Dusty Hanvey “It's Just Real”
Interview with the Lead Guitarist of The Grass Roots ~by Seth Malone, Host of Chords & Conversations
The year was 1976, the band was The Grass Roots, and the young man who stepped onto the C-130 in Alaska at Fort Richardson was Dusty Hanvey, a guitar player from sunny California. The destination? Well, that’s a secret. Just kidding, the destination was Tin City, Alaska, population 80.
As the engines of the C-130 roared to life, the vibrations combined with the buzz of excitement for this new experience. He was seated among the band’s road cases filled with guitars and amps, stenciled with the band logo “The Grass Roots.”
Around him, his bandmates shared stories, their voices blending with the hum of the propellers, but Dusty was absorbed in his own thoughts. Dusty wasn’t all that excited about flying in general. Every now and then, he would join up with The Grass Roots and play a few gigs, which he loved… but flying? Well, he could think of a lot better modes of travel. He had to admit that being on a C130 military plane was kind of exciting, in the “man there sure are a lot of parachutes on this plane” sort of way. But the beauty of Alaska unfolding below him made up for it all. With a chuckle, Dusty mused about the extensive tuning his guitars would require when they landed.
Stepping off the plane in Tin City, Dusty was greeted by a blast of fresh, crisp Alaskan air and immediately thought that he should probably put on the other two sweatshirts he brought for the trip, and maybe a couple more shirts.
The entire city turned out to greet them; all eighty of them. Judging by their excitement, Dusty figured they were either truly thrilled to see them or extremely bored. He settled on a little of both. That evening, after the crew had set up the stage in the Concert Venue/Mess Hall, Dusty strummed the opening chords to “Let’s Live for Today.” The room, heated by both the warmth of the heaters and the presence of the service members, burst into cheers and singing, creating the familiar sense of connection that Dusty lived for. It was indeed a good day.
For more than four decades, this rock legend has served as the lead guitarist for The Grass Roots, and a key figure in rock and roll history. I am honored to introduce to you Dusty Hanvey.
But first, let’s rewind a bit so I can take a moment to explain how someone like me, a local from Soldotna, Alaska, stumbled into such a fantastic opportunity. For those who read my articles about local artists who perform in my show Chords & Conversations, “Songwriters In The Round,” you might be surprised at this huge step up. Trust me, I feel the same way. How does one transition from covering local talents to interviewing a legendary musician from one of the most celebrated bands in rock history?
I was at Addie Camp, a restaurant in Soldotna, where I was having dinner with my good friend and attorney, Joe Ray Skrha. During our conversation, he brought up that The Grass Roots were set to perform in Anchorage and then at the best high school imaginable…. yes, of course, it’s Soldotna High School (my alma mater) right here in Soldotna on May 21st.
Joe Ray mentioned he had tickets and asked if I’d like to go. Naturally, I responded with an enthusiastic “Hell yeah!” He then revealed that he was friends with Dusty Hanvey, the lead guitarist. We chatted about it for a while, and then Joe Ray said: “You know, since you’ve been enjoying writing about all your artists, you should do an article on The Grass Roots.” I agreed that would definitely be epic, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking “that would never happen.”
We finished our dinner and went our separate ways. The next morning, I got a text from Joe that had me doing a double-take with my morning coffee. It read, “It’s set up. Here is Dusty’s cell number; give him a call and arrange the interview.” I was staring at my phone, wondering if I’d accidentally switched it with a rock journalist’s. Was I shocked? Uh… understatement of the year. OMG, I was about to interview a rock legend! Was I dreaming? Pinch me, or better yet, slap me with a guitar!
So, after going online and finding out everything you could possibly imagine about Dusty Hanvey & The Grass Roots, I texted Dusty, figuring it would take a day or two for him to respond. Nope, a few hours later I got a reply.
GAME ON!
If the name “The Grass Roots” doesn’t immediately ring a bell, allow me to jog your memory. You’ve probably heard their music on the radio or while streaming shows on Netflix. To quickly put a tune to the name, think of their catchy song: ‘Sha La, La La La La, Live For Today.’
Interview with Dusty Hanvey
I decided to approach this interview with Dusty just as I would any other for my “Chords and Conversations” artist, employing the same questions I ask all the performers. As you read at the start of this article, Dusty traveled to Alaska with his band for an extended stay. They spent a whole month stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base & Ft. Richardson, where they jumped on C130s to perform at various military installations, bringing their music to veterans and active service members all over the state. We then delved into the early years.
Born and raised in Cherry Valley, California, Dusty Hanvey was inevitably surrounded by the heavy air of the ’60s and ’70s music era. If my calculations are correct, Dusty was about 29 years old and was crafting jingles for prominent brands like Wrangler Jeans and Home Depot in Los Angeles. He had been approached several times by the late Rob Grill, the lead singer of The Grass Roots, to join the band on tour. Initially, Dusty declined, feeling that life on the road wasn’t for him. However, one day he changed his mind and told Rob, “I’m in.” He also mentioned, “My relationship exploded, so I joined the band.”
So, in 1984, Dusty brought his guitar skills full-time to The Grass Roots. It was a time for new beginnings, and this beginning would keep him busy for the next 40 years and bring him and his band to our doorstep on May 21st at TBHSE (the best high school ever) duh!
Online, Dusty is frequently mentioned as both the lead guitarist and the road manager for The Grass Roots. I was eager to hear his response when I asked him what advice he would give to bands just starting out or how bands can remain cohesive and stick together. He summed it up for me in two words: “mutual respect.”
“It all boils down to mutual respect,” he explained. “You have one of the best jobs in the world. You’re not building bridges, you’re not curing cancer, have fun, stay in your lane, and above all, be professional.”
A question I often ask performers I interview is, “Have any of their songs ever been misinterpreted in a way that they thought was different from how they wrote it?”
“I can’t think of any off the top of my head, but there was one song that got pulled from the radio for being considered too risqué by some. It was called ‘Mamacita’ I personally didn’t see what the big deal was.”
I asked if he could share a funny story from the road that wasn’t sealed away in the vault. He laughed, paused for a moment to think, and said:
“This was one of those ‘you had to be there’ inside jokes that might seem trivial but had us laughing for quite some time. To truly appreciate it, you had to know Rob Grill. He was always light-hearted and funny. We were at a gathering or an after-party, sitting around and talking to a group of people. There was a woman there who had a mild speech impediment; she couldn’t pronounce vowels properly. Despite this, she was engaging and spirited, mingling comfortably with everyone. We were all in a circle when Rob stepped forward to introduce himself. Instead of his usual greeting, he said, ‘Hi, I’m Rob Ooha.’ Like I said, you really had to know Rob. That moment stayed with us for a long time.”
I asked Dusty if he could share a memorable fan interaction, one that left a lasting impact on him, something that made him sit and reflect at the end of the night when it was just him and his thoughts.
“For me, the encounters that leave the deepest imprint are always those with our veterans. We do many performances to raise funds for hospitalized veterans, heroes who have borne the brutal scars of service, soldiers disfigured by explosions, missing limbs, faces scarred by fire. These are horrible injuries. Before each show, we would do a meet-and-greet, sitting down with these wounded warriors, sharing conversations in the moment. The hospitals would arrange for televisions in their rooms, allowing them to watch our performances live. Those are the moments that impact my thoughts the most. The reality of their sacrifices hits home. It’s just real.”
Interviewing Dusty Hanvey has been the highlight of my writing career. I enjoyed every aspect of it, from the preparation and fact-checking to the interview itself. It was an opportunity that seemed surreal and incredibly rewarding. As we wrapped up our conversation, Dusty’s words lingered in my mind: “It’s Just Real.” These words remind us to stay grounded, appreciate the genuine connections we make, and recognize the reality of the sacrifices made by others, especially our veterans and active service members.
Thank you, Joe Ray Skrha, for setting up this opportunity, and thank you, Dusty Hanvey, for taking the time to have a genuine conversation with me.
~Seth Malone, Chords & Conversations
GET YOUR TICKETS:
Kenai Peninsula residents join me at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 at 7pm for The Grass Roots performance. You can get your tickets at Beemun’s Variety in Soldotna.
If you live in Anchorage, The Grass Roots will be preforming at the Eagan Center on May 18th at 7:30pm Get your tickets here: [Ticketmaster]
and The Grass Roots will be performing in Fairbanks on May 19th at Fairbanks Hering Auditorium @ 7:00pm. Get your tickets here: [AK Tickets]
Grass Roots History & Achievements
1965: The Grass Roots were initially formed by Rob Grill and three others, alongside producer Steve Barri, known for his work with iconic acts like The Mamas & The Papas and Dusty Springfield.
Late 1960s: Transition from a project band, conceptualized by songwriters P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, to a performing group. — First Major Hit: “Let’s Live for Today,” an English-language cover of a song by The Rokes, becomes a massive hit and is awarded a gold disc.
1967–1972: Remarkable presence on the Billboard charts for 307 consecutive weeks.
1967–1969: Participation in key pop festivals during the Summer of Love, including the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival.
1968: Performances at significant events like the San Francisco Pop Festival and the Miami Pop Festival.
1969: Performance at the Newport Pop Festival. — 1982: The Grass Roots perform for 600,000 people on July 4th in Washington, DC, setting a record for the largest one-act concert in the US.
1980s Resurgence: Rob Grill reformed the band during a resurgence in interest for oldies, influenced by his collaborations with members of Fleetwood Mac.
1984 to Present: Dusty Hanvey and Larry Nelson join, stabilizing the band’s lineup and ensuring continuity in their sound and performances. — 2016: Induction into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame.
Chart Success: Over their career, charted 29 singles, including 13 gold records, along with two gold albums and one platinum album. One of the few bands, alongside The Beatles, to achieve such consistent chart success.
Dusty Hanvey: Over 39 years with the band, serving as lead guitarist, vocalist, and road manager, maintaining the band’s classic sound.
Larry Nelson: Over 27 years as keyboardist and vocalist, known for his performances of iconic tracks like “Temptation Eyes” and “Midnight Confessions.”
Joe Dougherty: Drummer for more than 26 years, celebrated for engaging with a diverse fan base.
Mark Dawson: The newest member, contributing as lead vocalist and bassist since 2008, revitalizing the band’s live performances.
Global Recognition: Sold over 20 million records worldwide.
Media Appearances: Featured on over 50 national television shows, holding the record for the most appearances by a rock band on shows like “The Tonight Show” and “American Bandstand.”
Ongoing Touring: Maintained a robust schedule, averaging over 100 live performances annually for nearly 50 years
