Quotes from Hank Williams III

Each Hank Williams has always had an independent streak.

I could have took the easy way and just been a cowboy, looking good, trying to make my money off Hank Williams and being this clean-cut guy. But I always wanted to be myself and go against the grain.

If Hank Williams had lived any longer, his name would have been one of the most hated in the land. Nashville would have dug him deep.

Hank Williams, Hank Jr. and myself, if you check your history, you'll see that they've always played in rowdy environments. Part of that is a lot of people are coming to forget their problems and not being told what to do for a couple of hours and not try to have anything sold to them or pushed on them.

Hank Williams was playing rock-n-roll before rock-n-roll was.

I'll never outdo Hank Williams. That's impossible.

There's only one Hank Williams, man. Singing that high-voiced style, them bluegrassers, I don't see how they do it - Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe - it's just a natural thing, man.

It's right there on my birth certificate, 'Shelton Hank Williams III.' It's not fake.

No other Hank Williams has ever screamed like I have. I guess that's my way of officially being me.

I thank God for all the independent hard rock that I grew up with.

My whole game plan, at first, was I wanted to rock out as hard as I could because usually you're old by the time you're 24.

Energy wise, playing the drums was a lot of fun; I just felt like it was a natural fit for me.

My grandfather always sang about the light, and for some reason, I don't know why, it even goes back to when I was seven, eight years old, I've always been attracted to the dark.

I am from a rebel blood line.

My relationship with my dad will always be strained, but that just goes to show, I guess, that I'm doin' a pretty good job of bein' myself, and bein' a rebel.

I live wild and free and reckless, but that's the price you have to pay for rock.

The true Hank III fans want me to be me.

I mean, out of every five shows we do, there's somebody saying Hank Sr.'s rolling around in his grave.

To me, country music is emotions, certain harmonies. But it's all in the emotions - a lot of good times, a lot of hard times.

I always do my show and say hello. And a lot of people are standing around waiting to shake my hand and say thanks for, A, letting me talk to you, and letting me feel a part of what you do.

We definitely get respect as far as the musicianship, working hard and being road dogs.

Mike Patton is my mentor, and he releases two to five records a year with many different bands, and he gets stuff done.

When I'm feeling awful, music is the only thing that releases the pressure. It's been the best psychiatrist I've ever had.

If you look at how much Hank Williams did by 29 years old, it makes you feel pretty worthless.