Hinder
Mike Rodden - guitarist

Read more about Hinder

Lauren: Hey Mike, how you doing today?
Mike Rodden: I'm good, just a little hung over.
Kelsey: Don't worry; we won't tax your brain too much.
M: Ha, ok.
L: we're college kids too, we understand. So we saw that you guys formed in Oklahoma City. Is that where you guys all met?
M: Yea, I was playing in a different band and that is how I met Hinder. We played a show together and a few years later they asked me to join the band. So that's how we met.
L: So where did you grow up?
M: We all grew up in the same area of Oklahoma City, you know, spread out in different parts but pretty much in the central part of Oklahoma.
L: What were you like as a child?
M: (Laughs) I did a lot of sh** as a child. I was an unwary little kid.
L: Elaborate, please! (ha)
M: If I wasn't painting my dog I was tearing stuff apart, whatever I could get into I got into.
L: Did you like school?
M: No, I hated it. I still do. I can't believe I wasted so much time in college.
L: O, so you actually went to college?
M: Yea, I did for a few years.
L: What did you study there? Music?
M: No, graphic design.
L: O, interesting
K: So did you always love music and know that you wanted to be a musician?
M: Probably around the age of 12 was when I really started liking music. About the age of 14 was when I got my first guitar. So I went from there. I never thought anything would ever happen, but I had always hoped.
L: So, what's your favorite song on the album?
M: I have two actually. Everyone in the band actually as their own favorites. My two favorite songs are Shoulda and By the Way. I think By The Way is going to be our next single.
K: Your single now, Lips of an Angel, hit the charts this year, but your album Extreme Behavior was released in '05. Did you ever doubt that it was going to become a success like it did?
M: Well, the label was always pumping us up and telling us we were going to be huge. And we were like, well you know if it is it is and if not then at least we are still having a good time. Get Stoned was our first single which was number 2 on the Hard Rock charts but it never really moved anywhere on alternative radio or modern rock very well. We were pumped about it but whenever Lips came out, it was just like, it was a whole new game. It got out of control really quickly.
L: So who's that song about? Or is it made up?
M: It's actually a true story that happened to Austin, when we were writing the album. (In the song) he spells out exactly what happened about getting the phone call exactly like the song. We had some music, when he told us the story, and we were like yeah that's the song, and put the lyrics down and it worked out. It worked out really well.
K: On the album, every group member is credited for writing the music. Does each member contribute equally or how does that work?
M: Usually, Cody and Austin brainstorm and come up with a few ideas then bring them up to the rest of the group and we go from there and put the song together. We put our own takes on it and we go from there.
L: We saw that you were opening for Aerosmith last week.
M: Yea, actually the day before yesterday.
L: Yea we were supposed to interview with you last week, but you stood us up!
M: I did???
L: Yea! Twice!!
M: I'm sorry what an a**hole.
L: Yea, after that we said, we definitely don't like Hinder anymore. But we came to our senses.
M: Jeeze, dammit, that's rude of me.
L: I'm disappointed (ha-ha) but anyway, what is it like opening a concert for someone who you love so much?
M: It was ridiculous. We got the call and they said that Aerosmith's people called asking if we could fill in for Motley Crew, which is ridiculous right there …filling in for Motley Crew. And everything got confirmed. It's just so crazy. I don't know how else to explain it. One of our biggest influences, sharing the stage with them, is crazy.
K: So who are your other musical inspirations besides Aerosmith?
M: Bon Jovi, basically all the bands that rocked their a**es of in the 80's. The bands now are all depressing and kind of boring, but those guys were rock stars.
L: So if you weren't doing rock music, could you see doing another genre of music?
M: No, I don't think so.
L: You wouldn't be an NSYNCer or a Backstreet Boy?
M: O, g-d no. I could probably be in a punk band, or a newer rock band, maybe like the Emo sh**. I could stomach doing that.
L: Do you like Emo sh**? Or not so much?
M: ehhhh no
K: So you guys just announced your European tour which is kicking off in March 2007. What are your feelings about that and what's it going to be like versus the American tour?
M: We get to go to Amsterdam, so I don't think that were are going to return. We'll probably all be buried there. I don't know, it's crazy, none of us has been over seas for vacation or anything like that so it's going to be different. Our management said its going to feel like a big set back because no one over there knows who were are and the shows are selling tickets but the album hasn't even come out there yet and they aren't going to know the music. It's going to be a change. Smaller crowds, we're going to have to work harder to get people into the show.
L: Now did you guys make the name Hinder or was the name already established when you entered the band?
M: I wasn't in the band when they came up with the name. The way they came about the name was when they had about twenty songs and they were starting to get gigs around town and they didn't have a name so they were pissed off and frustrated with it. So they looked up frustrated in the thesaurus and hinder was one of the descriptions. So they picked that and went with it.
L: Do you have any other passions besides music?
M: I like to drink a lot.
L: We saw that!!
M: Yea, that's a pretty big passion of mine.
L: We saw on the website that you like drinking and drugs.
M: Pretty much, yea. I like drinking and chicks. Those are my two passions.
L: So what's your favorite drink?
M: Right now it's Captain and Diet.
K: ooooo
M: Yea, but we got a hold of the Captain and Morgan people and we were trying to get free sh**. We were hoping for them to endorse us.
L: Diet Coke, why???
M: Well, you know. I have to keep my girlish figure.
K: Hahahahahahaha
M: Anyhow, they won't endorse us because they said that our lyrics are too edgy.
K: Captain won't….
M: Yea…they don't want anything to do with us.
L: Well let me give them a call, I will fix that for you.
M: So, we're going to have to switch our Rum.
K: Now, what have you learned since entering the music business, and is there anything you wish you had known before entering?
M: I think I've learned that there are a lot more politics involved then actually music. Every aspect of this business is shady. There are always people trying to snag a buck. There is just a lot of sh** that goes on, in which I had no idea that it was a part of this music thing. I just always assumed that we would just play some shows, and that was it.
L: And when you entered the band, did they have you change your image? Or is this just you?
M: No, this is me. I am a T-shirt and jeans guy. I didn't have a Mohawk at that time.
K: That's always a good rock and roll addition.
M: At first they gave me this stupid haircut when we went to record the album in which they paid way to much money for. They were supposed to make me look cool you know what I mean? I'm sure you've seen the pictures. It's the one with the blonde hair.
L: Yea…what was that?!?
K: The Mohawk is much more rock and roll .
M: Yea, I looked like a tool. I whipped out the clippers and just buzzed my head.
L: Maybe you are a tool?? Haha
M: haha
L: So do you dress yourselves or do you have stylists?
M: We have stylists when we do videos. One of our favorite things is when they bring us racks of clothes and we get to keep whatever we want. That's rad. We just have our closets on the bus and that's it. Throw on whatever we want for that day.
L: So what kind of jeans do you wear?
M: I've got a bunch of different ones. I think I'm wearing Monarch's right now. Affliction hooks us up. They just sent us boxes of clothes.
K: What's up next for you guys other than the European tour? What can we expect?
M: We're going to hit the road in January, after a break for Christmas. We're going to perform in the U.S. for a little while with Finger 11 and Black Stone Cherry. Then, like you said we hit Europe. We might actually be heading back to Europe in the summertime to play with Aerosmith, cross your fingers.
K: ooo
L: We're crossing them!
M: That would be insane. I think those three shows that we played were a trial thing to see if it would work. Then in September, we're going to record the next album. It will be released in January 08.
K: Did you guys get to meet Aerosmith and hang out with them when you did their shows with them?
M: That's a tricky deal. They don't really hang out. They've been doing it for so long.
K: Yea, their old. They leave the partying to you guys.
M: We got to meet the last show, say hi, and take some pictures. They're nice guys.
K: Alright, if you could pick your dream girl in Hollywood, who would it be?
M: I was trying to think of her name the other day. She's on 40 Days and 40 Nights. I think her name is Shannon.
K: OO yea, Shannon Sossamon
M: Yeah! That's it.
K: Yea, she's hot.
M: That's her. She's the one.
K: Maybe we could hook it up, let her people know.
M: That would be niceeeee.
K: I'm guessing that you're not in a relationship?
M: O g-d no! I would not be out here playing. That would just be a mess. It wouldn't last very long.
L: So, you're familiar with Gilligan's Island right? Ginger or Mary-Anne is the big question here at PopCultureMadness.
M: Which is which??
L: Ginger is the slutty, saucy one.
K: Mary-Anne's like the girl next door.
L: The hick!
M: I think I'm going to go the slutty route.
K: Ahh, you're the only one so far. Good, I like her better too!
M: I could change my mind later on in the day. I just rolled out of bed, hung over. I had a good night last night so I'm going for the slutty route.
L: That makes sense, for you.
K: Alright, well thank you so much. We really appreciate it. We are big fans. We look forward to everything you have in store for us.
M: Yea, we'll try to keep rocking. Thank you all very much.
L: Well good luck with everything.
K: And have fun tonight.
L: Don't party too hard.
M: Umm…all right ha-ha well thanks again!
L: Thank you! BYE!