Q&A: Clint Hyndman (Something For Kate)

By ADAM COOPER

Hot Metal: Hey Clint, nice to have a chinwag. Been a while since the Punters and Central club days huh?

Clint Hyndman: “Such a long time ago; that was a such golden time for music! Many fond memories of seeing you belt it out with Suiciety.”

HM: I cannot BELIEVE Elsewhere for 8 minutes is 25 years old! Doing the rounds to celebrate I see?

CH: “Me neither. It only felt like yesterday we were recording those songs. Yeah we’re heading out to play the album in full as well as few other older tracks we’ve never played. As most of those songs are in 7/8 and 6/8 timing it’s going to give my memory a good workout.”

HM: That album was a go-to in my old Kingswood. Got me through some interesting times too. How do you think SFK have evolved over the journey?

CH: “May have passed you on the road in my old Corolla hahahahah. I think we’ve definitely got better at playing our instruments but also the craft of songwriting. Also PD’s (Paul Dempsey’s) voice especially. He has such a wide range that continues to evolve.”

HM: How is life down on the peninsula treating you? Adding Bar owner to the CV must be like a dream come true.

CH: “Yeah it was also a plan to own a bar one day! Didn’t think it’d actually happen! Life on the peninsula is great. I’ve finally cut my ties to town by selling my half out of Yellow Bird in Windsor (the bar I started up with a good mate 15 year ago).  I now have three down here on the peninsula. Wowee Zowee & Loosie’s Diner & Bar in Mornington and Slim’s Hot Pizza in Mt Eliza which just opened. It’s going to be hard to get time off to play these shows, hahahahaha!”

HM: Drum kit set up just in case? What is your set up looking like these days?

CH: “I have a kit set up at home that the kids like to bash on. My set up hasn’t really changed at all over the years… although the toms have gotten lower and the snare tilts further away from me as the arm’s a little lazier. I’m playing a Ludwig these days which I bloody love the sound of and still smashing Zildjian cymbals with my all time favourite Vic Firth 8D sticks!!! Sponsor plugs.”

HM: In a recent poll you were voted one of the best drummers of the nineties. How does that sit with you?

CH: “Really? That’s so nice to hear, makes the deafness and arthritis in the neck worth it … although I don’t consider myself that good at all hahahaha!”

HM: Serious stuff now. All time desert island band?

CH: “It’’s a coin flip between the Descendents and The National. Think I’d say the Descendeents as they are still producing great songs and the early stuff takes me back to growing up. Punk rock for the win! Paul and I actually met because of them. He had a Descendents top on under his school uniform that you could see through the school shirt. I’m like, ‘you’ve heard of that band?’ The rest is history and here we are are 30-odd years later still playing music together.”

HM: AFL, NRL or other sport teams followed?

CH: “AFL, St Kilda…breaking my heart again this season. I also follow every pro golfer on the circuit! I love golf!”

HM: Cheers Clint, hope to catch you at a show soon. Rock on.

CH: “Thankya Adam!  See ya again when we celebrate the 50th anniversary,  hahaha.”