They experienced popularity and commercial success during the late s and early to mids amongst southern rock and hard rock communities and listeners.
As of August 2, , all of the band's original members are deceased. The Molly Hatchet trademark is owned by Bobby Ingram, their guitarist since when he replaced founding member Dave Hlubek , who rejoined the band eighteen years later and stayed with them until his death in Also included in the current lineup are veteran musicians of the Southern scene, drummer Shawn Beamer, bassist Tim Lindsey and vocalist Parker Lee.
Molly Hatchet was founded by guitarist Dave Hlubek in The band originated and was based in Jacksonville, Florida, and shared influences and inspiration with what is perhaps the most well-known act in the Southern rock genre, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Guitarist Donald Hall was also briefly a member in these early days, after Holland left temporarily in Bobby Maddox was his name. This was long before Danny Joe. Bobby Maddox was a real Mick Jagger type. We were looking for a name for the band.
We were wanting to work. There were around twelve rock clubs in the Jacksonville area in the 70s. You could make a hell of a living. By the time you made your way through the twelfth, it was time to start all over again. We were changing the name of the band every two weeks. They would just get used to the name of the group and we would finish the twelfth club and start over as "The Imbeciles" or something. People would not know who we were. This was the same band that packed the place a few weeks before.
