Everything there is to know about the Unknown.
Story By James Johnson Photos By Raul Rubiera Jr.
After a brief hiatus, country western troubadour and North Carolina music icon Unknown Hinson is back. The self-proclaimed King (who has also been known to answer to Stuart Daniel Baker) has built a cult following thanks to his unusual stage persona, dark humor and legendary guitar skills. Currently, “The Unknown One” is on tour after having just finished a soon-to-be-released new album (untitled as of press time), as well as a DVD of his old public access TV program, The Unknown Hinson Show. Hinson is also heavily promoting the sixth season of his Adult Swim animated series, Squidbillies, for which he stars as the voice of Early Cuyler. There is truly no rest for the undead.
Hinson has naturally had to deal with rumors of his association with the undead for years, due to what he claims is an unfortunate affliction of the teeth, and perhaps his preferred manner of dress (an ill fitting black rodeo tailor suit, with a matching ribbon tie, and of course, leather gloves). The rumors however don’t seem to bother the artist, who claims to have spent much of his young life in prison, and he seems to only encourage it by remaining largely mysterious and aloof when speaking about his past. This month we caught up with Hinson to try to examine just what it is that he’s been hiding, discuss his new projects and find out the truth behind that infamous Billy Bob Thornton interview.
FEED: How’s life been treating you since last we spoke?
Unknown Hinson: Hanging on, hanging on.
FEED: We understand that after all this time, you have finally started touring with a different band. Is there a reason for that?
Hinson: Well, there’s no real reason for it. Artists move around. Now and then you gotta switch up the line up. Met these boys a while back while working on my new CD/record/album. Going out with them … Can’t give you the name (of the L.P.) just yet. I got so much mess going on right now. I was out in Colorado a few days ago doing some video shoots. Hopefully that’ll be out soon … We just finished up a new season of Squidbillies. Working on a DVD.
FEED: A DVD? Of music videos?
Hinson: Nah. I used to have a TV show. Shot it in Charlotte North Carolina for two or three years. There is about 25 episodes. People kept asking about them, so we’re compiling them all on this DVD. A lot of people have VHS tapes of the show.
I did this back in the ‘90s, ‘93, ‘95. It was on in re-runs for two years. It was actually about three and a half years. Every episode is like a day in the life of Unknown Hinson, shot in black and white.
FEED: The new season of Squidbillies is up and running. What can we expect?
Hinson: Way, way, way over the top. It pushes the envelope real, real hard.
I can’t give out no plots. (The show has) been a big help to me. A lot of people who did not know about Unknown put two and two together after seeing the show. And people who don’t know about Squidbillies but know about Unknown Hinson started watching the show as well.
It came about in a funny way. They got a hold of my CDs. It was the E.P., Rock & Roll is Straight From Hell. I guess they listened to the little audio sound bites of me talking and decided to give me a call. I love cartoons, so I said sure.
FEED: You are known for putting on extremely long and powerful performances. Where do you get the energy?
Hinson: Um, I don’t know, James. Party liquor I guess. That’s one of my favorite things in the world. Drinking, chasing women, shooting my gun, the guitar and singing. I don’t sleep a whole lot. I look at each day and night as a blessing. We never know how long we’re going to be around.
FEED: Finally – we have to ask this. The last time we interviewed you, I’d neglected to ask you this and I’ve been kicking myself ever since. When you aren’t doing your work as Hinson, you will play guitar with actor Billy Bob Thornton’s group, The Boxmasters. Since 2009, there has been an interview that has kind of gone viral, wherein the band is interviewed by CBC Radio’s program Q, and Billy kinda loses his temper with the host for having mentioned Thornton’s work as an actor. What was the real story there? Was Billy faking it?
Hinson (laughing): You’ve seen the video, right? You’ve seen the video. If you’ve seen the video, notice that I didn’t say one word … It was all I could do not to laugh. I was just trying to keep a straight face.
As far as Billy Bob goes … well … he is an award winning actor.
Do you see the irony there? I probably got the biggest mouth in the whole room and I never opened it, just so as not to laugh. Billy is a good boy, he really is. Me and him have been friends since 2000. Buddies. I play on a few of his records. He is a great music lover.
If you watch that video again – watch me and you’ll see I am looking at the floor. I am about to burst out laughing.
FEED: So, did you guys go in with the plan to make the host squirm?
Hinson: Naw, naw. Hell naw. There wasn’t nothing planned about it. That was what was so damn funny …
