What's In Your Fridge: Billy Hopeless

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      What’s in Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz Ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6-cubic-foot refrigerators.

      On the grill

      Billy Hopeless

      Who are you  

      Billy Hopeless by any other name and, trust me, I’ve heard ‘em all. Some love, some hate, but none shall be granted the freedom to ignore. Whether it’s with the Black Halos, my solo stuff, or anything I do, you know what yer in for when you lay down.

      First concert

      Well, that would probably have been some great-of-all-greats like Harry Belafonte or Rolf Harris at the Sun pops Christmas series at the Queen E. Theatre—you know, “Jump in the Line” and “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and all that. My first big rock concert was Kiss Dynasty, November 19, 1979, at the Coliseum. Many hated Kiss when they went disco, but I think that album rocks, and, hey, seeing Kiss live was a dream come true. And seeing Loverboy get booed of the stage just made it cooler, though now I even have an appreciation for Loverboy. Like our parents said, “Later in life, you may learn to like kids’ stuff you may hate as a kid."

      Life-changing concert

      Well, after Kiss-go-disco, the only thing to say is the Ramones/Debbie Harry/Tom Tom Club at the PNE during the Escape From New York tour. How can ya beat the Ramones playing with the roller-coaster and rides in the background? That show was just perfect in every way. Runner-up goes to seeing the Cramps at the Commodore for the first time. 

      Top three records

      The New York Dolls The New York Dolls  'Cause when I say, “I’m in love, you best believe I’m In love, l-u-v.” So let me ask you as a person: is it a crime to fall in love with Frankenstein?

      Simon and Garfunkel Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits  Though I always mocked them from youth on, when I was in the hospital on what I thought was my deathbed, and when my dad died, I heard “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on the hospital radio and it spoke to me. After that, I studied the works of Mr. Simon and realized the electronic home game bearing his name that was created in the '80s doesn’t even hold candle to his musical greatness.

      AC/DC Powerage  The whole album rules, but in three words: “Down Payment Blues”. The opening riff is the the ultimate rock intro, and the lyrics, including “Can’t afford to feed my cat," just say it all. You say Lemmy, I say Bon.

      All-time favourite video 

      The Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated”  Just their facial expressions are amazing—you don’t even need sound to enjoy the slapstick of the brudders. 

      What’s in your fridge

      A can of Yoo-hoo chocolate drink. As I’m a huge root-beer fanatic, I've found a steady for Faygo (whoop whoop), as well as the classic Hires Root Beer. But one day I looked in a cooler and this can said, “Yoo-hoo,” so I said, “Okay, I’ll take you home.” This often happens with anything with a nice can, actually. 

      Lots of different hot sauces. I’m in shape for a Spanish tour in 2016, so, ya know, some fer breakfast, some fer lunches, some for dinners, and some for desserts. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of my fridge.

      A giant jar of pickles. I always feel like pickles are baby cucumbers that are preserved in much the same way as medical specimens are preserved in formaldehyde. Every now and then, I’ll pick the jar up to study them and watch them float around.

      You can check out Billy Hopeless's new single, "Gutter Ball", here

       

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