 29 30 Membership Makes WHAT YOU’RE PAYING ~ Prepayment is required. The Difference Word Rates Number of Words: ______Artists, performers and not-for- profit, charitable organizations • Job Referrals Insertions Must Be Consecutive may deduct 25% from gross • Experienced Negotiators x Number of Weeks: ______amount. (Skip dates start over at • Insurance new rate) = Total Word Count: ______• Contract Protection Minimum insertion: 6 words Do not include headline (not including free header. Fort Wayne in word count x Rate Per Word: ______Telephone numbers, including Musicians Association 1-5 Insertions...... 70¢ area code, count as one word. 6-11 Insertions...... 60¢ Amount Due: $______Call Bruce Graham 12-25 Insertions...... 55¢ Enclose payment and send to: for more Less Discount: ($______) whatzup information 26-51 Insertions...... 50¢ 1747 St. Marys Ave. 52 Insertions...... 45¢ 260-420-4446 Amt. Enclosed: $______Fort Wayne, IN 46808

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