How did the all of you meet and decide to become The Hixon?
HIXON: THE BAND GREW UP IN THE MARLTON – MT.LAUREL AREA OF NEW JERSEY..
JAY AND I PLAYED TOGETHER OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. ED, WELLZ AND FLIP JAMMED TOGETHER FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AS A BAND CALLED “ALMOST HUMAN”. WELLZ WAS FILLING IN FOR THE HIXON UNTIL WE COULD FIND A DRUMMER. ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER WE PUT THE 2 BANDS TOGETHER AND AFTER THE TRIAL AND ERROR STAGE WE DECIDED TO MAKE GO FOR IT AS THE HIXON.
I understand 2003 was an exceptional year for The Hixon, can you give us a re-cap?
HIXON: YES, IT WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR US! WE DID A LOT OF ROAD MILES.
WE PLAYED MARCH METAL MELTDOWN 5 IN NORTH JERSEY, MILWAUKEE METALFEST XVII AND NAMASTE’ INTERNATIONAL’S MAXIUM METAL IN TENNESSEE.
THE HIXON HELD 3 BENEFIT SHOWS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. 2 FOR BREAST CANCER AND 1 FOR THE MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION.
WE ALSO PLAYED WITH ALOT OF COOL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IT WAS GREAT YEAR!
The band is known for being extremely aggressive and takes over every fest it participates in,
turning people who normally do not like such aggressive music into fans, why do you think that is?
HIXON: WELL WE BUST OUR BUTTS PRACTICING! THE BAND AS A WHOLE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND IT SHOWS WHEN WE HIT THE STAGE!
WE HAVE THE BLUE COLLAR UNDERDOG MENTALITY.(EVERYTHING TO GAIN NOTHING TO LOOSE)
I THINK THAT’S WHY WHEN WE PLAY TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS (16 – 65) THEY ARE VERY OPEN TO OUR BRAND OF METAL.(THRASH)
WE TELL THEM TO GET IN OR FIND THE DOOR! THE PEOPLE RESPECT THAT!
What is The Hixon’s musical message?
HIXON: “LAUGH AND DEFY” AT ANY ONE THAT TRIES TO HOLD YOU DOWN!
In general bands that play the style of music you play are not generally know to be socially conscious, yet The Hixon has been supporting numerous causes, can you tell us about them?
HIXON: YES. 2 WERE FOR BREAST CANCER WHICH WE RAISED OVER 1,000 DOLLARS EACH SHOW ALL OF IT DONATED TO THE “SUSAN KOMEN FOUNDATION” OF PHILADELPHIA.
THE MAKE A WISH SHOW WE DID IN DEC 5TH, WE RAISED OVER 400 DOLLARS FOR THAT ONE.
NOTE- December 5th was the worst snowstorm of the year, further validation that “The Hixon” totally RULES!!!!
JAY – HIXON- FLIP
The Hixon put on your own festival “The Hixon Fest” it was very successful can you tell us about it and when the next one is going to be?
HIXON: YES IT WAS A SUCCESS! ALOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE PIRATES DEN.
IT WAS GREAT NIGHT OF METAL! THE STYLES RANGED FROM DEATH METAL,HARDCORE, OLD SCHOOL TO THRASH.
I HAVE TO THANK BRIAN AND TONY FROM THE PIRATES DEN.
AND THE BANDS- OLDMAN SAVAGE, PALE EXISTANCE, HATECELL, LIFELONG & BLINDRED
DIANE POOLED AND THE 94 WYSP EXTREME TEAM.
CAN’T FORGET LYNN AND MIKE FROM THE OUT ON THE TOWN PAPER.
LOOK FOR THE NEXT HIXON FEST AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
The band just played March Metal Meltdown 6, tell us how that went?
HIXON: IT WAS ANOTHER CRAZY NIGHT IN NORTH JERSEY!
WE HIT THE 2ND STAGE 8:15 THAT PLACE WHIPPED INTO A FRENZY! THAT WAS THE BEST REACTION WE EVERY HAD!
I COULDN’T GIVE ENOUGH HIGH FIVES AND HUGS TO THOSE RABID METAL STARVED MANIACS!
I DIDN’T REALIZE THE GUARD RAIL WAS SLAMMED IN TO THE STAGE AND WHEN I REACHED OUT TO HIGH 5 SOMEONE I WAS PULLED IN TO THE CROWD.
IT WAS GREAT(PURE HEAVEN)
SIGNED AND UNSIGNED BANDS AND EVEN THE DOOR MAN CHECKING THE BANDS SAID WE KICKED A$$
SPECIAL THANKS TO JACK KOSHICK FOR ANOTHER GREAT SLOT!
How was the rest of the fest, any thing worth mentioning?
HIXON: YES, ANAL BLAST, THEY WERE FUNNY AND TOUGH.THE SINGER AND GUITARIST ARE VERY COOL GUYS.
GLEN BENTON FROM VITAL REMAINS WAS SUPER COOL AND FUNNY , THE WHOLE BAND TALK WITH HIM FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR. SEEING THE BURNT UPSIDE DOWN CROSS ON HIS FOREHEAD THAT CLOSE WAS COOLSIK BASTARD, I LUV IT HAHA, IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO SEE VITAL REMAINS ….DO IT… THAT DRUMMER IS AN ANIMAL!
JAMIE FROM HATE-BREED AND THE HOST FOR THE HEADBANGERS BALL SHOWED UP (HE WAS A REAL DOWN TO EARTH DUDE).
M.O.D: KICKED A$$, BILLY’S VERBAL ASSAULT WAS AWESOME!
TESTAMENT: THEY KICKED MAJOR A$$! CHUCK BILLY & CO. RULED THAT MAIN STAGE. I HOPE THEY KEEP THIS LINE UP FOR THE NEXT ALBUM.
THE SURPRISE OF THE NIGHT WAS MEETING PAUL BOOTHE FROM “LAST RIGHTS” TATTOO SHOP. HE IS IN MY EYES THE BEST TATTOO ARTIST THIS PLANET HAS EVER SEEN!
What is next for the band?
HIXON: GET A FUCKING RECORD DEAL!
IT’S GREAT TO SEE THE BACKLASH OF THE TOP 40 MUSIC. I TRIED TELLING THIS TOP 40 PRODUCER ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO THE BACKLASH IS COMING HE DIDN’T LISTEN AND NOW ITS HERE!
PEOPLE ARE SICK OF HEARING THE TOP 40 SONGS AND THEN GO OUT TO THE BAR AND HEAR A TOP 40 COVER BAND PLAY THE SAME DAMN SONGS.
NO WONDER THE OZZ FEST SELLS OUT EVERY WHERE IT GOES
THE PEOPLE ARE STARVING FOR METAL!
THE CROWDS ARE GETTING IN EARLIER FOR THE 2ND STAGE WHICH IS KNOWN FOR THERE HARDER ACTS.
LOOK AT THIS YEARS LINE UP , IT IS THE HEAVIEST ONE YET.
YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE COVER BANDS AND WANNABE’S, THEY ARE SCRAMBLING TO MAKE THERE SET HEAVIER AND IT SOUNDS SO FAKE! (YES I KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE LOCAL SCENE)
I LIKE THE POSITION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW!
PEOPLE ARE READY FOR THE BACKLASH AND “THE HIXON” IS THE BAND TO GIVE IT TO THEM!