First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
Danny Joe Brown has died at the age of 53 (complications from diabetes.)
He was the lead singer of the Southern rock group Molly Hatchet. Back in the day of Southern rock (when, for a time, Hatchet, the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others ruled the radio waves) Molly Hatchet sat on the "hard rock" side of the the fence. I loved, loved, loved Flirtin' With Disaster. Still do. It reminds me of those nights back in high school, driving around in my parents' car, drumming madly on the steering wheel and dashboad to songs like "Long Time", "Whiskey Man" and that killer title track.
There was also some killer stuff on their first record, including an either stellar or heathenous (depending on your point of view) cover of the Allman's "Dreams."
Not too long ago, when I was giving stepson #2 classic rock recommendations, I handed him my copy of Flirtin'. He brought it back the next day, saying that he thought the music was great, but that it would have been better if "the singer didn't sound like Kermit the Frog".
Sorry Danny, I meant well.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Andrew Ian Dodge
I was sad to see that he had died. Having seen Molly Hatchet with DJB, I know that many of their fans will be feeling his loss.
2 - Neil Everett
Anyone who saw Molly Hatchet LIVE during the Danny Joe Brown reign can attest to the spirit the man brought to the stage...great performer.
I was fortunate enough to meet Danny Joe on a couple of occassions...once at the Honolulu airport where he could not have been more gracious with his time...also had breakfast with him and John Galvin once after a gig...I remember I started smoking Merit cigarettes because that's what DJB smoked...hey, I was young!
Danny Joe Brown was a Dude...abided...and now Walks with the Angels.
Peace and Aloha
3 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Yeah Southern Rock has lost a good un'.
4 - wally bangs
It was in 7th grade that I had to start riding the school bus and was lucky enough to get bus number 84. The driver was a young guy who had only one steadfast rule: no talking as you board the bus otherwise no stereo. And this guy played the stereo loud usually on the top 40 rock station, but when he wasn't playing that he would play Molly Hatchet's debut album. I was one of the last kids off the bus so I got to hear the album in its entirety every few days. Their version of "Dreams I'll Never See" still beats the original by the Allman Brothers to these day since I heard it first. My mother got me the record with its freaky Frazetta cover art for my birthday and soon after I got the Flirtin' With Disaster album. I don't think it matches the debut, but it was still good. I got those records in the era when I only owned a handful of records so they were well played.
I used to dismay my punk friends in high school when I would drag out my Molly Hatchet records. I was naive enough to think that being a true punk was doing and liking whatever you wanted to.
It's a real shame about Danny Joe Brown. His voice helped get me through junior high.
5 - Andrew Ian Dodge
My memory of the Molly Hatchet gig (which was my first ever btw) was that all the rednecks that were drunk were falling into the water in front of the stage at Miami Marine Stadium. (Of course, for good measure they were "yee-hahing" as well.)
6 - Mike
As The song goes One Mans Lose Is Another Mans Gain. You Will be missed
7 - kk ryder(rebel princess)
I have a funny story about Danny Joe Brown and the "Flirtin'with Disaster" Boys! We were gigging at the Ballard Firehouse in Seattle Washington in 1994 ...my band was one of the warm-up bands,I like to change costumes and had to go downstairs in the middle of our set while my band played on...I walked into the room and heres Danny with my red and black leather bra on his head! the Molly Hatchet guys were playing "keep away" with MY LEATHER BRA!...I got some fantastic shots from that gig... the night was "electric"
I am so sorry to hear about your loss...Danny was quite a talent and very sweet! kk ryder
8 - rick
Danny Joe will be missed something unbelievable. His music is still alive and being played on tour. Look for them coming your way. Molly Hatchet has a new album out and the music still rocks.
9 - Temple Stark
Mark,
I launched this news item on the world - or at least the part of the world that scours Advance.net for the (family-friendly) cream of the BC Web log.
Here's the link. Sorry here.
- Thanks. Temple
10 - Temple Stark
Mark,
I launched this news item on the world - or at least the part of the world that scours Advance.net for the (family-friendly) cream of the BC Web log.
Here's the link. Sorry here.
- Thanks. Temple
11 - Dave Fletcher
Great man. Great Band. He will be missed.
12 - Robert
Molly Hatchet was and is still a great rockin band. Listen to their album "No Guts, No Glory". This is classic rockin southern music at it's best and only a few people have ever heard it. Danny's on this and he fits the music so well. He was really a somebody.
13 - Houston Psycho
I have felt a kinship with Danny for about 25 years. Here I am a grown man, 42 years old, with tears in my eyes as I just learned about his death.
I was just listening to some of my favorite Molly Hatchet tracks a few minutes ago, broadcasting them through my home while I washed up the dishes. Now, I find how ominous it was.
I have attended many concerts in my days. One of my favorite memories was seeing Danny and the boys play in Austin with Blackfoot. I had to work my way up to the front of the stage. During several songs, Danny walked by the front and slapped hands with those of us who were reaching up to him.
Thanks for touching my hand and my life, Danny.
You are missed by many.
Houston Psycho
14 - chris
His vocal style wasout of this world,I wish I had hakf of what he had,gonna miss him
15 - Les Izmore
Aw ferchrissakes, GET OVER IT! He was a
mediocre vocalist with some stupid f'ing
BOOGIE band. Molly Hatchet never set any
standards,broke any new ground,made any
thing close to a classic song & even at
their very best were never more than a
B-list band and to add insult to injury
they had those faggy ass Frank Frazetta
LP covers that 13 year old boys love so
much. But duuuuuuude man Frazetta's is
like art duuuuuude that's some fucking a
deep ass shit duuuuude.
So, their lead singer dies and now even
strangers who never even knew this Mutha
fucker(grown men at that)are getting all
fucking weepy eyed over the guys death ?
Gimme a break. I mean it's sad the cat
cashed in and all but... RIP Willy Bob.
Oh dear god when will this misery stop?
First the Tsunami, then my cat got hit
by a runaway garbage truck and now this!
Oh you angry spiteful god is there not a
rhyme or reason to your madness?
16 - Billy Bob Jim Joe Jack
Who is that pathetic donkey talking like big man behind the keyboard.
Writing ignorant trash about a great band.Bet you ain't musician freaking Donkey
17 - unanymus
Yo!!!! Lez Izmore he was my uncle so u dont need 2 talk like that
18 - unanymus
thanx 4 standing up 4 my uncle billy bob jim joe jack
19 - gdfgdf
i wanna c wut else u gotta say les izmore
20 - nun ya
wuts the reason 4 ur madness
21 - nunya
and 4 your n-fo les izmore i am a young girl not an old man getting all weepy eyed over MY UNCLE DYING!!!!WOW you must be really shallow gonna put sum1 down like that when they aint even here to defend themselves u have got serious issues
22 - nunya
you get over your self les izmore
23 - none
If those fags in that band try 2 start over without Danny they r gona fail because he maid that band u no !!!
24 - wheats
Les Izmore..you sound full of anger and hurt. Had u known Danny as the person he was...he was VERY special. I am sorry for the loss of your cat..no cat lover could be a bad person. Yes, the world is in grand turmoil. Remembering the good these beings brought us in this life will bring us all peace inside. I know that Danny would be understanding of your pains and not want any of us to be unkind to you or anyone. Hey, you must be jealous that your cat is at THE PARTY.
I know I am.
25 - Mushroom
DJB RIP! I was and still am a Southern Rock Yankee. My fondest memory of DJB was seeing him in Hartford ~1985-86. He drank a fifth of JD and still could sing awesome (although he couldn't hardly stand!) What a party animal! I'm sure he had many interesting stories about his life. Miss you Toy, Tommy, Ronnie,and Duane too.