Greg Hanna (Bachelor of Music – Bass) has been covering a lot of ground since graduation as bassist for punk forefathers the Dickies. Here’s Greg’s story:
“After graduating from MI’s Bachelor Degree program in July of '99, I was able to find a gig pretty quick. Aside from playing jazz casuals, classic rock shows, and teaching, I landed a gig with D.H. Peligro of the Dead Kennedys. Working with D.H. involved recording, touring (including the Vans Warped Tour,) and songwriting.
“When the original Dead Kennedys re-united, it was time for me to look for another gig. I heard through word of mouth that The Dickies were looking for a new bass player. Even though I was able to learn only a few songs, I was still able to get a call back for a second try and they gave me a CD of their full set. At the second audition I played the entire set with them and got a call the next day with the good news! Having enough theory chops to help digest all of that material in such short time was invaluable – most Dickies songs have three or four distinct parts with very melodic bass patterns and were masterfully written – not typical 'punk rock', and not easy to learn.
“Two weeks after the audition we left on the 'Fiend Fest' tour with the Misfits, the Damned, D.I., and Agnostic Front. Since then, I've seen a good part of the world touring with the Dickies. We’ll be touring in Europe this summer, playing some dates on the Vans Warped Tour, and we are also working on tunes for the next album. Music companies have been very generous with me – I am currently endorsed by G&L basses, Ampeg bass amps, and S.I.T. Strings. In addition to playing with the Dickies, I also do my fair share of session recordings.
“There is no doubt that the MI Bachelor program has played a great part in my success. The extensive theory education taught me how to quickly break down songs into keys and sections. Real-world advice from instructors was also helpful, and playing with other students with different musical backgrounds helped me develop flexibility.”
Learn more about Greg and the Dickies on their myspace.