The Hydromatics are made up of Detroit rocker Scott Morgan (the Rationals, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Scots Pirates, Dodge Main), the Hellacopters' Nicke Royale, and two Dutch punks, Tony Slug (Loveslug, Nitwitz) and Theo Brouwer (Nitwitz, Big Paulus). They got together to record an album in February 1999 in Amsterdam, with studio wizard Evert Kaatee twiddling the knobs. The idea was to make a definitive hard rock album featuring Morgan's legendary voice. Both Slug and Royale are huge fans of Morgan's work with Sonic's Rendezvous Band in the '70s, and the Hellacopters had recorded two songs, "Heaven" and "City Slang," by the seminal Detroit/Ann Arbor band. When the Hellacopters made their U.S. debut in November 1998 in New York City, Morgan joined the band for scorching encores of the above-mentioned songs. They also recorded a single, the ripping "Down Right Blue, " produced by Daniel Rey with Morgan and Royale sharing the lead vocals, which has been released on Sub-Pop. When the 'Copters returned to the U.S. in December, Morgan did some shows with them in the midwest, adding more songs to their collective repertoire. Although they are from different generations and half a world apart geographically, Morgan and the Hellacopters fit together perfectly. Slug was in the loop in terms of getting Morgan and the Hellacopters together, and, always thinking, figured it would be great if he and his pal Nicke could get Morgan to record with them. Morgan jumped at the chance, as these guys understand his music and have a certain reverence for it. The plan was to give some of the old SRB tunes a proper studio recording, as well as bringing in new songs. The results are impressive, to say the least. The album is a tour de force. Independently, the Hellacopters have a new Sub-Pop album, Grande Days, to promote. ~ Geoff Ginsberg, Rovi