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 THE GO-GO HAUNTERS’ drummer TODD HANSEN chats to JORDAN PHILP about what it’s like playing in over ten bands and his quest to make his voice known.
Todd Hansen is undeniably one of Brisbane’s most recognised drummers – likely because he seems to be in nearly every band in the city. Hansen, who used his craft to tour the world with now defunct Melbourne band The Berzerker, says the commitments of being in more bands than you can count on both hands doesn’t worry him in the slightest. “I play in 11 bands, but some don’t play too often so it’s pretty easy to juggle with everything else in my life. I have some other projects going in the works also!”
Todd explains how he ended up behind the kit for his latest band, the Gold Coast’s very own ghoulish surf voodoo rockers The Go-Go Haunters. “I’ve worked with Ollie [the guitarist] a bit over the years in bands like The Wrath, Devilock and Wish For Wings so when he showed me The Go-Go Haunters and asked me to drum I learnt the songs and jumped on board. Its good fun!”
The Go-Go Haunters will be taking the stage on all hallows eve singing very fitting tales of whips n’ chains and blood n’ brains at The Halloween Monsters Ball, something Todd says will be a night of ghastly fun to remember. “We’re going to get you dancing and doing the twist to some ghoulish rock & roll!” But in true Todd fashion he won’t be playing in just one band that night. “I’ll also be playing with Black Mask that will unleash relentless and punishing brutality upon all the punters who witness it. I also play for Tropical Vampirates and Devilock that will be featuring at the Halloween Ball. I’m playing in 25% of the bands that night!”
Being in more than one band would seem like hell to a lot of drummers and even suggesting to a drummer to play multiple sets in one night is taboo, but Todd has found a way to use his situation to arrange some amazing line-ups and also help raise money for cancer research, an issue with personal relevance for Hansen. “This year I did a Toddfest in memory of my mum Helen Hansen who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in July this year. So I put 20 bands on over two stages (The Todd stage and The Other stage) at The Jubilee Hotel with nine of my current bands who played on the Todd stage. I raised money to go towards ovarian cancer research and awareness as a tribute to my mum. The Lions Club helped out with the legal side of the fundraising, and we raised about $6500 after costs.”
When he’s not touring or dabbling in philanthropy, Hansen says lately he’s been up to something a little different … “I’m trying my luck at winning a competition to be the voice of a GPS system.” Yes, you read that correctly, Todd has put himself in the running to become the voice for Tom Tom. “Well, myself and a lot of mates do the voice which is a typical ocker Queensland bloke! So as the competition is called be the voice of Tom Tom, I thought it fitting to do the voice as my entry. Everyone who reads this should vote for me!”
Check out Todd’s four bands THE GO-GO HAUNTERS, Tropical Vampirates, Black Mask and Devilock at the Halloween Monsters Ball at The Step Inn on Saturday Oct 30. Check out www.myspace.com/thegogohaunters and www.bethevoice.com.au/entries/view/hhoh-the-voice-aussie-bloke for more information.
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