You Am I

Rusty Hopkinson

Drums

I'm Rusty the drummer – actually the oldest but constantly aspiring to be youngest. I enjoy Johns Children, David Sedaris, George Orwell, Family Dog Posters, Ivan Brunetti, The Move, Jelly Roll Morten, Ernie K-Doe, Jonathon Adler, PJ Proby, Natalie Wood, Screaming Lord Sutch and Karl Dilkington.

Happily married to a beautiful woman nicknamed Boonge, best friend is an Old English Sheepdog called Dewey and I'm constantly surrounded by a melange of Cats known as "The Boys". I follow Sydney FC, play a lot of records very loud and cook a mean Chile Verde.

Favourite venue to play at?
Practically it would be The Forum in Melbourne or The Enmore Theatre, spiritually it would be The Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio.

Most influential book you've read?
“Cranked Up Really High - Genre Theory & Punk Rock” by Stewart Home

Favourite TV Show?
The Simpsons

Favourite tour you've been on?
The ‘94 tour with Soundgarden always sticks out coz we got to go all over the US for the first time and we made “Hi Fi Way” at the end of it all

Most impressive support act you've had?
Screamin’ Stevie and his Hekawis

All time favourite gig you’ve seen?
? & The Mysterians at Coney Island High, NYC

Do you have a signature dish that you cook?
I love to cook, I would say a Mexican dish but I can’t hold a candle to Mr G Wales in that department, so I will suggest that my Southern Style BBQ chicken with Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce will kick yo’ ass!!

Can Rusty share his chutney recipe?
Chutney is a voyage of discovery; it would be churlish of me to ruin that journey by revealing my secrets

Most embarrassing record in your collection?
Embarrassing to whom? I have records I love that sane folk would not be seen dead with and I don’t give a shite. In fact I’m just about to slip on an elevator-music version of “Death Of A Clown” that I bought from Marrickville Vinnies for 50c

If you were asked to do a live performance of a You Am I album from start to finish what album would you choose?
Saturday Night ‘Round Ten (sorry, but a good joke is a good joke and you should never waste material!)

Most embarrassing onstage faux pas?
We were doing a tour years ago where Timmo would do a quick acoustic interlude in the middle of the set and Andrew and I would leave the stage. I once walked off a song early past a confused looking tech and tour manager towards the dressing room, thinking I could have a ciggie. It didn’t take long for someone to collar me and I returned sheepishly to the stage

Name your Top 5 musical influences?
All drummers of course- Hal Blaine, Bev Bevan, Earl Palmer, Chuck Biscuits, Mo Tucker and Homer Steinweiss. (Sorry that’s six, as a meat and potatoes rocknroll drummer I don’t like odd numbers)

If you weren't a musician what would you be doing?
Dreaming

How many tattoos do you have and do they represent anything in particular?
One. I have a “50’s style” rocket ship on my upper-left arm that I picked off the wall at a cheesy Sunset Blvd Tattooist after a very, very long tour (Timmy got one too). I was hungover as hell when I got it BTW. It’s in honour of my “space name”- Rusty Rocket, given to me by Star-crunch of Man or Astroman. Incidentally I met CC Deville from Poison’s lawyer whilst waiting to get my tatt. Apparently CC was gonna make a huge comeback in 1998, I’m still waiting

Favourite Film?
Anything by Ray Dennis Steckler or Rocknroll High School

Favourite “Rockumentary”?
“This Is Spinal Tap” for sure, but an honorary mention goes to “Hated, the Story of GG Allin”

Do you have any pets?
At home we have a big furry Old English Sheepdog called Dewey and three arseholes disguised as cats- Cheeks, Jonny and Flugelhorn

Most impressive celebrity/musician that you’ve met?
We’ve met all the Stones, Pete and Rog from the Oo and numerous others but personally I would have to say Oasis, especially Bonehead as he was just the most brilliant and unlikely popstar you could ever meet, but they were all great and fun. At the time they were the biggest, most impressively obnoxious group of individuals on the planet. They treated us with respect and I’ll always cherish getting to spend some time in their world

Do you ever feel threatened by metrosexuals?
Come on, are you suggesting I’m metrophobic?

Ever been mistaken for somebody else?
Bazz our lighting guy, on one tour the Love Police made him a tee-shirt that simply said, “Not Rusty”. Later someone asked me how come I’d started doing lights for Powderfinger, they were serious

Favourite country to tour in?
The World and Elsewhere

Would you ever allow your music to be used in advertisements?
How much you offering?

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Absolute, unwavering happiness

Best hang over remedy?
See above, that or a great steaming bowl of Pho Ga

Does Rusty’s drum moves have their own names?
Did Cletus from the Simpsons ask this question? That’s some shitty grammar dude! No I’ve never gotten around to naming them though the one where I bang the stick on my drum and then hope to catch it when it flies in the air is called “The percentage I catch is directly related to the number of refreshments I’ve had beforehand and can be expressed in simple mathematical equation”

View Rusty's Underoath Magazine Interview »