Desiring Dead Flesh are no stranger to this site. But, in case you need a refresher, DDF are a punk trio that thrives on chaos, authenticity, and fun. Their shows are known for being down to earth yet loud, easygoing yet unpredictable.

Songs are short and fast. And there’s lots of yelling. Ironically, the yeller in the band is the reserved and unassuming Bryan Hampton, who is also the father of his two bandmates—Ravyn on guitar, and Adam on drums. DO NOT call them a family band, though. Though they probably wouldn’t be (that) offended if you did. Just be prepared to catch an extra swimming noodle bop on the head in the pit if you’re caught slipping.

DDF are in the midst of a big transition. They are now a full-time traveling act. Keep an eye out for a van with a mohawked dude painted on the side.

At Audiofeed, catch them on the Sanctuary Stage. You have two chances: once on July 4th at 5:00PM, and once on July 5th at 11AM.

We caught up with the band below:

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Bryan: Ravyn says the most chocolate chocolaty chocolate she can get. Adam says strawberry cheesecake. I really ain’t that picky so I just take what is available.

If your band was a cocktail (or other beverage), what would it be?

Vernors: it bothers your nose when you drink it and its from Michigan.

What’s a memorable live show you’ve played? Why?

I’ll just go with the last show played: Louisville Punk Rock Night. And not just because it was last show played which is always the easiest to remember, but also because that was the largest knife we’ve seen pulled out during a show… while we were playing… to decapitate a stuffed animal anyway.

What is your one weird thing you never tour without?

My kids

What is that don’t miss spot in your hometown?

Electric Kitsch in Bay City MI—record store, vintage store, guitar repair, and amp repair owned and ran by great people!

Besides Audiofeed, what is a don’t miss event?

Things are in a weird time right now some of the answers I would have given a couple years ago came to an end, like Take Hold Fest in Grand Rapids MI and Keep It A Threat Fest in Detroit. But we will be a part of, for the first time this year, some annual events that look awesome and will probably be my answer next year… like Free Punk Fest (August in Harvard, IL), Milwaukee Punk Fest (in August), Punks Picnic (in Oregon in September) and Poser Fest (in Oklahoma city in September). 

DDF is transitioning to a full-time traveling act, correct? What inspired that and how are you feeling about it?

That is correct. We are only 3 weeks in and not everything (much) has gone as planned but we are loving it. [Side note: if you want to tour and expect everything to go exactly as planned, you are going to be miserable.]
What inspired it? When Cornerstone festival announced it was coming to an end, I was thinking about all the friends I had there from over the years that I may not see again. I figured the best way to get to hang out again was to travel and play shows in their scenes. 

The following year we played a fest in IL then went to Audiofeed and played a show in Indianapolis (for a friend we met at C-stone) on our way back to Michigan. That was our first “almost tour.” By the next summer, Ravyn joined to play guitar making traveling easier. Playing the shows is always fun but great conversations and hanging out with old friends, meeting new people, seeing great bands, sharing meals with homeless in the park is a huge part of it for us making it that much better. We started traveling as much as we could but Julie (my wife/ their mom) would stay home because she doesn’t like staying up late or sleeping in unfamiliar places. But she also didn’t like staying home by herself much either. So last summer she realized it didn’t make much sense paying rent for her to be at the apartment alone. She was like if I could make a bed for her so she could go to sleep at anytime she wanted she would come along with us. So we spent nearly a year planning, emptying out the apartment, building beds, storage, battery bank and work space in the van and trailer. And on June 1st we started what we are calling “the Perpetual Motion tour.”

What is the most exciting thing happening in your world right now?

I’m living on the road with my wife and kids.

***

Follow Desiring Dead Flesh on Facebook and Instagram.