Big Red Rocket Of Love Galaxy 500 Five-O Ford Reverend Horton Heat

Big Red Rocket Of Love Album: Martini Time (1996)
Galaxy 500 Album: Lucky 7 (2002)
Five-O Ford Album: Liquor in the front (1994)
by Reverend Horton HeatShow more

1985-
Reverend Horton Heat (Jim Heath) Guitar, lead vocals
"Swingin'" Jack Barton Bass 1985-1989
Jimbo Wallace Bass, backing vocals 1989-
Patrick "Taz" Bentley Drums 1989-1994
Scott Churilla Drums 1994-2006
Paul Simmons Drums 2006-2012

Formed in 1985, this Texas trio has recorded ten studio albums and one live album from 1990 through 2009. The group has sold about one million albums. Originally signed by the indie label Sub Pop, they later moved to Victory Records. The band can be described as some combination of Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Swing, Punk, Blues, Jazz, and even traditional Country.

In a Reverend Horton interview Jim was asked if he was content with the Psychobilly label. "Not really, no. We're really not psychobilly," he replied. He added: "Artists don't want to be pigeonholed, but I would rather be pigeonholed into Rockabilly, because that was really my thing, just being a band that tried to be an ultimate '50's type of thing, which currently is what Psychobilly is."

Reverend Horton Heat has a passion for 1950s greaser memorabilia and nostalgia, including Flame-drenched hot rods and muscle cars, pinups, even button beanies. Think Jughead and Goober Pyle. He writes about his button beanies passion in his "Rant Update" on his website: "I have been obsessed with something for a while (20 years or more). As a fifties enthusiast, I'm always interested in things from that era. Something missing from the new retro explosion is the button beanie. To me, it's a cool retro look." Heat sports one with a RHH patch.

The name, or title if you will, Reverend Horton Heat, was placed on Jim Heath by a club owner. Heat had developed a style of "preaching" while on stage. Over time "The Rev" felt that might be compromising the band's real talent, diminishing their credibility. The preaching has been toned down, but, he has received requests to officiate weddings. All of which he declines.

Reverend Horton Heat has worked with Gretsch Guitars in the development of his signature guitar, the Gretsch 6120RHH hollow body electric guitar. In a video demonstration Heat made with Premier Guitars he explains he wanted a guitar with more stability and one that would allow for easier changing of strings. "The Rev" made another change in his gear, parting ways with his beloved 1978 Fender Super Reverb amplifier to a Gretsch Executive Combo. Not a move taken lightly for any accomplished musician. The Gretsch Executive Amps offered him more clarity in the higher notes.

Heat explained to Guitar Player magazine: "It doesn't matter what guitar you play, it's how you play it. It's what comes out of the heart."

Big Red Rocket Of Love

I got a red car with blue tail lights
Shiny red seats with piping in white
Leopard skin dash with a louvered hood
She goes ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba when she's runnin' good

Lets go
Ride into the mountains above
It's low
My big red rocket of love
My big red rocket of love

I got a little honey you just got to know
Drivin' this bomb as fast it will go
Drive the red rocket past the local dive
She goes ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba in overdrive

Lets go
Ride into the mountains above
It's low
My big red rocket of love
My big red rocket of love

Horny little baby in my back seat
Pull my velveteen curtain with pleats
Pick a little spot were no one will be
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-make love to me

Galaxy 500

You take the dog
I'll take the Galaxie 500
You get the cat
I get the couch you don't want anymore

You take the fish
I'll take the bowl
You take the dishes
While you're at it take my soul
But things ain't so bad
'Cause I've got a Galaxie 500

You get the house
I get a cheap motel room
You get a friend
But that should not matter to me anymore
You have a thing and he's just a friend
I can't believe that this is the end
But things ain't so bad
'Cause I got a Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500, in a Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500

I'm in my own Galaxie 1973
In my own Galaxie
You probably would have wanted this too
But it's not air-conditioned
No, it's not air-conditioned
No, it's not air-conditioned
No, it's not air-conditioned
It's not air-conditioned

Five-O Ford

Let me tell you the tale of a hot rod race
That happened out in a secluded place
Where no one lives
'cept cows and a few raccoons

I was drivin' around in my shoebox car
My baby and me underneath the stars
My engine was knockin'
But i knew it'd clear real soon

I was cruisin' along 'bout 95
I looked in my mirror and man alive
Some guy was gaining on me
As his engine roared

So i gave that Holly carb some gas
My baby cried out don't let him pass
I guess it's just that bitch got bored
I had to race my fucked up Ford

I made the turn at 108
And he was up on my back gate
And I knew he had something bad
Underneath that hood

So I pushed it up to 110
That flathead motor was about to give in
I crossed my fingers and prayed to the lord
Don't let me down you fucked up Ford