Nothin’ But A Good Time: A Conversation with Hairball’s Patrick Stone
A little more than six months ago, Patrick Stone was another in a long line of vocalists who just wanted a chance.
The chance to play for thousands of roaring people looking for a way to escape from the doldrums of life for two hours.
Then, it came. The call, and the four words that changed everything.
“There’s this cover band …. ”
Stone’s longtime agent/friend was on the line with some news he’d heard. At the time, though, Stone wasn’t having any of it.
“I told him, ‘Dude, lose my number,’ Stone said.
But the agent didn’t.
“He said, ‘It pays this much.’ I said, ‘I’m on my way,’ ” Stone laughed.
Tonight that band — the world famous tribute act, Hairball — will return to the Iowa State Fair once again, this time on their Silver Anniversary Tour to celebrate 25 years of taking people on bombastic, ear-drum splitting rides back to the “good old days” when hard rock music ruled the roost. And this time it won’t be on a free stage like in the past. The motley crew of the midwest is all grown up now and has graduated to the biggest stage of all, the Iowa State Fair Grandstand.
The performance will be the first at the State Fair for Stone, a long-time rocker who has been channeling the likes of Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Steve Perry of Journey, David Lee Roth of Van Halen, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Bret Michaels of Poison, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses, and the late, great Ozzy Osbourne since getting the gig in January.
Stone said he’s worked hard at getting things just right with each vocalist he imitates. That’s no surprise since a large part of Hairball’s success over the years has been the band’s dedication to delivering a true-to-life experience with their spot-on renditions of the original purveyors of the music, both sonically and visually.
“When you look up at the stage, you’re looking at something that was hand-picked from a photograph of the original artist from that certain time and space,” he said. “We have a custom tailor who makes outfits to match that (photograph) so you can see it on stage.”
The added authenticity works in reverse, too, Stone said.
“Once I put on a sequin jacket, or bandana, I instantly feel this character come alive, and I’m free to act more like they did,” he said. “If I started acting like David Lee Roth in my everyday clothes on stage, I’d look like a total freak.”
The best advice he’s gotten thus far?
“Listen to the pyro guy,” Stone said. “He’ll tell you where NOT to stand on stage. The horror stories that scare me the most are the ones where the guy’s hair catches on fire, especially with the Gene Simmons (KISS) character with the sword and fire spitting. If you’re not really, really careful and don’t check the wind right before you blow that stuff out of your mouth, it could fly right back at you.”
This isn’t Stone’s first trip around the rock n’ roll block. He’s toiled for years with his own original band, Budderside, having released three albums after being signed by the one and only Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. Stone was more than an acquaintance of Kilmister and Motorhead, having served as a roadie for the legendary heavy metal band for 12 years.
“I toured around the world with them three times, and when they were in L. A., I’d take care of everything they needed, from rides to setting up gear, to taking care of studio riders and everything else,” he said. “We were tight friends. Lemmy was always trying to encourage me to try my own original music, and would let me sit on the back of the bus with him while he was writing lyrics for Motorhead songs, which was surreal as hell.”
Every rock n’ roll story it seems comes with its peaks and valleys, and Stone’s is no different. He suffered through bouts of drug addiction during those early years, most of which was seen by Kilmister.
“I was a junkie for so many years. Lemmy witnessed all of it. He stood by me when I was at my worst, and also one of the best times, when I got signed. He could do it all, whatever he wanted, and never changed. He taught me that if you want to be a legend like that, don’t be an asshole. Don’t be a know-it-all or conceited. Just know when to talk. Every time, even when he spoke just one sentence, it was like this book of knowledge being thrown at you.”
A piece of Budderside will remain in his heart. Always will, he said. But right now, it’s full throttle with Hairball for eight to 10 songs each night. And he’s loving it.
“It’s two hours, non-stop,” he said. “We’ve been practicing so many new characters that you’d think at some point you’d run out, but the 70s and 80s had so many bands with so many hits that we’ll all remember forever. If you’re not really into Bon Jovi, give it 10 seconds and you’ll be right in the middle of Rush. There’s something for everyone.”
Hairball’s Silver Anniversary Tour
Iowa State Fair Grandstand
Wednesday, August 13, 8 p.m.
$25 Pit Standing
$15 Grandstand Seating
