“Music definitely influences mood and is a universal language etc but it’s also very subjective to each individual. I dunno if thats from brainwashing (a radio station playing the same 7 songs all day etc)  but believe the exact same ideas could be presented differently and be enjoyed (or not) by different groups of people. It's a choice of taste. It either speaks to you or it doesn't. By default, my misic is made for weirdos because I am a weirdo, and I just hope other weirdos get down to it.

Bloodshot Bill: Honky Tonk Punk

Award-winning, multi-instrumentalist Bloodshot Bill has been perfecting his brand of raw rhythm & honky tonk punk for over 25 years. A true stylist - taking early roots influences & spitting them out as he pleases. His unique sound & vocal style are easily recognizable and like none other in his field. Immensely prolific (over 20 albums & countless singles), this Montreal mad man has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. Showing no signs of slowing down, Bloodshot Bill continues to expand musical vocabulary with each new release and performance. Bloodshot Bill is back with So Fed Up, his brand new album on Goner Records, which released on June 2025. He recorded So Fed Up straight to tape at his own SIN Studios, the way he always does it: fast, loud, and barely in control. He recorded the whole thing solo, the minute each song was written. No waiting. No overthinking. No compromises. Just raw sound and gut-level emotion.

(Bloodshot Bill / Photo by Scoot Doubt)

This isn’t a collection of love songs—it’s a series of warning shots, a swaggering set of tunes from someone who's been through the wringer and comes out swinging on the other side. A one-man rock ’n’ roll wrecking crew that is equal parts wild-eyed ‘50s punk, greasy garage rock, and untamed hillbilly howl, Bloodshot Bill hails from Montreal, where he’s known for his raw, lo-fi sound, frantic live shows, and immutable outlaw energy.  As his reputation has grown, Bloodshot Bill has been deemed a musical wildman, a primitive, a seminal punk, a throwback to the wild ‘50s, and the deranged spirit of psychobilly madness. With So Fed Up, his nineteenth studio album, Bloodshot Bill keeps the fire burning. Written in the aftermath of a breakup and a barrage of unsolicited advice (“Cut your hair?”—come on), the record crackles with the defiance of someone who's had enough and isn't shy about saying so.

Interview by Michael Limnios                   Archive: Bloodshot Bill, 2012 Interview

How has the music and Rock'n'Roll Counterculture influenced your views? What moment changed your music life the most? 

Reading Kicks magazine really turned me on. Seeing others that were so passionate about not only the music (and digging for obscure music) but the attitude it was written in too. It really cemented what I was already doing.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

I describe it as 50s punk. I can get inspired by great music/artists & also by sh*tty ones.

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

There are plenty and I'm actually working on a book of these stories (highlights & lowlights) but probably meeting other other artists i admire and finding out they also dig what I do (and sometimes even getting the chance to collaborate together) has been a great experience.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

If we're talking genre specific, I miss how artists used to take bigger risks & experiment with their sound. Nowadays, everything feels too safe & cookie cutter.

“Reading Kicks magazine really turned me on. Seeing others that were so passionate about not only the music (and digging for obscure music) but the attitude it was written in too. It really cemented what I was already doing.” (Right: Bloodshot Bill & Charles Plymell, 2016 / Photo by Mark Reinertson — Left: Bloodshot Bill / Photo by Emilina Fillipo)

How did your relationship with Charles Plymell come about? Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

We were both attached to the Norton label (Charlie with books, me with records), so once when Norton sent out a newsletter with my tour dates on them, Charlie saw it and showed up to one of my shows. We became fast friends, and one time while staying over at his place he showed me some of his older poems, saying they'd be great set to music. I kept that in mind and recorded a couple as a surprise for him. He liked them so much that we eventually released a 45 of them.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I dont worry too much about making music for others. I make stuff that I like and hope others enjoy it too.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music definitely influences mood and is a universal language etc but it’s also very subjective to each individual. I dunno if thats from brainwashing (a radio station playing the same 7 songs all day etc)  but believe the exact same ideas could be presented differently and be enjoyed (or not) by different groups of people. It's a choice of taste. It either speaks to you or it doesn't. By default, my misic is made for weirdos because I am a weirdo, and I just hope other weirdos get down to it.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

There are probably so many that I don't even realize I've learnt. Definitely some work decipline - being responsible etc. And also how NOT to act. 

Bloodshot Bill - Home

(Bloodshot Bill / Photos by Aaron Hall)