Greg Hetson of Bad Religion
Greg Hetson, “the Geordie Howe of Punk”, has been a staple of the L.A. punk scene since 1979. Hetson got his start playing in the influential Red Kross, leaving in ’80 to form the Circle Jerks (featured in The Decline of Western Civilization Vol. I). Since 1984, Hetson has split his time between Bad Religion, the Circle Jerks and a variety of other projects including more recently Black President (with members of Goldfinger, Unwritten Law and Guttermouth), Punk Rock Karoke (with members of NOFX and Social Distortion), and GFP. Greg also finds time to run Stylus recording studios in Encino, California. The guy never stops, but he was kind enough to answer a few questions about his busy musical life, guitars, gear and Seymour Duncan pickups for me recently.
You’ve been a fixture of the L.A. Punk scene since the late seventies/early 80s. If Geordie Howe was “Mr. Hockey” then you are most certainly “Mr. Punk”, and one of the hardest working guitarists of the genre. Tell us a bit about what that was like, being of that age during the era and being in not one but two influential bands.
I am hard working but Mr Punk??? I dunno about that! Well when I first started playing it was a fun thing to do after school, making noise in bedrooms,garages etc… The punk genre was fairly new and gigs were scarce making it out of the garage was our big goal!
How in your experience has Punk evolved over the years, and does it bear any resemblance to the original vibe? Has “the industry” or the Internet tainted it at all?
The punk vibe lives. However, the business changed and now punk music is part of the establishment. Go to any hipster bar around the world and they are playing late ’70s early ’80s punk! Back in my day sonny, we would have been beaten up just for trying to get in…ha!
What are the main differences between your primary gig- Bad Religion and the Circle Jerks? How different is your approach to each situation?
Bad Religion has 2 guitarists, sometimes 3 – so I gotta be locked in with alot of stringed players. It is more challenging than just me as the only guitarist.
How do you maintain your focus dividing your time between so many projects? Particularly with the traveling touring requires?
I leave myself a lot of notes reminding me of what I am doing!
Please describe your current touring/recording rig and what pedals you’re using if any. Please spare no detail for us gearheads! Are you still running the two-amp rig described on the Seymour Duncan artist page? The Mesa and the Marshall? Are they run in tandem or separately?
Touring: The Marshall JCM800 with Mesa 4×12 cabinet, Pigtronix Fat pedal for solos and Voodoo Labs Giggity for just a little extra oomph. On the true north tour we scaled down garage style, so no big rigs! Guitars: ’61 Les Paul (SG) with Duncan Distortion and ’71 SG with the same pickup. On albums, lots of different amps. Marshalls, Peavey (yes I said that word), Teisco, Watkins, Fender… a lot of experimenting. There are so many different combinations that sound good and it is fun to experiment.
What are your favorite Duncan pickup models?
I do have a nice JB in my ’76 Les Paul and some kind of Tele pickup, it has been in so long I forget, in my ’61 Tele. I have another ’71 SG withAlnico II Pro in it.
What, or how do you feel Duncan humbuckers add to your sound?
They are smooth but huge!
Besides your guitar or of course a tuner, name one piece of gear you couldn’t live without. What’s your “secret weapon” if any to maintain consistent tone every night?
Duncan pickups of course, silly man!
Are you still doing studio production in addition to all your other responsibilities?
I am available for all your production needs when I can….I have fun.
What’s next for Bad Religion, and what other projects do you have on deck?
GFP, my hardcore band with Tony Alva and Tom Davis ex-DFL singer, and Whips Just Hits, which is a collaboration with me Loomis Fall, ex-Wax drummer and “Jackass” cast member. It is a departure from anything I have done. A lot of cool friends played on it like Adam Alt from Street Drum Corps, Christopher Chartrand from Crystal Castles, Chris Vrenna (Manson, N.I.N., etc. )… eclectic mix of cats!
- Jay Hale
