Hulk Hogan during the height of his wrestling career, and subsequent attempts at becoming a full-time rock-n-roller // via imageevent.com
In a recent chat with Noisey, the retired globetrotting wrestler Hulk Hogan (also known as The Hulkster or Mr. America) revisited memories of growing tired of the demand placed on him by his fanbase and WWE. This was roughly around the time when Stone Cold, the Rock or Triple H weren’t in the game and he was being stretched like Laffy Taffy to do show after show. His lifestyle was “killing him” (his words) until a ray of hope entered his life upon meeting Jerry Hall, the long-time girlfriend of Mick Jagger.
“I was in the UK for some award show, and Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger’s old lady, was walking out with me to present this award. I heard her talking on the phone to Mick about “Oh, you got to find a bass player and you’ve only got two different choices.” I went “. . . what!?” She had already told me that her kids are big fans, and she wanted merchandise, so I was like, “All right, let’s reel her in.” I was like “Look, I used to play bass. I know all the Rolling Stones songs. Tell Mick if you guys need a bass player for the Rolling Stones, I swear to god I could show up. I could rehearse one day and play everything they play. Please tell Mick, please tell Mick.” I got home, sent her all the merchandise—never heard a word back, right?”
Poor fella. Of course, being Mr. America, there’s an expectation you’d play a mean lick on guitar (or bass, in terms of The Hulkster’s skillset). To think the man with angelic golden locks and horseshoe mustache would quit there is far from the truth, though. The Hulk’s battle to be a rock-n-roll god didn’t stop…
From Hulk Hogan’s WWE music video “A Real American”.
“So then I heard that Metallica needed a bass player, and brother, I was writing letters, made a tape of myself playing and sent it to their management company. Kept making calls trying to get through. I tried for two weeks and never heard a word back from them either. I would have quit wrestling to play in The Rolling Stones or Metallica like that [snaps fingers]. I was hoping for a call from them but never got one. All the haters were like “You never auditioned for Metallica!” Of course I didn’t—but I tried!”
Zero for two can feel like a shot in the foot, but let’s hope Hulk Hogan has got a third at-bat in him; all considering Metallica is booked for a weeklong residency on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It’s never too late to walk in for an on-air interview and guest on “Master of Puppets”.
Need further proof of The Hulkster’s right to rock fame? Look no further than the video below.
Grooveroo 