Less Talk, More Rocktion

By Colin Hunter

I must admit, I was a bit intimidated (by which I mean a lot intimidated) by the prospect of interviewing Danko Jones, frontman of the eponymous Canadian power-rock band. For the past dozen years, Danko has earned a reputation as a kind of rock 'n' roll demigod -- a libidinous, sweat-dripping firebrand with a fearsome stage presence and a low tolerance for wussiness. Well before his band's first album was even released, Danko Jones had built a reputation as one of the world's most hypercharged rock personalities, and notoriously short-fused interviewees.

So it was with a mix of relief and disappointment (reliesappointief?) that I read an e-mail from Danko's media-relations flack informing me that Danko himself would not be available for our scheduled phone interview, since he had to rest his ragged larynx before last night's gig in Grande Prairie, Alta. So I was informed I'd instead interview bassist John Calabrese, whom the flack assured me was "great" too.

And he was great, in an affable, understated way. But he was not, unfortunately, full of the fiery rock-star attitude and reckless abandon I had hoped for. He was... polite.  When I called, he was watching sports highlights on the internet because the TV on the tour bus wasn't working. He dutifully answered my questions, but with blase quips like: "We love to play music" and "We just do what we do, y'know?"  My full story for an upcoming edition of The Record might be a little light on quotes.

But Danko Jones (the guy and his bandmates) need not talk about what they do.  They just do it. For more than a decade, they've been doing it in countries around the world. They're huge in Europe. The Rolling Stones hand-picked Danko Jones to open for them in Toronto a few years ago. Motorhead loves 'em.

The guys in Danko Jones are rockers, not talkers. Watch them rock The Starlight on May 21. In the meantime, watch them rock here: