No newcomers to glamorous world of smoke-filled clubs and bad salaries - meet DUNCAN, EMANUELA, LUKE the PUKE and OLIVER.

Duncan James: Guitar player and general all-in renaissance man
Instruments currently used: Gibson Les Paul 1954 reissue, Fender Telecaster Hotrod
Drinks: Single malt scotch, English beer, Spanish wine
Favourite breakfast: Caviar on toast, 2 fried eggs on crumpets, coffee and a glass of orange juice
Favourite prog rock guitar solos: "Adventures In a Yorkshire Landscape" by Bill Nelson, "Larks Tongues In Aspic Part IV" by Adrien Belew and "Starship Trooper" by Steve Howe.
Favourite other band I play in: Fields of Henry
Favourite mountain bike: Serotta Titanium T-Max
Worst mountain bike accident before I discovered helmets and gloves: Skin scraped off the palms, knees, elbows, thighs. Also a concussion. Had a gig the same evening.
Favourite actor: Christopher Walken
Favourite books: Tom Robbins "Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates", Homer - Illiad/Odyssey, "Water Music" by T.C. Boyle
Famous relative: Mungo Park (yup, the bloke out of "Water Music")
If I was not a musician I would like to be: The chief breast oiler for Penthouse magazine
First bedroom poster: Manchester United
Collects: Shirts with dragons on them. Very partial to brown trousers.


Oliver Baroni: Bass player, singer, bad driver
Drinks: Dry martinis, Tennessee & Bourbon
Shoes: All Stars and creepers
Movies: Hitchcock and Scorsese
Singers: Howling Wolf, Blind Willie Johnson, Lightning Hopkins, Steve Earle
Food: Italian, Indian, Thai and most other stuff too
Addiction: espresso
Source of infinite annoyance: Bad espresso (i.e. nearly everywhere outside of Italy)
Very first musical influence: Harry Belafonte
Bands I have played in: Hillbilly Headhunters, The Happysad, MD Moon
Favourite joke: "Q: How can you make God really laugh? A: Tell Him about your plans for the future."
Favourite pastime: Sleeping
2nd favourite pastime: Sleeping, waking up, going to the bog, going back to bed again.
Favourite recorded sound of a Gretsch DuoJet: "Road Runner" by Bo Diddley
If I was not a musician I would like to be a: TV cook
Interesting fact, useful for bragging: Was born in the same hospital that Jimi Hendrix died in. Mere coincidence?


Emanuela Hutter: Rhythm guitarist, singer, good driver
Instrument currently used: Fender Jag-Stang (modified)
Drinks: Whiskey sour, Prosecco
Singers: Patsy Cline, Irma Thomas, Billie Holiday, Alex Harvey, Dinah Washington, Julie London
Favourite Bands: Motörhead, AC/DC (only with Bon Scott, mind you), The Pretenders
Source of infinite annoyance: Oliver's driving
Favourite tv show: Absolutely Fabulous, French and Saunders
First instrument: The jukebox in my parents' restaurant
First musical influence: The Ronettes
Bands I have played in: The Buechsenbeers, MD Moon
If I was not a musician I would like to be a: Very rich man's widow
Favourite movie: Once Upon a Time In the West
Favourite fantasy: No, she's not telling anymore.
Favourite car: Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2l in pale yellow with whitewall tyres.


Luke 'The Puke' Weyermann: Drummer, joker and smoker
Instrument currently used: 60s Slingerland kit
Booze: Beer
Boots: 43
Favourite B-Movies: Blow Up, Brazil, Bad Lieutenant, Barton Fink, Big Lebowski, Bie Hard 1-3, Beer and Loathing In Las Vegas
Favourite food: Cordon bleu with chips and a side salad
Bands: Buddy Rich, Blues Explosion, QOTSA, Rookiç
Bands I have played in: Mona Lisa Overdrive, Crank, Zot, Wicked
Hair wax: Dax Short & Neat
If I was not a musician I would like to be a: Kindergarten teacher
Favourite Playstation 2 game: Gran Turismo
Favourite book: Kerouac - "On the Road"
Favourite pastime: TV
Very first musical influence: The Beatles
Involuntary talent: To look like an 1970s undercover cop




What's in a name? Well, 2 bands in the case of the Hillbilly Moon Explosion. There's Oliver's former band the Hillbilly Headhunters and Emanuela's singer-songwriter project MD Moon. After disbanding the Headhunters, Oliver decided to get back to doing what he does best, i.e. leading a band that really rocks, and so he set out in search of a decent name. Who knows what rubbish he would of come up with, had not Emanuela pointed out that it might be an idea to consolidate on all the hard work they'd put into their former combos and call the new band The Hillbilly Moon Explosion.

Oliver's first step was to go up to Star Track Studios and record four demo tracks late 1998. The line-up was Oliver, former MD Moon and Happysad drummer Aad Hollander and ex-Headhunter Pat Matteo on guitar. Emanuela was still tied down with solo engagements. The recordings were a great success - two songs from this session made it on to the debut album Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion.

And then, the minute the first gig offers started coming in, Pat decided to quit. Thanks. But the HME found themselves another guitar player in the shape of Patrick Geser, the new kid down the local guitar store.

Late 1999 saw the first Hillbilly Moon Explosion gigs and they soon established a reputation as the hottest rock'n'roll band in town. From late 2K onwards the Hillbilly Moon Explosion was gigging up and down the country and putting in recording sessions at Star Track Studios whenever they could, the result of which is the superb debut LP/CD Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion released 2002.

Aad Hollander was always in great demand as a session and live drummer, going off on tour with other bands every once in a while. This meant the Hillbilly Moon Explosion often had to work with a backup drummer. So, when Aad decided to call it a day late in 2001, then-backup Luke Weyermann stepped in and the HME haven't looked back ever since.

Their sophomore effort, Bourgeois Baby was released to great acclaim in 2004. And so the Hillbilly Moon Explosion boldly went forth and played all across Europe - Barcelona, London, Berlin, Helsinki, Milano - and have built up a strong following of loyal fans. As a thank you the HME released By Popular Demand - The Basement Tapes 1999-2005, a limited edition mini-album in 2005.

The current line-up is Emanuela on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Luke on drums, Oliver on bass and lead vocals and Duncan James on lead guitar (Patrick having left in 2004) and boy do they rock! Whatever happens, the Hillbilly Moon Explosion will certainly remain true to their cause:- Rock'n'Roll, no BS.


Booking: booking@hillbillymoon.com, tel +41-79-614 91 93