Chuck HinsonThe 60's Inspirational Drummer - "MOULTY" MOULTON
September 22nd 2008 16:24
I had the distinct privilege of speaking with him recently, and gain some insight into the background of this amazing musician (as well as the famous group):
(NOTE: Since this is from a phone conversation, I'm building this according to the notes I took. However, his exact words are in italics.)
Victor "Moulty" Moulton grew up in Cape Cod — more specifically, the area of Provincetown, Massachusetts (which he described as a really wild town). In growing up during the ’50s and early ’60s, he was highly impressed by Elvis (his words: he floored me!). So he started playing guitar from the time I was a real, little guy. He first began playing the drums when he was fourteen years old.
Although he said he always wanted to play the drums, it was at that age when Moulty created a homemade bomb that blew up in my face and took off my left hand … three inches above the wrist.
But the youngster was determined to not let it get to me, and continued keeping the beat … with a hooked prosthesis and a notch on the drumstick so it’d fit the hook without sliding. This proved immensely helpful when he began his career with his group.
HOW THE BARBARIANS BEGAN (aka A STORY WITHIN ITSELF!)
To say that the first great garage band had a unique beginning would be an understatement! Moulty was 19 years old when his cousin (at the time, … a bartender; today, … a doctor in New York) heard him play the drums and asked You got a band? At that, Moulty … well, sorta fibbed and said, Yeah … I’ve got a band! (He didn’t actually have one) Well, what’s the band’s name? The youngster had to come up with something, so he said, uh … The Barbarians!
Well, Moulty didn't think anything of it for awhile … until his cousin called him and said, You're gonna be playing the Rumpus Room Saturday night! They wouldn't be paid for the gig, but it'd be great exposure! He was shocked. WHAT?? I didn't really have a band … I'd made it up! But I didn't want to let his cousin down.
So he got on the phone and started calling his friends, frantically trying to find musicians to pull together and make a real group called The Barbarians. Having found them at practically the last moment, we converged on my parents' garage, I guess making us the first real ‘garage’ band and began fervently rehearsing songs for the gig.
When the time came to play, it seemed like the whole town was there. There were actually traffic jams due to so many people coming in to hear this new band! And the kids loved it! Within a couple of weeks, there were agents from record companies who came to listen … and sign them to a record contract! My parents thought it was a cool idea, and advised me to get an agent. Thus, The Barbarians were on their way “up the ladder”!
NOW, THE RELIC'S GOT A SPECIAL UPDATE COMIN' IN THE NEXT POST. AFTER THAT, THOUGH, YOU'LL READ: The TAMI Show, More about Moulty, and The Song That Inspired Thousands …
So stay tuned, yardbirds: Things're startin' to get interesting here in RockTown. Until tonight, remember:
Keep yer eyes on the skies, yer feet on the ground, yer heart with the music ...
and I'll see ya on the flip side!
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