Upclose with El Destroyo
Local Rockabilly band El Destroyo is playing the next HK Live! on Apr 5. Billy Dean Cochran, lead guitarist and frontman, talks to Pavan Shamdasani about his old gig in Russel Crowe’s band and how to introduce greaser culture to Hong Kong.
HK Magazine: So what’s the story with you guys?
Billy Dean Cochran: “Rockin’ Billy Dean” rolled into Hong Kong with only a guitar and a Zippo lighter that was previously owned by Gene Vincent. He lives and breathes music and seeing him play is like standing close to the blue flame of the Rock ‘n Roll Blowtorch. Then he ran into Da Countess, a whisky-toting, bass-playing lady and her main man and drummer, Bubba. Billy Dean instantly knew they were cut from the same denim – true blue rock’n’roll denim. Together, they slam out a unique brand of rockabilly that is as tough as nails, as tight as a noose, and as raucous as a prison riot.
HK: Right. How did you all meet?
BDC: In a dark alley behind “Joyce is Not Here.”
HK: Do you guys have day jobs?
BDC: We teach children to become musicians so they’ll never, ever need to suffer the burden of a day job.
HK: So why did you decide to put together a rockabilly band in Hong Kong?
BDC: Why put together anything in HK? Interest is high, numbers are down, investment is risky.
HK: What’s the difference between rockabilly and “psychobilly”?
BDC: Medication, a haircut, some eyeliner and much more nudity. We’ve taken some rockabilly standards and turned them into pretty pyscho instrumentals with the occasional gritty guest singers.
HK: You used to play in Russell Crowe’s band – what was that like? Did he throw a mic at you?
BDC: Yep, twenty-five years with Russell writing songs and playing guitar. We started young, with a lot of busking. It was a rare opportunity to have such intense training with such driven and talented people. But as for throwing mics, why don’t you call him and ask? Chicken?